The value of shopping locally for goods and services was highlighted in Senator Joni Ernst’s visit to downtown Washington Friday. Ernst visited Marshall’s Furniture and Flooring, Stairway to the Stars, and JP’s 207. Mayor Jaron Rosien said that as a community with many small businesses, people all have to root for each other.

While at Marshall’s, the Paycheck Protection Program through the Small Business Administration was discussed. Ernst said she’d like to see the PPP again, “We are trying to do a second pass and it would be ear-[marked] for those businesses that are struggling. So, a lot of those will be your bars, your restaurants, your hotels, anything in the service and entertainment industry.”

Mike Driscoll, the third generation from his family to own and operate Marshall’s, said they took part in the PPP and did not lay off any staff. He said after a slow April, May was their busiest month. Driscoll added that there are now delays with some textiles and products, as they’re made overseas. Ernst said she’d like to see more manufacturing happening in the U.S.

At Stairway to the Stars it was mentioned that for the first time in 27 years, student enrollment is down while families wait to see how the school year progresses. Ernst said she’s hopeful for a vaccine yet this year, “I think the following effects too, we haven’t talked a lot about that yet. And I feel pretty confident that we’ll be able to deliver a vaccine later this year and other types of therapeutics. But we know that this is going to be around for a while. And so, we just need to understand there is no magical end date.”

In the past week, the Washington Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Washington have heard from at least half a dozen people considering starting new businesses in the area. As the pandemic continues, Ernst encourages people to shop locally and support small businesses.