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D uring these last few weeks at home I have been able to give some thought to what everyone should
do to combat this invisible enemy. First of all, I am thankful that I am still able to work. I have worked from home for 18 years, so I am perpetually self-quarantined.
You often hear that individuals, groups or governments should be the “point of the spear” when dealing with major issues. I contend that in the case of the coronavirus we need to be the “three points of the trident”: 1. Restoring our individual and national health; 2. Restoring our economy and 3. Restoring our HOPE. We
need to be working on these three elements simultaneously not one at a time.
At home: Practice all the many times quoted health
guidelines: Wash your hands often, try not to touch your face, keep a social distance and stay at home as much as possible.
Be prepared financially. If you are still working, do as great a job at home as you would in the workplace. If your employer has unfortunately had to close during the crisis, make sure you take advantage of the help offered
A Trident is Better than a Spear
by Joe Caso Business Consultant
Treasurer, Key West Chamber Board
continued on page 8 4
ChAmBer ChoWder©510 Greene Street ~ 1st Floor, Key West www.keywestchamber.org
Page 1 April 2020Chamber ChowderVol. 23, No. 4
W hen the U.S. Navy pulled out of Key West in 1971 my father lost his civil service
job at the base. I was ten years old and remember him coming home and telling my brother and I that he was offered another position in Guantanamo Bay Cuba. We howled. Fortunately, he landed a job repairing appliances for Sears, but many others were not as lucky, and by the end of the decade Key West lost almost 17 percent of its population.
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on today’s Key West economy feels like 1971 all over again. Almost half of all jobs in Monroe County are directly attributed to tourism (while the others are closely related), and a Moody’s analyst predicts the leisure and hospitality sectors
will be the hardest hit by the economic fallout of COVID-19.
Key West was flush with a bountiful winter season when the phone calls started rolling into the Chamber of Commerce at a rate of almost one per minute during a peak period last week. If one was running from a pandemic, the end of the road seemed as good a place as any to hide, and callers wanted to know if we were still in business. But in rapid succession everything related to travel was shut down, and within days thousands of local jobs were impacted. A local innkeeper, still repaying loans from Hurricane Irma, wrote to say her business was in shambles.
But Key West is known for her resilience and local business leaders have risen to the occasion. Many are continuing
Message from President Greg Sullivan
M arch of 2020, who would have believed that we would have thought of
closing the Florida Keys to visitors in the middle of season? I think our City Manager Greg Veliz said it best, “give me a Tropical Occurrence we know that drill.” I would suggest limiting the amount of time you spend watching the news and take advantage of this time to do the projects you have been putting off and connecting with family and friends by phone, Skype, or Facebook.
Your Chamber is working with One Clean Island on Facebook to promote facts and positive suggestions for everyone. We are also posting links to the Small Business Administration programs, bridge loans, unemployment information and the CareerSource South Florida, which is offering a program with grant funds for displaced workers due to COVID—19. We will have more information to share on this program very soon, please follow our Key West Chamber Website www.keywestchamber.org.
We are also working with the Florida Department of Transportation on the Cow Key Channel Bridge project asking if they can start construction earlier than their original planned date since we have no tourists at this time. The city also has rescheduled dates to an earlier time frame on paving projects to take advantage of this quiet time doing some much-needed paving and curb cuts.
Please follow social distancing, support our local businesses that are allowed to be open, and take out restaurants if you can. I would also suggest landlords and tenants work together as we are all in this together. Be kind, be respectful, listen to your local leaders; and remember someone else out there has it worse than you. Please stay safe to you and yours.
