Baton Rouge, La. (September 10, 2020) –Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) President and CEO Adam Knapp issued the following statement today in response to Governor Edwards’ announcement that the state will be moving into Phase Three of reopening:
“Governor Edwards’ decision to move the state into Phase Three is a positive sign of confidence that will help the many people currently unemployed to start to return to work. In April when we released the Safe at Work framework with partners from around the state, we emphasized that being open and being safe are not mutually exclusive, and we reiterate that today. Measures to ensure reopening is as safe as possible, like keeping the mask mandate in place, are important and necessary. Until a vaccine is widely available, economic recovery hinges on every business of every size practicing safe work, including continued masking and social distancing protocols.
“We are hopeful that the governor’s plans include reopening the remaining restricted sectors of the economy, like bars without food licenses, and widening the capacity limitations for other office and business spaces. The last six months erased a decade of job gains, and it is important to remember that this recovery will take time. The economy cannot be restarted overnight, but moving safely into Phase Three is a critical step in returning to “normal” and recovering lost jobs.
“BRAC continues to work diligently to support businesses who are recovering by producing and posting business resources and recovery information at brac.org/recovery. For those needing assistance finding personal protective equipment, the BRAC PPE Marketplace remains open for next day pick up of supplies.”
About the Baton Rouge Area Chamber
The Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) leads economic development in the nine-parish Baton Rouge Area, working to grow jobs and wealth and to improve the business climate and competitiveness in the region. Today, BRAC investors include more than 1,500 small businesses, mid-sized firms, large industry and entrepreneurial startups, as well as individuals and organizations that support business and economic development. In this capacity, BRAC serves as the voice of the business community, providing knowledge, access, services and advocacy. More information is available at brac.org.
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