Many are eager to get Alabama’s economy up and running as soon as possible. This movement is evident from the change in the discussion, which seems to have shifted from coronavirus response to when and how to get businesses reopened.
Among the efforts by state officials to make the resumption of economic activity a reality is the creation of the Alabama Small Business Commission Emergency Task Force. This initiative is spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth’s office. The committee consists of political, business and civic leaders from around Alabama and is chaired by State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville).
Also on that task force is State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), who, during an interview with Huntsville radio’s WVNN on Tuesday, discussed some of the logistics of getting opened back up. According to Gudger, the process will take time, and he stressed safety was the group’s priority.
“The best analogy I’ve heard from people on our task force is the economy is not a sports car,” Gudger said. “It’s not going to be going 0 to 60 when we open back up. It’s going to be more of a steam locomotive. With it slowed down, it is going to take us a little bit longer to get rolling full speed again. And even though there are some industries that can and different sectors of industries and businesses that can get moving faster than others, we do realize there are differences in the sectors of business and industry. There are differences in the regions of Alabama. There are differences in age — some people using technology and some people are not. The main key for this is people don’t have a different assumption than what we’re working under. Our goal under this task force is — our task force is set up primarily for the safety of Alabamians when we open back up.”
He added, “As those sectors come back online at different times, those different regions come back on at different times, depending on what that is — and we’re still figuring that out even today … the key for us is what type of personal protective equipment does your industry need? What do the patrons need to feel comfortable to come back into your business? What do your employees need to feel comfortable working at your facility, as well as the employers, and how you handle that to make sure you get the economy going. But, as you well know, and as you said before, this is going to be a different economy that we’re moving back into when we open back up.”
Gudger, owner of Southern Accents Architectural Antiques in downtown Cullman, acknowledged his business was struggling through the pandemic as well. However, he said he was not sure Congress needed to act on more stimulus legislation if companies can get back up and running.
But he also said he was reluctant to criticize state officials for their handling of COVID-19 thus far.
“I can’t underestimate and criticize the governor, lieutenant governor, for anything up to this point because you don’t know how bad it would have been if they didn’t shut part of our sector down,” he said.
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly and host of Huntsville’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 2-5 p.m. on WVNN.
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