This feels a lot like 1971: Let’s work together to
make sure it’s not.by Scott Atwell, Ceo
continued on page 8 4
Table of ContentsBusiness Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2News in from Florida SBDC . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Business Trends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5“Tiger in the Woods” Gulf Tournament update . . . . . 6 Business After Hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Welcome New Members! . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Take Out & Delivery Restaurants List . . . . . . . . 8Chamber Board Members and Staff . . . . . . . . 9
Page 2 April 2020Chamber ChowderVol. 23, No. 4
Ernest HemingwayHouse Museum
907 Whitehead StKey West, FL 33040
305-294-1136
La ConchaCrowne Plaza430 Duval St
Key West, FL 33040305-296-2991
Horan & Higgins, L.L.P.608 Whitehead St
Key West, FL 33040305-294-4585
The Chamber Chowder Heartily Thanks These Businesses for Their Generous Support of this Issue of the Newsletter
Porter AllenInsurance Company
513 Southard StKey West, FL 33040
305-294-2542
Old Town Key West Development
201 Front St, Suite 301Key West, FL 33040
305-294-3225
T o old-time Key Westers, the Centennial Bank building on the corner of Simonton and United streets
will always be Dennis Pharmacy, a legendary gathering spot where the most important medicine was hospitality. Centennial’s Scott Williamson is carrying on that tradition within the framework of banking.
“Customers do business where they’re happy is (Centennial’s) philosophy, and it’s also mine,” Williamson says, “If you go above and beyond for them, then you’ll do well. The focus is on customer service more than the number of new accounts that you open.” And Williamson doesn’t just talk it, he walks it, literally, by making it a personal
goal to open the door at least ten times a day for his customers.
The branch Williamson manages is home to mostly loan officers and handles more business lending than other branches that are more transactional. Whether it’s helping a new business get its start or an existing one expand, his team of longstanding loan officers with deep ties to this community can help.
It was still an interesting and unexpected career path. “I graduated from the University of Indiana with a degree in Sports and Recreation Management, but couldn’t find a job in it,” Williamson says. “I came across an advertisement for a loan officer that required a college degree. I got the job.” And now, being in finance, lending or banking his entire career, he truly enjoys helping someone buy their first car, or house or take that vacation they’ve been planning.
“We are in a service industry,” Williamson asserts, “and people should trust their banker as much as they trust their doctor.” And when it comes to his staff, he talks about investment as well. “Happier people are more productive people. The tellers really care about their jobs and it’s fun to watch them grow in their positions.”
Williamson’s path to the southernmost islands is a classic one. “I fell in love with Key West the first time I came on vacation here to visit family,” Williamson says, “and after the third visit I told my wife, ‘I’m ready to move whenever you are.’ That was September 30th, five months and ten days ago.”
Scott and Lilybeth live in Big Pine on a canal where they can express their love of the water by paddle boarding and kayaking often. “I’m the happiest I’ve been in my entire life!” Williamson exclaims.
Each month, the Key West Chamber of Commerce spotlights a business or professional person whose business card is drawn at the Business After Hours. This month’s winner is Scott Williamson, Senior Branch Manager at Centennial Bank.
Spotlight Shines on ... Scott Williamson, Senior Branch Manager at Centennial Bank
Page 3 April 2020Chamber ChowderVol. 23, No. 4
NeWS IN From FLorIdA SBdC at Florida International
University College of Business
Government Sponsored Resources for Businesses:
I am our Keys based business consultant on the Florida SBDC at FIU team. On a normal day, I work out of the College of Business at
FIU providing one-on-one business consulting to business owners Keys-wide at no cost as an SBA Resource Partner. As part of the state of Florida’s Emergency Support Function 18—Business, Industry and Economic Stabilization, the role of the SBDC changes in times of disaster.
The Florida Dept of Economic Opportunity depends on the local SBDC to help within our local region to send applicants to the right place and understand the eligibility criteria as well as review Florida Emergency Bridge Loan applications, and make sure they are complete. We also work with applicants to answer questions and ensure they have the right documents in the right format to expedite the process so they can hopefully sail smoothly through the local loan committees that determine funding decisions based on DEO criteria. We also assemble and facilitate these loan committees. I am our representative working with businesses in the Keys and I have been working with applicants by phone and email. We steer businesses to the right place and assist as we can with SBA Disaster Loans too, but we are not part of the processing of those federal loans.
