** Member Spotlight **
Smith Colonial Motel
The Chamber and the Delaware County business community are happy to announce new ownership of Hancock's Smith's Colonial Motel!
Mike Argiros has recently acquired Smith's Colonial Motel located alongside the beautiful Delaware River in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, at 23085 State Highway 97 in Hancock. Their motel offers clean, comfortable rooms in a quiet country setting with a warm, rustic feel! Each room overlooks the Delaware River and Point Mountain, where the East Branch and the West Branch of the Delaware come together. Whether your stay is business, pleasure or both, you'll enjoy your stay at Smith's Colonial Motel.
To learn more about Smith's Colonial Motel or to book a stay visit them at smithscolonialmotel.com, call 607.637.2989 or find them on Facebook!
Congratulations to Mike and family on their newest Hancock business!
Please support the small businesses that support our communities!
|
|
Third Thursday: Chamber Connects
Start your day with a productive and potentially profitable virtual learning opportunity! Stay current on what’s happening in Delaware County and the region, and learn how to effectively pivot toward a sustainable and thriving business model.
Our FREE monthly Third Thursday : Chamber Connects interactive, virtual
Q & A webinar on January 21 from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., is a terrific opportunity to participate in a leader-led conversation focused on building a better business and better business climate!
The featured speaker for this event is New York State Senator Mike Martucci, representing New York’s 42nd senate district - which includes the towns of Masonville, Tompkins, Delhi, Walton, Colchester, and Hamden in Delaware County.
Senator Martucci is the ranking member of the state’s economic development committee and will talk about his view and vision for small business success and impacts through legislative action.
This event is sponsored by Delhi Telephone Company. DTC is a family of services offering Internet, cable TV, telephone services, home automation and security services. Learn more about DTC and their array of services and competitive pricing at delhitel.com, 607.746.1500 or on Facebook.
|
|
First Friday : Networking @ Noon
We are all doing business in new ways and need to promote our businesses in new ways too! The Chamber is launching a new VIRTUAL member business networking event, First Friday : Networking @ Noon, on Friday, February 5, where members will have the opportunity to promote their businesses to other members in speed-dating style! Each business will have four minutes to talk about their business to promote sales, specials, or simply let other members know what type of business you operate. Referrals are the most effective and powerful way to grow your business!
To register and claim your promotion slot, click here.
This event is sponsored by Community Bank, N.A., Bank Happy!
Community Bank is a full-service financial institution with a passion for providing the highest level of service. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender, and was founded in 1866 with the goal of being a true financial partner.For more information visit cbna.com and click the ‘Find Your Location’ link at the top of the page to find the branch nearest you; or connect with a representative at cbna.com/contact-us or call 1.866.764.8638.
|
|
From the US Small Business Administration
SBA and Treasury Announce PPP Re-Opening; Issue New Guidance
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility was released on January 6 in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act.
This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.
Key PPP updates include:
- PPP borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs;
- PPP loans will cover additional expenses, including operations expenditures, property damage costs, supplier costs, and worker protection expenditures;
- The Program’s eligibility is expanded to include 501(c)(6)s, housing cooperatives, direct marketing organizations, among other types of organizations;
- The PPP provides greater flexibility for seasonal employees;
- Certain existing PPP borrowers can request to modify their First Draw PPP Loan amount; and
- Certain existing PPP borrowers are now eligible to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.
A borrower is generally eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan if the borrower:
- Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses;
- Has no more than 300 employees; and
- Can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.
The new guidance released includes:
|
|
"Raising the Bar" Restaurant Relief Fund Accepting Applications Beginning January 11
Empire State Development recently announced more than $3 million in “Raising the Bar” Restaurant Recovery Funds to assist restaurants in New York state during the COVID-19 pandemic. This grant funding has been made possible through financial donations led by Diageo North America and supported by Coastal Pacific Wine & Spirits (a division of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits) and will be implemented by the non-profit National Development Council (NDC).
The “Raising the Bar Restaurant Recovery Fund” will help eligible restaurants adjust their operations to the impacts of COVID-19 and adherence to New York's public health and safety measures during the winter months when outdoor dining is limited.
Maximum grant amount $5,000.
To qualify for the program, an establishment must:
- Be full-service restaurants (NAICS code 722511), or establishments engaged in providing food services and meals prepared on-premises to patrons who traditionally order and are served while seated (i.e., waiter/waitress service), including on-premises food and drinking establishments licensed through the State Liquor Authority (SLA). Establishments providing take out or grab and go food services due to COVID-19 restrictions are also eligible;
- Franchises are not eligible;
- Have no more than $3 million in 2019 revenue;
- Be located in New York State;
- Have been in operation on or before March 1, 2019;
-
Certify and demonstrate that they have experienced financial hardship due to COVID-19
Applications open January 11, 2021.
|
|
US SBA Lunch and Learn: COVID-19 Relief Package, Jan. 12
Bob Griffin will facilitate a review of the official guidance from the Small Business Administration(SBA) and other relevant agencies regarding the new COVID-19 relief package.
