LEADERSHIP MATTERS A LETTER FROM LYDIA SALVEY, EDITOR IN CHIEF
W ell here we are with 2020 now officially behind us… What. A. Year. I’m going to stray away from the words we all heard on repeat last year that described what was going on and what we all needed to do to move forward (unprecedented, pivot, etc.) but I will say this, on behalf of The Chamber staff and Board of Directors, thank you for trusting us to be your voice on matters that are important to your business, thank you for working with us while we work for you, and thank you for doing your part to step up for our community while we took on not only a global pandemic, but devastating wildfires on top of that. The business community is the backbone of Medford and Jackson County, and we are honored and grateful to be working alongside you. In this issue of The Business Review we discuss Banking and Finances. Included in this publication is the updated Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans, a breakdown of current economic standings from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, and How Coronavirus-Impacted Businesses Can Use the Employee Retention Tax Credit. According to a 2020 report from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, “the Rogue Valley has been one of the best performing regional economies in the state,” something that we at The Chamber are very proud to work for day after day, as one of our core strategic objectives is “Creating a Strong Economy.” The report entails that while employment took a dramatic spike in the Rogue Valley and in the state in April 2020, we are well above the state average now in employment opportunities, amongst other factors that contribute to our local economy. For more information on this report, check out the article titled, “The Urban- Rural Divide has Shrunk in 2020.” In closing, I’d like to take the time to congratulate 2020’s Excellence in Business Award winners! Your efforts in our community and in your business have not gone unnoticed and we are grateful to recognize you for the incredible work that you do! While we wish we could have celebrated you in person this year, we hope you enjoyed your evening with our special celebrity guests. To anyone who was unable to view the live showing, you may view this year’s winners and the entire show on our website at medfordchamber.com/excellence- in-business-awards
Lydia Salvey Editor in Chief/Vice President of Communications and Programs The Chamber of Medford & Jackson County
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The Business Review | January 2021
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