Guy Ciarrocchi, president and CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, has warned that without substantial federal financial aid, it might take Chester County businesses years to recover, writes Fran Maye for the Daily Local News.

And while COVID-19 vaccines may return life to normal, it will take some time for that to happen.

“The vaccines are out there, and people are saying to just hang on a little longer,” said Ciarrocchi. “But hang on to what? Even if the president and Congress puts the new bill into law, it’s just a life preserver.”

Adding that helping a business get through January and February matters only if there is a way for them to earn a reasonable living in March.

Chester County has the advantage of having the strongest economy in the state, which puts it in a better position than most counties. But even so, many local businesses will not survive for much longer without receiving some financial aid.

“If we lose 15 or 20 percent of our restaurants, that goes to our quality of life,” he said.

Read more about the issue in the Daily Local News here.