Customers and business leaders attend the vendor event Ca$hmob to foster commerce for small businesses. Standing in front, from left, are customer Tim Hayes and small business owner Amy Kolmer at Amy's Embroidery & Much More in Cranberry Township. Submitted photo.

We recently caught wind of an initiative organized by the Pittsburgh North Regional Chamber in late 2022 called Ca$hmob, which led to some local small businesses receiving some big profits.

Comcast Corporation, which approached the chamber and sponsored the event after hearing about a similarly formatted vendor event in the eastern part of the state, paid a portion of all purchases for a two-hour stretch at Oil & Vinegar, a store owned by Angela McMasters in Seven Fields.

Amy’s Embroidery and Much More in Cranberry Township benefited from a similar event a day later.

We’re lucky to have the chamber organizing such events around the county. The pandemic hit a lot of businesses hard, and many closed down due to social distancing and isolating restrictions.

Small business owners pour their blood, sweat and tears into what they do. Rough patches are inevitable, but maintaining spaces and inventory through an ordeal such as the pandemic would’ve made most people give up.

McMasters, a member of the chamber, said the group stepped up to assist struggling businesses a great deal throughout the COVID-19 recession, forming task forces that brainstormed ways to help.

“That just said a lot to me about their character as an organization,” McMasters said.

It’s comforting to see larger-scale businesses aiding small ones and ensuring they have successes. A good day of sales can ease a ton of stress, especially if there is dire need for it.

We commend everyone involved with the initiative on their noble goals, and we are grateful to have the chamber, especially in times of turmoil.

— CM