Woman shares the impact COVID-19 has had on her small business

AUGUSTA, Ga. – On Jan. 6, FOX 54 told viewers the Augusta Commission approved 1.25 million dollars of CARES ACT Funds for small businesses. This is the latest step in the cities efforts to help keep small businesses afloat through the pandemic. Fox 54’s Sydni Moore spoke with a small business owner in Augusta who received one of the earlier CARES Act Funds in 2020, she tells us how the funds played a role in helping her business.

COVID-19 has had a major impact on Field Botanicals, a health and beauty business on 12th Street.

Jennifer Tinsley, Field Botanicals Owner said “We were projecting growth at about 60 percent for our second year, but then you know January, February, early March we saw that growth trends and then COVID hit and then we closed and so, of course, that bottomed out and so we had to reset.”

Like many, it was a moment she didn’t see coming.

Tinsley says she received $5,000 of CARES ACT PPP funds from the city that came at an opportune time.

“So we did retain one part-time job, and I’m happy to say we also hired someone last week too and so we’re seeing that growth now and that really helped us stay afloat, those months where we really needed help to get back on our feet.” said Tinsley

In July of 2020, the store slowly opened back up and now they are close to being completely back on track.

She says the holiday season also helped the small business pick up its feet and was happy for the support.