Abilene Times

ABILENE – The Development Corp. of Abilene and the Abilene Chamber of Commerce are working within the challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis to continue working with local businesses.

“We’re working on solutions now with all of our partners to try to help offset some of those loses to make sure that as we come out the other side of this crisis, that we are coming out of the starting blocks strong,” Doug Peters, president and CEO of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, told KTAB/KRBC.

They have remained committed to ensuring both businesses and workers have information about and access to resources that can keep them ready to not only face current challenges, but take advantage of emerging opportunities as well. Peters said that the problems created by the coronavirus response have been widespread.

“I don’t think there’s a business in our community, or really anywhere in the nation, that hasn’t been impacted to some degree,” he said.

Misty Mayo, CEO of the Development Corp. of Abilene, said they are looking at alternative ways to connect with and help local businesses. That task has been made more difficult as many have had to go to working from home and travel restrictions have interfered with movement in the community.

“How can we, frankly, go kind of old school?” Mayo said. “How can we go back to basics and connecting with potential customers to talk about the great things that are happening in Abilene?”

Even as businesses work to weather the current crisis, there is still the potential for future challenges to emerge, and situations down the road that they need to be ready to adjust to.

“We’re working hard, we are working diligently every day to ensure we’re ready to recruit and create more jobs for Abilene,” Mayo told the news agency.