Chamber and tourism leaders crafting a policy roadmap for 2021 — and they want your help
Photo / Jim Neuger
Businesses owners across Maine are being encouraged to take a survey that gauges the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and what is needed to move the Maine economy forward in 2021. The results will be shared with the Maine Legislature in January.
Business owners and leaders across the state are being urged to weigh in on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and their needs in 2021 in a new survey that will be shared with the Maine Legislature.
The Maine Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Maine State Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Tourism Association have combined on what they say is a comprehensive business study to try to capture business insights, the 2021 Moving Forward Business Survey.
The survey, which the organizations are urging business leaders to take part in, is available online through noon on Monday, Dec. 28.
Cory King, the survey's author and executive director of the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber, stressed that even though many Mainers have opinions on the future of business, the survey is for business owners, executives and managers.
“There are specific questions within this survey that really only pertain to business owners and managers, and they’re questions on business topics they’ve answered over a number of years,” King said. “One essential piece of this survey is determining if their answers to those exact issues have changed over the last 12 months. Therefore, capturing their specific viewpoint is critical."
Topics include business needs, workforce needs, reimbursements, the effect of COVID-19 on specific business topics, communication of pandemic guidelines and the outlook for the coming year. A report from the survey answers is expected to be available for the Legislature by mid-January.
If there is a statistically significant number of responses from specific industries or geographic regions of the state, the reports may be shared with county commissioners, municipalities and trade associations relative to those topics for their policy work.
The survey's purpose is to say to the Legislature, "This is what the businesses of Maine are saying they need right now," the survey introduction says. "It will be an essential tool for our organizations to use in the coming months as policies are being created to solve our biggest business needs.”
Input strongly encouraged
Organizers of the survey said the input from businesses across all sectors is key to the state's economy recovering.
“The Maine State Chamber strongly encourages business owners and leaders to take the time to complete this survey,” said Dana Connors, president and CEO of the state chamber. "Their feedback based on their on-the-ground experiences dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic is critical in helping to determine policy priorities that will secure a successful economic recovery in Maine.”
Tony Cameron, CEO of the Maine Tourism Association, said, "It's critically important to hear and understand from all business sectors and the tourism industry on where things stand today, and how best to move forward. The more information that can be gathered greatly helps all of us understand where the needs are and, how local and statewide chambers and associations can help.”
The state's economy is "in the middle of a long haul," said Jessie Perkins, president of the MACCE. "It is important to monitor the health of our business community so that the organizations working on their behalf can advocate for them appropriately."
The survey has 36 questions and takes 18 to 26 minutes to complete, and must be taken in one sitting. Only one reply per device is allowed.
King said the time commitment may seem like a big one. "But with the future of Maine business being critically important to all of us, we would hope that you can make the time to give us the feedback needed.”
The state chamber executives put together a similar survey in May on reopening the economy, which was shared with the state Department of Economic and Community Development to help form the reopening plan.
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