Business View Civil and Municipal | April 2021

57 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL APRIL 2021 FLY LYH OPEN. CLEAN. SAFE. WE’RE READY WHEN YOU’RE READY LYNCHBURG V I RGINI A city as well, and that is something the business community is incredibly supportive of. We have a great partnership with the airport from a marketing perspective, and we certainly are continuing to grow that partnership.” Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Lynchburg has seen ongoing business development, with companies like Flowers Bakery, maker of Dave’s Killer Bread, completing their organic bakery expansion in 2020. Also, Bosch and Lomb, manufacturers of cut parts for contact lenses, have announced plans to expand their facilities in 2021. “Our larger companies continue to invest,” says Bentson. “Our downtown is continuing to revitalize, we had two new breweries open last year in the middle of the pandemic. We are seeing kind of an uneven recovery, our smaller businesses, particularly in the restaurant and retail space, have struggled mightily, as they have all over the world. We certainly are aware and are trying to find ways