City offering free PPE to businesses
HUNTINGTON – Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14, the City of Huntington will offer free personal protective equipment (PPE) to businesses with 100 or fewer employees.
A dedicated phone line (304-696-5536) has been established and will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for businesses to place orders. Disposable masks, hand sanitizer, packages of disinfectant wipes, individual sanitizing wipes, gloves and protective eyewear are available.
Once the order is fulfilled, a representative from the City’s Finance Department will call the business to notify them that it can be picked up in the Mayor’s Office at City Hall, 800 5th Ave. The City will distribute free PPE to businesses while supplies last.
This will be the second time this year that the City of Huntington has distributed free PPE to businesses. In early June, Mayor Steve Williams, City Council members and city employees delivered PPE to more than 100 small businesses at no cost to help them emerge from the shutdown. This came at a crucial time when PPE was difficult to obtain.
“Helping one another through struggling times is the true Huntington spirit,” Mayor Williams said. “Our businesses have had to make significant changes to their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. City Council and I are committed to doing everything we can to provide them with financial relief and support.”
Williams will also propose to City Council on Tuesday evening, Oct. 13, eliminating the Business and Occupation Tax for retail shops and restaurants during the months of October, November and December as well as eliminating the $20 per month refuse fee for all residents during those months. Council members will vote on both proposals Oct. 26. The Business and Occupation Tax and refuse fee was already eliminated from April 1 through September 30 of this year.