(JTA) — The Pearlstone Conference & Retreat Center in suburban Baltimore will reduce its workforce by 75% following a roughly 90 percent drop in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 180-acre facility in Reisterstown, Maryland, will lay off roughly half its staff in the coming weeks and reduce those remaining to part-time, Pearlstone CEO Jakir Manela told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
“This has been a very difficult time for all of us,” said Manela. “Our Pearlstone staff community is very special, we are like a family. I am so inspired by the incredible talent, dedication, and love shown by our teammates throughout this process, and together we are confident that Pearlstone will survive this crisis and thrive again in the future.”
Pearlstone, which is home to a retreat center and an organic farm and is supported by The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, has sought to pivot its business in the face of the pandemic, launching a kosher farm-to-table delivery service and moving to offer smaller group getaway options that permit social distancing.
It also secured a roughly $500,000 loan from the federal Paycheck Protection Program that enabled it to avoid staff reductions even in the face of the cancellation of its popular Passover and Shavuot retreat programs.
The center hopes to host some kind of day camp this summer should public health authorities allow it.
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