What impact is the COVID-19 pandemic having on economic development? Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development President Ken Springer says they’ve shifted gears. He tells WGIL it’s like going from offense to defense. Local businesses and individuals can take advantage of resources and relief from the state and the federal government. Springer says they’ve shifted their Facebook page into an information hub while sharing and learning how to assist businesses as new programs progress. He says even with the uncertainty due to COVID-19, KCAP is still working on projects and developments. “We’re still having new projects that are coming – even in the midst of this crisis, we’re having clients that we’re talking to (and) doing meetings with,” Springer said. “In that sense, it’s not like the 2008-2009 financial crisis – and that’s a reason for optimism. In 2008-2009, it was like your phone had just got unplugged. All activity came to a dead stop. Right now, we’re not seeing that. Granted we’re two weeks into a crisis (but) so far, from the economic development side, this is nothing like 2008-2009. The pipeline is still intact.” If you are a small business, you are encouraged to visit the Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development Facebook page for additional resources for small businesses. For additional information, you can visit Knox Partnership for Economic Development website or call KCAP at 343-1194.
