Cape Cod COVID-19 Update: The State of Business Post-Summer

From Bourne to Provincetown and all the towns in between, 2023 was another busy year for the Cape Cod economy. In what many view as the first full post-COVID year, Cape Cod's tourism sector remained strong, efforts to grow the Blue Economy continued and the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce continued working on the Cape's housing and labor issues. They also took the lead in working to get the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges replaced as soon as possible. On this segment of the Policy Pod, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Niedzwiecki and the Davenport Companies Director of Communication Matt Pitta look back at the issues we all confronted in 2023 and discuss what is coming in 2024.

Replacing the aging bridges that span the Cape Cod Canal is a major priority facing the region. At the same time, Cape Cod needs to continue finding innovative and effective ways to promote the area as a tourist destination amid growing competition. Both, in separate ways, need assistance and leverage from the government at the state and federal level. To assist in that, the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce has recently named Lauren Barker to the new position of Director of Government Relations. Barker, who joins the Policy Pod in this episode with co-host Matt Pitta, talks about her background in those related areas and how the Cape Cod Chamber is moving ahead on both fronts. Both canal bridges are the lifelines to Cape Cod and need immediate replacement.

Have you heard about Cape Cod’s effort to promote the “Blue Economy?” Here’s a chance to learn what it’s all about on this episode of the Policy Pod. Co-host Matt Pitta and Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Director Katy Acheson talk about efforts to leverage the sustainable use of Cape Cod’s surrounding waters. The Cape’s economic viability is directly tied to the health of our environment, which is why millions of people visit the region each year. On May 2^nd and 3^rd, the Cape Cod Chamber will be part of a coalition hosting a two-day “Big Blue Conference” in Buzzards Bay. Take a listen to learn more about the Cape’s “Blue Economy” future and how you can take part.

 The issue of how Cape Cod will address increasing wastewater and nitrogen loading concerns continues to grow, with many towns in different stages of planning and implementation. Adding a new wrinkle to the debate is a draft regulation being floated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection that could put homeowners across Cape Cod on the hook for costly upgrades to their existing Title 5 systems through so-called Innovative/Alternative Septic Systems. On this edition of the Policy Pod, we take a deep dive into the issue with a discussion on how it may be possible to avoid the implementation of new regulations as towns work on their wastewater management plans. Andrew Gottlieb from the Association for the Preservation of Cape Cod is the guest with co-hosts Matt Pitta and Paul Niedzwiecki.

The Bourne and Sagamore bridges that carry vehicle and truck traffic over the Cape Cod Canal are two of the most important lifelines for Cape Cod. Both spans are nearly 90 years old and in desperate need of replacement. On this edition of the Policy Pod, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Niedzwiecki talks with podcast co-host Matt Pitta from The Davenport Companies about a new task force that has been created to push the vital project forward. Already declared functionally obsolete, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the bridges, previously said major maintenance work would be needed within five years. That project could possibly require each bridge to be completely closed for several months while work was underway. That's prompting local officials to urgently lobby for a stepped up timetable for replacement to avoid a potential economic calamity for Cape Cod. The new bridges are needed not to increase capacity on Cape Cod, but to allow life as Cape Codders know it to continue.

Cape Cod continues to be not only a world-class tourist destination, but an increasingly popular place for people to live year-round. And that is putting even more pressure on available workforce housing options. Home prices have skyrocketed over the past two years, pushing many people out of the market for homeownership and putting even more pressure on available rentals. On this episode of the Policy Pod, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Niedzwiecki talks with co-host Matt Pitta about the future of housing on Cape Cod, what the Chamber is doing to address the issue, and how local residents can be part of the solution.

As the summer tourism season approaches on Cape Cod -- all signs are indicating that the popular vacation destination will experience another record-breaking year. Bookings are up and interest among potential vacationers is high. On this episode of the Policy Pod, we talk about expected business trends for the tourism industry in the summer of 2022. We also talk about the challenge of finding labor and worker housing.

The Cape Cod housing market has been strong for many years, with sustained price increases. But since the onset of COVID-19, the growth has been explosive -- the average price of a single-family home has surged from $450,000 to $620,000 -- in less than two years. That's squeezing many people out of the market and forcing long-term Cape Codders to make difficult decisions about staying on Cape or looking for more affordable locations to purchase. And that it is having a big impact on the employment market, putting businesses in the vice when it comes to finding workers. On this edition of The Policy Pod, The Davenport Companies Director of Communication Matt Pitta and Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Paul Niedzwiecki discuss the current state of housing and what the Chamber is doing to address the issue.

After 24 years leading the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, CEO Wendy Northcross officially retired earlier this year, capping off an immensely successful career leading Cape Cod's foremost promoter of the region's economy. Her successor, Paul Niedzwiecki, comes to the Chamber from successful careers in government, policy planning and the private sector. On this edition of the Policy Pod, Matt Pitta sits down with both Wendy and Paul at a testimonial dinner held in Wendy's honor in Dennis. Listen in to hear about where the Cape Cod economy has been -- where's it headed -- and the challenges ahead.