Several business groups in McLean County have launched theCommunity Confident campaign.
Business owners and nonprofit organizations can pledge to maintain all safety protocols during the pandemic.
McLean County Chamber CEO Charlie Moore said the campaign aims to instill consumer confidence as businesses begin to reopen. He said the organization is unable to enforce safety protocols, so he considers the campaign a proactive step to encourage businesses to protect the public's health.
“We can’t be a watchdog, that’s not the part that we play, going in and ensuring the businesses are adhering to the guidelines,” Moore said during a video conference callwith the McLean County Health Department. “But with this pledge and with our communication, we want to make sure businesses open safely.”
The six-point pledge includes social distancing, hand washing, staying home when sick, sanitizing surfaces, encouraging mobile pay when possible and setting customer limits. The pledge also calls for wearing face masks, which is also a key part of the state’s Restore Illinois plan.
Moore said the chamber wants to encourage businesses to safely reopen.
“We’ve got to do everything in our power now to rebuild our local economy and if our (businesses) doors continue to shut, that can’t happen, so communication (is) key and that’s the role we are playing at this point,” Moore said.
Forty McLean County businesses and other organizations had taken the pledge as of Thursday afternoon. They are listed at community-confident.com.
Participating businesses are given a vinyl window decal to display at their store.
The chamber is coordinating the effort with the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, City of Bloomington, Town of Normal, Cybernautic, Creative Sites Media, Meltdown Creative Works and Pantagraph Media.
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