Ten days into the state’s coronavirus shutdown last month, the CEO and president of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce was feeling the economic gloom. And so were the Chamber’s more than 1,200 members.
“I’ve got to be honest, it’s been the hardest couple of weeks of our lives to listen to what our members are going through," said Chris Steinocher, 56.
He talked again with the Tampa Bay Times on May 1, days before the governor’s limited re-opening order took effect. There’s “a bit of optimism in the air,’’ he said as he was preparing to talk with Chamber members that afternoon.
What are you going to tell your members in the teleconference?
We’re just wanting to make sure our business community understands what the governor’s orders allow us to do, and most importantly, what they expect us to do. And how it’s all up to us to conduct ourselves in a way that will ensure that we continue to move down this path of being able to have a safe and healthy community for our residents.
Do you expect to see employees and customers wearing masks?
Our businesses, you’ll see many of them requiring masks ... I think our businesses understand that they are under intense scrutiny in this first step, and those that really follow in an abundance of caution will find the market coming to them. The consumer will come back to those folks who show them that they care.
Do you think businesses will require masks on customers?
I’m sure there’s going to be all kinds of folks that are going to require it, and we’re excited about that. I don’t think that’s a problem ... Especially for the medical procedures – orthodontists offices are opening Monday, dental offices are opening Monday – for those kind of folks, you definitely have to have personal protective equipment, but you can’t rely on the federal government for that. They are keeping all their supplies for the health facilities that are performing in COVID situations. What we’ve got to make sure of … is how to ensure a proper stream for the business community so that it does not compete with the health community.
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How do you feel about the protocols for limiting spread of the virus?
I really believe there is a solid system in place to keep the consumer and me and you and your neighbor and your wife and your husband and everybody else safe and sound today. And that’s the message we’ve got to get out ... If you see bad behavior, please don’t support it, don’t be part of it. Please don’t encourage it ... If you really love St. Pete, be careful.
What percentage of your member businesses has been somewhat affected and what percentage has been horribly affected?
I would say horribly affected was about 35 of my membership, based on my survey. Tremendously affected, about 81 percent of our members … There are quite a few industries and individuals that have not – they’ve created jobs, and they’re employing people and doing better ... Over 80 percent are members that feel like it knocked the air out of them and knocked them off their feet, and they were hopeful they could survive.
Restaurants are required to have only 25 percent capacity inside their buildings. Does that translate to 25 percent of profits?
No, it doesn’t translate to that ... When you reopen, there are some overhead costs that you try to spread over your entire operation, not just 25 percent of it. So that’s why it’s really hard, and that’s why we’re really cautious that those restaurants that are opening up, that everybody behaves correctly. Because they’re putting down money, if they have to go back into isolation, it’s going to really be devastating.
Are small businesses that were left out of the first federal loan package pessimistic about getting help from the new package?
There are businesses that were completely denied because they didn’t fit in (the requirements), and that hurts. And we’re trying to work with them to find other resources. But those who did qualify, I do believe from the federal, state and local levels, they’ve done a great job to catch up with the demand … Is it going to be enough? I don’t know.
Hearing what members are going through. Has it been the hardest month of your lives?
Yeah, it has been. But I’ve got to be honest, the sun is shining today. And our members have a little bounce in our step ... So I think there is a bit of optimism in the air today.
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May 07, 2020 at 08:00PM
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Local Chamber leader talks about pandemic - Tampa Bay Times
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