Giving Thanks
This week marks the official start of holiday shopping.
While the nation is on track to climb back from the 31% plunge in GDP in the second quarter of 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Tennessee has a bigger mountain to tackle. Second to Hawaii in terms of GDP lost, we suffered a 40.4% blow to the value and/or production of our goods and services.
Faced with local headlines like 60% of Chattanooga businesses surveyed say they have lost over half of their revenue due to COVID-19, I’ve decided that everyone on my list is getting something from an area business, organization or maker, be it a gift card, membership or handmade item such as those from our first story below.
I’m grateful I live in a city with such hometown flavor and local business options, and I’d like to be able to say the same next year when my family goes around the Thanksgiving table giving thanks.
Happy holiday – and shopping.
– Jennifer Bardoner, editor