The path ahead for Chattanooga area companies won't look like the one before COVID-19, but rather have a higher health focus to save lives and prevent another economic lockdown, experts say.
"We'll never go back to the pre-COVID days," said Denise Rice, the manufacturing consultant for the Tennessee Manufacturers Association. "We have to make sure we do this not only to protect and save lives but to not go back into this economic shut down. We don't want to have a repeat of this."
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has set up an economic recovery group, a venture between state departments, legislators and private sector leaders, for guidance to safely reboot the economy. Lee has a goal of reopening the economy by May 1.
