Two Jeannette councilwomen are hoping to learn more about the needs of city businesses during a session next week.

Councilwomen Robin Mozley and Michelle Langdon said the forum planned for 6 p.m. Monday at city hall will give business owners a chance to discuss how they are doing and what could be improved.

“I’m trying to build a better partnership between city government and the business community,” Langdon said.

“I think right now, some of our businesses feel left out,” Mozley said. “They deserve to be heard. We’re ushering new businesses in here. They deserve not to be forgotten about.”

Whether or not council should help businesses by directing some of the city’s $900,000 in American Rescue Plan federal funding their way has been the topic of discussion for months. Mozley and Langdon said Monday’s meeting is not geared toward that issue.

Council plans to discuss the use of its funding during a March 22 meeting. A previous bid by Mozley to create a process for businesses to apply for grants that could be allocated from the funding was rejected by council in December.

Mozley and Langdon said they hope to learn Monday how the city’s businesses were doing before the pandemic, during it and currently, as many nationwide are experiencing supply chain and staffing issues.

“I want to know, do they feel that their businesses are viable right at the moment” and what could be a remedy if there are issues, Langdon said.

The open dialogue can lead to solutions either through city government or from outside entities, if businesses are experiencing issues, Mozley said.

“We want to hear about their needs,” she said. “We want to hear what they need from us and maybe what they want to know.”

The Monday session is open to any business in the city as well as members of the Jeannette Business Association.

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