Topics that will be discussed include:
- PPP
- EIDL
- Unemployment
- Grants
Participants are strongly encouraged to submit any questions during the registration process. You can also submit questions, via email, to Bob Griffin at rgriffin@binghamton.edu. There will also be a question and answer portion at the end of the presentation.
To register for this one hour webinar click here.
|
|
Chamber Check - In
Chamber staff have been hard at work for members this week! Upcoming events include a FREE virtual Q & A with NYS Senator Mike Martucci on January 21 at 8:30 a.m. as part of our programming for Third Thursday : Chamber Connects; and on Friday, January 15 at 1 p.m., tune into Catskills Commerce radio program on WIOX at 91.3 or 107.5 FM - or livestream at wioxradio.org to learn about federal small business stimulus offered through newly released Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funding detailed by our partners at US Small Business Administration (SBA); and, on Friday February 5 at noon, join us for another FREE virtual business networking event First Friday : Networking @ Noon where Chamber members will have an opportunity to promote their business to other Chamber members in speed-dating style! For more information and to register visit delawarecounty.org.
|
|
Catskills Commerce on WIOX Jan. 15 at 1 p.m.
Tune in - or livestream - the Chamber's Catskills Commerce radio program on January 15 at 1 p.m. at 91.3 FM, 107.5 FM or wioxradio.org and listen as Chamber President Ray Pucci discusses the reopening of the Economic Disaster Injury (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans available for small businesses from the US Small Business Association with Howard Garrity and Jeffrey Boyce, representing SBA in the Southern Tier.
|
|
Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Leader?
Leaderful Delaware, an initiative of the Chamber, is seeking people committed to community service who would benefit from strengthening leadership skills while developing a personal professional network.
The 2021 Leaderful Delaware program is currently accepting applications for its eight-month curriculum that begins with virtual classes in March 2021. Up to 20 individuals can participate and half-day sessions will meet virtually twice monthly.
Participants will learn about critical issues facing Delaware County and the Catskill Mountains region through lectures, discussion groups, personal introspection, and panel discussions featuring current community leaders. The innovative curriculum is based on scientific theories of organizational and community leadership. Leaderful Delaware offers an alternative to the traditional model and calls on leaders to be concurrent, collective, collaborative, and compassionate. Strategies include effective facilitation, dialogue skills, active listening skills, managing conflict, intercultural competence, leadership styles, and peer coaching.
Candidates will be selected based on their:
- Commitment and motivation to community service.
- Previous community service or desire to become involved in community activities.
- Interest in public service and desire to learn more about public policy.
- Potential to advance to a leadership position within their companies.
- Commitment to remain in Delaware County.
Preference will be given to Delaware County residents but non-residents are encouraged to apply.
Applicants should be sponsored by a business or a community leader and provide references. Tuition, payable by a sponsor or a participant, is $300, and includes all materials and fees.
|
|
Chamber Online Learning Center |
|
As part of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce ongoing initiative to respond to member needs, an online learning center has been opened to help businesses meet their training needs in three key areas:
- Leadership, Management, and Supervisory Skills
- Sales and Customer Service Skills
- Human Resource Compliance Skills
In a self-paced, online learning environment, your staff can learn and enhance various skills including how to create a productive working environment, effective delegation, conflict management, working in a remote environment, working post-COVID and much more.
Sales and customer service modules focus on handling client or customer attitudes and objections, negotiating styles and effective sales negotiation and the dos and don'ts of effective customer services.
Human resources modules include diversity and inclusion training, micro-inequities, process of stereotyping and methods of exclusion, among other topics.
Each module is priced at a reduced rate of $45 per person.
|
|
Annual Sexual Harassment Prevention Training |
|
 |
The Chamber has partnered with New Haven Consulting Group, Inc. to provide our members with an online “Preventing Sexual Harassment" workshop that meets the requirements of the new law.
This program is available at a Chamber-member reduced price of $20 per participant.
|
|
|
|
The Delaware County Chamber is a private, non-governmental, not-for-profit membership organization. We believe that healthy communities begin with healthy businesses. By focusing on key areas–community and economic development, advocacy, tourism promotion, and business engagement–we partner with municipal leaders, community organizations, and local companies to present a unified voice of business for the improvement of our communities. |
|
|
|
5 1/2 Main Street
Delhi, New York 13753
Give Us A Call: 607.746.2281
DelawareCounty.org
GreatWesternCatskills.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
