Teamwork key to reviving local business

As the region moves into what the governor has labeled the green phase of reopening, customers are returning to businesses that had been shuttered for months.

Businesses are reopening to a new reality, one in which restrictions and changes are necessary as our communities remain in the grip of the coronavirus. The hard work and sacrifice — and patience — of all citizens to get to this point must not be thrown away with careless disregard.

As businesses reopen, things look different. Restaurants and bars are allowed to let people sit inside, but with reduced seating capacity; salons and fitness centers must schedule differently, institute new procedures and invest in the time and labor of intensive cleaning between customers.

Retail stores still need to monitor the number of people inside. Disinfection and deep cleaning will become a part of the routine — and an added expense — to small businesses, even as they seek to recover from lost revenue of the past three-plus months since the March 15 shutdown of Pennsylvania.

Counties, organizations and chambers of commerce are recognizing that small businesses need support.

The counties of our region have established funds to channel economic development dollars to small businesses to help cover costs of payroll and mitigate financial losses.

Local foundations have created funding sources for economic recovery. And the businesses themselves have gotten creative and joined to share ideas, bring back customers and demonstrate the solidarity of community by giving back to nonprofit organizations. Some examples:

• Businesses in West Chester have started a Hearts campaign, selling T-shirts and giving the proceeds to organizations that help those in need. “The hearts show solidarity among the business owners and show that they will get through this together,” said Diane Herrin, West Chester mayor.

• In Berks County, commissioners are hosting roundtables that give small business owners a forum to share ideas and present their challenges. The outreach demonstrates the range of tactics business are using and shows customers the emphasis on safety.

• Chester County Commissioners have created a “comprehensive online toolkit” to make informational resources available to businesses. RestoreChesterCounty.org offers guidelines specifically designed for local businesses by category.

• Montgomery County Commissioners established a Montco Strong grant fund to direct $5 million in economic development funds to small businesses,

Nonprofits around the region are working with business groups to create fundraising opportunities. One example is in Kennett Square, Chester County, where the Square Roots Collective is teaming with the business group Historic Kennett Square to provide grants of up to $10,000 to local businesses.

“A community is an ecosystem,” says Square Roots Collective founder Mike Bontrager. “When one sector is weak, everyone suffers — but when all are healthy, everyone can thrive.”

As businesses reopen, there are what Bontrager calls silver linings. Nonprofits and business groups that previously worked in silos are coordinating and working together for the greater good, he says. And “people are seeing how important healthy businesses are to our local economy. They provide jobs, vibrancy, and a sense of place. We need thriving shops and restaurants in order to have a thriving [community] ecosystem.”

Those silver linings hold the key to the future, to economic recovery and steps toward the return to prosperity in a much more health-conscious environment.

As the region reopens, businesses are establishing new ways of serving customers that provide safety and maintain profitability.

This is the time to recognize the value of small business to that “ecosystem” of every community. The engine of small business that drives local towns needs customer support.

This is the time to shop local and patronize neighborhood and downtown businesses – with patience and care as everyone navigates new territory, moving forward together to see communities come back and thrive.