There are two traditional loan programs described below plus the new SBA programs that just were enacted in the last few days as part of the CARES act recently passed through both houses of Congress.1. Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan
Visit this website for more information:https://www.keywestchamber.org/uploads/4/6/5/2/46520599/bridge_loan_handout__covid-19_.pdf
Note: If you have already submitted your EBL application online, do not resubmit in response to the email the DEO sent out last week about their recent website upgrade. Your application will be forwarded to our local SBDC office eventually and we’ll reach out to you if something in your application package is incomplete before we pass it on to one of the two local loan review committees. All submissions should be submitted at the “apply online” link going forward though I do recommend you save the pdf form with your information in it and all attachments to your desktop too. This past weekend’s second upgrade streamlined the application process. Larger business with annual business expenditures above $120,000 or $12,500 a month
can apply for up to $100,000 using this same application. Once your loan has been submitted and processed you will hear back from the local SBDC regarding either clarification of documents or news of funding decision.
Need Emergency Bridge Loan info in a video format? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGYPpa5P5NY
Like the FIU Entrepreneurship Facebook page to get notices of webinars and other business resources.2. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan
The Small Business Administration is a federal agency, so in response to COVID-19 they are trying to conduct intake online and the process loans from all over the country simultaneously. There is no SBA office in the Keys—our county is part of the Atlanta Region. For the first time, they are offering businesses the option of taking applications entirely electronically. In the first few days after the disaster was declared including the entire U.S., they got more applications than in any previous disaster combined so processing and disbursement is going to take a while. I also got reports this morning from applicants that told me the application was dramatically streamlined over this past weekend and took about 30 minutes to fill out (far less than last week) with taxes etc. ready to attach.
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% or small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.
The application for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan is below:https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
View a 30 minute guidance webinar produced by our SBDC at FIU on applying for an SBA Disaster Loan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgdIOfNdw1wLate breaking news: SBA disaster loan
guidelines revised as of March 30th so collateral is no longer required!3. SBA Payroll Support
The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act is worth reading and it details programs made available to small business owners including:
4 Paycheck Protection Program loans to cover the cost of retaining employees (using traditional SBA backed 7a loans through banks with loan forgiveness)
4 Small Business Debt Relief Programs 4 $10,000 Economic Injury Grants to be applied
for after the SBA Disaster Loan 4 Small Business Tax Provisions
https://files.constantcontact.com/0ca37abd001/0bbc6799-669c-4c3e-b2be-4d3ac6e701ba.pdf
4. Florida DEO Payroll SupportReemployment Assistance for employers and
their staff: In an effort to minimize an economic impact to the community (Employers and Employees) due to COVID-19, this Short Time Compensation Program is a voluntary employer program designed to help employers maintain their staff by reducing the weekly working hours during temporary slowdowns instead of temporarily laying off employees. If an employer establishes a Short Time Compensation Plan and an employee meets the qualifications to file an reemployment assistance claim in the state of Florida, the employee will receive a partial reemployment check to supplement their reduced paycheck.
http://floridajobs.org/office-directory/division-of-workforce-services/reemployment-assistance-programs/short-time-compensation-program-for-employeesThe Florida government recently passed a
law changing the name of the Unemployment Compensation Program to the Reemployment Assistance Program. This renaming of the benefits program is intended to emphasize the job search and reemployment services offered to Florida’s unemployed. This has no effect on anyone either receiving or seeking to receive unemployment benefits. The program remains completely intact as it was; only the name has changed.
