April 21, 2020
The Honorable Mike DeWine
Governor, State of Ohio
77 S. High Street, 30th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Dear Governor DeWine,
On behalf of our six organizations, and the thousands of Ohio businesses that we
collectively represent, we write to you today regarding the dire state of Ohio’s economy
and the urgent need to re-open businesses.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging on many fronts, threatening both lives
and livelihoods. Throughout this process, our organizations have applauded the
decisions you have made to make public health the focal point of the state’s response.
Your actions have undoubtedly saved countless lives. As we plan for the next phase in
our fight against this virus, it is important that we strike the appropriate balance between
protecting public health and the well-being of Ohio’s economy.
Yesterday, our organizations were briefed by JobsOhio President & CIO, J.P. Nauseef,
about the current economic landscape of our state. The economic statistics are
alarming. Ohio continues to experience the fastest increase in unemployment in its
history. By May 1, unemployment claims will likely exceed one million. Small businesses
are facing irreversible devastation and bankruptcies under prolonged ‘non-essential’
stay-at-home scenarios, and we continue to lose between $10-20 billion in GDP for
every month the economy operates under “essential only” status.
It is alarming to know that we are losing more jobs per day than were created all of last
year. And even if the economy were to open up tomorrow, that devastating trend would
continue. Increasingly, small businesses that are closed will never reopen their doors
again. According to the Federal Reserve, many of Ohio’s 900,000 small businesses
have less than two weeks left of cash on hand. The U.S. Small Business
Administration’s statistics show 43% of Ohio’s small businesses come from the retail
and service sectors, which are the segments of our state’s economy most devastated
by this crisis. Supply chains in our state are being destroyed. Furthermore, the

 economic consequences from this crisis will have serious ramifications on the
population’s health. Looking at past crises for insight, it is safe to assume we will see an
uptick in drug abuse and overdoses, domestic violence, and suicides. Research
suggests that rural economies suffer more and recover slower from these economic
disruptions.
These statistics, together with anecdotes we hear from our collective membership,
provide a compelling case to get our state back to work sooner rather than later. On
May 1, seven states are currently set to re-open their economies. We have no illusion
that things will go back to “normal.” We believe our state is capable of a deliberate,
phased opening in a closely controlled manner with strict protocols that enable a
responsible reopening where employee and customer safety is first.
We appreciate your leadership during this public health crisis and urge you to reopen
the economy, in a phased approach, starting on May 1.
Sincerely,
Ohio Business Roundtable

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association

The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants

Ohio Farm Bureau

NFIB - Ohio

CC:

Lt. Governor Jon Husted
Senate President Larry Obhof
House Speaker Larry Householder