2 min read December 2021 — In an interview with Invest:, Cate Manley, President and CEO of the Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce, talked about the ways in which the Chamber supported its membership and local businesses throughout the pandemic and how it plans to further develop the workforce to set the city of Apopka up for future success. She also talked about the continued growth occurring in Florida and her outlook on the future of the region.
What successful strategies have been implemented by the Chamber to manage the pandemic?
In the beginning, we became a resource as things continually changed, finding out and disseminating what resources were out there for businesses and corporations that were struggling. We had to adapt when the pandemic lasted longer than originally anticipated. More than 18 months in, we’re finding that most of our membership is having trouble filling jobs. We’ve conducted four career hiring events, which is not typical for a chamber to be involved in but is necessary for the community.
What was the impact of PPP loans on the local economy?
It did help to support most businesses through that first 90-day phase. Unfortunately, we have had a handful of businesses that haven’t made it through because they weren’t in business for at least a year prior to the pandemic. We have seen some of those businesses slowly begin to return.
How has demand for your services changed over the course of the pandemic?
We are in the reconnect phase so there is a lot of demand. Businesses want to see us and want to engage our membership again. Although we were still up and running through the pandemic, it was hard to be visible with all the mandates and restrictions. People are less afraid now and there is this phase of business healing as places increase growth and their engagement with customers. We’re growing in a more diverse way, with more virtual and home-based businesses, mobile businesses, women, Black and Hispanic-owned businesses.
What has been the impact of the Chamber’s diversity and inclusion committee?
We have a very robust and growing committee that is becoming more formalized as time goes on. They’re taking on their own outreach and they have the mission to make good “noise” so people are aware of us. We’ve been able to see changes in perspectives in terms of how businesses engage with diverse populations and gain a greater appreciation for the benefits of a diverse staff and consumer base.
How is your organization helping members mitigate problems related to labor shortages?
We have a leadership group made up of the leaders of major businesses who meet every month and discuss their services, what they need and what they are struggling with. This prompted the chamber to decide to put on a hiring event. We had what I would consider a low number of hires, but at a high quality of candidates and the positions they are filling. Many are at director level. We’ve held one event every month since June and are looking at ways to support training and being deliberate in the talent development for industries that are hiring in the area.
What industries are your members involved in?
We’re all over the board because Apopka is very diverse. We have manufacturing, both large and niche, so the workforce has been important for them. Staffing from within Apopka is really our goal as that helps the economy long term. We’re also looking at opportunities to help our service industries, and we’re looking for different methods to engage diverse age groups to and continue to develop the workforce.
A key is going to be recognizing how people learn with remote preferences and finding ways to meet people where they are at, so they remain within the training and career paths we need.
How is your organization reacting to the phenomenon of mass relocations?
We can’t find enough housing quickly enough. In our development permitting phase, we do have 6,900 homes projected around Apopka within the next five years, and we’re continuing to work hard on developing our main street. We plan to create mixed-use spaces that can foster our community’s need to live, work, and play in Apopka.
What are the advantages of becoming a member of the Chamber?
One of the best advantages is our level of advocacy for our businesses and that means if we have a new business that is facing challenges, we will help them through it. We are always advocating for business-friendly policy. Regulatory and advocacy missions typically attract businesses and having that support has helped many businesses both big and small.
What is your outlook for the local economy over the next three to five years?
Apopka is growing rapidly. We know we need to stay engaged to stay in the know, anticipate needs, and to be deliberate in our directives and leadership. Communication with our membership and partners, as well as maintaining our great partnerships with the city, county, and state will keep our community and the chamber relevant to the growth potential in our business community. We must remain in the know on new business practices, workforce opportunities and challenges, while keeping the community and neighborhood feeling our citizens cherish, as we protect our natural resources.
We have an incredible ecotourism draw to our area, with a major part of a trail system that is planning to become coast-to-coast. We’re proud of the expansion of ecotourism and the recreational activities growing in the area. Apopka has a beautiful amphitheater, ballparks, for tournaments, a wonderful wildlife drive, many area artists, and musicians, and these are all key attributes for cultural and mental wellness for businesses and families. Not to mention state of the art healthcare, education, and entertainment.
What are your immediate priorities for the future?
Moving forward, we are looking at the new developments and events we have planned as a chamber and as a community. People can now plan for the future without fear of cancellation. We want to move forward in the safest and most sustainable way possible for businesses and families in our region.
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