2020 has meant challenges
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To say the year 2020 has been a challenge is an understatement.
Here at the GINCC we started the year with big dreams of increasing membership, building up the great event base we had in place and expanding our tourism center offerings. Needless to say, plans have been modified since then and are still fluid.
Our mission is still the same but the way we go about it has dramatically changed. The mission, "Dedicated to building great businesses, great neighborhoods and great places to experience Western Marquette County."
Like every business and organization, the COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted our financial position going through 2020. Currently, we are working at a 40 percent work reduction under a Michigan Work Share Program. The GINCC has qualified for and Emergency Injury Disaster Loan, but would rather not have to take debt to pay debt so that is on hold until we sort things out.
We operate under a 501(c)6 nonprofit status as with most chamber of commences and for some reason, which has not been answered, are not eligible for the Payroll Protection Program. We, as a collective of chambers, are asking legislators at the Federal level to be included for eligibility.
With that said, we are holding our own. Our base membership has been stepping up to maintain their current memberships. We are actually sustaining our profit and loss income while dramatically reducing our expenses. We are not prospering but maintaining. Our event fundraising income has taken the biggest hit leaving us with a challenging deficit to fill.
We would like to acknowledge our GINCC Rock Stars: Bell Auxiliary, Cleveland Cliffs, Eagle Mine, Honor Credit Union, Northern Michigan University, TruNorth Federal Credit Union and UPPCO. Without their generous financial support, the GINCC would be in a very dire situation.
We are in the same boat as most of our businesses on the West End. "Adapted or perish" is a reality of 2020. It's been inspiring and exhilarating to be working with our membership and other businesses to develop creative ways to keep things moving forward.
From the beginning, we chose to believe that we'll get through this together. These are times were communities come together, help each other and lookout for each other.
Things will get better. We are optimistic, but it's going to be a tough a haul. That's what makes the West End what it is: grit, determination, compassion and Sisu.