Some small businesses ask for rent relief to survive

Small businesses make up the fabric of many communities, and some owners tell 41 Action News they don't know if they can make it much longer without more financial relief.

SMALL BUSINESSES MAKEUP THE FABRIC OF OCOMMUNITY -- AND RIGHTNOW SOME OWNERS ARETELLING US THEY DON'TKNOW IF THEY CAN MAKEIT MUCH LONGER WITHOUTSOME RELIEF.IT'S A CONCERN SHAREDNATIONWIDE.THE U-S CHAMBER OFCOMMERCE POLLS SMALLBUSINESS OWNERSMONTHLY ABOUT HOW THEPANDEMIC IS IMPACTINGTHEIR LIVELIHOOD.IN THE MOST RECENTREPORT -- MORE THANHALF OF OWNERSWORRIED ABOUT HAVINGTO PERMANENTLY CLOSEUP SHOP.AND SMALL BUSINESSWHO RECEIEVED A"PAYCHECK PROTECTIONPROGRAM" LOAN ARE FARLESS LIKELY TO SAY THEYCOULD CONTINUEOPERATING INDEFINITELYWITHOUT PERMANENTLYSHUTTING DOWN -- THANTHOSE WHO DIDN'T.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER NICK STARLINGSHARES CONCERNS FROMLOCAL ENTREPRENEURS --AND HOW SOME HOPE TOSTAY OPEN.NICK:FOR SMALL BUSINESSESWHO DID APPLY ANDRECEIVE PPPLOANS...THAT MONEY ISPROBABLY USED UP BYNOW...SO UNTIL ANY NEWSTIMULS BILL COMES OOF DC...THEY'RE LOOKINGFOR ANY TYPE OF RELIEFTHAT'S OUT THEREIT"S A BUSINESSTHAT"S BEEN A DREAMFOR JOSEPHINEBURKHOLDER.Josephine Burkholder, owner HotSpot Tanning SalonRight now I"m just tryingmake it to 30 years inbusiness.SHE"S HAD TO ADAPTBY LIMITING CLIENTSINSIDE ALONG WITHCOVID-19PRECAUTIONSBUT THEBUSINESS HAS COOLEDOFF...AND now she FEARSSHEMAY HAVE TO TURN THELIGHTS OFF.Josephine Burkholder, owner HotSpot Tanning SalonMy heart would break if I hadto close because of somethinglike thiSO SHE CAME UP WITH ANIDEA FOR SOMERELIEFLIKE PEOPLEWHO RENT AN APARTMENTOR HOMESHE ASKEDHER LANDLORD FOR ARENT REDUCTION TO HELPWITH EXPENSEburkholder experienced thebenefit of that relief from adifferent landlord during adifferent crisis.Josephine Burkholder, owner HotSpot Tanning SalonHe offered us all 25-percentoff rate reduction for one year,it kept me in business in 2008when it crashed.BURKHOLDER SAYS ASTHINGS STAND RIGHTNOW"SHE DOESN"TKNOW IF SHE CAN EVENMAKE IT TO CHRISTMAS.Josephine Burkholder, owner HotSpot Tanning SalonIt"s my worst nightmare isto not be able to live out my30 years in business as asmall business owner.IT"S A PAIN FELT BYSEVERAL OTHER SMALLBUSINESSES LIKARA"S ORIENTAL RUGGALLERY.Elizabeth Zakaryan, ownerAra"sOriental Rug gallery.It"s been challengingtimes, definitely.OWNER ELIZABETHZAKARYAN"WOULD ALSOLIKE ANY ADDITIONALRELIEFBUT IN THEMEANTIME..HOPESCUTOMERS WILL SHOPLOCAL.If you stay consistent and youdo the hard work hopefullypeople can come back.HOPEIN THESECHALLENGING TIMES.Josephine Burkholder, owner HotSpot Tanning SalonBut I"m an optimist andI"m going to make it if Ihave to do or die.REPORTING IN KANSASCITYNICK STARLING41 ACTION NEWS.