Janice Donaldson, regional director of the Florida Small Business Development Center at University of North Florida. Provided. As small businesses begin to reopen weeks after drastic COVID-19 shutdowns in Florida, many owners are finding themselves navigating a mine field of issues they’ve never had to deal with before. Janice Donaldson , regional director for the Florida Small Business Development Center at University of North Florida, is using the “COVID-19 preparedness plan template and instructions” from Minnesota to help small business readjust to revitalizing operations all over North Florida. Democratic Gov. Tim Waltz ‘s plan has no binding influence over Florida, Donaldson said, but it provides a coherent approach to reopening a business during a pandemic. It guides businesses to think about and explain the necessary polices, practices and conditions to meet Centers for Disease Control social distancing guidelines. “It’s not just thinking about this from the owner’s standpoint or the manager’s standpoint. It’s communicating all of this to the employees and training the employees,” Donaldson said. “It’s thinking about the frequency of how often the bathroom has to be cleaned. It’s the nitty-gritty of doing this versus just the general.” There have been some general guidelines issued in Florida such as continued social distancing and keeping restaurant capacity at 25% along with wearing masks and regular hand washing as businesses start to reopen. But Donaldson said small business owners are still faced with frustrating choices. “Many small businesses still have some concern how they’re going to do that [reopen]. You almost need a business plan for reopening,” said Donaldson, who’s organization oversees small business development for 18 North Florida counties and handles about 1,700 clients. Details are limited in Gov. Ron DeSantis ‘ reopening plan. The Minnesota plan includes several recommendations: — Infection prevention measures. — Prompt identification and […]
