I have had many discussions with my colleagues throughout the great State of Minnesota on what they are doing within their local business communities to “stop the bleeding” while maintaining stay at home restrictions.  Collectively, there are various responses.

Many Chambers are continuing to educate their members concerning loans, unemployment, health guidelines, and now guidelines on how to reopen. Bottom line, businesses need the most help to reopen using a focused, phased approach.

The Marshall Chamber of Commerce supports the reopening of Marshall Area businesses as soon as possible with safety and responsibility in mind.  Our businesses are the lifeblood of our community.  They have not worked this hard and come this far to be shut down permanently.  Now that the Governor’s Stay at Home Order has been extended to May 18th, we will have to face this reality together. 

Aside from holiday shopping, the number of people shopping downtown together is manageable. I like to think that our businesses are run by smart people who would continue to use commonsense guidelines to manage their businesses while navigating these unprecedented times.

When I go to a store for essentials, people seem very cautious and responsible.  Marshall has figured out how to social distance!

Let’s reopen businesses with an emphasis on continuing to be safe.  Local social distancing guidelines need to be amended for our community to be able to further support the local businesses who have helped cultivate the Marshall Area.

— Brad Gruhot is the director of the Marshall Area Chamber

of Commerce