Coronavirus News

Dallas hosts online town hall for small businesses affected by COVID-19

Small businesses are feeling the brunt.

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It's hard to say who's been most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but small businesses are definitely right up there at the top of the list.

Small businesses are the bread and butter of our economy, keeping lots of people employed, but often on margins too tight to withstand a calamity as big as the coronavirus.

The federal government is currently working on a $2 trillion stimulus package that includes proposals to help small businesses such as forgiveable loans, payroll tax credits, and expansions in unemployment insurance.

On a local level, the city of Dallas has scheduled a "TeleTown Hall" meeting for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, which will be held on March 26 at 6 pm.

According to a release, during this TeleTown Hall, Dallas City Council members and City staff will provide updates on resources available to small and local businesses.

Participants can register before the call by clicking on the following link: bitly.com/businessresourcemeeting.

Residents can also listen in live on the call by dialing 1-888-400-1932 (English) or 1-888-400-9342 (Spanish). It's an opportunity to spend your lockdown learning new things about city government.

This is not an official meeting of the city's Ad Hoc Committee on COVID- 19 Economic Recovery and Assistance. No official action will be taken.

Residents are encouraged to visit dallasecodev.org/562/COVID-19-Info-for-Small-Businesses to access current resources regarding the ongoing efforts at the City of Dallas to assist local and small businesses with COVID-19 recovery.

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Fun times in the city

Dallas swings a spot on new list of most fun cities in U.S. for 2024

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Dallas just wants to have fun, according to WalletHub's new ranking of the most fun cities in America in 2024.

The annual report ranked Dallas No. 31 out of 182 U.S. cities.

WalletHub's experts compared each city using 65 metrics to determine their level of "fun." Metrics were split among three main categories: entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and cost.

According to the study's findings, Dallas was 24th nationally in the category for nightlife and parties, and ranked No. 39 in the "entertainment and recreation" category. That may be especially alluring for anyone who wants to explore the city's vast entertainment opportunities (especially during the holiday season), family-friendly recreational activities, top dining destinations, and more. Plus, Dallas is home to entertainment juggernauts like the State Fair of Texas and TopGolf.

Dallas performed poorly in the overall cost category, earning No. 114 out of all 182 cities. However, this category mostly compares flat costs rather than affordability based on local cost of living.

Potential new Dallasites should do their research before deciding to move here, rather than basing their decision on short trips and vacations alone. But we won't blame them for wanting to live in one of the best cities in the world.

"The top cities offer affordable options for year-round fun for their residents, which is good for residents’ wallets and their mental health," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo in the report.

Austin (No. 6) and Houston (No. 9) were the only Texas cities to earn a spot in the top 10 most fun U.S. cities list. Austin moved up one spot from last year, while Houston made a 10-place jump.

Other fun-filled Texas cities that made it in the top 100 are El Paso (No. 53), Fort Worth (No. 55), Plano (No. 78), Arlington (No. 79), and Corpus Christi (No. 99).

The top 10 most fun U.S. cities are:

No. 1 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 2 – Orlando, Florida
No. 3 – Miami, Florida
No. 4 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 5 – New Orleans, Louisiana
No. 6 – Austin, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 9 – Houston, Texas
No. 10 – New York City, New York

Cities were evaluated based on the number of attractions per capita, nightlife activities per capita, the average prices for eating at a restaurant or buying a movie ticket, and more. Data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, The Trust for Public Land, and the Council for Community and Economic Research, among others.

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