From Boreal Community Media - April 28, 2020

In April, Cook County businesses were asked to take a survey on the impact they were feeling from the COVID-19 pandemic by the Cook County Chamber of Commerce. The survey was a snapshot of how businesses were coping when the survey was taken. The survey received a total  184 responses, indicating the survey was taken by a large percentage of Cook County businesses.  And respondents reported their businesses covered a wide spectrum of different industries or business sectors.  Here is some of what business owners and managers reported.

• 54.9% of responding businesses said they were still operating, while 45.1% said they were not.

• 85.5% of businesses said they are still receiving supplies.

• 46% of businesses said their employee count has changed since the COVID-19 outbreak

• Respondants were split regarding their access to lines of credit, with 50.2% saying they had access while 49.7% did not.

When asked about their top concerns about operating their businesses looking forward, 68.2% were concerned about the financial impact of the pandemic on their business, 64.5% cited concerned about 'decreased consumer confidence/spending' and 51.0% were concerned about a recession.

More information on the survey can be found on the Cook County Chamber of Commerce by following this link.  https://www.cookcountychamber.org/staying_alive_through_covid