In a survey released by the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, 78% of Dane County businesses have experienced a decline in revenue during the pandemic, with 30% losing more than half their revenue. Additionally, many businesses reported dissatisfaction with governmental responses to business needs during the pandemic, with 59% rating local officials as below average or poor. Ninety-one percent of businesses responding have reduced spending locally. Other relevant findings include:
- 66% listed consumer and employee confidence as their most pressing need;
- 53% have experienced a reduction in employee benefits or workforce;
- 3% of businesses have already closed, with an additional 1% potentially closing in the next month and another 30% expecting to close by June 2021, if existing government regulations are unchanged;
- 57% are utilizing at least some remote work, up from 28% pre–pandemic;
- 13% rate Dane County’s business climate as above average or excellent, compared to 81% pre–pandemic; and
- 25% rate local elected officials’ performance during the pandemic as above average or excellent.
Other business groups involved in the survey were Destination Madison, Downtown Madison Inc., the DeForest Windsor Chamber of Commerce, the Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce, Middleton Chamber of Commerce, the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Latino Chamber of Commerce.
