Title
Authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold hearings to examine the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on professional services, specifically barbershops and beauty salons; to assess the impact of the SABER grants administered by the Commerce Department; and to explore the creation of a new specialized grant program for barbershops and beauty salons.
Body
WHEREAS, Traditionally, barbershops and beauty salons, particularly Black and Brown barbershops and beauty salons, have served as more than just cosmetic institutions. These types of businesses serve as a springboard into entrepreneurial careers; a cultural meeting place across communities; a safe space for men, women, and children; and a place where people get access to vital health, educational, social, and political resources; and
WHEREAS, At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, barbershops and beauty salons suffered tremendous economic setbacks as businesses were forced to close. These types of professional services were grossly limited due to the structure of their service delivery in open spaces with little to no ability to isolate; and
WHEREAS, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between February and April 2020, the number of jobs at employment-based salons plunged by 84 percent. Even as the industry began to gradually recover in April 2020, the Professional Beauty Association reported that only 93,000 people nationwide were on payroll at employment-based salons - down from 569,000 in February 2020 (right before the pandemic). Their report noted this was the fewest number of salon jobs in well over five decades; and
WHEREAS, In the City of Philadelphia, according to the Pennsylvania Professional Image Alliance (PPIA), more than 90 percent of stylists and barbers experienced a significant loss in business revenue, clientele, and bricks and mortar locations, and many were forced to use already limited resources to install safety mechanisms in their shops....
Click here for full text