During Governor Mike DeWine’s daily press briefing Wednesday, he pleaded with landlords and lenders to suspend commercial rent payments and mortgages to help struggling businesses throughout the State of Ohio.

“We know that many of them are hurting,” DeWine said as he signed an executive order asking that consideration be given.

The executive order appears to be a request and does not legally enforce or require suspended payments. DeWine said he is hopeful action will be taken, citing the fact that many business owners are resilient and want the opportunity to survive following the COVID-19 crisis.

Lt. Governor Jon Husted said the goal is to stop the economic spread of foreclosures, citing the Federal Governments’ order on a 60-day moratorium on residential foreclosures.

“There is a connectivity to all of this,” Husted said before spending a few minutes explaining how most landlords have commercial loans on apartment complexes that have yet to be addressed by the federal government, leading to potential foreclosure on such properties which affects services down the line.

The State’s solution would be to have the suspended months added to the end term of the loan, essentially creating a situation were a term mortgage is simply shifted.

DeWine and Husted’s commentary, however, failed to address businesses that rent or lease their office or workspace instead of having a building or site owned with a commercial mortgage.

Husted’s overarching concern is ensuring that businesses have enough cash for employees and capital to resume operations once the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.

“We are all in this together,” Husted said before moving on to address the importance of capable manufacturing facilities to produce in-demand medical equipment and supplies.