Lake County looks forward to reopening under Phase One

Businesses in Lake County will reopen on Friday after the Governor's office cleared them for Phase One.

One.

Many businesses in lake county are getting ready to reopen tomorrow.

Jessica, regardless is the executive director of the lake county chamber of commerce.

Thanks for much for being with us.

Thank you.

Thanks for having me again.

Great to have you.

And, uh, we, i don't, i don't want to make too much a light of a potentially dangerous situation, but you folks, lake county kind of pitched a no hitter.

Everybody's a safe and healthy.

Are you concerned that uh, folks coming in from out of the area might sort of disrupt your safety bubble there.

You know, i think people are concerned a little bit for that.

I think it's definitely in the back of our minds, but, um, you know, we're really excited to reopen.

It feels almost like a new beginning over here for us, which i'm sure it does.

And in many of the other counties that are reopening, um, we're, we're excited to see.

Other people and to, to welcome them to, um, to our county, which is, you know, a great spot to be in.

We have a lot of room, just social distance normally.

So, um, we're happy to accommodate, um, at obviously, um, with health in mind.

Well, that brings up the next question.

Are your members concerned about being able to make a profit given the restrictions under phase one.

You know, i, we've talked to several of our, of our businesses today.

Um, we co-hosted a zoom meeting, reopening, meeting with, with klamath and the climate chamber today.

Um, and the overall feeling was that they're, they're very excited.

They'll do what they have to do.

They're just happy to be, you know, opening again, they're excited to welcome their customers back and they're anticipating, you know, uh, quite a good reception.

How do your businesses balance not only what may be their new restrictions, but also bringing in customers that feel safe enough to try and frequent the businesses again?

Well, they're really working hard on that balance right now and figuring that out.

Their main concern is obviously compliance and the health of our communities.

So they're really studying the guidelines and making sure that they're meeting them if they.

Um, have questions there.

They're definitely coming forward and asking.

Um, there, there are overall, you know, always the census, our community and the health of our community.

Um, they've, we've been doing a great job over here with social distancing and thankfully we still have no positive cases, but that's always something that we think about and are aware of.

What do you think will be the biggest obstacle for your businesses in this reopening process?

You know, um, the biggest obstacle i think is just going to be their management of, um, health versus, you know.

Their everyday maintenance of their, of their businesses.

Um, and finding that balance between, you know, making sure that the guidelines are met and also making sure that their customers are happy.

I think that's going to be something that's on all of their minds and that they'll be really working hard at.

And i think slow and steady wins the race here.

Um, just going into it with, with health and concern and pace in mind.

Um, and that seems to be what we're, you know, what we're talking about most with our businesses.

Some businesses have been challenged, getting employees to either come back to work or locate employees, but had to be furloughed at the beginning of this process.

Are the businesses in your chamber finding the folks they need to get reopened?

They are.

We did struggle with that.

Um, some of our businesses definitely did struggle with that, some of our larger ones.

Um, but i think now the overall sense is people are ready to go back to work.

They're ready to come back to their jobs.

Um, and you know, they're there.

It shouldn't to go there.

They're just ready to go.

Jessica, regardless from the lake county chamber of commerce, we appreciate your help and time today.

Thank you so