Engaged couples facing thousands of dollars in loss. Small business owners facing closure and/or crippling debt. Entire sectors of the economy are being forced to pivot indefinitely without adequate support.

MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE THEIR LIVES ON HOLD & THEIR LIVELIHOOD IN DANGER

Urgently we request the creation of an Ohio Special Events Advisory Group; a task force who can speak to the unique challenges of safely reopening controlled private gatherings of 300 people or less. Private gatherings like this are impossible to categorize with any other type of commerce and the obstacles facing this group of small business owners requires first-hand experience in our field.

The wedding & event industry is worth over $60 BILLION nationally. Event production serves, employs and affects millions of Ohioans and nearly every facet of the economy, including: tourism, hospitality, real estate, food service, transportation, beauty/wellness, photography, entertainment, and more. Practically overnight an entire sector of commerce has been eliminated. The community, our clients, and the small business owners who drive this industry are being left without answers.

OHIO EVENTS CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN LIMBO INDEFINITELY.

• This is NOT a plea to indiscriminately reopen events
• We need immediate clarity on how future policy affect our ability to do business
• We need experienced leadership involved in the creation of future policy
• We are willing and able to comply with regulations
• We are equipped to assist in finding targeted solutions for a safe reopening
• We offer our expertise to supplement that of medical professionals

We need to establish a partnership between small event professionals and the Government to find a path forward that is: REALISTIC • SUSTAINABLE • SAFE