Survey Launched to Gauge Impact of COVID-19 on Regional Business

Huntsville has received high marks for its ability to keep working during the pandemic.

Now community and business leaders want to document the regional experience through a survey.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, and the mayor’s technology initiatives – GEO Huntsville, Energy Huntsville, Cyber Huntsville and Bio Huntsville – have collaborated with Exemplar City, Inc., to solicit input from area businesses on their response to the pandemic and learn how the regional  infrastructure supported their sustainability and resiliency. 

With a cover letter from Battle, the brief survey asks how area businesses have been  impacted with respect to a remote working environment, their plans for bringing workers back  into offices, and how the area’s infrastructure supported their ability to sustain operations. The survey also asks what the regional government and supporting agencies could have done better. 

“We are looking to area business leaders to offer their candid feedback so that we might be better prepared for the next crisis,” said Lucia Cape, senior vice president for economic development at the Chamber. 

“The survey will hopefully provide some useful insights on how technology could be utilized more effectively to help our area businesses become more resilient,” said Joe Francica, president  of Exemplar City, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization focused on educating local governments on how technology can be used effectively. 

The survey will be open through April 15, and the findings will be released by May 15. A virtual event will be held to inform the broader community and to solicit additional feedback from area businesses.