Hard times in Otero County: Resources are available for struggling small businesses

Since the public health orders meant to contain the spread of COVID-19 stymied a large part of the Otero County economy, organizations such as the Otero County Economic Development Council, or OCEDC have worked to soften the blow felt by local businesses.

“We want to get everybody up and running and thriving again as we once were pre-COVID,” Otero County Economic Development Council Interim Executive Director Laurie Anderson said.

One of the ways some businesses are doing well is their owners’ creativity, Anderson said.

More:Local leaders work to help local businesses during Great Lockdown recession

Some retail businesses are using curbside pick-up the same way the restaurants are and others are using resources like drive-thru windows, such as The Winners' Circle, to remain open. 

The building The Winners' Circle occupies was a pharmacy originally. 

“You just have to be creative in how you can keep your business open,” Anderson said.

The CARES Act 

One of the ways businesses can survive is through local distribution of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds.

Otero County was awarded $1,688,750 in small business CARES Act grants. The deadline to apply for these grants was Sept. 25.

“It’s something we need to take advantage of and let our community prosper from it,” Anderson said.

The Otero County Economic Development Council is finding out ways to continue promoting Otero County as a place to do business such as courting businesses from larger cities that are looking for more rural locales in which to move.

PPP Loans and the RESTAURANTS Act

Meanwhile in Washington, D.C., U.S. Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small recently reached out to Otero County municipalities to see how she could help.

Torres Small visited the Village of Tularosa and City of Alamogordo to discuss options with local leadership.

"As we try to make sure that we're all responding to the impacts of COVID-19 together, I know folks on the ground are the ones facing these challenges every single day," Torres Small said.

"That's why I was glad to get to stop by and meet with Mayor (Margie) Trujillo in Tularosa. I've reached out and had other conversations in Alamogordo with city leaders there to look at the challenges those folks are facing and also talking to small businesses who are struggling right now."

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One of the business owners Torres Small spoke with was Steve "Tio" Brockett of the Waffle and Pancake Shoppe. The two discussed the Payment Protection Plan, or PPP, and the Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive Act, or the RESTAURANTS Act.

The RESTAURANTS Act, if passed, will allocate $120 billion from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to help restaurants affected by the COVID-19 health restrictions by offering grants to operations and chains of less than 20 locations.

If passed, funds can be used for payroll costs, payments of principal or interest on any mortgage obligation, rent payments– including rent under a under a lease, utilities, maintenance, including construction to accommodate outdoor seating and any other expenses deemed essential to the restaurant, the act states.

The Payment Protection Plan loans were instituted to help small businesses with payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The Payment Protection Plan closed on Aug. 8.

"People are trying to figure out how to have their loans forgiven with a simple process and also hoping that there will be another round of support," Torres Small said.

Some businesses such as those in outdoor recreation are succeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But other types of industries — restaurants, tourism and retail — are not doing well.

“I don’t think anybody was prepared for something like this to happen,” Anderson said. “Our community was on the up and up and we want to continue. We want to bring these businesses back at full operation as quickly as we can.”

Anderson’s advice for businesses is to continue staying informed and to reach out to local chambers of commerce, the Small Business Development Center as well as to the Otero County Economic Development Council.

The three organizations offer different services that could be beneficial to local businesses, Anderson said.

The Otero County Economic Development Center serves local businesses as a resource center that can help with things such as workforce needs, funding or grants, employee training and more, Anderson said.

There are programs available now that were in flux at the beginning of the pandemic that have now stabilized. This makes the Otero County Economic Development Council’s work different since now the organization is trying to figure out which program is appropriate for which business.

For more information visit the Otero County Economic Development Council’s website or their Facebook page.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter.