Getting local businesses ready for the solar eclipse

There is still plenty to be done in preparation for this summer’s total solar eclipse. Some Rexburg businesses got together Thursday afternoon to talk about how the event may affect them, especially since the city is said to be right in the path of the eclipse.

Inventory, phone and internet outages, and foot traffic were all topics discussed at this Madison County meeting for local businesses.

“We’re reaching out to our businesspeople in the Rexburg area to talk to them about the effects that could be coming with the eclipse this August,” Christopher Mann, CEO of the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce CEO, said.

Experts say the solar eclipse may bring about 500,000 visitors to Idaho. Madison County is preparing for an additional 40,000 to 80,000 people.

“Those people coming from long distances as well as short distances, like Pocatello or Salt Lake area. If they want to see the total eclipse, it’s going to be in Rexburg,” Mann said.

“Corporate Sonic has recognized the height behind the eclipse and wanted us to kind of get behind it and see what everybody else is doing,” said Michael Juchau, the marketing director for Sonic Drive-In.

Area businesses may have the opportunity to take advantage of these visitors during the days and weeks leading up to August 21.

“We know that the hotels are booked. We want kind of a head count. And we want to have enough food to make sure we meet those demands. We want to kind of gauge our competition and see where they’re at and what they’re going to plan, what kind of deals they may throw out. We want to compete with those deals as well,” Juchau said.

Madison County believes the visitors will arrive in waves. The first wave will be up to two weeks in advance of the total solar eclipse. The second wave will be the weekend prior, and the final wave will be on the day of the eclipse on Monday, August 21.

More information about how the eclipse could impact Madison County businesses can be found on www.madisoneclipse.com.