Only about 17% of businesses in Charlotte County have received loans

Only about 17% of businesses in Charlotte County have received loans

DESTINATION IN OURSTATE...MAINLY BECAUSE OF ITSTHEME PARKS, WHICH REMAINCLOSED.BUT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA,MANY BUSINESS OWNERS WANT THEVICE PRESIDENT TO KNOW THEYSTILL HAVEN’T RECEIVED ANY HELPFROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.FOX 4 REPORTER ROB MANCH SPOKEWITH THE CHARLOTTE COUNTYTOURISM DIRECTOR TODAY.

ROB?Wendie Vestfall tells me smallercounties like Charlotte are someof the last to see those federaldollars roll in.And she says, for many people,they can’t wait much longer.PKG:Before the virus hit, Vestfallsays Charlotte County wasgetting ready for a record year.Wendie Vestfall, CharlotteCounty Tourism Director:"In the swing of about 30 days,we went from the highest ofhighs, to kind of the lowest oflows."Now, restaurants are starting toreopen, and people are gettingback on the beach.But the one thing that hasn’tshown up for most businesses afederal loans."The last study I saw, saidabout 17 percent.

So it’s still,people are waiting.

They’rewaiting on money, and it’s kindof getting to a point where it’sgetting almost to beingdesperate."And Vestfall says, it’s not justbusiness owners that arehurting."I know from the countygovernment side, we have notbeen given any money yet as acounty government as well, andso there’s a lot of backlash,and you now, just waiting."Compare that to the 135 milliondollars that Lee County justreceived.Even though Vestfall couldn’tspeak to Pence on his visit, Iwondered what she might say tohim now."If you were in that room, whatwould you, what might you say toMike Pence to take back toWashington in terms of what thefederal government can do?

YeahI just think, if at allpossible, they need to rememberthese small businesses."TAG:And Vestfall tells me she’s alsoanxiously waiting for GovernorDeSantis to lift the ban onshort-term rentals.She says that would