Signage at the Ramada Inn in downtown Marquette says it all. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)

MARQUETTE — The COVID-19 epidemic has resulted in a more stringent extended stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer Thursday, meaning small businesses across the state will continue to be adversely impacted.

Marquette County is no exception, with many local shops and restaurants shuttered for weeks. Still others are using phone and online orders with delivery and curbside pickup options in an effort to remain open to serve customers.

Nicole Collins, who owns the Java Bay restaurant on Third Street in Marquette, said in a phone interview Tuesday that her business has been closed since Whitmer’s initial executive order nearly a month ago.

“I am 100% completely shut down due to my major concerns about my safety as well as the community’s protection,” Collins said.

Java Bay has three employees, including Collins herself, who are reliant on the business for their income, she said.

Collins said she has applied for assistance through several different sources, and is waiting to hear back, but she has faced some hurdles because she has technically owned her business for less than a year.

“It’s scary to have your business shut down. I don’t think I have ever been this scared,” Collins said. “This is probably one of the most mental, emotional and physically draining experiences I have ever had.”

Collins is not alone. There were nearly 874,000 small businesses in Michigan in 2019, according to a U.S. Small Business Administration office of advocacy. Those businesses employed 1.9 million people in 2019, the report states.

The Greater Ishpeming-Negaunee Chamber of Commerce supports two western Marquette County cities and nine townships.

GINCC Director Bob Hendrickson said one of the most difficult things for those enterprises has been the “inability to conduct business on a normal basis.”

“The things that have changed are so dramatic,” Hendrickson said. “I don’t think anyone has had a chance to really process it. It’s been more reactionary if anything. Many businesses have worked to adapt and do the best they can. Others have decided to temporarily close and weather it out. Laying off employees I would imagine has been the toughest decision. I don’t think there is any business that hasn’t been affected by this.”

Invest U.P. CEO Marty Fittante said the pandemic is not just a health crisis: “It is a economic crisis that is impacting nearly every business in America, including especially, as the (Minneappolis) Federal Reserve (Bank’)s latest survey shows, areas like the Upper Peninsula, which sees businesses that are running on thinner margins, with less capital to draw on, and … are often seasonal and dependent on tourism.”

Fittante said Upper Peninsula business owners had a strong showing in the survey, which covered businesses across Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Montana, northwestern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula from March 18-20.

“Likely reflecting both the concern and anxiety that businesses through the U.P. are feeling, as well as the incredible, tireless effort that the local economic development community is putting in to help local business through this crisis,” Fittante said. “As is evident from these latest survey results, that effort from the local economic development community is critical, which is why they have offered a single-stop site of trusted resources at update906.com.”

In a previous interview, Fittante said Invest UP, a privately funded regional economic development corporation serving the entire Upper Peninsula is administering $500,000 in Michigan Small Business Relief Program grants, authorized by the Michigan Strategic Fund. It is one of 15 EDOs helping to administer state grant funding of $10 million over 83 counties.

Locally, Lake Superior Community Partnership offers help to business owners who are trying to determine their next move.

“One thing that businesses across the board don’t like is uncertainty, and we are in a time of unprecedented uncertainty both personally and professionally,” Clickner said. “However, for our business community, this is time to reach out for assistance and support to weather the storm. Our website https://marquette.org/covid-19/# is updated daily with information on resources available, but more importantly our staff is available to help them navigate the incredible amount of information and options coming at them.”

She said business owners should also lean on relationships with their bankers, attorneys and insurance companies for help.

One of the services LSCP can provide is information on loans provided by Section 4013 of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which was signed into law on March 19.

The legislation made an Economic Injury Disaster Loan program under Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act available, providing funds to small businesses to cover economic injury resulting from the disaster, such as a loss of revenue; and the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides loans to encourage certain qualified small businesses to retain employees through the COVID-19 pandemic and includes loan forgiveness subject to certain conditions.

The federal programs are administered by the Small Business Administration. Daniel Yoder, senior business consultant and Upper Peninsula representative for the Michigan Small Business Development Center, said the peninsula region of the SBDC is working with about 50 small businesses per day, which is nearly double the normal demand.

The most pressing questions, he said, have to do with available loans and grants.

“Over time,” Yoder said, “we anticipate more requests for cash flow management consulting, as not everyone will be able to borrow the money they need to operate. If a business is looking for a loan, are there any limitations to their eligibility, i.e., number of employees, length of time in business, length of time as a Michigan resident, etc. Loan eligibility varies by loan type and lender.”

He noted optimism, flexibility and creativity are important.

“When grants and loans don’t pan out, businesses can work on cash flow through managing payables and receivables, bringing in partners with equity, pre-selling products, or updating their products or services to meet the new challenges we are facing through COVID-19,” Yoder said.

More information on the SBA’s small business loans and paycheck protection program loans can be found at www.sba.gov/ funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options.

He said anyone wishing to connect with the SBA for personalized, no-cost consulting may request assistance on the web at www.sbdcmichigan.org/request-for-business-counseling/.

For her part, Collins will continue to look for help for herself and her employees wherever she can but she has been losing a lot of sleep in the process.

“I am currently trying to apply for what is available but I am not afraid to pick myself back up again. It is tough,” said the mother of two. “There are so many different guidelines to those bailouts. But each time I hit a roadblock I turn myself around and keep going.”

Collins said local residents can help their small businesses that are closed due to the virus by purchasing e-gift cards at squareup.com, which can be used when the business reopens. The status of many local businesses can also be found on the Marquette Downtown Development Authority website at downtownmarquette.org, and many western Marquette County businesses that are offering takeout or delivery options are listed on the GINCC website at gincc.org.

Clickner said the time is now to help local businesses get what they need.

“It is gut wrenching to hear the stories with all the blood, sweat and tears they have committed to their businesses,” Clickner said. “Truly their businesses are like a child to them. We need to get these resources in their hands and be here to assist every step of the way.”

Lisa Bowers can be reached at lbowers@miningjournal.net.