Concho Valley News

Arguing that a one-size solution does not fill all in a state of diverse and varied as Texas, San Angelo officials are seeking more autonomy in reopening the city’s economy.

Gov. Greg Abbott has signed an executive order that allows retail stores, restaurants and theaters to reopen at 25% occupancy. Businesses such as barbers shops, nail salons and fitness centers will be able to open during May. 

In the meantime, San Angelo Chamber of Commerce President Walter Koenig feels the timeline for Houston, Dallas or Austin does not necessarily meet San Angelo’s situation or best interests. He cited the Tom Green County’s 44 positive COVID-19 test results in comparison to Dallas County’s 3,105 entering the final week of April.

“The request that we’ve made on behalf of the West Texas area is to not have a one-size-fits-all program that includes all of the I-35 corridor metropolises in the same discussion with some of the smaller communities,” Koenig said to FOX West Texas. “We have different types of challenges and we’re definitely at different stages of the recovery process. San Angelo, with relatively few cases and a very large and capable hospital capacity, should not be treated the same way as Dallas, Austin or some of the other, more densely affected areas.”

Koenig praised the governor's actions to date and said local government will continue to follow the state’s directives while seeking greater freedom in how it is able to react to the coronavirus at the local level. He said officials have been proactive in working with the guidelines. 

In terms of keeping businesses afloat, chamber officials meet with elected officials constantly in addition to organizations focused on economic development in an effort to ensure businesses not only survive the coronavirus but have the opportunity to recover as the economy reopens. 

That effort includes helping with federal funding including small business loans through the Payment Protection Program, other funding mechanisms, mentoring and providing an avenue of communication the FOX West Texas reported.