ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

2021 – OPEN. OPEN. OPEN?

2021 certainly didn’t turn out the way we hoped it would, but it was better than 2020. The first quarter was a little frightening but then as we rolled into spring, things started to look up, especially here in Santa Cruz as tourism returned and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk welcomed guests back to our favorite amusement park. But like the iconic Giant Dipper, the economic recovery has been a roller coaster ride filled with a giant slog up, crazy dips down and unexpected turns. What gave us hope through these wild times was how much the community rallied around local businesses. We re-examined our buying habits and supported locally owned and independent restaurants, shopped at our many unique stores, were thankful for any opportunity to congregate with others, and hugged each other a little tighter as we recognized how much we depend on one another. We took a second look at how we ran our businesses and realized there were many silver linings that grew out of the darkness of 2020. We struggled through challenging labor shortages, became more efficient, embraced new technologies, and were thankful for every customer that clicked, called, or walked through our doors.

Whether we officially signed up at Think Local First for a listing or a membership, there was an increased momentum in the think local first movement. It was palpable. We seem to all understand that by keeping our dollars local, we can help our communities survive and thrive.

2022 – INTO THE UNKNOWN?

A look into the year ahead is a bit murky, but we have even more hope than we had this time last year. It looks like our roads and bridges will get much needed repair. We’ve realized our own resiliency and our ability to adapt to whatever seems to come our way. So, even as we read disturbing headlines or hear the constant drone of “breaking news”, it also feels like, as a community, we’re standing tall with the mindset “we got this!”

In 2022, our hope is to make the Think Local First movement even bigger and push back the instinct of falling into old ways. You see it in many things big and small. New community/business events started in 2020 are continuing as now annual ways to bring shoppers and businesses together to keep our economy strong. Locally owned businesses are expanding into new locations. Revitalization of areas of our business districts that were stagnant for far too long or new energy poured into developments that have sat too long on the drawing board. Commuters being allowed to telecommute rather than drive the hill, thus improving the quality of their own lives. People enjoying what Santa Cruz County has to offer, reminding us why we live here.

For our organization, we want to lead this movement by showing the value of being part of a marketing cooperative with a single focus: to promote and sustain economic vitality while preserving the unique character of Santa Cruz County. We know it’s a big job but “we got this”!