Your Foundation staff has been engaged since the beginning of the pandemic locally in working for our economy’s recovery. Deemed an “essential business” by the City’s executive order, the Chamber of Commerce has increased efforts for informing, advocating, and promoting local businesses.

One of the first initiatives was surveying as many local businesses as possible the week of March 23. Data gathered from those contacts as well as a survey online was shared with local, state, and federal officials seeking advice and recommendations on “next steps”. Navigating the many new federal assistance programs was a top concern, which led the NBEDC to increase funding for counselors at the the local SPARK SBDC office on San Antonio Street.

Mayor Barron Casteel and Mayor-Elect Rusty Brockman formed a Recovery Advisory Group recently that includes the EDF’s Executive Director, Michael Meek, as well as EDF Board Member Judge Sherman Krause, former EDF Chair Mary Jane Nalley, current EDF Directors Darren Hill, Ron Snider, Alan Luke, and Foundation Treasurer and City Manager Robert Camareno. The group is advising the City on next steps in the local re-opening of business.