The House Majority Policy Committee released a report on Tuesday based on a survey of 921 businesses from across Pennsylvania that were impacted by COVID-19 about what business owners need to recover from the pandemic.
“As we began this new session, the House Republican Caucus made it clear that our No. 1 mission was to help jumpstart our economy,” said state House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre-Mifflin). “We know the best form of economic recovery is a steady job. Those jobs come from small businesses and those who invest of themselves so they can invest in others. Having seen the results of this report, I want to convey that we are listening, and we are here to help.”
The report was created with responses given to a survey sent to state employers in February that requested input on government policies, restrictions, and mandates put into place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report, 31 percent of respondents said the biggest challenge facing their businesses was Gov. Tom Wolf’s mitigation orders and 21 percent said financial issues and hardships were their greatest challenges.
Additionally, 32 percent of respondents said that the best way to kickstart the economy was for them to be open for business.
“This is a 42-page report, but I can easily sum up the overriding message in just five words…GET OUT OF THE WAY,” House Majority Policy Committee Chairman Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) said. “The bottom line is, if we want our state and regional economies to bounce back and be better than they were before, we need to get government out of the way and focus on policies that lower the cost of doing business and give employers and investors the tools they need to lead and succeed.”
The report also showed that while 28 percent of respondents indicated tax reductions would have the greatest impact on their future success. Another 22 percent of business owner respondents said their future success depends upon the Commonwealth removing restrictions and allowing them to fully open for business. Many of the respondents also noted that financial assistance was the greatest need by business owners.
Nearly half (49 percent) of all respondents fell into one of five business categories: food and dining, health and medicine, construction and contractors, manufacturers, and personal care and service. And of the 17 total business categories accounted for in the report, 14 percent of all participating businesses were from the food and dining industry.
“The hospitality and tourism industry has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, only to be exacerbated by the extreme mitigation on our businesses,” said John Longstreet, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association. “The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association appreciates the support of the House Republican Caucus and their willingness to listen to our operators on what type of support is necessary to propel the industry’s recovery.”