Littleton Chamber Battles COVID
Local business resource struggling
In times of economic crisis, support for local businesses is immensely important. It is the flourishing Main Street in Littleton, New Hampshire that allows the town to constantly grow and diversify. When the COVID-19 Pandemic exploded across America countless small businesses took a major hit. As towns such as Littleton begin to come out of the Pandemic and the once stringent restrictions begin to loosen, Chambers of Commerce across the country reach out to help businesses in need. The Littleton Area Chamber of Commerce is no exception to this type of outreach.
Nathan Karol, the Director of the Littleton Area Chamber of Commerce, sat down with me for a video chat through Zoom to discuss what Littleton’s Chamber was doing to help businesses recover and plan for the future. From how the Pandemic affected the Chamber of Commerce itself, to future plans of once annual events the Chamber hosted, much has changed for the hub of information and resources, but one thing hasn’t, that is the Chamber’s desire to help the community.
Karol and I started off our discussion by talking about the Chamber’s budget and whether or not the Pandemic had affected the budget for 2020 and beyond. He stated that, inevitably the Chamber will see a dip in revenue, he continued by saying that this dip will most likely come from a decrease of membership dues, due to the fact that businesses will need to reallocate funds and recoup lost revenue as the community becomes fully operational again. Karol went on to say that while the Pandemic will decrease membership dues it has also increased the overall membership basis of the Chamber. He finished off by saying that “Our success is based largely on the success of other businesses.” and he and other Chamber employees and volunteers understand the financial struggles businesses are enduring throughout this time.
Regional Events on hold
Over the years the Littleton Chamber has held many annual events, from the Arts and Culture Festival, the Annual Meeting, and the Annual Golf Tournament, the Chamber has hosted many events that have brought the community together and allowed for vital networking between businesses. Since COVID-19 began spreading across the country though many venues and hosts have decided to postpone, cancel, or host virtual versions of their events. Karol stated that it is likely that the 2020 Arts and Culture Festival will be cancelled for the year, but that is not the case for the other events the Chamber hosts. Karol is working with his team at the Chamber to create a viable and safe plan for the Annual Golf Tournament and the Annual Meeting. As for monthly events the Chamber has held in the past, such as their Coffee and Conversation meetings and Business After Hours gatherings, these are being altered as well to best fit the current situation of the Pandemic and continue to morph into what is best suited for businesses in Littleton and beyond.
Community is what the Chamber is built on, businesses contribute to the Chamber’s success and without those components the Littleton Area might not have a Chamber. Karol has made it the Chambers mission to gather and share as many resources in regards to the COVID-19 Pandemic and how businesses can shift operations in order to thrive afterwards. From phone calls to virtual meetings, the Chamber is attempting to help as many businesses as possible with information about grants, loans, marketing and so much more.
This article is part of a series of articles focusing on the effects of COVID-19 affecting various businesses around the North Country. Read more about these affected businesses here.
Nick Meachen is a GNTV field reporter, camera operator, and staff member at Phlume MEDIA.