The Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce has issued a list of their Top 10 concerns that are facing our local businesses in 2022. These topics represent the collective voice of the OPRF Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
As part of their mission to “cultivate an energized, connected and resilient community,” the OPRF Chamber of Commerce has for the second year issued a list of the Top 10 concerns that are facing our local businesses. These topics and statements represent the collective voice of the OPRF Chamber of Commerce Board, composed of eighteen local entrepreneurs and business people from all sectors of the business community. A full list of the board is available at oprfchamber.org/board-staff.
TOP 10 LIST OF BUSINESS CONCERNS *
- Staffing/Employees/HR
- Supply Chain Disruptions
- Covid Safety
- Mental Health
- Cost of doing business
- Funding Resources & Financial Health
- Government Relations
- Safety and Security
- Covid Impact on Business
- Local Issues
As 2022 gets off to a start, the biggest concerns for small business owners include staffing and employee management, as well as supply chain disruptions. Liz Holt, Executive Director of the Chamber, feels creating and distributing this list "is the perfect way to leverage the collective insight of our large and diverse Board of Directors. We intend to use the list as the basis for strategic planning with not only the Villages and our partner agencies, but also with business owners themselves. They need to know that they are not alone. We are here to support them and ensure their voices are heard."
This Top 10 list is a critical way for both municipalities to better understand challenges faced by our business owners today. Darien Marion-Burton, Chamber Board President, states, “Both Villages have got their hands full making sure our communities are safe and healthy. We see our role at the OPRF Chamber as being a partner to focus the conversation and work together to continue to build a connected and resilient business community.”
“Last year our business owners saw some reprieve when life seemed to return to some semblance of “normalcy” and consumer confidence was moving back to pre-pandemic levels,” reports Liz Holt. However, mid-year supply chain issues and the surge of the Omicron variant have left local business owners struggling yet again to pivot their business strategies and manage economic uncertainty. “Business owners are trying to balance unreliable supply chains, labor shortages, inflation and continued health and safety concerns around the pandemic. Our businesses need continued support from our local government.” says Darien Marion-Burton. Reflecting on the impact on the mental health of our small business community during Covid and the recent surge, Marion-Burton also emphasized that “many of our business owners are struggling to just keep it together.”
It’s important to note that there are many local businesses in our Villages who are thriving, growing and expanding. “But even these growing businesses are hesitant,” says Chamber Board Vice President, Sam Yousif. “It’s difficult to make confident decisions when there are so many unknowns and there is nothing about the economy today that is predictable.” Coupled with continued challenges of staffing and access to goods, even thriving businesses are struggling to keep their doors open. Many businesses have had to shorten operating hours or reduce the goods and services they provide, simply in order to stay open and profitable.
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