Outstanding Reopening Strategies: From Sheree Anne Kelly, President of Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)
Outstanding Reopening Strategies
This week's conversations focused on rebuilding. My four favorite innovations this week, which are covered in our blog:
- Chambers building and managing business resiliency centers
- Catalytic leadership highlighted in chamber reopening strategies
- Regional chamber partnerships for coordinated reopenings
- Rethinking business models to rely less on membership dollars and
focus more on community solutions
The fight wages on! Politics got in the way of extending PPP funding to additional segments of the economy this week. A new stimulus package is being penned now – a fourth package. While we don’t have specifics yet on the content, we have growing support in the House, Senate and high levels of the administration for chambers to get relief.
Continue to contact your federal legislators. And share stories of how your chamber is helping your community through the COVID-19 pandemic with #ChamberStrong. You can tag your legislator and media outlets to get more traction.
More Information: ACCE
Hampton Roads Business Community Special Request: Please Respond By Monday Night, April 27
Wave 2 of the 757 COVID-19 Business Leaders Survey will remain open through tomorrow evening - Monday, April 27.
If you have participated already, thank you. If you have not, it is crucial that you do so by tomorrow night.
Click on this link to begin: Take the Survey
We realize that you may be thinking “not another survey.” This survey is different, here’s why:
The survey will help advance our region:
- Shape our Region’s Support of the Business Community During the COVIID-19 Crisis: This is THE official regional business leader survey being conducted by Hampton Roads’ leading business organizations: the Alliance, Reinvent Hampton Roads, Hampton Roads Chamber, Virginia Peninsula Chamber, Hampton Roads Workforce Council, Greater Peninsula Workforce Board, and the Old Dominion University Strome College of Business. These organizations have come together to conduct this survey to better understand the business community’s COVID-19 challenges and most pressing needs. Your participation in this survey will shape how these organizations support our region through the COVID-19 crisis.
- Provide Input to Improve the CARES Act: Findings from Wave 2 survey will be sent directly to our national delegation to influence the direction of legislation that’s being created to improve the CARES Act. Our national delegation has asked for our ongoing input. There are more “fix it” bills planned. The more business leaders who participate in this survey, the more powerful our message will be.
This survey will benefit you and your company:
- You Will Learn How Your Company’s Response Compares to Others in this Crisis: The Wave 2 report will be shared at the end of this coming week. This means you will see fresh data and insights obtained over the past 6 business days from hundreds of business leaders like you. This timely information will provide insights on how companies across the region are responding right now to the COVID-19 crisis.
- You Will Gain Insights on CARES Act Response: One of the key topics in this Wave 2 survey is the CARES Act. The Wave 2 report will report on how our region’s businesses are tapping into the CARES Act. This includes if they have received funds this past week.
- You Can Submit Specific CARES Act Questions That You Would Like Answered: Through this survey, you can submit questions that you would like answered by local experts on www.757recovery.com.
Sincerely,
John W. Martin
SIR | CEO and Managing Partner
IMPROVING TOMORROWSM
Visit SIR and the Institute for Tomorrow
Dearborn businesses, this opens April 27!!
The Dearborn Small Business Relief Grant application opens on Monday, April 27, with a May 1 deadline, for grants up to $5,000 providing small businesses with 17 employees or less and sole proprietors located in Dearborn working capital during the COVD-19 crisis.
Applications will be available at https://bit.ly/neigrantapp at 9 a.m. on April 27. The application process will close May 1 at 12:00 pm noon. Awardees will receive notification via email the second week of May.
Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria to qualify as listed on the website. Business owners who previously have been awarded a Michigan Small Business Relief Grant or the Wayne County/TCF Small Business Relief Loan Fund are not eligible to apply.
The Dearborn Small Business Relief Grant, funded by the New Economy Initiative (NEI), aims to support the businesses most often left out of major city, state and federal relief efforts due to lack of federal funding and eligibility restrictions on micro-businesses. It focuses on opening up access to capital for locally owned retailers, service business and restaurateurs, as well as makers, home-based businesses, freelancers and creative industries.
Through a partnership initiated by NEI, the Dearborn Small Business Grant is being led and administered by ACCESS, the City of Dearborn, East and West Dearborn Downtown Development Authorities, and Warren and Dix/Vernor Business District Improvement Authorities.
Small business outreach support and technical assistance is being provided by the partners, as well as the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, American Arab Chamber of Commerce and Yemeni American Chamber of Commerce to assure long-term business success.
