We were Forced to Close our Business and the Reason will Surprise You

We were Forced to Close our Business and the Reason will Surprise You

…perhaps one of the most shocking outcomes of the Coronavirus Pandemic – and especially of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) – is that the very people we hired have now begged us to be laid off. Not because they did not like their jobs or because they did not want to work, but because it would cost them literally hundreds of dollars per week to be employed. It is the nail in the coffin of a Main Street business, and our last day open will be Saturday. Let’s talk about why the very program that is supposed to support small businesses is currently helping their demise and take a hard look at the economic realities we are setting ourselves up for.

We expect to lose $45,000 doing the right thing – It is time for other businesses to step up to keep the public safe from Coronavirus

We expect to lose $45,000 doing the right thing – It is time for other businesses to step up to keep the public safe from Coronavirus

When all is said and done and the dust is settled, we expect to lose about $45k on our business this spring. Of course, right now it is impossible to know, and the numbers could be worse. To be clear, we are a family with young kids, and we do not have $45,000 to lose. Every day I am filled with worry of how we will make ends meet to keep our businesses alive; we follow updates and have already applied for an SBA loan. But do you know what I do not worry about? That our decisions will lead to the loss of life.

Two Months in, Plus Next Steps for Moonbow Tipple

It is hard to believe that a little over two months has passed since we first opened Moonbow Tipple Coffee & Sweets – the anniversary would be February 30, if only February had 30 days. It feels at once like something totally new and also something that has been part of our lives forever.

Invest 606 Demo Day

This past Saturday, the Finalist for the inaugural cohort of Invest 606 gathered in Pikeville for “Demo Day.” Each business gave a 3 to 4 minute presentation to give the public an overview of their businesses and how they would use prize money to deepen their impact or expand. I have had many shining moments since we returned to Eastern Kentucky in 2015, but this one was the single event that made me the most hopeful about the future of our region and the economic turnaround.

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