BILLINGS - Free masks will be offered to Yellowstone County businesses on Wednesday.
The Yellowstone County Economic Response and Recovery team announced the mask distribution effort Tuesday. Read the full press release below:
The Yellowstone County Economic Response and Recovery team will be hosting a FREE Mask Distribution Day on Wednesday, July 15th, 2020.
Businesses around Yellowstone County will be able to stop at four distribution sites in town and one in Laurel to pick up FREE masks for their employees and customers, as part of the “Masks Mean Business” campaign.
Masks have been donated by area hospitals and the City of Billings.
The goal is for any business that wants to encourage mask usage for their employees and customers to receive a supply for FREE.
Also, businesses will be given a free window sign to display that they are participating in the “Masks Mean Business” campaign.
Earlier this month, the Yellowstone County Economic Response and Recovery team released a strong endorsement for mask usage.
“The “Masks Mean Business” campaign takes the earlier recommendation one step further by providing masks at no charge for those businesses wanting to show they are willing to go that extra step to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Restart Co-Chairs John Brewer and Lilly Corning.
Brewer continued, “The science is definitive that masks help stop the spread of droplets during regular activity and protects those around us when we can’t social distance. Mask use is one proven step we can all choose to keep our community and our economy healthy.”
The distribution sites in Billings/Laurel include: - Big Sky Economic Development’s future home at 301 North Broadway under Skypoint (Old Montana National Bank Building) Wednesday ONLY 9a-4p - Black Dog Coffee, 1528 24th Street West - Boothill Inn(Heights), 242 East Airport Road - Soup & Such at Shiloh Crossing - Laurel Chamber of Commerce, 108 East Main Street, Laurel Masks will be available at these sites through Friday, July 17th during normal business hours.
If a business needs masks after Friday, they will be available at the BSED office at 222 North 32nd Street, Suite 200 during regular business hours.
Steve Arveschoug, YC Economic Response and Recovery team lead added, “We all want to do what is best for our community’s health as well as keep our businesses open. To do both we need to encourage mask use in our businesses for both employees and customers. We ask for the entire community to participate in wearing masks when at any local business where social distancing cannot be accommodated. Thank you to the businesses that have already adopted a strong mask policy and we encourage others to join the “Masks Mean Business” campaign.”
More information can be found at www.yceconomicrecovery.org.