New FGCU program hopes to reassure the public that it's safe to go out and shop

New FGCU program hopes to reassure the public that it's safe to go out and shop

QUALITY PATIENT CARE HAS ALWAYSBEEN, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, OURFIRST AND FOREMOST PRIORITY."TONIGHT, WE’RE SPOTLIGHTING AGROUP WORKING TO PUT YOU AT EASEWHILE YOU GET BACK TO NORMAL.MANY LOCAL COMPANIES ARE REOPENNOW, BUT BUSINESS IS FAR FROMBOOMING.MANY PEOPLE STILL DON’T FEELCOMFORTABLE COMING OUT TO SHOP.BUT PROFESSORS AT FLORIDA GULFCOAST UNIVERSITY SAY, THEY HAVEA SOLUTION.FOX 4 REPORTER ROB MANCH ISOUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WITH THEDETAILS FOR US TONIGHT.(:26 - :31)(:49 - :54)INTRO:Today, FGCU unveiled its newprogram, called RestartSouthwest Florida.The goal is to hold businessesin our community to a highcleanliness standard, which theyhope will make people feel safecoming out to shop.And several businesses arealready jumping on board.PKG:I stopped by Severe Beauty, asalon in Fort Myers.Owner Ivane Severe says, beforethe pandemic hit, her businesswas a success story."We were supposed to celebrateour five year anniversary April1st, but we started to bequarantined, so we couldn’t doanything."Like many small businesses,Severe applied for assistance,but ran into trouble."Every time I go online, itwould reject me.

It would saypending.

It would say this siteis not up right now."Dr. Chris Westley at FGCU saysSevere’s story is not unusual.Dr. Chris Westley, FGCU BusinessCollege Dean:"Unemployment skyrocketed insouthwest Florida, whileunemployment payments,especially in this state, wereslow to materialize, and federalstimulus dollars are still beingdistributed."Without that money, Severe hadto put on her mask, and get backto work.But she’s not seeing as manycustomers as she used to.That’s where FGCU’s new programcomes in."the way that we’re trying tohelp is to try to encouragecustomers to feel comfortable tocome back into the marketagain."The university is askingbusinesses to take a pledge tofollow CDC guidelines and takepart in two online discussionswith experts."I’m excited to take the class,because I really want to knowmore about how to keep thcommunity clean, how to keep mysalon clean, and how to keep theclients clean and safe."In return, Severe and othbusiness owners will get this.A sign representing that theytake the pandemic seriously."The sign will represent thatI’m dedicated, I took pride, andI’m invested into safety,health, and the clients."TAG:And Dr. Westley says those signscould be popping up in storewindows as early as the end ofthis week.Business owners who complete theprogram will also be featured onFGCU’s Restart Florida we