Ironwood providing business support

IRONWOOD — The city of Ironwood is providing support and resources for businesses that are struggling through the coronavirus pandemic.

There are grants, zero-interest loans and other support out there and it’s changing all the time, said Tom Bergman, director of community development for the city of Ironwood. The city is sending out email updates a few times a week to business owners to help them with their own search for resources, he said.

“This is just to let them know what opportunities are there in terms of disaster relief and other resources,” Bergman said. “There are some loans out there and an upcoming grant program.”

It is easy to assume that businesses are struggling, especially the bars, restaurants and others that are required to close or adjust to requirements of the state and federal emergency orders. It is great if people can patronize businesses with the takeouts and other ways that can be done safely in terms of the goals of COVID-19 prevention, he said.

As time goes on the feedback from businesses will help the city to determine what can be done in terms of support.

“What really is the impact right now difficult to say,” Bergman said.

The city is working with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis to encourage businesses to provide information that will help the Fed start to measure the potential impact over the short term and long term.

“It’s a weekly survey with the Fed keeping track of conditions on the ground for small businesses in our area,” Bergman said. “We will eventually start getting data on impact.”

Bergman said his email list was compiled from city business licenses but that not every application contained an email address. Business owners who are not on the email list and want to receive the information should email Tim Erickson, community development specialist, at [email protected].