Business leaders, county join for recovery

How will Chester County businesses recover from the losses suffered in the five months since the coronavirus pandemic became present in the county? That question is being taken up by members of the county government’s Business Task Force in a two-part plan focusing first on stabilizing the county’s economy before moving forward on future efforts to grow in the post-COVID-19 world.

According to a press release issued by the county commissioners’ office on Friday, members of the county’s COVID-19 Business Task Force, selected as the Economic Cabinet, met last week with county industry leaders across a wide spectrum of enterprises to begin addressing the county’s efforts for economic recovery necessitated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group, led by county Planning Commission Executive Director Brian O’Leary and officials from the Chester County Economic Development Council, the private, nonprofit, economic development organization headquartered in Uwchlan, decided on the two-phase scope of the recovery effort, under the banner of the county’s “Restore Chesco” toolkit meant to guide the county through the re-opening effort set in motion by the state in April.

“Our COVID-19 Business Task Force took action early-on in this pandemic to prepare our businesses and our residents for the re-opening phase, which came into effect in June,” said commissioners Chairwoman Marian Moskowitz in the release. “As we continue to support our business community, it is time to focus on the next step – repairing what has been lost by businesses, helping them to continue to weather the storm so that we can move forward to grow.”

Phase 1 of the economic recovery plan focuses on short-term strategies for the 21 industry sectors identified on the Restore Chester County website. Industry leaders from each of those 21 sectors — ranging from agriculture to manufacturing, from entertainment and tourism to construction, and from restaurants and bars to retail establishments — will identify short-term, actionable steps needed to stabilize businesses and the economy here.

Phase 2 will be a larger, broader long-term recovery plan, addressing overall recovery from the eco

nomic impacts of COVID-19 and how the county can further strengthen its economic viability in the future, according to the release.

The county has hired two consulting firms to support the next phase of economic recovery. 4ward Planning, a national land use planning firm with offices in Philadelphia, New York and Pittsburgh, will provide a local perspective to economic development plans, while TIP Strategies of Austin, Texas, which helped to create and drive Chester County’s economic development strategy VISTA 2025, will offer a national perspective on economic development issues.

Members of the Economic Cabinet who are working with O’Leary and the Economic Development Council include county administrators, the Chester County Department of Community Development, the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, and the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau.

Plans for the Phase 1 recovery include a survey of businesses and organizations addressing current issues and concerns, as well as longer-term issues including impacts of on-going national trends on businesses and plans for the future.

Results of the survey, combined with roundtable talks with the 21 industry sector leaders will help to generate the list of short term actions needed to stabilize the county’s economy.

Said Josh Maxwell, commissioners vice chairman:

“We pledge to continue to support our businesses and help them to navigate through this pandemic, and this economic recovery plan will do that.”

— Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline

“We know that so many businesses are teetering on the edge right now because of this pandemic, so this next step is focused on helping them all to stabilize. We are working through Phase 1 quickly, with the right partners, consultants and leaders to identify and begin taking action on those steps needed to stabilize.”

Commissioner Michelle Kichline added, “Chester County’s strength in planning gives us a tremendous advantage in moving forward economically. We pledge to continue to support our businesses and help them to navigate through this pandemic, and this economic recovery plan will do that. The stepped approach – steady the course now, then move forward and grow – will help us to reshape our robust economy, in a postCOVID-19 world.”

For more information, visit the county’s website, www.chesco.org.