A group of concerned citizens establishes the Holly Ridge Pandemic Response Fund to assist the small local businesses during the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all businesses, but the nation’s small businesses have been some of the hardest hit. A group of residents in Holly Ridge noticed that the small businesses in their town were suffering and decided to do something to help them.
“Main Street USA businesses have been absolutely killed by this pandemic,” says Margaret Coyle-Rees.
“Big businesses often have lots of support, but for small businesses it’s often just one person managing everything and it can be challenging and intimidating to get the help you need.”
As a retired small-business owner, Coyle-Rees knows what that’s like first hand. That’s why she and a handful of her neighbors in the Summerhouse on Everett Bay neighborhood of Holly Ridge developed a plan to help the Holly Ridge small businesses.
“This is a little town,” she says. “Our businesses are important. Holly Ridge has tremendous potential and we want to make sure its businesses succeed.”
The group reached out to Holly Ridge Town Manager Heather Reynolds and the Jacksonville Onslow Economic Development (JOED) Group for advice. They conducted a survey among Holly Ridge businesses to see if they really did need help, and indeed they do. The group of concerned citizens along with JOED and Holly Ridge Town Council established the Holly Ridge Pandemic Response Fund.
Through donations, the group as of this writing has raised $3,100 and helped three local businesses. They hope to raise at least $15,000 to help other businesses with rent, insurance, payroll, supplies and other needs.
Businesses applying for grants from the fun must prove that their business was negatively impacted by the pandemic, is independently owned and located within Holly Ridge and is not nationally associated.
The group is seeking donations to help Holly Ridge Pandemic Response Fund.
Can you help?
Two ways to donate:
GoFundMe: http://gf.me/u/x3ksfr
Mail a check to:
JOED Partnership
P.O. Box 7268
Jacksonville, NC 28450
Make check out to: HRPRF/JOED Partnership
