TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — To further mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect the public health of our community, the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality will begin offering more than 100,000 free face coverings to businesses countywide.
A recent survey of businesses found that finding funding to provide PPE was a top concern for business owners.
Jay Revell of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce says he hopes the effort will help business owners with one of their toughest decisions.
"What we continue to see is that we have a choice to make," said Revell. "If we want to be open, and we want to have the opportunity to support our business, we all need to put on a mask for a little bit and make sure that we're creating the safest environment possible. And thanks to our friends at Leon County, we're able to distribute masks in bags of 100 bags each to businesses who need that again for their customers or their workforce."
Starting Tuesday, July 7, local businesses can pick up free cloth face coverings at the OEV office located at 315 S. Calhoun Street, Suite 110, in Tallahassee. Pickup hours will be held Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Businesses, defined as a local employer, nonprofit, association, and place of worship, are eligible for up to 100 face coverings.
Local businesses with multiple storefronts are eligible for up to 200 face coverings.
Any employee or owner who picks up face coverings must provide the name of the business, agree to provide these face coverings to employees and the general public, and have posted the Leon County COVID-19 emergency ordinance notice in a highly visible location of the business.
Each local chamber, including the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, the Capital City Chamber of Commerce, and the Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce, will also distribute free cloth face coverings to local businesses in need. Starting Tuesday, July 7, free face coverings will be made available for pickup at OEV and each chamber with details listed below.
- Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
315 S. Calhoun Street, Suite 110, Tallahassee
- Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Curbside pickup only at the TalChamber Carport
300 E Park Ave., Tallahassee
- Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1028 E Park Ave., Tallahassee
- Capital City Chamber, by appointment only, call 850-329-8955
1020 Lafayette St., Suite 110, Tallahassee
Face coverings will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and businesses are eligible for one pickup at this time, but additional offerings from OEV are expected in the future.
The OEV says it will coordinate with local chambers to ensure all businesses are reached.
The Greater Tallahassee Chamber gave out more than 1,000 masks on Tuesday before noon.
