PPB June 2020

Governments at all levels— federal, state and city—are using every tool in their toolboxes, from social media to online forums, to provide critical information about COVID-19 health and safety as well as about financial programs available to help citizens manage through the crisis. For decades, government clients at the federal, state and local levels have used promotional products to educate, inform, recruit, highlight safety awareness, promote safety and encourage health screenings and healthy lifestyles, as well as to celebrate achievements, inspire action, sign legislation, reinforce critical messages to the public and recognize government employee milestones. According to an NBC News and The Wall Street Journal poll, 60 percent of Americans say they approve of the federal government taking a bigger role in the economy during the coronavirus economic collapse. Before COVID-19, Americans also looked to the government to do more to solve the country’s problems. According to Gallup’s 2019 Governance poll, nearly half (47 percent) of Americans want government to take active steps to improve people’s lives, up 11 percent from 2010. A quarter of Americans say they would prefer to have more government services and higher taxes than the alternative of fewer government services and less taxes. People want help, and in a world reeling from a pandemic that brought new challenges daily, they need it more than ever. In this unique era, promotional consultants can help government leaders educate and encourage citizens, bolster businesses and build trust. They can help governments protect citizens and guide them back to health and prosperity. These are unprecedented times, but as President Reagan said, “The future doesn’t belong to the fainthearted; it belongs to the brave.” Market Snapshot In March, as the U.S. began grappling with coronavirus and adjusting to stay-at-home mandates, most Americans (54 percent) said the government was not prepared to contain the outbreak or provide care for the most severe cases, according to Business Insider. Looking ahead, governments must be more intuitive and quicker to adapt to needs and challenges as they arise. Promotional products distributors can help governments at all levels reach citizens faster with critical information and useful tools. As the largest employer in the nation, with about 9.1 million workers on the payroll, according to The Washington Post , the federal government also has a responsibility to its workforce. Even before COVID-19, many public sector workers struggled to save for emergencies or even make ends meet. The vast majority (88 percent) of government workers are worried about their personal finances, with 66 percent admitting they worry while on the job, according to the Center for State and Local Government Excellence. Promotional products distributors can help ease this anxiety through financial wellness programs. If offered, 68 percent of government workers say they would participate. | JUNE 2020 | 59 GROW