Making it through a worldwide pandemic has been both a challenge and an opportunity for the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce – requiring a great deal of “out of the box thinking.”

Covid-19 offered little choice for chambers and associations but to retool the programs, products, events and services we offer, with a focus on delivering immediate value to our member businesses and the region at large.

Thanks to the leadership of our board of directors and staff we were equipped and ready to respond.

We know that quickly reaching out to our business community with resources has been crucial as they need to make informed decisions during this time of crisis.

In March, before the “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order was issued, the chamber launched the Tri-Cities Open for Business webpage.

The page provided resources for businesses and visibility to members deemed “essential.”

Also, the chamber, along with the Tri-City Development Council (TRIDEC) and Visit Tri-Cities, created the Tri-Cities Open and Safe Coalition, a region-wide initiative to protect public health and restore our local economy.

Throughout the shutdowns, the chamber has kept members informed about options and assistance programs.

The Covid-19 Resource Guide, updated weekly, contains vital information about grants, loans, services and benefits available to businesses.

By providing the most comprehensive and current information, businesses will have access to the resources they need during this critical recovery period.

Many business owners are struggling to understand the ever-changing available resources during the crisis.

The chamber launched the Rapid Response Line to provide guidance for Tri-City businesses to connect with the resources available at the local, regional, state and federal levels. By calling the Rapid Response Line, business owners can receive personal assistance navigating through information and resources.

We have partnered with numerous organizations to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to businesses in need.

In partnership with the Minority Business Development Agency, the chamber facilitated the distribution of 100 PPE kits to minority and woman owned businesses.

The Tri-Cities Open and Safe Coalition held a PPE Donation and Distribution Drive, an effort to assist businesses prepare for safely reopening. Through the Association of Washington Business and Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the chamber distributed over 300 infrared thermometers to local businesses.

The chamber continues to be a strong advocate on behalf of business through our continuous communication with local, state and federal elected officials and jurisdictions.

Since March, we have created industry coalitions and issued many letters in support of reopening businesses as well as requests for relief legislation.

We quickly pivoted from delivering in-person events to virtual events, maintaining our high value proposition.

Since March we’ve featured the following topics at our monthly luncheons: State of Education, State of the Cities, Congressional Update, Hanford Update and Covid-19 Update.

Our Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon and the third Annual Tri-Cities Diversity Summit were held virtually as well.

Additionally, the chamber has facilitated nearly a dozen Ask the Experts: Responding to Covid-19 webinars, a free webinar series highlighting timely topics during the pandemic.

As the election season approached, we created the only region-wide, business-focused virtual candidate forums. The forums featured candidates from 12 races and were designed to highlight how candidate positions aligned with business priorities.

Since March, the chamber’s Procurement Technical Assistance Center has helped small business clients secure more than $25 million in government contracts as well as assisting small manufacturers of PPE to connect with buyers.

Most recently, the chamber partnered with Franklin County to provide the Franklin County Rapid Response Business Grant program.

During November, our team reviewed 137 applications and awarded a total of $600,000 to 64 Franklin County businesses in crisis due to government mandated Covid-19 closures.

While grant funds will be unable to mitigate all the damage caused by the pandemic, it is hoped that these funds may provide some measure of support as businesses operate under difficult circumstances.

In continuing to fulfill our role as catalyst for business growth, convenor for leaders and champion for a strong community, the Tri-City Regional Chamber will continue to marshal all our resources to help companies prepare for a safe, successful and sustainable reopening of the economy.

Lori Mattson is president and CEO of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce.