CEDA offering hand sanitizer to local retailers

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Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs (left) pumps hand sanitizer into a jar which will later be given to a local business. (Maggie Darnell for The Cullman Tribune)

CULLMAN, Ala. – The newest safety order issued by Governor Kay Ivey and state health officials, the Safer at Home Order, went into effect at 5 p.m. Thursday. The slow reopening of the economy’s first step involves a soft reopening of retail stores, allowing 50% of normal occupancy inside.

To help smooth the reopening process for local small retailers, the Cullman Economic Development Agency (CEDA) and Cullman City Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism, under the guidance of Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs and the Cullman City Council, put together jars of hand sanitizer for the retailers to use.

CEDA Retail and Workforce Development Manager Susan Eller said all supplies used to make the jars were either made locally or in Alabama, saying “We’re trying to support Alabama companies at this time.”

Originally, the sanitizer jars were going to be given to local small retailers and restaurants, but Eller noted that has since changed, saying, “We’re working on something (new) for the restaurants.”

The sanitizer came from Back Forty Beer Company out of Gadsden, with the supplies to make the sanitizer jars coming from Cullman.

Shared Eller, “We’re excited the mayor and council were able to provide small retailers with the tools to help with the process of reopening. This has been a difficult time for all and we just want to do something to help adapt to our new normal.”

Along with the sanitizer, businesses also received signs printed by Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism that say, “We’ll get through this Cullman,” to display outside or in a window.

Businesses that received sanitizer are also welcome to return to the CEDA office to refill their sanitizer jars while supplies last.

Eller also noted that local city businesses are welcome to pick up the sanitizer and a sign at the CEDA office, which is located at 201 First Ave. SE.

If you’re a local business owner and have questions or you want to find out if you’re eligible to receive sanitizer, call Eller at 256-775-7228.

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A close-up of the hand sanitizer the Cullman Economic Development Agency assembled for local retailers (Maggie Darnell for The Cullman Tribune)