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The stay-at-home order Gov. Ralph Northam issued in March, while necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 throughout Virginia, has had significant impacts on local businesses, particularly restaurants, retail and service establishments such as those to have made their home in the Franklin-Southampton area. To that end, Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc. created a program in partnership with Franklin Southampton Charities and the Camp Foundation, which allowed businesses to apply for up to $3,000 in reimbursable grant funding.

As FSEDI wraps up this first round of grants and prepares for a new round this fall, we at The Tidewater News would like to give a shout-out to those working in economic development during this crisis. It certainly isn’t easy helping local businesses stay afloat while having to simultaneously discourage crowds from flocking to newly reopened establishments.

According to FSEDI President and CEO Jay Brenchick, program funding was completely spoken for within a few hours of the grants becoming available March 30, and funds were allocated to 43 for-profit businesses in the city and county. We hope for similar success this fall, but more than that, we hope that by fall, our COVID-19 situation will improve to the point where such assistance is no longer needed.