“Fighting to protect Columbus families, workers, and small business owners.”
COVID-19 disrupted our lives in countless ways, costing many of us our jobs or, even worse, our loved ones. As is so often the case, this pandemic has weighed heaviest on black and brown families. The best way to get our City moving again is to defeat this virus. To learn more, go to the State of Ohio’s COVID vaccine page.
Stopping the Spread
- To limit the spread of COVID-19, Council passed an early mask mandate to ensure folks protected themselves and their families when in public. Columbus was a leader in the state on this matter, encouraging the State of Ohio to follow suit.
- Recognizing the potential for spread, Council limited the hours for bars and restaurants after 10 pm. Similar to the mask mandate, the State of Ohio soon followed suit with a similar action to limit the spread.
Supporting the Community
- Council distributed more than $10 million dollars in small business grants.
- Unlike the initial rounds of the Paycheck Protection Program, Columbus’ small business grants went to the folks hardest hit by the pandemic.
- Almost 80% of all grants went to businesses owned by people of color
- More than 60% of grants went to Black business owners
- More than 40% of grants went to women business owners.
- Unlike the initial rounds of the Paycheck Protection Program, Columbus’ small business grants went to the folks hardest hit by the pandemic.
- More than $15 million was designated to help families stay in their homes through eviction and foreclosure assistance programs.
- Council and the County Commissioners came together to invest more than $20 million in human service nonprofits which were helping families stay afloat during the COVID recession.