Your Chamber Needs Your Support:
We ask that if you can pay, please do
Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Chamber Team and Board of Directors have made our top priority supporting our members and our community through this crisis. We knew early on how devastating this pandemic would be on our local economy. We had hoped the disruption might be a few weeks or months, but it has become crystal clear we are in this for the long haul. It has also become clear that while we'll continue being flexible to meet the needs of our members, we need to adjust our expectations around membership and program payments.
Our stellar team has been working overtime since March to offer valuable programming and timely communications; we've gathered our network together for numerous roundtable and panel discussions; we've pooled resources to find the PPE and services you need; we've made strategic referrals as businesses and organizations have navigated these uncharted waters together.
I am so proud of this team and how much they care about our businesses and community.
It is so important to our hundreds of member businesses and the community we serve that we continue to be here for them in the months and years ahead. Our revenue for operations comes from a blend of memberships, event & program attendance, and sponsor investment. Our team will continue to be flexible and offer you options during a time when we know you have so many competing priorities. In turn, we ask that if you can manage the fee for an event or program that you're attending, making your regular (or partial) dues investment, or paying for a sponsorship you've committed to for this year - please do so. If you have a past due invoice over 60 days out - please prioritize paying it as soon as possible. And as always, if you need special arrangements, just contact our team.
For those who feel able to contribute more, we will be hosting several upcoming events that you can engage in which will also serve as "fundraisers" to support our annual operations. And, you can always make a charitable contribution to the
Member Support Fund if you're able - which will help subsidize those who cannot pay for our services during this difficult time.
We hope you will choose to reinvest in the Tompkins Chamber and the important work we do to support your business and our local economy. Your contribution will make a difference for the Chamber, and for hundreds of your colleague businesses, organizations, and their employees. Weathering this storm will take all of us, and we are so grateful for your support.
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Attention New Residents & HR Professionals!
July 1 | 4 - 5:30 pm
Have you relocated to the area in the past year to live or work in Tompkins County? Are you interested in learning more about what Tompkins County has to offer a first time resident or someone returning after years away? Do you have new team members that need support acclimating or making the right introductions?
The Tompkins Chamber is inviting new residents to our next Live in Ithaca: Welcome Home Wednesdays virtual networking event. New residents are encouraged to drop in anytime during the event. Significant others and kids welcome!
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Join Us for a Women in Business Roundtable
July 9th | 3 - 4:30 pm
We'll gather for a facilitated conversation with women business and nonprofit leaders from all throughout Tompkins County and our broader Chamber membership.
Important conversations, real-time brainstorming, and a supportive environment are the hallmarks of our regular Women in Business Roundtable gatherings.
Thanks to sponsor
BorgWarner
for their generous support!
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Business After Hours for July:
Virtual Spa Day the BAH Way
with Rasa Spa
July 15 | 5 - 7 pm
Join the Tompkins Chamber and Business After Hours co-host
Rasa Spa
, as we present Spa Day the BAH Way a virtual interactive presentation on the importance of self-care. Led by Rasa Spa staff, learn about stressors and the mental and physical impact of stress, and different methods of stress management including techniques with Massage Therapist Dex White, everyday Rasa Blend aromatherapy Assistant Spa Director and Massage Therapist Cynthia King and at-home facials with Esthetician Ariel Corl.
We'll also do a "Working Together During Stressful Times" activity to explore ways that we can manage stress with the support of those around us. To fully participate in our virtual spa day, purchase your choice of one of the two at-home spa kits, that will be featured during the event. Click below to learn more, order your Spa Day Kit, and register!
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Networking @ Noon:
Hospitality & Service Sector Insights
July 23rd | Noon - 1 p.m.
Join us on Thursday, July 23rd from Noon - 1:00 pm to explore industry insights in the Hospitality & Service Industry sector. Our panelists will share insights and advice for businesses and tourism partners in dealing with both internal and external stakeholders, as well as community messaging and responses to public health and economic crises.
Our panelists will include: Peggy Coleman, VP Tourism & Community Relations at Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau and other local industry partners.
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Ithaca Promise Campaign Launched Last Week
The Ithaca Promise is more than just following guidance to safely reopen, but a dedicated commitment to the process. Businesses work to ensure they are doing everything they can to conduct business with health and safety of their customers as their primary concern. Customers and the community at large must also follow guidance.
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W
ear a Mask, Tompkins County!
Numerous partners collaborated with
Flair Communications to create engaging public service announcement style videos to encourage widespread adoption of and adherence to face-covering culture in Tompkins County. The videos will be be shared across numerous social media platforms, websites, and email marketing campaigns by the partners - and hopefully, the community.
The Tompkins Chamber, Visit Ithaca, Downtown Ithaca Alliance, and Tompkins County Area Development were funding partners for the project, who also had the support and collaboration from the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County Public Health.
