FISHERS - Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness announced his plans for small businesses and residents once the state's stay-at-home order is listed.
As part of his plan, Fadness says the Fishers Fire Department will begin providing free COVID-19 tests to any Fishers resident who wants one. He is also asking the Fishers City Council to create a health department for the city.
“For far too long municipalities and mayors have only focused on the infrastructure, public safety, and economic development of their cities,” said Mayor Fadness. “In today’s economy, it is critical we add population health to this list. Fishers has benefited by the leadership of Governor Holcomb and State Health Commissioner Dr. Box in taking this pandemic seriously from the outset. My hope is that our efforts announced today will further support their initiative while ensuring the health and safety of our residents in providing a roadmap toward health and economic recovery.”
For small businesses, Fadness says he will implement a number of programs, including a loan program that will help them re-open and provide access to COVID-19 testing for their employees and customers.
Fadness unveiled his six-part plan for ensuring the long-term health and safety of residents in response to the eventual lifting of statewide stay-at-home orders.
- Establish Fishers Health Department
- Provide free COVID-19 testing for residents
- Provide testing access for businesses
- Access real-time data analytics and contact tracing capabilities
- Deploy Rapid Response Teams to assist businesses in safety and health protocols
- Provide extensive resources and training to the business community
“We are being tested daily by the COVID-19 disease,” said Fadness. “As Mayor, it is my job to make sure we protect the public safety, economy, and infrastructure of our city. In this uncertain time, it has become abundantly clear that my administration must take clear and comprehensive action to create an environment that inspires confidence for residents, consumers, employees, and employers. The launch of the Fishers Health Department goes beyond a localized approach to COVID-19 but extends into the future where we can better support our community.”
Fadness also announced a comprehensive plan for supporting the business community in Fishers through new programs:
- Provide testing, tracing, and data to businesses from COVID-19 test results to inform business decisions
- Launch the Start-Up and Recovery Loan (SURL) program to assist businesses in the added costs associated with re-opening operations
- Launch the Fishers Health Department’s Safe Practice Verification program which provides consulting to businesses to practice safe health protocols for employees and customers
- Establish the Business Recovery Center to provide virtual assistance to small businesses to navigate Federal and local loan opportunities as well as free six-month memberships to Launch Fishers for new members
- Introduce the Launch Fishers Entrepreneurship Program that provides a free six-month membership to Launch Fishers and free mentoring services
- Continued stay in temporary signage restrictions
- Delay in quarterly commercial stormwater payments through July 20.
“These actions are in response to the eventual lifting of the current stay-at-home order so we can be prepared,” said Fadness. “It is important that residents and businesses do not interpret this as a lifting of any current stay-at-home orders but instead a proactive plan to be ready for when Governor Holcomb and Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Box deem it is safe for us to do so.”
For more information about the plans visit FishersRecovery.com.
The City of Fishers will also hold an emergency City Council meeting on Friday, April 24 to present the Fishers Recovery Plan and seek approval for the establishment of the Fishers Health Department and funding for the program.
