St. Charles Parish, along with state, set to reopen this week

The Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge

St. Charles Parish, along with the rest of Louisiana, will begin the process of reopening businesses Friday. The move comes after nearly two months of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Stay-at-Home Order that closed a wide range of businesses.

This week will begin phase one of the reopening of the state after the coronavirus pandemic shuttered businesses in March.

Phase one allows restaurants that offer dine-in services to open if indoor table service is limited to 25% of capacity. Other businesses allowed to operate at a quarter of their capacity include gyms, movie theaters, churches, barber shops, nail salons, hair salons, bars that offer food service, casinos, museums, zoos and aquariums.

Edwards said the restrictions will remain in place for at least 21 days.

Businesses to remain closed include massage parlors, spas, bars without food permits and tattoo parlors.

St. Charles Parish President Matthew Jewell said he would like to see local government be given some flexibility in how and when reopening occurs throughout future phases.

“Small business owners know their customers and understand their business,” Jewell said. “We have been and will continue to do everything in our power to ensure they have the tools to be successful when reopening and continuing operations.”

Jewell said Economic Development Director Corey Faucheux and the parish team in the economic development department are available to assist parish small businesses.

“I encourage business owners to reach out to them,” Jewell said. “I am also encouraging small businesses to source American-made products as much as possible … now more than ever our local suppliers need our support.”

The parish economic development department’s website – www.stcharlesparish-la.gov/departments/economic-development-and-tourism – links regionally and parish specific COVID-19 resources for small businesses, Louisiana Department of Health information and small business loan information.

“Small businesses in St. Charles Parish are going to great lengths to ensure their shops are safe places for their customers, so please patronize our local businesses,” Jewell said. “After Hurricane Katrina, businesses in St. Charles Parish were some of the first to reopen in the region … they were there for us then, we need to be there for them now.”

 

About Monique Roth 919 Articles
Roth has both her undergraduate and graduate degree in journalism, which she has utilized in the past as an instructor at Southeastern Louisiana University and a reporter at various newspapers and online publications. She grew up in LaPlace, where she currently resides with her husband and three daughters.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply