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IHRSA Advocate<\/p>\nIHRSA Advocate<\/p>\n
BOSTON, MA<\/strong> – America\u2019s health and fitness clubs, which were flourishing before the shutdown, were one of the first businesses mandated to close.<\/p>\n With near-total closures, no real opportunities to earn revenues since mid-March, and severely restricted operations for the foreseeable future, the hard-hit fitness industry requires federal relief.<\/p>\n As the voice for the health club industry in Washington D.C., IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, has continuously been sounding the alarm on the dire consequences the industry is facing since the early days of the pandemic, even before Congress took up what became the CARES Act (\u201cCoronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security\u201d Act).<\/p>\n IHRSA asks Congress for federal relief for the fitness industry so that fitness clubs and gyms across the country may continue to provide vital services (safe, secure, proven places to achieve their health and fitness goals) for their communities.<\/p>\n When the CARES Act passed in March, it provided possible assistance to many clubs through the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). However, the program failed to include all fitness industry segments and did not help even eligible club operators who could not take advantage of loans while their businesses remained closed.<\/p>\n Upon realization that the CARES Act did not grant the industry the relief needed, IHRSA and industry leaders began a fundraising campaign to increase the industry\u2019s presence and voice in Washington D.C.<\/p>\n When asked why he supported IHRSA\u2019s increased lobbying efforts, Kevin Johnson, CEO and owner of Team85 Fitness & Wellness in Bordentown, NJ, said, \u201cWe need to make sure that the economy of the health and wellness industry can rebound. We need the support of our government to protect our employees, and the actions put in place thus far are not enough.\u201d He added, \u201cWithout Congressional support, one of the most important industries in this world will wither away to nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n Now that Congress is again looking at what they can and should do to save the U.S. economy, IHRSA is proposing three categories of assistance from Congress: relief, protection, and stimulus.<\/p>\n Helen Durkin, IHRSA\u2019s executive vice president of public policy, says, \u201cWe are implementing a comprehensive approach to save health and fitness businesses in America. This approach is broad enough to cover all possible opportunities, while also specific enough to get immediate relief, protection as we reopen, and stimulus to propel the industry\u2014and the health of the country\u2014forward.\u201d<\/p>\n IHRSA\u2019s three asks of Congress are to provide the industry:<\/p>\n The IHRSA team and the association\u2019s Washington D.C., lobbyists are doing all they can to achieve the above goals. But, lobbying alone isn\u2019t always enough. Health club operators and their staff, as tax-paying, voting constituents, contribute a critical voice. If every fitness industry employee wrote letters to their Senators and Members of Congress, our industry\u2019s voice and position would be more powerful.<\/p>\n This online campaign provides a fast, easy way for everyone in the country to tell their members of Congress how important their business is to their communities, and ask for immediate and lasting relief! Share the link to the campaign with other fitness professionals to help save the industry!<\/p>\n\n
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