Please share the video within your personal or corporate social media networks!
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Did you miss one of our recent L.E.A.R.N. Business Impacts webinars?
You can watch them all right on our website.
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Cayuga Giving Day June 30th (TODAY!)
Cayuga Health announced that it is partnering with Ithaca based
GiveGab
to help replenish critical financial resources that have been depleted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. #CayugaGivingDay will take place over the course of 24 hours on June 30, and will be based online from midnight-to-midnight at
www.cayugagivingday.org
.
Cayuga Health announced earlier this year that all of their annual in-person galas and fundraising activities in 2020 are canceled.
This new virtual event will be hosted and organized by Ithaca, NY based, GiveGab, using their non-profit giving platform.
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Join the Ithaca Rotary Club Each Week for Taste of Gorges
Tues 30th - Sun 5th | 4-9 pm Curbside Pickup/Delivery
Tues 30th - Sun 5th | 5-9 pm Inside Dining
Support local restaurants with the Ithaca Rotary Club, which features restaurants that have supported Rotary's Dozen Dinner Draw fundraiser in the past. Mention Taste of Gorges when you order and get a free dessert from Coltivare!
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Ithaca Children's Garden distributes Container Garden kits to students throughout Tompkins County
On Monday, June 22, 150 Container Garden kits produced by Ithaca Children’s Garden will be distributed to students in the Newfield School District. This project follows a June 6 distribution of 120 Container Garden kits to Ithaca City School District elementary students enrolled in the spring Farm to Table program.
Each Container Garden kit contains a 6-pack of basil, kale, chard, and marigold seedlings, a 5-gallon container, potting soil mixed with worm casting, and a guide to setting up and caring for the Container Garden, plus lessons and related activities.
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New York State Covid-19 Updates
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If Your Business is Open, You Should Follow Your Industry Guidelines
and
Submit an Affirmation to NYS - ASAP
Please visit the NY Forward website using the links below to find your industry sector guidelines if you are an Essential Business, Phase1, 2, 3, or 4.
We continue to watch for Guidelines and advocate for clarity for those sectors that weren't included in Phase 4 last week: movie theatres, malls, gyms, and more. We will provide updates when we receive them.
** NYS has issued updates to existing industry guidelines. Please check back occasionally to your industry guidelines to ensure you're aware of any updates **
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Essential Businesses need to read and affirm the appropriate industry sector guidance.
This applies to all retail and transaction based Essential Businesses - focus on complying and updating procedures ASAP. If you don't see a close industry sector match, review and follow the
Retail Master Guidance.
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Shared Work Program may be a Worthwhile Tool to Bring Your Team Back Gradually
If you are ready to reopen but cannot have 100% of your workforce report full time, are struggling to attract employees back after layoff, or are still experiencing reduced revenues - one program you might consider is Shared Work. Individuals on Shared Work receive Unemployment Benefits and the additional $600 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance - while reducing payroll costs to employers.
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Gatherings of Up to 50 Now Allowed in Phase 3 Regions
Governor Cuomo announced last week that gatherings of up to 50 are now allowed in all Phase 3 Regions, which includes Tompkins County. Those participating in these gatherings should continue to follow social distance, mask wearing, hand hygiene, and guidance to stay home when symptomatic.
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Member Businesses with PPE, Supplies, and Services to Support Your Business or Organization's Reopening
Many of these members have additional items - visit their website or call.
Submit your listing
here
.
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PPE, Hand Sanitizer & Supplies
Cooper Electric
-
Masks, shields, thermometers, sanitizer, cleaning supplies, stickers & signage
Ecolectro
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Local startup manufacturing hand sanitizer
Hickey's
- Face shields offered in 10 packs
Safeguard
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Masks, thermometers, sanitizer, gloves/booties, sneeze guards, custom logo items
Staples
- Masks, face shields, signage, cleaning supplies, and more
Cleaning Services
Servpro
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V
iral pathogen cleaning & disinfecting, air filtration equipment rental, and other emergency or regular cleaning services
Reopen/Safety Planning
Absolute EHS - Environmental, Health and Safety Consulting and Support Services
Marketing, Outreach, & Signage
Business & Succession Planning
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Hiring?
Tompkins County has a new resource for your job posting called "
Workforce Redirect", intended to match job seekers with those employers that are currently hiring.
Contact Workforce Development Board Executive Director
Natalie Branosky to have your business added to this page.
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July Meeting Schedule
Monday, July 13, Noon - 1 p.m.
No Admin & Finance or Executive Meeting
No Board Meeting
All meetings require advance registration & will be virtual until further notice.
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Have questions?
Our team is here to help.
Note
: Our team is on reduced hours due to Covid-19 budget impacts.
Please be patient if our response time is longer than usual.
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