“Today is a conversation about an action-oriented, comprehensive plan that will allow our city to be in a strong position as (Governor Eric Holcomb )and (Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box) make their decisions around recovery and reopening. Our City of Fishers will be ready.”
That’s how Mayor Scott Fadness opened his Thursday morning news conference announcing a plan to have Fishers set and ready once state officials gradually allow the business community to open up. The mayor says he will dip into the city’s cash reserves to finance an aggressive COVID-19 testing program, allowing businesses the opportunity to reopen and remain open by combining public health with the city’s economic health.
The testing program, projected to provide 200-300 tests per day, will be financed with about $2.5 million from cash reserves. The city will partner with Community Health and Mid-America Labs to conduct the tests. Fadness expects the testing program to get underway late next week.
The mayor also plans to establish a city health department, using authority granted second-class cities, such as Fishers, under state statute.
The mayor will establish rapid-response teams for any business that, once open, deals with a COVID-19 outbreak.
Fishers plans to partner with the OneZone Chamber of Commerce to administer a $500,000 fund aimed at startup money for local business operations that have been shuttered.
Fadness envisions helping opening businesses with safe practices from health experts to provide confidence for business owners, employees and customers that the businesses are as safe as possible.
The mayor emphasized that at this time, it is critical to join public health and economic growth in dealing with the current challenges.
The city has established a new web site, FishersRecovery.com, with more details on the city’s plans.
(Editor’s Note: Yes, I know I had announced the end of the local news blog. But since meetings and news conferences and meetings are being held remotely, I do occasionally participate. Plus, this is a very big announcement and believe all should know about this story)