Businesses feeling impact of COVID

The good news is that, in spite of not having a Christmas Stroll event this year, an alternate event hosted by the Sheridan County Chamber of Commerce went well.

Chamber CEO Dixie Johnson:

Johnson said she’s talked to owners of several businesses, who report they’re happy to see so many people shopping, whether in the stores or online. Still, she said, she knows that everybody is struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnson said she thinks among the businesses hit hardest by the pandemic and related restrictions are those in the hospitality industry – the restaurants, bars and grills, the breweries, hotels and motels.

And in spite of CARES Act funding that’s been made available, she said many of Sheridan’s businesses have had a huge struggle. In fact, she said, she doesn’t know of any business that hasn’t had some kind of impact, whether a drop in customers or issues with employees who have the virus or have to quarantine because of possible exposure.

She noted that includes parents who have had to take days from work to be home for children during the county school closures last spring. Johnson said everybody has been touched by the virus.

She said 2020 has been a tough year, and she knows many people are looking forward to 2021 and hoping that year will be better.