By Mark Starling
Large Number Of Gas Stations Closed
(Asheville, NC) Fuel is out at a majority of gas stations in North Carolina. GasBuddy reported Wednesday afternoon that only around 30-percent of gas stations had availability across the state. In the upstate South Carolina-Asheville region, close to 80-percent of businesses were out of fuel. Colonial Pipeline announced its pipeline operations were back up and running late yesterday.
Cooper Urges Not To Hoard Gas Again
(Raleigh, NC) Governor Roy Cooper is continuing to urge drivers to only fill up with gas that you need. Tempers may be running high as gas stations run short on supply, like an instance yesterday where two people got into a fight while waiting in line in Knightdale. Cooper said he ll continue to work with federal and local officials to strengthen fuel distribution as things move forward.
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Small Business Administration Opens Grant Process For Restaurants Affected By Pandemic by Bethany Chafin Mozelle s Fresh Southern Bistro, one of Winston-Salem s local restaurants. DAVID FORD/WFDD
Restaurants impacted by the pandemic can now apply for grant money from the Small Business Administration or SBA.
For the first 21 days, the SBA will accept applications from all eligible applicants but will prioritize small businesses owned by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
Algenon Cash is with the Triad Food & Beverage Coalition, an organization that helped lobby for the money last year. Cash says the funds will go quickly, and there are experts on hand to help.
Small independently owned restaurants are facing an extinction level event as we move deeper into colder months and the coronavirus spread reaches all-time highs. Without immediate financial aid, over 75% of the stateâs 19,504 eating and drinking locations are in danger of closing permanently.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March, 17% of restaurants throughout the country (or about 110,000 establishments) have closed either permanently or long-term and 10,000 restaurants have closed over the last three months alone. As for the 10,000 restaurants that have closed over the past three months, the majority had been well-established in the industry for years, and on average, had been in business for 16 years.