Updates at http://floridasbdc.org/disaster/
Margie SmithBusiness Consultant--Florida Keys
Florida SBDC at Florida International UniversityCollege of BusinessP 305.522.1363
Page 4 April 2020Chamber ChowderVol. 23, No. 4
-
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Pas
seng
ers
Source: City of Key West Port Operations
Key West Cruise Ship PassengersJanuary 2014 -February 2020
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
$-
$500,000
$1,000,000
$1,500,000
$2,000,000
$2,500,000
$3,000,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Bed
Tax
Col
lect
ions
in D
olla
rs
Source: Monroe County Tax Collector
Key West Bed Tax CollectionsJanuary 2015 - January 2020
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Airport closed 9/8-19/2017 for Hurricane Irma
Port Closed 9/6-22/2017 for Hurricane Irma
Hurricane Irma 9/10/2017
Passenger arrivals to the Key West International Airport in February, 2020 totaled 56,830, an increase of 28.8% when compared to 44,130 from February of 2019.
Thus far in 2020, the 111,423 deplanements is 26.7% more than the 87,952 passengers that arrived in Key West for the year 2019.
Currently, American Airlines is providing service to Miami, Dallas and Washington National, and seasonal direct non-stop service to Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Delta is offering year round service to Atlanta and seasonal service to LaGuardia. United Airlines is offering direct non-stop service to Newark and seasonal service to Chicago O'Hare. Silver Airways provides direct non-stop service to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Tampa.
February, 2020 saw 912 planes land at Key West International Airport which was 23.7% more than the same period in 2019. Thus far in 2020 the 1,832 total landings is 21.9% more than the 1,503 planes that landed in Key West over the same period last year. The last two years are the only years that Key West International Airport greeted more than 400,000 passengers.
The year 2019 was a decade high for cruise passengers visiting Key West, but 2020 has startd out even better. In February, 2020 a total of 48 cruise ships disembarked 101,250 passengers, representing a 10.2% increase over February 2019 when 91,897 passengers arrived to the southernmost city. For the year 2020, the 199,825 passengers represents a 6.6% increase over the same period in 2019.
Thus far this year, 99 ships have made port in Key West representing a 33.8% increase from 2019 when 74 ships arrived. The interuption in port of calls will have a strong impact on passenger counts through the rest of 2020.
The first few month of 2020 have started off very strong. Below is the cruise ship schedule for the next three months as it existed prior to the shutdown of the industry.
Number of Ships2019 2020
April 39 41May 27 30 June 28 29
The reported Bed Tax Collections for Key West in January, 2020 were $2,377,130 which is 8.4% higher than the same period in 2019. The Bed Tax Collections have increased every year since 2009 with the lone exception of 2017.
The January, 2020 "occupancy rate" for Key West was 90.0% according to the Smith Travel Report. That is a 1.5% increase over the 88.5% reported in January, 2019.
The Average Daily Rate (ADR) was reported at $342.23 for January of 2020, representing a 11.9% increase from the ADR of $305.87 posted in Janaury, 2019.
For the year 2019 Key West saw an increase of 0.4% in occupancy rates, and a 4% increase in ADR year to date compared to the same period in 2018.
Since Hurricane Irma passed on September 10, 2017 and caused damage to some hotels, the number of rooms available had declined. Key West saw 145 more rooms open up in recent months, but witnessed another hotel close 48 rooms for long-term renovations.
-
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Dep
lane
men
ts
Source: Key West International Airport
Key West International Airport ArrivalsJanuary 2015 -February 2020
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Airport closed 9/8-19/2017 for Hurricane Irma
April Chowder KW Air Data 1 of 1
Page 5 April 2020Chamber ChowderVol. 23, No. 4
United Ways across Florida 2018 ALICE ReportThe 2018 ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Restrained, Employed) stated that 42% of year-round households in Monroe County struggle to pay for basic needs such as food, housing, child care, transportation, health care, and technology. The good news is that the percentage of low income workers is down from 46% and 48% in the last two previous studies. The study revealed that Monroe County has the most expensive survival threshold budget in Florida at $68,916 for a family of four with young children. Over 54% of Florida Keys families with children are considered ALICE or living below the federal poverty line. The report stated that for many in Monroe County housing accounted for over 44% of a single person's monthly budget.
