As Georgia small business owners and members of The National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council, we are urging all citizens of Georgia to be vigilant in supporting our community small businesses which are reeling from the impacts of COVID-19 and now widespread riots.

Our state is experiencing upheaval on countless fronts, a pandemic with massive economic implications and now rioting, both of which are hitting small businesses perhaps harder than any other group. As small business leaders in Georgia, our hearts break for everyone impacted.

In the last 4 months, small businesses—particularly those front-facing businesses serving customers in person—continue to be the most hard-hid by COVID through mandated closures, massive declines in customer demand and complex employee challenges. Now, many of these Georgia businesses are facing the physical destruction of their business with untold costs, and they need our support now more than ever.

While the loss of a business cannot be compared with the loss of life, moving on from where we are today is critical. Our small, community businesses will play a critical role in that process and we urge everyone to do what they can to help, protect and support these small businesses.

Celebrating more than 80 years in operation, NSBA is a member- driven nonpartisan organization advocating on behalf of America’s entrepreneurs. NSBA’s 65,000 members represent every state and every industry in the U.S., and we are proud to be the nation’s first small-business advocacy organization. Please visit www.nsba.biz.

The Leadership Council of the NSBA is a group of small business leaders who are the grassroots advocates for the organization