Minnesota businesses are asking: Where's the plan?
WHERE'S THE PLAN THAT STRIKES THE BALANCE BETWEEN PROTECTING THE ECONOMY AND PUBLIC HEALTH?
Throughout the challenges presented by this public health emergency, the Minnesota Ready Coalition’s goal has been to strike a balance between safeguarding health and protecting our economy. Businesses that were deemed essential developed detailed strategies to protect their workforce from the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring continuity of operations. Consumer-facing businesses that were closed or allowed to operate only at limited capacity have used this time to develop their own plans and procedures to reopen their doors and restart their operations safely and responsibly in line with the requirements of this “new normal."
As the number of positive cases decline, hospital capacity increases and more Minnesotans are vaccinated, it is time for a transparent plan to reopen our economy that Minnesota businesses, their employees and customers can rely on – rather than an indefinite pause that suspends economic recovery. Many other states have done this. Detailed plans have been developed and include achieving certain health-based metrics, dates, or other milestones in order to trigger reopening. This type of approach has been lacking here in Minnesota.
We appreciate the intent and clarity that Rep. Dave Baker's bill, HF 1336, provides concerning reopening our economy. We believe the Legislature and Walz administration must develop such a strategy based on transparent metrics that allows for a responsible, phased reopening. Other states have already done this; why can't Minnesota?
We also recommend that if the course of the virus or new variants require future restrictions on businesses to protect public health, a minimum seven to ten-day notice be provided to affected businesses to prevent loss of inventory, provide reasonable notification to staff and establish necessary operational plans. Businesses are struggling to keep their doors open and can't afford more losses.
Minnesota employers have done their part to curb the spread of the virus, and they will continue to do so. But they deserve to know what is in store for them, their employees and their customers. Doing so is critical as we continue to navigate our way through this pandemic together and promote economic recovery. We call on Governor Walz and policymakers to adopt a detailed, understandable and attainable plan that balances business survival and the health of the public to safely reopen Minnesota for our employers, employees and for the state's economy as a whole. Whether this is the plan proposed by Rep. Baker, Senator Matthews, other legislators or Governor Walz's, businesses deserve to know that there is a clear plan to safely reopen and get our economy back on track.
Doug Loon
President
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
MINNESOTA READY COALITION IN SUPPORT OF REOPENING MINNESOTA’S ECONOMY
Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce
Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Anoka Area Chamber of Commerce
APEX
Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce
Austin Area Chamber of Commerce
Big Lake Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce
Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce
Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce
Burnsville Chamber of Commerce
Cannon Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Cold Spring Area Chamber of Commerce
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
Crookston Area Chamber & Visitors Bureau
Crosslake Chamber of Commerce
Cuyuna Lakes Chamber of Commerce
Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Delano Area Chamber of Commerce
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce
Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce
Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce
Faribault Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Fergus Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
Glencoe Area Chamber of Commerce
Glenwood Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
Granite Falls Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB
Greater Mankato Growth, Inc.
Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
Greater Wayzata Area Chamber of Commerce
Hermantown Area Chamber of Commerce
Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce
Hospitality Minnesota
Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism
I94 West Chamber of Commerce
Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce
La Crescent Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Lake County Chamber of Commerce
Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce
Laurentian Chamber of Commerce
Litchfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
Long Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce
Lonsdale Area Chamber of Commerce
Madelia Area Chamber of Commerce
Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce
Melrose Area Chamber of Commerce
MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota AgriGrowth Council
Minnesota Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus
Minnesota Beverage Association
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association
Minnesota Recruiting and Staffing Association
Minnesota Retailers Association
Minnesota Trucking Association
Minnesota Utility Contractors Association
New Prague Chamber of Commerce
New Ulm Area Chamber of Commerce
Nisswa Chamber of Commerce
North 65 Chamber of Commerce
Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
Pequot Lakes Chamber of Commerce
Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB
Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce
Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce
Redwood Area Chamber & Tourism
River Heights Chamber of Commerce
Sauk Centre Area Chamber of Commerce
Shakopee Chamber & Visitors Bureau
Sleepy Eye Area Chamber of Commerce
SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce
St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce
St. James Area Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber Grand Forks & East Grand Forks
Thief River Falls Chamber of Commerce
Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce
Twin Cities North Chamber
Waconia Chamber of Commerce
Wahpeton Breckenridge Area Chamber of Commerce
White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce
Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Winona Area Chamber of Commerce
Woodbury Area Chamber of Commerce
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