Stimulus spending could be a small boost for Bigfork businesses

It can be stressful checking your bank account, especially with the recent economic turmoil due to the COVID-19 outbreak. But last week, many Montanans were delighted to discover an extra $1,200 deposited in their accounts thanks to the recently-passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

Generally, individuals who made $75,000 or less last year, and couples who made $150,000 or less are eligible to receive stimulus checks of $1,200. The payouts — intended to stimulate the struggling economy — decline for earners above these income levels and are not available to individuals that earned more than $99,000 last year or couples who made over $198,000.

Millions of Americans started receiving their stimulus checks last week, including a few in Bigfork, and they have a variety of plans for the extra cash.

Bigfork resident Jamie Shanks is planning on putting her stimulus check to practical use. While her plans might not be the most exciting, Shanks wants to use her payment to take care of home improvements she has “needed for a while.”

She hopes the $1,200 will cover a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system for her house, plus a new water heater and gas supply. She added she plans on buying all of these much-needed appliances locally.

Shanks and a few family members emphasized they wanted to make sure their business stays in Bigfork and supports the local economy, which has been especially hard-hit by the financial impacts of coronavirus.

According to a survey conducted in March by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, many small businesses — the kind that make up the majority of the business landscape in Bigfork — estimate they could permanently close their doors in a month because business has dried up so severely. Almost a quarter of businesses reported they were less than two months away from closing down because of coronavirus.

And Bigfork businesses, which depend heavily on seasonal tourism and the service industry, are no exception to this alarming trend. Small business owners at places like Piggyback BBQ and Riley’s Pub have expressed concerns about their ability to sustain their business in the current circumstances.

Like the Shanks, other Bigfork residents also planned on using the funds for expenses that might have otherwise been impossible to cover. But not everyone said they will be able to keep their money in the Bigfork area.

“It really helped a lot,” insisted Barbara Gordon.

Gordon has lived in Bigfork for the past four years, but she said she had started planning a move to Florida, “way before this all came about.”

The outbreak threw more than a few wrenches into her plans — cancelling her flights to Florida, rearranging her schedule and rerouting her through Seattle. Gordon said she would have liked to stay in Bigfork longer due to the uncertain circumstances, but her apartment here was already rented out.

“I had no other choice,” she lamented.

As a result, she said her stimulus check will help cover the costs of these unexpected hassles, including a hotel room during her stopover in Seattle and another room when she gets to Florida, before she can move into her new home. She also hopes to have a few dollars left over that she can put into savings once she gets through her eastbound odyssey.

Gordon is an actress who has performed for years with the Bigfork Community Players. Local performers like her have found most of their income completely cut off by coronavirus closures and restrictions. Most performers have few alternatives to supplement their incomes now that restaurants and bars are closed, concerts are cancelled for the foreseeable future and gathering to watch a show is off-limits.

That’s why some patrons of the arts hope to put their stimulus checks toward relief efforts to support local musicians.

Lori Vandell is retired and living on a fixed income, so she admitted she wasn’t sure if she is eligible for a stimulus check. But she said if the extra funds do come in, she plans on donating them to support local musicians.

And Vandell is far from the only Bigfork resident who wants to give their stimulus payments back to the local community.

Ferrin Spivey, who works for the Montana National Guard, said he is going to donate his stimulus check to a charity that supports local soldiers.

While widespread business closures have put much of the local workforce out of work, Spivey said he’s fortunate enough to continue to work full-time with the National Guard. “I’m still employed, so most of it is just for donation,” he explained. ¦