Views from the Shore
By Brian Cahill
One of the things I like the most about my job as Marketing Director for Shore Medical Center is being around those whose mission in life is to help others. We all share in the same mission, whether it is in the form for heroic doctor or nurse healing and caring for a patient, or it is a member of our human resources team helping their fellow employees understand their benefits.
When I learned of an opportunity to represent our hospital on the Board of Somers Point Business Association, I jumped at the chance because I wanted to do my part, and in the spirit of Shore’s mission, help those in the local community.
My fellow SBPA Board members are all volunteers with one goal in mind: To promote, protect, and support the development of a strong business environment in Somers Point and the surrounding communities.
The message of the SPBA’s 2020 campaign was simple, but strong – Support Local. Logos and ads were designed with variations of this theme including Shop Local, Party Local, and Eat Local. We had our speaker events and networking mixers to complement this message all set and ready to go…and then the pandemic hit.
Rather than fold up our promotional tent, SPBA President Chuck Westcott led our efforts to adapt the campaign to the times, and promoted safety and guidelines to the public so that businesses could continue to generate income during these difficult times.
Chuck also connected with a variety of agencies to find out what grants and assistance was available for small businesses in our area who were financially hit by the pandemic and then share the information via Facebook and email. The SPBA encouraged members to share their deals on its Facebook page and it even opened this forum to local schools and organizations to share their messaging as well. The SPBA Facebook page became, and is now, a trusted and valued hub of information for the community, we are very proud of that.
Realizing the severe impact that COVID-19 has had on restaurants, retail, and many other businesses, the SPBA also decided that members who paid for annual membership in 2020 will not be charged for membership dues in 2021.
“Our core mission is to support our member businesses, so we have decided to provide some relief by waiving membership next year for our current members,” said Chuck Westcott, President of the Somers Point Business Association. “The funds collected in 2020 will be reallocated for networking events as soon as we are able to host them.”
As it has done for businesses since 1983, The SPBA will continue to do everything it can to “Support Local.” We thank all of you who have continued to support our local businesses and salute those business owners and their employees who have worked so hard in order for us to have places to Shop, Eat, and Enjoy Local.
If you are a local business, and want to learn more about the SPBA, visit the SPBA on Facebook or call 609-920-7004.
Brian Cahill is the Director of Marketing for Shore Medical Center. He is also on the Board of the Somers Point Business Association, an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Stockton University, and is a founding member of Somers Point-Community First, a local volunteer organization.
