Earlier this month, Speaker of the House Larry Householder set up a House task force to “lay the foundation for economic recovery” from the COVID-19 pandemic. For task force hearings next week, the House is inviting small businesses from across Ohio who are willing to share their story with the task force via virtual testimony.

The bipartisan Ohio House 2020 Economic Recovery Task Force has now met a total of six times. Last week, the group heard from a data expert who provided some context as to what factors need to either present or considered before Ohio businesses might be allowed to reopen.

This week, the task force has heard from a diverse group of health and business groups regarding the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on their industries and members, including the Ohio Restaurant Association, Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association, and Ohio Salon Association, among others. Several business owners have also shared their individual companies’ struggles with the task force, as well. On Thursday, April 16, Johnathon Smith, President of Ohio Chamber member company Lancaster Bingo Company, provided his perspective.

Today, the Ohio Chamber will present testimony on behalf of behalf of six major statewide business organizations: NFIB-Ohio, Ohio Business Roundtable, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Council of Retail Merchants, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, and Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. The meeting starts at 12:30pm and can be viewed live online on the Ohio Channel.

Initially, Rep. Paul Zeltwanger, the chairman of the task force, indicated that he wanted to have a draft of recommendations ready by the end of this week, though that seems unlikely given that the task force is now set to meet several times next week, and possibly the following week, as well.

If you’re interested in sharing your company’s story with the task force, please let us know by sending an email to [email protected].