The New Orleans mayor announced relief support for local businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Cantrell and Jeff Schwartz of the Office of Economic Development held a news conference Thursday where they announced ways the city is providing relief and support for businesses, especially bars, restaurants and live music venues.About 150 businesses will be eligible to receive the assistance. Cantrell also announced that she is waiving businesses Alcohol and Beverage Outlet fees for 2021. Howlin’ Wolf owner Howie Kaplan said live music is one step closer to coming back to the city, and the waiving of the ABO fees will save his business about $3,000 a year. “We are finally able to start coming back,” Kaplan said.Mayor Cantrell said more help from the federal government is on the way. In about two weeks, they will have guidance from the Department of Treasury on how they can spend $375 million from the federal funds. Cantrell said what the city needs most is more vaccinations. She is not ready to allow businesses to operate at 100 percent capacity like the rest of the state. “Herd immunity what we are being told is at 75 percent so that’s a threshold for the city of New Orleans and so looking at that number and percentage and where we are now or going deeper into inequities taking the vaccine we are not where we want to be,” Cantrell said.
The New Orleans mayor announced relief support for local businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Cantrell and Jeff Schwartz of the Office of Economic Development held a news conference Thursday where they announced ways the city is providing relief and support for businesses, especially bars, restaurants and live music venues.
About 150 businesses will be eligible to receive the assistance.
Cantrell also announced that she is waiving businesses Alcohol and Beverage Outlet fees for 2021.
Howlin’ Wolf owner Howie Kaplan said live music is one step closer to coming back to the city, and the waiving of the ABO fees will save his business about $3,000 a year.
“We are finally able to start coming back,” Kaplan said.
Mayor Cantrell said more help from the federal government is on the way.
In about two weeks, they will have guidance from the Department of Treasury on how they can spend $375 million from the federal funds.
Cantrell said what the city needs most is more vaccinations.
She is not ready to allow businesses to operate at 100 percent capacity like the rest of the state.
“Herd immunity what we are being told is at 75 percent so that’s a threshold for the city of New Orleans and so looking at that number and percentage and where we are now or going deeper into inequities taking the vaccine we are not where we want to be,” Cantrell said.