Ivy Rose, a boutique in downtown Longmont, have changed their everyday operations in response to COVID-19.

For the past few months you may have wondered, “Will we ever be able to visit our favorite businesses again?” The answer is yes! Businesses are re-opening, incorporating safety guidelines, and you have a role to play in their success. We need you now more than ever.

The Northwest Chamber Alliance is comprised of seven area chambers of commerce: Boulder, Broomfield, Latino, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville and Superior. Representing more than 370,000 people working for 3,600 businesses, nonprofits and other organizations, our memberships include businesses from large international companies, minority owned, your favorite local business with a small staff to the entrepreneur working in their basement. We celebrate them all, and we have been working with them constantly over the past three months to help ensure their viability. That is why we are asking you to consider the major role that you, as an individual, play in their success moving forward.

We’ve never experienced anything like COVID-19 and its economic impacts. We’ve never experienced the sudden shuttering of our businesses–leaving our families, friends and neighbors without work and in limbo.

We all know people who have been laid off or furloughed. Perhaps this has impacted you or your family. Some businesses have closed for good, never to return. Business owners and employees, through no fault of their own, are facing serious challenges and daily anxiety.

Yet the role of businesses in our community extends beyond the products and services they offer. They sponsor our youth sports teams, donate to local nonprofits, support arts and culture, serve on boards and commissions, and perhaps most importantly, provide jobs.

Many of our businesses are struggling. While stimulus packages and government programs have targeted some industries, we want to ensure the successful recovery of all businesses and organizations–from our restaurants to health gyms to places of worship. There shouldn’t be winners and losers. Everyone should have the opportunity to open responsibly and incrementally.

It’s been tough recently to spend our dollars locally. We understand. Now, however, we need to think carefully every time we decide to order goods and services from outside of the area. Remember – this will not help us locally! Now that neighborhood shops are re-opening, we need you to frequent them. Try to be equitable with your spending, understanding that small businesses do not have the same resources as some of our larger businesses. They need you!

As you get ready to walk into a store, please recognize that new guidelines are in place to ensure our re-openings are successful and safe. Be patient and kind with businesses implementing these measures. Many of these protocols are state requirements. Others are recommendations from the health department to keep shoppers and staff healthy. This is new for them as well. While you may not wish to wear a mask, stand in lines, or take additional precautions, it’s necessary at this time. Please be patient as we all work through this changing community dynamic.

In addition to requesting that shoppers consider local stores, we want to ask our state legislators and other elected officials to also consider our struggling businesses as they govern. Please don’t add regulations and or added costs to our businesses — many of which are barely staying

afloat. It will take a great deal of time for recovery to occur. Placing extra burdens or additional expenses on the backs of our businesses won’t solve the problems we face.

The Northwest Chamber Alliance has been working together for years—formed to harness the amazing energy created by working alongside each other to support our communities. While we want to ensure business success, we also want to ensure community safety. Each of our websites contain information and resources that provide links to the guidelines issued by the state and local governments around current health standards.

Your role? Be kind. Be patient. Shop local. Think before you order from outside the community. We know that working together is the way forward. Please join us!

John Tayer, Boulder Chamber

Sam Taylor, Broomfield Chamber of Commerce

Vicki Trumbo, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce

Peter Salas, Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County

Scott Cook, Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce

Shelley Angell, Louisville Chamber of Commerce

T.J. Sullivan, Superior Chamber of Commerce