Underscoring leaders’ faith in local business

The past 10 months have been full of ups and downs for businesses, their employees and communities dealing with a global pandemic.

Initially, there were closures of businesses deemed non-essential in Pennsylvania, followed by safe reopening as Pennsylvania maneuvered Gov. Tom Wolf’s red, yellow and green phased reopening plan. Then, as COVID cases started to rise again across the region, another reduction in how businesses can operate followed.

There have been job losses, grants and loan programs to assist businesses and community-driven efforts to keep the focus on the region’s small businesses and their importance to the economy.

The pandemic forced businesses and the community to pivot — to change the way places do business, the way people work and the things consumers expect.

Amid that upheaval, optimism centering on change marked the replies of local business leaders when asked recently what they foresee in 2021. Their answers showed a faith in local business to be resilient as a new year begins.

“2021 will be a test of our shared commitment to one another and the next steps on a journey to build a more resilient, inclusive, and vibrant economy,” said Dave Zellers, Montgomery County director of commerce. “Everyone and every organization has a role to play in the challenging and rewarding work ahead.

“The thoughtful exercise of choosing to shop local, of committing to #TakeoutTuesday or similar initiatives, and of being charitable are simple acts that make a big difference for people, businesses, and communities. For businesses in our county, finding opportunities to reinvigorate and develop new local and regional supply chains are paramount; sourcing resources and materials locally means creating local jobs and economic activity that will propel the recovery at a ferocious pace.

“Let’s all start 2021 with a shared commitment to shopping local, hiring local, sourcing local, masking up, and lifting our neighbors and communities to new heights,” Zellers said.

Guy Ciarrocchi, president & CEO, Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, pointed out the support and value local chambers offer. “Our chamber will use every avenue at our disposal and will not rest until no one is left behind. We are neither optimistic nor pessimistic. We are realistic. We know that path forward, and we are looking for allies to join our commitment to regrowth and individual opportunity and liberty,” he said.

Pam Kelly, president and CEO, The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Montgomery County, added: “Regardless of how the business was impacted, we continue to see the resilience and determination displayed by the owners and staff. They have adapted by increasing the use of social media to remain relevant, offering curbside, take-out, and delivery service. New partnerships with other merchants resulted in order to take advantage of an extended reach that came from collaborative marketing.”

And, Marian Moskowitz, Chester County Commissioners chairwoman, said, “As we head into 2021, I am inspired by the unique new ways our businesses have adapted to the pandemic society. The pandemic has forced many businesses out of their comfort zone to try new techniques and find new ways of operating to help promote social distancing and less contact. I am incredibly hopeful that in a post-pandemic world we can learn from these new techniques and provide a better and more efficient way of doing business in Chester County.”

Mike Bowman, president & CEO, Valley

Forge Tourism & Convention Board, said, “Our tourism and hospitality industry has been bent, yes, but not broken. And, it will bounce back. Because true strength and resiliency develops in surviving a crisis. In Montco, we’re more than just strong. We’re tough. We endure hardship. We overcome adversity.”

Overcoming adversity. Resilient in tough times. Creative in solving problems. “Bent, but not broken.”

The business leaders outlook for 2021 offers an optimism rooted in the enterprise they see — and that we support — in the locally-owned businesses of our region. There are many questions as we begin 2021, and we realize uncertainty is a part of living with and getting beyond COVID-19.

We share business leaders’ optimistic outlook and faith in our communities and our businesses to come back stronger than ever.