Rural counties, businesses get creative to survive outbreak

The National Association of Counties estimates counties around the country will lose $144 billion, prompting commissioners to ask Congress for more help.

Some rural commissioners are also looking for ways to keep struggling businesses in their communities afloat.

In Roxboro, gift shop owner Stephanie Gray says she's doing everything she can to keep her business, Madison Marketplace, open, including furloughing her part-time workers for three weeks and adding a hand sanitizer station.

“We’ve had lots of Facetime appointments. We’re doing much more personal shopping. I feel like we’re working harder than we ever worked before," Gray told WRAL News.

The tide is starting to turn, Gray said, but things are still far from normal.

"This is a busy time of the year for us normally with graduations, dance recitals, teacher’s appreciation and nurse’s appreciation.," she said. "I've done a lot of praying."

It’s businesses like Gray's that Person County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ray Jeffers is fighting to support.

Jeffers is touting a new county-based small business loan program called "Covid Pivot Impact."

“I think seven businesses have applied, two have already been approved and received funds, and three others are getting approved," Jeffers said.

Jeffers said last week, the program gave out the most money in the state per capita, money that is desperately needed.

He believes Person County is ready to reopen with the proper precautions. But they're already expecting a 20-percent loss in sales tax revenue, Jeffers said, so federal relief dollars for frontline operations are critically important to protect vital services.

“I’m seriously concerned. I mean, we have employees on the frontlines who can’t go home and work from home, many of them, especially in rural counties," he said. "Counties are looked upon pretty heavily during times like these."