More help on the way for small business owners

Thirty-five percent of small business owners across the United States say their business cannot survive more than three months in current conditions, according to a report released by the study group WalletHub.

Not being postponed.- - thirty-five percent of small- business owners across the- united states say their busines- cannot survive more than three- months in current conditions.

- this, according to a report - released just this week by the- study group wallet hub.

- news 25's toni miles checked in- with our mississippi gulf - coast chamber of commerce to ge- insight on how business - owners and consumers alike to - help our south mississippi- economy and conditions - and- shares information on a - new grant program for small - business owners that will - soon be launched.

- - the empty parking lots -- and local shopping plazas that- look more like a scene from - a sci-fi movie... - common sites and the new normal- - - - as the entire nation and south- mississippi stays on lockdown t- drive down the- spread of covid-19... - the virus is far-reaching - - killing people - profits and- jobs-while- driving up the unemployment rat- drastically.- < nats >- according to a wallethub study- released thursday,- mississippi has the 5th biggest- increase in unemployment- due to the coronavirus, with- more than a nearly 4,000- - percent increase in the number- of unemployment - claims from january to april of- this year.- leaders with the mississippi- gulf coast chamber of commerce- say - the paycheck protection program- will help keep many - of our small businesses from- closing - and their employees - going.- adele lyons, mississippi gulf - coast chamber of commerce - president - and ceo: " the payroll protection program, which is- mainly focused on - payroll and bringing people bac- on to work, we're hearing from- several of our- members and businesses that the- have gotten their funds.

Now- they're - ready to start implementing tha- plan.

Again, it's going to take- a little time to- get people back on."

As of tuesday, small businesses- in mississippi had received - 14,209- - - - loans totaling nearly $2 billio- dollars to help keep their- companies afloat during the - pandemic, but there are plenty- of things we can do here locall- to help out - - shop local first.

- order food to go.

- purchase gift cards from local- shops.

Adele lyons, mississippi- gulf coast chamber of commerce- president - and ceo: " buying local is supe important at this time."

Toni miles, news 25: " and additional funding and help is- on the way for our small- businesses - and it's right at- the tips of your fingers.

On- thursday, the united states - chamber of commerce announced - that on april 20th, it will be- launching its save small- business fund - program-distributing $5,000 - dollar grants to- - - - small employers throughout the- u.s. just go to - savesmallbusiness.co- m on monday to apply."

Reporting for news 25,