LANSING, Mich. (Mar. 25, 2020) – As the COVID-19 crisis persists, the Lansing Economic Area Partnership has been collecting feedback from small businesses across the Lansing region. Preliminary results confirm retail, restaurant and child care businesses and their workers are in the most desperate need of immediate financial assistance if they are to have any hope of an eventual return to normal operations.

“Our small businesses are in desperate need of assistance right now, with many of them saying they do not see a future beyond 1-2 months with out it. LEAP is doing everything we can to gain access to grant funding and we intend to get that money in the hands of business owners very quickly once the state gives the green light,” said Bob Trezise, president and CEO of LEAP. “But, we know there will not be enough funds to go around. I urge all of us to continue to patronize, tip, and buy gift cards for future use to help these businesses keep the doors open and reopen when this crisis subsides.”

Responses to the survey were collected from across the region, with majority of responses received from Ingham county businesses. Business types represented were divided into 8 broad categories including: retail, restaurant/dining, housing/hospitality, health care, office, manufacturing, wholesale/distribution and child care/family services. Regardless of location and business type, respondents unanimously identified grant funds as the most helpful type of assistance they could receive right now, followed by interest free business loans, rent assistance and rent assistance for laid off employees.

LEAP will continue to collect feedback from affected business throughout the crisis to help guide LEAP and partner agencies in creating the most effective assistance to our local business community now and during economic recovery.

COVID-19 crisis information for small business, including a link to LEAP’s COVID-19 small business feedback survey is available at www.purelansing.com/businessrelief.

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