Non Tourism Fields, 23,699 , 51%
Retail Trade, 5,088 , 11%
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing,
1,755 , 4%
Management of Companies and Enterprises, 4,481 , 9%
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, 1,680 , 4%
Accommodation and Food Service, 8,122, 17%
Other Services, except Public Administration,
2,034, 4%
Non Tourism Fields Retail Trade
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Management of Companies and Enterprises
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Accommodation and Food Service
Other Services, except Public Administration
The tables to the left and the chart below highlight the historical employment and unemployment numbers for the City of Key West. Prior to March 2020, unemployment rates had continued to stay well below historical averages. The total labor force was also beginning to climb back up towards pre Hurricane Irma numbers.
On Tuesday March 17, 2020 Governor DeSantis announced the first set of closures that would impact the tourism community all throughout Florida. By the next day, many businesses began to shut their doors for a yet to be determined duration. The chart to the right depicts the unprecedented number of unemployment claims that flooded the State of Florida by the end of the week. Nation wide, more than 3.3 million U.S. citizens filed unemployment claims which will inevitably alter the direction of the previously tightening labor market. Below is a chart containing the most recent data on the number of jobs within various industries located in Monroe County. While the whole economy is affected by tourism levels locally, it is safe to suggest about 49% of all Monroe County residents hold a job that is directly impacted by tourism.
Source: Tampa Bay Times, "Florida unemployment claims explode amid coronavirus layoffs", March 26, 2020.
Page 6 April 2020Chamber ChowderVol. 23, No. 4
Page 7
business after hours | Wednesday, March 4, 2020 Sponsored by: Insurance Office of America - 2816 North Roosevelt Blvd
april 2020chamber chowderVol. 23, No. 4
Banana Café (Curbside Pick Up & Delivery)
1215 Duval Street | 305-294-7227http://www.bananacafekw.com/
Ben & Jerry’s
(Take Out & Delivery)124 Duval Street | 305-296-2559
Better Than Sex (Take Out)
926 Simonton Street | 305-296-8102**Giving out a free meal to Key Westers in need from 2pm-4pm
on Wednesday, April 1st.
Conch Republic Seafood Co(Take Out Only)
631 Greene Street | 305-294-4403https://conchrepublicseafood.com/
DJ’s Clam Shack (Take Out Only)
629 Duval Street | 305-294-0102http://djsclamshack.com/
El Siboney Downtown(Take Out & Delivery)
900 Catherine Street | 305-296-4184https://www.elsiboneytogo.com/#/
El Siboney Stock Island(Take Out & Delivery)
900 Catherine Street | 305-296-4184https://www.elsiboneytogo.com/#/
FishBusterz Retail Seafood Market
(Take Out & Delivery)6406 Maloney Ave | 305-294-6456
Fresh Seafood Available for Take Out & FREE Delivery on orders of $50 or more.
Fisherman’s Cafe (Take Out & Delivery)
205 Elizabeth Street | 305-741-7044https://fishermanscafekeywest.com/
Goldman’s Bagel Deli (Take Out & Delivery)
Breakfast and Lunch All Day2796 N Roosevelt | 305-294-3354
http://www.goldmansdeli.com
Gourmet Nibbles & Baskets917 Frances St #1 | 305-294-5212Food Baskets, Wine & Flowers availablePick Up Only & Locals Discount
Hemingway Rum Company201 Front Street | 305-414-8754
Open Tuesday-Saturday 12pm-4pm20% off for Locals and
Military with ID.
