It happened quickly.
It was business as usual with moderate rumblings in the background of things happening nationally, in bigger cities, certainly not here.
Then, under the swift guidance of the Commonwealth’s top executive and healthcare leaders, businesses were forced to make a massive change that they never saw coming and that they never could have prepared for.
Following a series of recommendations and closures, all businesses were forced to evaluate their new status in the economy, essential or non-essential, and then quickly determine if and how they could move forward.
For some, the mandates forced them to close their business and lay off or furlough employees. For others, embracing technology to keep employees connected meant that some business function could continue. Some were able to continue serving their customers, just in different ways.
“No one had in their crisis planning how to prepare for a pandemic and closing of their business,” says Sandra Wilson, President of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce.
As the organization tasked with looking out for businesses in the Paducah area, Sandra says she and her team knew early on that with their member businesses facing changes, they must adapt as well.
“The Chamber staff quickly shifted focus from our current plan of work to how we could help our Chamber members, especially our small businesses, as well as our community and all businesses to respond to this pandemic,” she says.
Knowing that business leaders would need to steel their emotional resolve to get through this crisis, the Chamber’s first step was to provide emotional guidance and support through conference calls with local counselors.
“This is a challenging time for businesses. Many of our businesses are entrepreneurs who have opened their dream business and are working hard to support their families, their employees and their families and to serve our community. Being asked to shutter their business and put their livelihoods on pause is hard,” she says.
It was a move that Sandra says even she has garnered strength from personally.
“I have really leaned on those five tips from Katie Englert at Compass Counseling to get me through, and I have shared these with others: 1) Take care of yourself; 2) Stick to the facts; 3) Keep your thinking in check and take a second to think about what is in your control and what is not; 4) Step away and just have a laugh; and 5) Stay connected to your people,” she says.
The Chamber knew that, in addition to emotional support, their member-businesses would need information and resources readily available to them as they worked quickly to adapt and change their business model. They rallied their employees and resources to fill that need.
“We realized how important it was for our businesses to have accurate information on resources available and the Chamber employees all shifted to new roles to address those needs,” Sandra says.
In addition to ongoing webinars and available online trainings, the Chamber launched a COVID-19 Resources page on their website. The page, which is updated daily with new, relevant information, is quickly becoming a source that many business leaders turn to.
“I have used the Covid-19 Resources webpage on multiple occasions to better understand the ‘what is available to me’ as a small business owner, and I have referred other small business owners there, even out-of-state clients who were struggling to find and understand resources that are available,” says Chad Beyer, President of i5 design group, and current Chamber Board Chair.
Housed on the webpage, is a list of open businesses and the hours that customers can use their services. It might seem simple, but it is actually a part of yet another way that Sandra says the Chamber is providing support to their member-businesses.
“Although we may be doing business differently these days, many businesses in Paducah and McCracken County and our area are still open for business,” she says.
“We promote to buy local, shop local, and we will continue that focus.”
In the early days of the crisis, Sandra says she sees a lot to be proud of from Paducah area businesses.
“Businesses quickly adapted to a new way of doing business or adjusted to having to completely close, and everyone has had a positive attitude of ‘we are in this together’ and ‘we ‘will get through this’,” she says.
“We have seen a lot of creativity put into place.”
“Once we get through this, I believe businesses will have learned so much about themselves and new ways of doing business – that they will come back stronger than ever,” she says.
Speaking of the future, whatever it may hold, Sandra and the Chamber are busy preparing their members for that too.
“We are taking steps now to prepare for a rapid recovery process and we are working with our community partners to identify what that recovery looks like and how we address it.”
“We believe this community has the ability and the ‘can do’ willingness to build our economy back to stronger than ever. We will rally to support each other, and the Chamber will do our part to help push that rally!”
Until the recovery is complete, Sandra says the Chamber will continue to find ways to support businesses in our area, just the same as she sees the community coming together to do in this critical time.
“Now more than ever, it is crucial that we are united as a community to provide support to each other.”
The Chamber is Here to Help!
President Sandra Wilson says the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce is available to assist our business community at any time. Please visit their website at www.paducahchamber.org, call 270-443-1746 or email at info@paducahchamber.org with questions.
