Southport-Oak Island Promise | May 11, 2020
Southport-Oak Island Promise
Consumers want to know that your business is making social distancing and disinfecting a priority. As a business owner, you want to know that your customers are not putting you or your employees at risk.

The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association is rolling out a "Count On Me NC" a restaurant specific program with a training component. At the same time, Cindy Capps, Rusty Hooks Dockside Grill attended a webinar that discussed a similar program in Texas and then approached the chamber about starting a Southport-Oak Island Promise.

Building on North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper's 3 W's. We have provided for your use a certificate: Southport-Oak Island Promise. Click below to print and post this certificate. Do not post this certificate unless you are making the social distancing and disinfecting a priority in your business.
Your customers and employees will hold you accountable.

If you take on the challenge of the Southport-Oak Island Promise, let us know so that we can maintain a list of businesses -across all industries - that will be participating.
Email us "I Accept the Challenge".

If you would like to use your own business logo instead of the Chamber's logo on the certificate contact SeaWay Printing & Mailing at (910) 457-4568 or email them at seawaygraphics@gmail.com. There is a nominal $8.00 fee to change out the logo, but you must provide them your logo.
Count on Me NC Training Course Information
The NC DHHS is partnering with NCRLA’s Hospitality Education Foundation  to manage the development of online COVID-19 training short courses for restaurant managers, back of the house employees, front of the house employees and cleaning staff. These trainings are being developed by Dr. Ben Chapman and his team at NC State University Extension. The first courses are expected to be available for restaurants next week. All courses, as well as versions in Spanish, will be made available in the coming weeks. 

This voluntary COVID-19 training program will be marketed and promoted to all restaurants across the state by NCRLA and its network of partners. Restaurants who participate will be recognized with a printable certificate they can display in their restaurant and will be able to use the  Count On Me NC  logo in their marketing and promotions. This logo will be supported by a consumer-facing advertising and social media campaign designed to help customers recognize establishments that have taken the training and are committed to the highest levels of sanitation and guest safety during COVID-19.

There will be a webinar offered for local health departments offered next week that will provide the details of the program and information on how health departments can be a partner in this program. This webinar will also be an important training tool for local health departments to understand what guidance is going to be provided by the state to restaurants as they reopen, so that everyone is on the same page. Information about the webinar can be found below. Please let me know if you have any questions.
 
Topic: NCDHHS Restaurant Reopening Guidance
Time: May 12, 2020 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 931 7122 1775
Password: 420635
Roll Call.... Who is open?
ROLL CALL! Make sure to visit the Chamber's Facebook Page and the Go Local Southport-Oak Island Facebook Page. In the Comment section, post your business hours and anything special people need to know. Also, tag your business Facebook Page or website so people can find you.

Post even if your business has been open for awhile.

30 Second Video - Free
This was in a previous email but worth repeating....Spectrum Reach has partnered with Waymark to offer free videos you can make on your own and use wherever you need. Use code REACH at checkout to get your free video. Click Here to make your video.

We did one for the Chamber. Check it ou t.

Legal Guidance for Small Business Owners Webinar
COVID-19 Legal Guidance – What Small Business Owners Need to Know Right Now, a webinar presentation by Gwendolyn Lewis, Tricia Derr and Kathi Lucchesi of Lincoln Derr PLLC (Charlotte). Participants will receive guidance regarding legal issues surrounding employer requirements as a result of COVID-19. The panel will answer questions from webinar participants immediately following the presentation. If you have any questions that you would like to send the presenters in advance of the program, please email them to  foundation@ncbar.org
 
Eventbrite Registration Link:  Register Now
Brian Hamilton & Senator Tillis Discuss Entrepreneurship
Small Business Lunch and Learn Webinar with U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) & National Entrepreneur Educator and Philanthropist Brian Hamilton.

Join U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Brian Hamilton, Tech Entrepreneur, Founder of the Brian Hamilton Foundation and Inmates to Entrepreneurs as they discuss how you can take control of your future through business and entrepreneurship in an uncertain world.

HOSTED BY: Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC)

May 13, 2020 12:00 PM

10 Week PPP Tracking Tool
Diane Lantz EDFP, Business Counselor
Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) sent this 10 week-PPP Loan Forgiveness Tracking Tool. Half the battle was getting a PPP Loan, the next part is making sure you have everything you need so that you get that loan forgiven. Make sure you are working closely with your bookkeeper or certified public accountant. If you need some free business counseling give Diane a call at 910.962-5629.


Go Local Southport-Oak Island
Are you posting your news on the Go Local Southport-Oak Island Facebook Page?

Go Local - Shop Local
Go Local - Eat Local
We are continuing to post weekly Tic Tac Toe Boards promoting our local restaurants and shops.

Thank you to Carolyn Bowers for a wonderful article on Life in Brunswick County website about this game with a purpose.

City of Southport Listing
To help support awareness, the City of Southport is compiling a listing of businesses that are open on the City of Southport website: http://ow.ly/q2kf50zA6C4

If you would like to be included on this list, please send the following information to svenis@cityofsouthport.com -

Business Name, Website, Days/Hours Open

They will only post the businesses located in Southport.
This Week's Message From Chamber President