Key West Fine Wines(Delivery)
700 Eaton Street | 305-916-5742https://www.keywestfinewines.com/
Key West Personal Chef & The Lost Supper Club
Chef prepared meals for pick & delivery305-896-2087
https://squareup.com/store/key-west-personal-chef/
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar(Take Out & Delivery)
221 Duval Street | 305-922-2616https://www.lucyssurf.com/menu/lucys-restaurant-bar-key-west-local-menu.pdf
Matt’s Stock Island Kitchen
& Bar at the Perry Hotel(Take Out & Delivery)
7001 Shrimp Road | 305-294-3939https://www.ubereats.com/florida-
keys/food-delivery/matts-stock-island/on4apGmcTe2utquyDSoSqQ
Moondog Café
(Curbside Pick Up & Delivery)823 Whitehead St | 305-741-7699
https://moondogcafe.com/
Paradise Restaurant (Take Out & Delivery)
124 Duval Street | 305-293-9599http://www.restaurantparadisekw.com
Sandy’s Café (Take Out Only)
1026 White Street | 305-296-4747https://www.
ordertheoriginalsandyscafe.com/#/
Schooner Wharf Bar(Take Out) Limited Menu
202 William Street | 305-395-9301Noon-7pm, Monday-Thursday/
Noon-8pm Friday-Saturday-SundayPackage Beer, Wine & Liquor Noon - 8pm
https://www.schoonerwharf.com/menu.htm
Stock Island Yacht Club & Marina
(Take Out)Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
plus Family Style Meals305-292-3121 X3
Stoned Crab at Ibis Bay (Take Out)
3101 N. Roosevelt | 305-433-9431https://www.stonedcrab.com/
Subway 47474 (Take Out Only)
422 Eaton Street | 305-396-3782
Sushi Song (Take Out & Delivery)
15% Off for Locals 925 Duval Street | 305-916-5288
(Hours 11am-12am)https://sushisong.com/key-west/
The Courthouse Deli & Whit’s Frozen Custard(Take Out & Delivery)
600 Whitehead St | 305-294-2929courthousedelikw.com/
The Café (Curbside Pick Up & Delivery)
509 Southard Street | 305-296-5515http://www.thecafekw.com/
Wicked Lick (Take Out Walk-Up Window)
335 Duval Street | 954-605-5100http://www.wickedlick.com/
Yelllowfin Bar & Grill at Ocean’s Edge Resort
on Stock IslandLimited Sit Down Dining
& Take Out Available 5950 Peninsular Avenue
786-862-6305https://www.oceansedgekeywest.
com/dining/yellowfin-bar-kitchen/
Page 8 April 2020Chamber ChowderVol. 23, No. 4
Goal Tending Services5130 US Highway 1 Stock Island, FL 33040
305-916-0990https://www.goaltendingservices.com/
Contact: Sandee Shaw Boat Charter – Fully Handicap Accessible
Sponsored by: Kelly Funkhouser, Two Oceans Digital
Grand Canyon University3300 West Camel Back Road Phoenix, AZ 85017
305-619-1963https://www.gcu.edu/Contact: Linda Arney
University
Paradise Restaurant124 Duval Street Key West, FL 33040
305-293-9599http://www.restaurantparadisekw.com/
Contact: Christian VelezRestaurant specializing in Cuban
and Colombian Cuisine
Susie’s Key West Estates2213 Harris Avenue Key West, FL 33040
305-587-4616http://www.susieskeywestestatesales.com/
Estate SalesSponsored by: Joyce Benavides, Cayo Hueso Cottages
The Pool Man of Key West5615 3rd Avenue Key West, FL 33040
305-240-1462Contact: Ben Bortner
Pool Cleaning & ServiceSponsored by: Mark Rossi, Rick’s/Durty
Harry’s Entertainment Complex
Welcome New Members!
