ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

2022 – A YEAR OF UNCERTAINTY.

2022 marked the first time in over two years that businesses felt they could actually see the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. Yes, the virus was and is still with us, but those that survived could look back and breathe a little easier that they had weathered the worst of it. Many organizations had implemented new revenue streams, deployed new processes to improve productivity, and launched marketing initiatives that paid dividends and will continue to do so as the economy continues to improve. The early holiday shopping signs are encouraging. Let’s hope they continue to bring shoppers into our stores, diners into our restaurants, and customers into local service businesses.

Despite all the positive signs, 2022 has not been all positive. Inflation has caused prices to rise across the board. Supply chain issues have stalled new business development or capital improvements. Uncertainty over the potential of an all-out recession, have made others, weary from the pandemic fight, cautious, unwilling to take risks they might have otherwise jumped at. And then, for many, there are on-going labor shortages that continue to mystify. As a result, some that were still with us as we entered 2022, finally realized they were simply stretched too thin to weather another year of uncertainty.

For Think Local First Santa Cruz, we have done a lot of soul searching this last year, realizing that two of our most successful endeavors were our joint mixer in May (working with the Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley Chambers of Commerce) and our virtual job fair—helping to spread the news of local businesses looking for employees. These two events are top of mind as we look to the new year.

The mainstay has been the commitment to the community that we have seen at every turn. There is a palpable feeling that our local businesses mean something; an understanding that to keep our community strong, we need to keep these organizations strong. That’s what Think Local First is all about so to have this alignment should prove to be beneficial to all of us as we begin the new year.

2023 – CAUSE FOR HOPE

Economists disagree. Are we in a recession, headed for one, or have we dodged one? Only time will tell. But what seems clear is that owners of locally owned, independent businesses are warriors—determined to outlast this latest round of economic uncertainty and to successfully navigate its pitfalls as we move towards a more stable economic footing.

In 2023, our hope is to take the Think Local First Santa Cruz successes from 2022 and make the Think Local Movement even bigger. We’re looking for ways to hold more joint events with like-minded organizations. We know we can play a role in helping local employers find qualified candidates as more employees re-enter the workforce or look for new opportunities. We’re also exploring ways to expand our membership and will launch initiatives after the new year to make that happen.

To this end, we’re also in search of people interested in helping us take the movement to the next level. If you agree with our mission and have a bit of time to spare, please contact us. Together we can turn our hope for 2023 into an economic powerhouse in the years to come. It starts with a frame of mind, and it continues with the actions of all of us… together. Thinking local first!