Longmont business community,

My name is Dr. Chris McGilvray and I have been given the opportunity to serve as the Chair of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. I would like to begin by thanking Amy Aschenbrenner, our 2020 past Board Chair who has stepped down due to health reasons. Her work and commitment as board chair has provided us the preparatory foundation needed to serve our members and the community.

I love Longmont and our Chamber and I am deeply honored to serve in this capacity. This is certainly one of the most challenging roles I have taken on, during one of the most difficult periods we have faced as a community. I find myself in a peculiar position. I am given the opportunity to be a leader of our business community at a dire point in our economic environment; arguably a challenge greater than anything we have faced in our lifetimes. I am aware of the difficulties that lie ahead of us, both in our businesses and our families. In these times of economic and health challenges, I am eager to help our Chamber and business community navigate our priorities as our purpose and values have never wavered.

I am optimistic of the future of Longmont and its businesses. As a small business owner, Professor at Front Range Community College, husband and father to two children in the St. Vrain Valley School District, I am constantly reminded of the challenges facing us all. I remain optimistic of what the future holds for our community because of how resilient and supportive we are of each other. It was not more than a few months ago that Longmont was named America’s Number One Boom Town. I don’t think that’s changed today. I have witnessed remarkable examples of sacrifice, selflessness, empathy and support for each other and our neighbors. Our businesses need this support more than ever before.

During this difficult time, I want to emphasize that many of Longmont’s businesses remain open. I assure you that the mission of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce has not changed, and it will not change in the future. We are and will always advocate for the businesses in our community, in this place we call home. I want to compliment Chamber leadership, staff and volunteers for supporting and responding to business needs during this trying time. To learn more about what our Chamber is working on click here: www.longmontchamber.org/we-speak-longmont. Here are just a couple of initiatives that I would like to highlight.

• Take-Out Takeover. Longmont Restaurant Week may be postponed, but our favorite local restaurants are still eager to feed you! For your health and wellness, restaurants, bars, and breweries are currently unable to seat guests for a dine-in experience. That said, many restaurants are offering take-out, curbside pick-up and delivery options. To enable these establishments to stay in business and come out on the other side, I ask that you do what you can to frequent your favorite restaurants and encourage you to try new ones. Here is a link to find an up-to-date status of your favorite locations: www.longmontchamber.org/take-out-takeover
• Business Advocacy: The Longmont Chamber has been collaborating with City of Longmont leadership, Advance Longmont Partners, and the Northwest Chamber Alliance to help find actionable, relevant solutions for Longmont businesses to effectively respond to the COVID-19 situation as it unfolds. In addition, we have organized, facilitated and engaged in a number of town halls involving Senator Bennet, Senator Gardner and Representative Singer to ensure that your voice, the voice of business is heard and the needs of our businesses are being addressed.

This is Longmont. A city built on a frontier spirit and a desire to build a better life that is inclusive for all who work, live and play in Longmont. Over the years we have become home to thousands of businesses and business owners, employing tens of thousands and bringing a sense of identity and pride to every Longmonster. The Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce is here for you, your business, your employees, and your families. Our Chamber has been here for 132 years, and will continue to support Longmont Business for many centuries to come. We are proud to say we speak Longmont.

Dr. Chris McGilvray

Chair, Board of Directors of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce