HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Small businesss will have support dealing with the challenges of COVID-19.
Caroline Monahan, director of marketing and communications for the West Coast Chamber, spent a good chunk of Thursday morning in an education and brainstorming session on how to help the Chamber’s 1,200 members get through the COVID-19 event. (Listen to the full interview.)
She said the work will draw on lessons learned during the recession, because COVID-19 will likely affect the U.S. for about four months and they want to keep area businesses strong and resilient.
Business owners will be encouraged to be flexible with employees’ attendance.
“We understand that it’s going to have an economic impact — it is, throughout the United States, and throughout the world,” she said.
Chamber President Jane Clark is meeting with 100 chamber executives from around the U.S, a group with a direct line to the White House and the CDC, Monahan said.
She and other chamber officials are updating messages and strategizing whether to reschedule large gatherings or cancel them outright. Chamber officials are planning a flexible policy for members who have a difficult time paying dues as a consequence of business lost to COVID-19.
“It’s a very fluid situation right now,” Monahan said.”It’s changing hourly.”
Learn more at www.westcoastchamber.org or call Caroline Monahan at (616) 928-9107.