A grant review committee comprising members of the community will review and approve/deny the grant applications. ACCESS will distribute the funds. Grant money may be used for day-to-day operating expenses of the awarded business, which includes: payroll, rent/mortgage, inventory, and utilities; restocking inventory in preparation of re-opening to the public; and transitioning to e-commerce, curb-side pick-up and delivery integrations.
To support those with the greatest need, business owners will be asked to note and substantiate their monetary need on the application and submit their 2018 or 2019 tax return. Applicants must also be prepared to provide their Michigan business entity identification number and employer identification number (EIN).
NEI, established in 2007, is a Detroit-based funder collaborative housed at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to drive entrepreneurship and diversify and strengthen southeast Michigan’s regional economy.
I appreciate your support and confidence as we navigate these challenging times,
Jackie Lovejoy
President
313.584.6100
Southwestern Indiana Chamber: Covid-19 Daily Video Update With Gov. Eric J. Holcomb - April 24th
Senator Mike Braun joined the Governor and Dr. Box for today’s briefing, highlighting the CARES Act Phase 3.5 passed by the US Senate and House this week and signed by the President today. The bill adds money to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP loans), to the Families First Response act (sick leave, testing support, food assistance), and to federal, state, and local agencies dealing with the virus. You can find many summaries of the bill including this one from Sikich.
The Governor issued two new Executive Orders today. The first, Executive Order 20-23, addresses several business-related items, including: delaying personal property tax payments to June 15th (previously due May 15th); allows for the remote meeting of shareholders for IN-incorporated companies; details surrounding alcoholic beverage permits; allowing the Department of Workforce Development to hire additional people for Unemployment Insurance processing; waiving the in-person signature requirements for Health Care Representatives; and waiving some rules that would hinder the ISDH/IU Fairbanks School of Public Health Covid-19 study.
The second, Executive Order 20-24, confirms and clarifies that elective and non-urgent surgical and invasive procedures can resume if providers have sufficient PPE and best practice protections for patients, physicians, and staff. Providers should “consult the best practices and recommendations developed by their respective medical associations or industries, many of which can be found online.” No other updates today to the current stay-at-home order in effect through Friday May 1st. Other businesses should not expect to open before May 1st.
Dr. Box (Director, IN State Department of Health) shared that 79 additional deaths will be added to the website, but shown in a different area. These “presumptive positive deaths” are where a physician listed Covid-19 as a contributing cause of death for a patient, but no Covid-19 test was documented. This clinical diagnosis can be made using the patient’s X-ray, CT scan of the chest, and using the full clinical picture. Adding these deaths gives a better sense of the overall picture of Covid-19 and allows the state to do contact tracing on those individuals.
New Information and Updates:
- The state’s dashboard at www.coronavirus.in.gov shows 13,680 (656 new) confirmed cases and 741 (35 new) deaths with 75,553 (3,533 new) tests reported as of midnight last night.
- An update on the study of Covid-19 recovery rates in Indiana, so far: 67% of patients recovered at home; 6% went to ER and weren’t admitted; 2% were admitted to hospital but didn’t require intensive care; 25% went to ICU. Among those hospitalized: 80% discharged, 14% have died, 6% are still there.
- While the state is not sharing the names of individual long-term care facilities with deaths or positive diagnosis, the rules and regulations they operate under require that the facility share information about positive cases and fatalities with residents, families/representatives of the residents, employees, and families of those considering moving a loved one into the facility. If a facility is not complying with this, the IN Department of Health should be notified.
- If you are in a business currently working on plans to reopen, your plans should include (but not limited to): cleaning protocols, physical distancing, reducing density of people, redesigning workspace, installing physical barriers, visitation policies, wearing masks, wearing gloves, hand washing, sanitizer being provided, limiting gathering spaces (cafeterias, breakrooms, etc.), temperature taking, travel, testing, and protocols for anyone testing positive and return to work options.
Resources & Reminders:
- All of the Governor’s Executive Orders can be found here if you need to check language or seek clarification.
- Those needing assistance with Unemployment Insurance are strongly encouraged to check the Unemployment Insurance website where there is up-to-date information including a regularly updated FAQ before calling. Call wait times are still longer than desired and most questions can be answered through their web page and the self-help tools they have online.
- If your business can make or donate PPE or if you can offer a service or other product, contact: COVIDResponse@iedc.in.gov.
