AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin’s Economic Development Department is hosting a drive-thru on Wednesday Jan. 19 for small businesses to come pick up masks at no cost. This drive-thru will distribute 96,000 masks to these businesses to protect employees and customers.

“Austin’s local small businesses play a large role in stopping the spread of COVID-19, which is why we are empowering our local businesses with these resources so they can continue prioritizing the well-being of employees and customers,” said Veronica Briseño, City of Austin chief economic recovery officer. “These resources help keep businesses open and customers safe.”  

Distribution will take place between 1-4 p.m. and will be located at the City of Austin African-American Cultural & Heritage Facility at the rear of the building on Juniper Street, and at City of Austin Economic Development Department Offices, on Memory Lane near suite 550.

To ensure an efficient drive-thru process, the Economic Development Department staff will place the boxes of masks in each person’s car. Drivers are to remain in their vehicles with their trunks open.

Those in need of PPE equipment who may not work with a small business or organization in Austin may attend free PPE distribution events hosted by Austin Public Health.

While the City of Austin specified the number of masks to be distributed to businesses, it wasn't immediately disclosed whether they would be common cloth masks or N95 masks, which are now recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A White House official Wednesday said the Biden administration plans to make 400 million non-surgical N95 masks available to Americans for free by Jan. 30