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SA NTA M A RIA VA LLE Y CH A MB E R MO NTHLY NE WS LE T TE R | JANUARY 202 2
Local Leaders Predict Competitive Labor Market, Flexible Work Environments on the Horizon for 2022 2021 was another challenging year, but we once again saw our community rise to the occasion. We applaud our local businesses and organizations for their continued resiliency and support for one another as we navigate the "new normal" brought on by the pandemic. As we wrap up the year, we asked some local leaders to weigh in on what they feel is in store for 2022. We asked, " What do you see as the greatest opportunity, challenge or trend that will impact businesses in Northern Santa Barbara County over the next 12 months?" Here's what our local leaders had to say: “Public works construction will remain strong with new funds coming from the recently passed federal infrastructure bill. There is a large project slated for the Santa Maria Airport along with numerous highway and roads projects in the area. Commercial construction may decline a little as postCOVID trends are realized concerning office utilization and the ever increasing percentage of on-line shopping versus brick and mortar stores. The biggest issues we see in the new year are labor force availability and supply chain consistency. Like we see across the nation, there is a shortage of commercial truck drivers. This is critical for our company where half our employees drive trucks to move our products. Several local companies are working with Allan Hancock College and other entities to provide training opportunities.”
Local leaders predict the competitive workforce and labor shortage will be one of the biggest challenges in 2022. - Danny Deveraux, Vice President & General Manager, CalPortland Construction “I think we are learning and will excel at adapting to the "new normal" which will include a tight labor market, masking, vaccinations and social distancing, but businesses will stay open and can thrive if they are creative. COVID may be here to stay, but treatments will soon be available and COVID will be like other flu or virus and we will learn to live with it and live well
with it.” - Sue Anderson, President & CEO, Dignity Health/Marian Regional Medical Center "Allan Hancock College will further expand access for adult students through a variety of industry-specific training while also creating flexible, short term programs designed to help working adults to complete an associate degree." - Kevin Walthers, Superintendent/ President, Allan Hancock College
WHAT ' S INSIDE : JANUARY 2022 ISSUE
Chamber Month in Review p.3
Leadership Santa Maria Valley p. 6
Ribbon Cuttings p. 7
