MADISON, WI (WTAQ) — The impact COVID-19 related closures and restrictions have had on the local economy are becoming even clearer.
Several more area businesses closed their doors permanently over the past week, and that means more employees filtering in to an unemployment system that’s lagging months behind for some.
Governor Tony Evers was pressed on this situation during a press call on Tuesday, saying the federal government needs to step up to help small businesses.
“In the beginning of the pandemic congress was actively involved with several large programs that helped those businesses,” Evers said. “We need that federal money.”
Evers has issued, since the onset of the pandemic, a series of orders placing restrictions on publicly accessible businesses like bars, restaurants, and retail outlets. His most recent order capped capacity at such establishments to 25% of normal.
Among the recent closures are Aunt Ethel’s Adult Arcade in De Pere and the Greenwich Bistro in Bellevue.
The unemployment system in Wisconsin is reporting delays of up to seven months for some people applying for unemployment benefits. Some, who have been unemployed since the beginning of the pandemic, have yet to see a single cent from the state. It was these delays that led to the departure of former Workforce Development Secretary Caleb Frostman last month after Governor Evers asked for his resignation.
“We have a change of leadership and I feel very strongly about that change,” said Evers. “They’re really working hard to change the system as they go along.”
Frostman was replaced by Amy Pechacek, the deputy secretary of the state’s Department of Corrections.
“Our Department of Workforce Development is doing a yeoman’s work as far as trying to catch up, and we feel we’re going to be in a very good place in the near future,” said Evers.
The unemployment system has been plagued by data entry issues and problems with the computer program used to manage it.