- The DWD is conducting virtual job fairs for those employers trying to hire and those actively seeking work. Additionally, a list of open jobs can always be found at: www.indianacareerconnect.com.
- The SW IN Chamber has many resources on their website at: www.swinchamber.com
- Up-to-date regional information is available at the Vanderburgh County Health Department Coronavirus site. This is not just Evansville information, but for all of Southwest Indiana.
- If staying at home is unsafe, reach out ASAP to 1-800-799-SAFE where people are ready and willing to help you get to safety. Anyone needing assistance with mental health issues, should check the resources at The Bowen Center Coronavirus site.
- The American Red Cross still needs blood donors. Individuals and Organizations can consider “challenges” to try to increase the number of donors – donation/collection in communities is still occurring and is safe.
- While the individual income tax deadline was moved to July 15th, many other tax deadlines remain in place. Information for any of those can always be found at www.in.gov/dor.
- If you wish to participate in the #INThisTogether social media campaign, search for that hashtag on any social media outlet or visit the website at: www.INThisTogetherCampaign.com.
Understanding Grief in the Age of the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Miriam Iwrey, Carol Stream Chamber
The global coronavirus pandemic has created a new reality marked by grief and loss. Weddings, concerts, meetings, travels plans, school events, and more have been canceled in the wake of the virus. It has forced us to process both individual and collective grief in the face of an uncertain future which we are powerless to control.
“We are all dealing with the collective loss of the world we knew,” explained grief expert David Kessler in an interview with Brené Brown for her "Unlocking Us" podcast.
The disruptions in the normal routines and rhythms of everyday life contribute to the lingering unease and sadness that we are all feeling. Not only are we mourning the loss of thousands of lives, but we are also mourning the loss of normalcy, from seeing our co-workers to engaging in the mundane routines that we previously took for granted.
Safer at Home: State of Mississippi: Office of the Governor: Executive Order #1477: Via the ADP
On Friday, April 24th, Governor Tate Reeves signed a new executive order establishing a statewide Safer at Home order for Mississippi to continue protecting public health while beginning the process to safely reopen the state’s economy. This order lays out a measured and strategic plan to reopen the state while continuing to flatten the curve and conserve healthcare resources. Consulting with state health experts, the Executive Order sets out guidelines for certain business operations and healthcare activities to safely resume.
“This disease has not hit every American fairly. And the economic damage has not hit every American fairly. Wall Street and Hollywood will be fine. Mississippi small businesses and workers are not. That’s who has been asked to shoulder the country’s burden. It’s not fair, and it’s not right. We are starting to re-open our economy. It’s not a light switch that only goes on and off. It’s a dimmer. We can take measured steps to make life better,” - Governor Tate Reeves.
Guidelines of the Safer at Home order, include:
· Mississippians are encouraged to stay at home unless they need to leave for essential activities or essential travel, such as caring for someone in the vulnerable population, getting food or necessary supplies, and going to work.
· All those in the vulnerable population are instructed to continue sheltering in place to protect their health.
· This includes all elderly individuals (age 65 or older per CDC guidelines) and individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune systems are compromised as such by chemotherapy for cancer or any other condition requiring such therapy.
· When outside of their homes, people must follow social distancing guidelines by maintaining a 6-foot distance from others and avoid groups of 10 or more.
· Social and other non-essential gatherings in groups of more than 10 people must be cancelled or rescheduled.
· Evictions are suspended, though people are still required to pay any rent or make any mortgage payments.
· Certain businesses previously closed under the shelter-in-place are allowed to reopen, while following health and safety mandates recommended by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).
· Places of amusement or entertainment, like movie theaters and museums, and businesses that cannot avoid sustained person-to-person contact, like salons or gyms, will remain closed, other than curbside pick-up, drive-thru, or delivery for retails sale of their products but not services.
· All businesses and non-profit organizations are encouraged to continue allowing their employees to work from home or telework to all extent possible.
· Restaurants and bars may only remain open for drive-thru, curbside pick-up, and/or delivery service.
· Retail businesses are to implement reasonable measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including limiting the number of customers in their stores at one time to no greater than 50% of their store capacity and making hand sanitizer available to customers upon entry.
· Healthcare professionals and facilities may resume performing elective medical and dental procedures and surgeries as allowed and approved by MSDH. Such non-emergent procedures and surgeries should limit their use of disposable PPE and not request PPE from any public source.
You can view the Safer at Home Executive Order HERE.
