Watch the video to see speakers highlight the economic devastation to small businesses

A coalition of 15 Chambers of Commerce, more than 50 Bay Area  faith organizations, elected officials, and numerous small businesses hosted a press conference calling upon the Santa Clara County leadership to proactively and collaboratively find solutions to safely reopen the economy. Nearly 70 percent of companies in Silicon Valley are classified as small businesses and represent the majority of economically challenged employees. Due to the pandemic, nearly 30 percent of these businesses have permanently closed or are on the verge of closing. More than 45,000 families have been driven into poverty in Santa Clara County and another 14,000 families are at-risk.

In this press conference held Sept. 14, the speakers highlighted the economic devastation to small businesses and the specific impacts to low income families, the need for the county to provide more and clearer guidelines for businesses, as well as increase local support for small businesses/working families. The speakers also provide ideas and examples of how to safely reopen the economy.

Robert Airoldi