Page 9 April 2020Chamber ChowderVol. 23, No. 4
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEGreg Sullivan, President
Waste Management/305-434-9140Melissa Kendrick, First Vice President
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum/305- 294-2633Cara Higgins, Second Vice President
Cara Higgins Law /305-294-6030Joe Caso, Treasurer
Caso & Company/305-453-6378Diane Schmidt, Secretary
Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina/305-292-4350 Michael Morawski, Past President
Hemingway Home/305-294-1136 5David Clay, Appointee
Lower Keys Medical Center/305-294-9200 John Toppino, Appointee
Charley Toppino & Sons/305- 296-5606Mark Rossi, Appointee
Rick’s/Durty Harry’s Entertainment Complex/305-296-5513
Scott AtwellExecutive Vice President
Key West Chamber of Commerce305-294-2587
CHAMBER STAFFScott Atwell
Executive Vice President
Edward Dawicki, IIIDirector of Research
Kerry BakerMembership Director/Special Events Coordinator
Dorothy SchmidaAdministrative Assistant
Gladys Clarks, Lily WilliamsonTourist Information Receptionists
Scott AtwellNewsletter Editor
Cindy JeffersonArt Director
Jennifer Juniper Newsletter Writer
Karrie BondSocial Media Director
by the state and federal government. (Remember, I think you can make an unemployment claim the day you are furloughed even though you may still be receiving pay. You probably should check that one out.)
Be hopeful. Hope is a powerful tool. During our nation’s most difficult times hope has helped us through. Spread the word through your family. Don’t let them despair. This scourge will end. Try and keep a positive attitude especially if you are a parent. Children need to know that things will be all right. They need to know that their parents are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
At the workplace:As above, practice the guidelines.Financially, do what you have to do to survive the crisis, but be thinking of what you
will and can do to relaunch your business when the restrictions are lifted. Perhaps a new or enhanced marketing plan. Think about redoing or tweaking your business plan to account for the changes that you will need to make during the recovery period.
Most of all, be hopeful. Spread your hope around the workplace and whenever you speak with your employees. Of course, be careful about predictions concerning the end of the crisis or the exact timing of the recovery. It should be sufficient to say that you’re doing your best under the circumstances to recover quickly.
The nation, state, county and city:Be aware that all of the above entities are taking care of safeguarding our health and
planning for a full economic recovery as soon as possible. I am confident that they are using the most talented medical, economic and financial folks available.
Let’s encourage them to be hopeful. We need to put aside petty partisan issues and keep our eye on the prize. None of our elected officials have ever encountered anything like the coronavirus. We need to help them to be hopeful. We need to encourage them to work together for the good of all of those that they serve.
Keep your spirits up, my friends. The end of this pandemic will soon be in sight.
Joe Caso’s Message cont. from page 1 4
“Scott Atwell” cont. from page 1 4
to pay their employees through advance vacation leave or putting them to work sprucing up the premises. From the corner bar to the Dairy Queen, workers have been seen out front with paint brushes in hand. When Mark Rossi’s 70 employees are done, his Durty Harry’s may have to be renamed.
Organizers of Key West Cares have spun off a One Clean Island initiative to keep the community informed and safe, and we are blessed to have the folksy Bob Eadie dispensing our health directives. Eadie would be the most sober person in a room full of monks, never sensationalizing and often tempering hysteria with sage advice and counsel.
When restaurants were closed to sit-down service the Chamber quickly responded and had a list of take-out and delivery options on the street before dinner time, and Chamber President Greg Sullivan encouraged everyone to “be kind,” an acknowledgement that the next wave of this crisis will most certainly be felt in our mental health community.
Key West’s economy has taken hits before. Modern maritime navigation put wreck salvagers out of business and our cigar empire went up in smoke after a fire in 1886. When the Navy pulled out in 1971 Duval Street merchants were decimated. Parts of the stretch resembled a ghost town, but the U.S. Bicentennial created incentive to spruce up the public spaces with sidewalk planters and old-fashioned streetlights, setting the stage for the next economic engine: tourism. Ironically, a reimagining of Duval Street is among the highest priorities of City Manager Greg Veliz.
With tourists still in town as the COVID-19 news spread like wildfire, the Chamber conducted a man-on-the street survey and one question asked visitors about their likelihood of returning to Key West. More than half scored it an 8, 9 or ten.
That’s good news, because building back our economy is not an option—it is an imperative. When business is healthy the community is healthy, and the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce will be out front advocating for a full recovery. After all, there’s a ten-year old kid out there wondering if he’ll have to leave his island home. I know how that feels.
