Volume 022621 | February 26, 2021

Your weekly news & updates

Chamber board setting its Vision 2025

The Chamber Board of Directors spent a weekend in late January working on Vision 2025: Mission Possible, its new strategic plan aimed at moving the local business membership group toward a complete focus of solving problems for local businesses and our community. We are still pulling all of the information together and plan to publish it by the end of the first quarter of this year. The plan compiles survey information from membership and community stakeholders and best practices from the US Chamber of Commerce in a way that will ensure the Chamber is speaking to the needs of local businesses in our community.

Information & Education

Meet new Taylor school superintendent March 15 We hope you will all join us at noon Monday, March 15, for our monthly luncheon which where we will get to hear from. Taylor's new public schools superintendent Dr. Devin Padavil at our Zoom “luncheon."    SPONSORED BY

WilCo Covid vaccine and registration update? Disaster recovery The federal government's  major disaster declaration provides assistance for disaster survivors within Texas counties. This assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of this storm.   Survivors in those counties may apply online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) If it is safe to do so, start cleaning up now. Remember to take photos of any damage for your personal and insurance records. If the pipes in your home freeze or have burst due to the weather, call a plumber and your insurance company. If you were impacted by the Texas severe winter storms and have insurance, contact your insurance company to file a claim. When you apply for FEMA disaster assistance, you will also need to provide your insurance claim information. Learn more HERE and HERE

Chamber News and Calendar

Tuesday, March 2, 9 a.m. -- WilCo Day at the (Virtual) Capitol (email info@taylorchamber.org for the Zoom link) Thursday, March 4, 8 a.m. -- Finance: Zoom Monday, March 8, 5:15 p.m. -- Chamber Board Meeting: Zoom Tuesday, March 9, 5 p.m. -- Tourism: Zoom Monday, March 15, noon -- Chamber Luncheon introducing Taylor ISD Superintendent Devin Padavil, on Zoom. Sponsored by Taylor Dental Wednesday, March 17, noon -- Programs & Services: Zoom Thursday, March 25, 8 a.m. -- Funding: Zoom Monday, April 1, 6 p.m. -- Local Candidate Forum featuring candidates for TISD Place 2 and City District 3 Free rapid Covid tests The Chamber continues to offer free rapid Covid antigen tests at its building at 1519 N. Main St. for employees of its member businesses. Please call the Chamber at 512-352-6364 to setup a time and ask those being tested to register at register.txrapidtest.org.

Advocacy Update Our membership survey showed that you believe that our advocacy for issues that are important to you is crucial to your continued business success. We hear you and are working to take our advocacy work to the next level. Key to making sure that our work is aligned with your needs is an efficient communication structure between the Chamber's advocacy team and our members. If we don't hear from you, we cannot proactively work for you, so we need to make it easy for you to let us know what's on your mind. In the next few weeks we'll be rolling out we'll be rolling out the first steps in establishing what we believe will be a streamlined and efficient issues communication pathway between you -- our members -- and the Chamber. Mark Nibbelink Advocacy Chair Sponsor needed We have an opening for a sponsor of the State of Our City address from Mayor Brandt Rydell on Monday, April 19. if your business is interested, please email us at info@taylorchamber.org. This sponsorship costs $100 and helps the Chamber fund its work. Sponsors for our monthly "luncheons" which are, currently on Zoom, are needed every month. If you are interested in sponsoring one throughout the year, please let us know and we will get you registered.

Member announcements

Passover Seder Please join Northview Christian Church Friday, March 26 at 6:30 p.m. for a traditional Seder meal with a Christian perspective. Reserve your spot today HERE. Schedule your blood donation today! Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Taylor will host a blood drive 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 16. To register for an appointment, call 877-724-4376 or click HERE. H.E.B. product contest H.E.B. is looking for Texas made products to be on their shelves. Information and guidelines for submissions will be posted on Feb. 25. Look here on that date. Service Fair The Rotary Club of Taylor plans will celebrate its 100th anniversary in Taylor with a Service Fair designed to connect service clubs with people looking to become more involved in our community. The event is 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at The Loose Screw, 410 W. 7th St. Clubs and organizations interested should email Tia Rae Stone at tia.stone@gmail.com.