For months, millions of Utahns have had to put their entire lives on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every aspect of our communities has been affected, including schools, construction, travel and offices, to name a few. Perhaps the area most affected, however, is small business. The effects of this pandemic have been nothing short of devastating on these businesses, and they have crippled entire communities as a result. As a small business owner, this is cause for considerable concern.
During this time of extreme uncertainty, we business owners have graciously accepted help from anywhere it was offered. We have been blessed to receive the support of numerous tech companies, such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Zoom. They have played a vital role in our transition to digital platforms, and have allowed us to continue operating while our physical locations are inaccessible. While they are stepping up in a time of crisis, elected officials are attempting to investigate these companies for personal political gain. These attempts have worried small business owners across Utah, as they could have negative effects that ripple throughout the state. It should be a priority for elected officials to work with tech companies to foster assistance, not hamper it, and that is why I signed a letter to Gov. Gary Herbert asking him to protect low-cost access to critical digital tools.
James Greaves
Spanish Fork