Yellowstone Times

Yellowstone County has launched a new website to assist business owners in Yellowstone County in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

The website, launched April 13, is intended to provide up-to-date information for local businesses on subjects such as federal and state loans and grants, according to Yellowstone Public Radio. 

The site will also have continuing updates regarding other forms of financial relief as it becomes available to businesses struggling under government restrictions in response to the coronavirus.

"Part of our work has culminated around creating a one-stop website for our business community to go to and get the information they need that will be helpful in allowing that business to respond to the challenge that’s in front of them," Steve Arveschoug of Big Sky Business Economic Development tolf YPR.

Launched by Big Sky Business Economic Development, the website originated with the efforts of the Business Response/Recovery Team, which falls under the county’s Unified Health Command.

John Felton, the Yellowstone County health officer, said that the county is taking on the health and business sides of the COVID-19 crisis together.

"This is not one side against another side. This is not an either-or,” he told the news outlet. “We can, by working together, accomplish both the public health needs to keep our people safe and get our businesses up and operational."

Arveschoug said that addressing local economic problems is not just about meeting immediate needs but planning for the future as well.

It is likely that the community will have to wrestle with ongoing economic recovery problems for months into the future, he said. “And we’re trying to get a head start so we can be strategic about what our recovery looks like as leading economy in the state."

"Our mission is to support and sustain our local business during this time of significant economic distress and to prepare the community for economic recovery and future growth and development," Arveschoug said.