During the pandemic, Desert Hot Springs has found that the community is better together, an now it's time to start thinking about coming together in person again, the chair of the city's chamber board said during a recent interview.

"I am personally looking forward to being able to see the community come back together again in person and support those businesses while getting some social interaction," Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman David Conover told Desert Magazine. "I am also very excited to see tourism get back going again in the city. Desert Hot Springs has some amazing hotels and hot springs for people to see and experience, and it is exciting that hopefully soon we can build that back up again."

The COVID-19 pandemic isn't a memory yet, far from it, but the better together of the after time is being informed by the better together during.

"While Desert Hot Springs was faced with the same problems as the rest of the valley as far as restrictions on tourism, dining, bars etc., it was amazing to see the Desert Hot Springs 'family' come together and support those local businesses in any way they could," Conover said.

Area businesses did a great job "in pivoting the way they did business," such as restaurants that offered take-out and even delivery when they did not do so pre-pandemic, Conover said.

"And with every pivot they made, the local community was quick to promote and support them via social media or any other way possible," Conover said. "Most businesses were able to stay open under some capacity, and we have not seen as many permanent business closures as it could have been."

Much of Desert Hot Springs Chamber's efforts through the pandemic have included partnering with local government and groups to support local businesses, many of which faced possible -- even permanent -- closure during the pandemic. In particular, Desert Hot Springs Chamber joined with local government and the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber to keep local businesses and nonprofits aware of grants and other assistance and how to access those funds.

The Chamber also provided information about food distribution and the vaccination clinic.

In February, the Desert Hot Springs Chamber partnered with the Riverside County Housing, Homeless Prevention and Workforce Solutions, Workforce Division, other Coachella Valley chambers and business groups to host a virtual Veteran Job Fair. That same month, Desert Hot Springs Chamber partnered with Food Now for a Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) distribution to area businesses and announced $500 million in second round COVID relief grants.

As the pandemic is -- hopefully -- waning, Conover said there are events he's looking forward to.

"The event I am most looking forward to returning is the holiday festivities and parade," he said. "Desert Hot Springs has the best holiday parade and celebration in the valley in my opinion; and if anyone hasn't experienced it for themselves, they need to come check it out in person."