Survey: Most UC Businesses Think They Can Social Distance

The Biz Foundry found most Upper Cumberland businesses surveyed believe they can meet government standards for reopening.

Some 140 businesses responded to the survey conducted this week on behalf of Governor Bill Lee.

“We have a really good grasp on the rural areas since we serve the entire Upper Cumberland region,” Director of Operations Tiffany Anton. “We can really get a good snapshot of what is happening here in Upper Cumberland rural Tennessee.”

According to the results, 86.5 percent of participants believe they can meet social distancing recommendations if they reopened. 91 percent said they could modify their business practices to meet health standards.

Business leaders surveyed are worried about people returning to work. 57 percent of the respondents said it may be difficult to compete with the current unemployment benefits on the table.

Anton said the two surveys include questions about Paycheck Protection Loans and reopening. A total of 120 respondents answered that part of the survey. 72 percent of the Upper Cumberland businesses that responded have applied for Paycheck Protection loans. 28 percent had been approved, as of Monday.

The Biz Foundry is one of the six entrepreneur centers surveying businesses for Launch Tennessee.

“Tennessee Launch President Margaret Dolan has asked us to collect all this data to provide a really good understanding of businesses not only in rural areas, but also in cities,” Anton said.

Anton said Dolan sits on the Governor’s Economic Recovery Team. She will compile the results of all six centers and present them to Governor Lee.