Local officials will be pushing out a campaign to buy local, support local

Posted on October 28, 2020
Much of what makes us a unique and special community are these small businesses, said Normal Mayor Chris Koos. (Uptown Normal/Facebook)

 

By Neil Doyle

NORMAL – Normal Mayor Chris Koos says many local small businesses and restaurants are concerned about the possibility of another COVID shutdown.

Coronavirus cases and positivity rates have been on the rise across Illinois, with eight of the state’s 11 regions under stricter mitigation measures, which include no indoor dining or bar service. Region 2, which includes McLean County, has a positivity rate of 7.7%, which is nearing the 8% threshold.

Mayor Koos says some small businesses will not survive another shutdown. He told WJBC’s Scott Miller the town is partnering with the chamber of commerce and will be pushing out a campaign to buy and support local.

“One of the comments on my Facebook account was from a retired small business man in the community,” said Koos. “He said these are the businesses that supported your little league teams and gave you door prizes for your fundraisers. It’s time to turn the table on that and support them.”

“Much of what makes us a unique and special community are these small businesses,” Koos said.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…