May is Gloucester Business Appreciation Month.

Gloucester’s Economic Development Authority chose May to be the month to recognize the local businesses and their owners. In years past, the county has confined the celebration of local businesses to only a week, but after a year dominated by a pandemic, Economic Development Director Sherry Spring suggested the entire month be dedicated instead.

“I didn’t hear anyone say ‘poor me,’” said Spring about the Gloucester businesses who were impacted by COVID-19. She said she was proud of the business leaders who were able to navigate the challenges of 2020.

Though heavy restrictions were place on many of the businesses in Gloucester, Spring said that as a whole, businesses were able to adapt and stay busy throughout the pandemic.

“We’re as good, if not better than any city and county in Hampton Roads,” said Spring who said that Gloucester experienced little economic decline in 2020. She said that it feels like Gloucester’s time to ...