Ryan Blythe

Christopher Purvis

Georgia Trade School President Joanna Vinson is interviewed by WSB-TV on essential careers during the pandemic.

Remember the Positives Despite Our Challenges

BY RYAN BLYTHE

No one questions the challenges brought by 2020. But, as we approach Thanksgiving, I feel there are many positives to consider. I have been accused of being overly optimistic before, but I simply refuse to believe the best days are behind us.

Let us start with the obvious; our incredible frontline workers have made great progress with therapeutics, and their understanding of this novel virus. The New York Times recently evaluated 22 treatments and found 17 had tentative evidence, promising evidence or were widely used. Operation Warp Speed, which has been called the epidemiological equivalent of the Manhattan Project, is making unprecedented progress, per the Department of Defense (DOD). The DOD reports four of the six vaccines are in Phase III clinical trials, and all six are being manufactured at industrial scale. CVS and Walgreens announced they will distribute the pending vaccine to nursing home residents for free when it becomes available. The Times also reports mask usage increased from 65% in the summer to 90% in October. With what Dr. William Schaffner calls the cavalry (vaccines and monoclonal antibodies) on the way, the pandemic may be over by next summer.

The economic adversity caused by COVID-19 affected millions of Americans, but, perhaps, most prominently small businesses. Prior to COVID-19, Georgia Trade School had its best quarter in history. I recall flying back from the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association’s annual meeting in San Antonio when the lockdowns were announced. We thought our students would be back in two weeks; it was two months. We had to cancel so many new enrollees that it cost us more than $350,000. We were not alone in wondering what the future would hold. I am grateful the government created the Paycheck Protection Program, and our local community banks, as well as the Cobb Chamber and Congressman Barry Loudermilk’s office, helped guide us through a complicated process.

The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports that following the initial CARES Act, the Cobb Chamber distributed another $7.5 million worth of grants to more than 400 businesses, with 56% going to minority-owned firms. At the peak of the outbreak in the spring, unemployment reached 20%. Today it is 7.8% nationally, but that does not tell the entire story. In states where the economy has nearly fully reopened, like Georgia and Florida, the average unemployment rate is 6.6%. In states where heavy restrictions remain, including California and New York, the unemployment rate remains more than 10%. I am very thankful to live in a state, county and community that believes in safely reopening.

My generation did not experience a world war or the war in Southeast Asia. But, now we have come of age with 9/11, bought our first house simultaneously to the Great Recession, and, as we hit mid-career, faced a global pandemic. These kinds of challenges build character, and will help us as we lead in the future.

I am most thankful to be in the greatest and most generous country in the history of the world, and to own a business in a community that has tremendous leadership, from the mayor to the aldermen, and, of course, the great city employees who make this an “All American” place to live, work and play.

I look forward to sharing more in 2021, and thank the Around Acworth staff for giving me a platform to tell our stories.

Ryan Blythe is the founder of Georgia Trade School, which, for the fifth consecutive year, was named one of the Cobb Chamber Top 25 Small Businesses of the Year.