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Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce
Osceola County businesses are learning to pivot their plans in the recovery efforts in reopening following the statewide shutdown in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Imagination and ingenuity, along with mandated and recommended safety measures, have each played a role for business owners navigating this unprecedented situation.
“One of the things I’ve felt consistently is how proud I am of the business community, how creative and innovative they’ve become,” said Kelly Trace, owner of Reach, a Kissimmee-based marketing firm. “The hardest thing to do would be to have to close your door and shut down.”
Trace cited local restaurants whose owners went from serving tables of patrons to focusing on take-out, delivery and, in some cases, becoming a mini grocer offering thenhard-to-find items such as meat, hand sanitizer and toilet paper.
“It was really cool to see that,” Trace said.
While many businesses were forced to close in March during the statewide shutdown, local leaders, professionals and governments are all working together to insure a successful recovery occurs.
Osceola County reported a 22.9 percent unemployment rate due to data released July 17 by the state. The county has led the state in unemployment claims in June and July.
Despite these numbers, Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce President John Newstreet is encouraged by the uptick in consumer confidence, how businesses are working to implement safety measures and the possible return of tourism with the opening of Walt Disney World.
Newstreet also praised Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to keep the state open despite the rise in cases, although Newstreet acknowledged the statewide closure was done “for the right reasons.”
“From the business perspective, [the economy] is not as good as we want it to be but it’s not as bad as it could be,” he said in terms of unemployment. “I do think we’ve bottomed out.”
Newstreet joined forces with the St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce and local governments, business associations and other stakeholders to create the Osceola Back 2 Work Task Force and start the We’ve Opened Safely campaign.
This campaign, which can be found at weveopenedsafely.com, aims to inject confidence in the local economy through the marketing of businesses adhering to safety guidelines as well as to assist local businesses with their unique needs to aid in recovery efforts.
The website is a one-stop shop, allowing businesses to register with the initiative, find guidelines, link up with other companies and apply for grants and loans to assist with the costs of installing and purchasing equipment such as plexiglass for registers or masks for employees.
“This much I know: the St. Cloud business community has come out punching and fighting,” said Dirk Webb, St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce president. “We have full confidence that we will come out of this and be OK.”
Newstreet encourages business owners to visit the website just to see if they qualify for the CARES Act Osceola County Emergency Economic Relief Grant Program in addition to the federal Paycheck Protection Program.
“It really is immediate help,” he said.
Additionally, both chambers offer online resources and webinars for business owners on a variety of topics.
The Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce hosts weekly virtual meetings on topics such as business liability, available loan programs, safety protocols and consumer confidence. They also developed a weekly COVID-19 newsletter, which is separate from their bi-weekly chamber newsletter.
St. Cloud’s chamber partnered with the city on a four-part series focusing on mental health concerns and stress relief, which can be found on their Facebook page, and offers a business Toolkit on their website.
Both chamber presidents link the success of economic recovery to the businesses and public’s commitment to mask wearing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend cloth face coverings in public spaces to combat the spread of the virus.
“This really does transcend politics,” Newstreet said. “The chamber is trying to encourage people to follow facts, not fear.”
Webb said he and others at the chamber wear masks to events while Newstreet said he’s worn a mask while eating at a local restaurant but he’s also shaken hands with others.
Newstreet expressed wanting the public to be smart when they go out and for businesses to remember how customers share information.
“Local businesses should follow the protocols, they have to do the right thing,” he said. “People will tell their neighbors who is doing it right and who isn’t.”
Tourism starts to return
Located near the center of the Theme Park Capital of the World, Osceola County has come to rely on tourism to support the local economy.
Due to the pandemic and nearly worldwide closures, the tourism industry is one of the hardest hit sectors, one which is still struggling to recover as vacationers stay close to home, if they vacation at all.
Newstreet expects the tourism industry to shift focus for now to staycationers, a term for people who vacation within a short driving distance from their house.
A member of Orange County Mayor Jerry Demmings’ Economic Recovery Task Force, Newstreet toured Disney World prior to its reopening, where visitors took note of safety protocols the theme park giant implemented.
“When it comes to Disney, nobody does it better. That’s why they were last to open,” Newstreet said of local theme parks. “They absolutely shape our economy and are a muchneeded shot in the arm.
Webb was encouraged about the amount of cars at Wild Florida Safari Park at a recent visit. He hopes businesses from all industries have pivoted enough to hang on through the recovery period.
“The biggest thing is we don’t know what’s coming next,” Webb said. “We work hard today and plan for tomorrow.”
