“Save Local Sonoma County Small Businesses” GoFundMe created for Sonoma County small businesses that have suffered massive harm

Hundreds of locally owned small businesses in Sonoma County have been devastated by Covid19 shutdowns over the last seven months and counting. This is leading to increasing numbers of business closures by the day.

With the hope of saving some of these businesses, a GoFundMe campaign has been established to benefit the Sonoma County small businesses that have been severely harmed by these shutdowns.

We often hear it said, “We’re all in this together.” This GoFundMe campaign gives everyone an opportunity to sincerely embrace that credo by donating even a small part of the financial burden that has been borne by local small businesses and their employees to this point.

This fund is being managed by Epicenter Sports and Entertainment, Sonoma Design Apparel, and Double Decker Lanes. Full transparency will exist in the accounting of the fund and in how the funds are disbursed. Disbursements will be made to applicant businesses based on the amount of financial loss they suffered from the shutdowns.

To avoid any conflict of interest, no funds will be disbursed to Epicenter Sports and Entertainment, Sonoma Design Apparel, Double Decker Lanes, or anyone affiliated with these three companies.

The Covid19 executive actions of Governor Newsom and the administrative actions of Sonoma County officials have inadvertently created a landscape of winners and losers within our community, with the winners being allowed to continue earning a living and the losers being thrown into catastrophic financial and emotional peril. Because of this, through no fault of their own, thousands of Sonoma County residents have suffered horrific impacts on their lives.

This GoFundMe hopes to bring some fairness and equity to this immensely challenging situation. Community members who have suffered no financial harm from the shutdowns and are in a solid financial position are invited to donate what they can to help these businesses and their employees.

Community members who have suffered financial harm from the shutdowns, but who have huge hearts and wish to help those who might be in a worse situation, are also welcomed to contribute.

The link for this fundraiser is https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-local-sonoma-county-smallbusinesses.

The fundraising goal is $2,000,000. Businesses who wish to apply for grants from this fund can email SaveSmallBusiness@visitepicenter.com for more information.