#ChamberSong: A song to make you smile: 'Better Things' by the Kinks
Posted4/27/2020 5:30 AM
We're trying to inject a little positivity in the paper (and on dailyherald.com) with a daily "Song to Make You Smile."
It's designed to help lift you out of your coronavirus funk.
Source: Daily Herald
Outagamie County COVID-19 Business Assistance Loan Program Created to Support Small Businesses
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY, Wis. (April 24, 2020) – Outagamie County announces the launch of the COVID-19 Business Assistance Program in collaboration with the Fox Cities Regional Partnership (the economic development division of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce). The new program offers local businesses access to capital in a nimble and quick manner due to the economic challenges from COVID-19. By repurposing an existing revolving loan fund, Outagamie County dedicated $250,000 to the COVID-19 Business Assistance Program.
The program is offering loans ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 with a 3 to 5-year repayment term, 2% interest, and deferred principal and interest for at least 6 months. Loans support basic business needs, including rent/mortgage payments, utility payments, payroll expenses, and pre-existing purchase orders. In addition, loans may support business upgrades and changes in response to COVID-19.
“Businesses, especially small businesses, have been hit hard. It needs to be acknowledged that from every corner of the county, the business community has done everything possible to protect public health, even if it has meant they making among the greatest sacrifices,” shared Outagamie County Executive, Tom Nelson. “Outagamie County's program will provide a financial bridge to help businesses through these turbulent times.”
Outagamie County businesses impacted by COVID-19 that are interested in applying for funds can learn more at https://foxcitieschamber.com/main/outagamie-county-covid-19-business-assistance-loan-program/ or contact Fox Cities Regional Partnership staff:
Jennifer Brown, Fox Cities Regional Partnership & Chamber of Commerce
Jayme Sellen, Fox Cities Regional Partnership & Chamber of Commerce
Applications will be reviewed on a regular basis by the Outagamie County loan committee. Businesses are also encouraged to review other available options locally, through the State of Wisconsin and through the federal CARES stimulus package.
Greater Owensboro Chamber: One Week Closer to Re-Opening Our Economy
Dear Chamber Members and Friends,
We are one week closer to reopening our economy. And like you, we are chomping at the bit to get back to normal... even if it is a "new normal" for a while.
Opening Up America Again and Commonwealth's Healthy at Work Plan
Today, we, along with local Chamber leaders around the state, had a conference call with Governor Beshear about the plan for reopening. The Commonwealth will follow the White House Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. If you would like to review the full plan, click here.
The Healthy at Work Plan, our Commonwealth's plan for reopening within the White House parameters, will be statewide. Governor Beshear was clear the statewide implementation plan would articulate how businesses would reopen and that localities would not have separate guidelines. He also announced that he is involving a broad group of businesses in each field to make recommendations on the best and safest way for their individual sectors to open.
The Kentucky Chamber is a key member of this task force. We have been working closely with them and sending concerns and feedback directly from you.
Chamber to Survey Members To Assess Needs and Plan for Reopening
Next Wednesday, we are sending a Greater Owensboro Chamber Membership Survey to the entire membership for feedback in a variety of areas. It is very important that we hear from you for us to ensure the information we share represents our regional economic landscape. We will be planning more opportunities for updates on unemployment regulations as we all hopefully begin bringing laid off or furloughed employees back to work while adhering to reopening standards as they are released.
$310 Billion Added to Paycheck Protection Program
In the meantime, the federal government has allocated an additional $310 Billion in the Paycheck Protection Program. Click here to access the United States Treasury Department's Guidelines. It is possible that these funds will be available as early as Monday. We know that many of you have not been able to access this relief at this point.
We are working as your advocate in both Frankfort and DC. We know there are an overwhelming number of moving parts for our Members, regardless of the nature of their business. No sector has been untouched. These advocacy efforts are based on what you have told us in your emails, phone calls and contacts with you - our membership.
Please know that we are here for anything you may need. My direct line is 270.691.0570 and my email is cbrake@owensboro.com.
Our community is known for coming together in times of adversity. And we are proving that beyond measure with countless acts of generosity and kindness not only among individuals but among our business community. It is truly overwhelming.
Thank you for your confidence and trust in us. We miss being with you! And we look forward to finding new ways over the coming months to be together and to celebrate this community we all strive to serve.
Candance
Candance Castlen Brake
President and CEO
The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper. W.B. Yeats
#FamousChamber of Commerce Quotation: Be happy
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