Metro East Sun

Former Republican House member Dwight Kay fears that Illinois may soon be reaching the point of no return when it comes to saving the state's small businesses.

“Small business owners [in Downstate Illinois] say if we’re not up and running within the next 10 days they won’t be able to get back up,” Kay told the Metro East Sun. “If you’re a small business owner, this isn’t a time to be rejoicing because I think Gov. J.B. Pritzker may have already tipped his hand about how long he’s planning to have his stay-at-home order in place with his announcement that schools won’t be reopening.”

Kay thinks that’s completely the wrong approach.

“The governor needs to stop thinking about just today and consider the future of Illinois,” Kay said. “I don’t see local government doing anything to keep the morale of its small business owners up. They would love to hear some good news, instead nothing has really been communicated to them about how we see our way out of this and move forward.”

A new Coronavirus Small Business Survey by WalletHub found that 35 percent of small businesses across the country say their business cannot survive longer than three months under current conditions. In addition, 68 percent said they feel the government is not doing enough to help them.

Kay laments that things may be even worse in Illinois.

“A lot of states are putting their foot forward in terms of helping their small- and medium-sized businesses,” Kay said. “I don’t see that happening here in Illinois. We can’t even get unemployment claims processed and out to people.”

Kay says the financial help from the federal government has helped and, for what it’s worth, he hears another round may be in the works.

“I’m not sure any of it can make a difference if people can’t go back to work,” he said. “That’s what people want and that’s what we need.”