Visitor numbers were strong, but businesses struggled with worker shortages throughout Soldotna this summer.

That’s the way Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shanon Davis summed up the season in a quarterly update provided to Soldotna City Council members during their Wednesday night meeting.

“Businesses in the community had to scramble a bit this summer,” Davis said. “Even now our businesses are continuing to operate at less than full staffing.”

Coupled with supply chain issues and high inflation and gas prices, Davis said local businesses were forced to adapt.

“There were many times this summer where I would see notices on Facebook from businesses that had to close for a day or two because they didn’t have the staff to stay open,” she said.

When compared to the second quarter of 2021, the total amount of taxable sales in the City of Soldotna stayed relatively unchanged this year. About $75.7 million in taxable sales was collected in the city for the second quarter of 2022. A 3.4% increase in gross sales was also reported in the city this quarter.

“Even though it seemed like we were busier, taxable sales were actually flat,” Davis said.

Looking ahead, she said the Soldotna Chamber of Commerce will continue to encourage state programs that help Alaskans with workforce development and that expand the state’s labor pool.

Davis’ full quarterly report can be found on the City of Soldotna’s website at soldotna.org.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.