May TGIF Concerts Cancelled
The TGIF Summer Concert Series, produced by the Historic Morganton Festival (HMF), Inc., is a community loved downtown Morganton event series which draws hundreds to the Courthouse Square each Friday, May through July. The HMF, Inc. offices continues to monitor the developments of the Coronavirus pandemic, which seems to change hourly. With the onset of Governor Roy Cooper's Stay at Home Executive Order and restrictions nation-wide, it is with heavy hearts that the HMF, Inc. is announcing the cancellation of the May dates of the TGIF Summer Concert Series.
This includes the following events:
We will continue to follow the CDC’s guidelines and Governor Cooper’s orders throughout the year and will be making decisions regarding the June and July TGIF Summer Concert event dates in the coming weeks as more information comes available. Like so many of you we do not know what to expect, however, we will do our part to help our community stay safe.
The TGIF Summer Concert Series, produced by the Historic Morganton Festival, Inc., is a community loved downtown Morganton event series. We cannot wait to reconnect with all of you once this crisis is over.
Should you have any questions or require additional information, do not hesitate to contact us (828-438-5252 /
info@morgantonfest.org ).
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Live Stream Pilates Class
with Breathe Yoga & Pilates
Weekly schedule - $5/class
Monday @ 9:30am Hatha Yoga with Peggy
Tuesday @ 8:15am Pilates with Emily
Tuesday @ 5:30pm Vinyasa Flow with Emily
Wednesday @ 5:30pm Ashtanga with Larisa (yoga experience recommended)
Thursday @ 8:15am POP Pilates with Janna
Friday @ 8:15 Pilates with Janna
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VIRTUAL WINE TASTINGS
with Craft'd
Friday, April 3, 7:00-7:30pm
Zenato Lugana San Bernadino and Alanera Rosso Veronese
Zenato is a northern Italian, second-generation winery, family-owned and operated. The Lugana is an indigenous white grape called Trebbiano di Lugana; they’ve been making it on the shores of Lake Garda for sixty years. It drinks a bit like an un-oaked Chardonnay. The Alanera is a Corvina/Cab/Merlot blend for which some of the grapes are partially dried, a la Amarone. Rich and lush. Zenato is a highly regarded Amarone producer, so this is like a little glimpse of Amarone-style wine for a fraction of the cost.
These will be two separate live virtual events done from the comfort of your home via Zoom (no account required; we will email you the link to join). The wine is here at the shop, available for purchase. We have 24 bottles of each and are offering a 20% discount on all four bottles if you promise to participate in the virtual tastings. We are in this together!!
Phone orders and curbside pickup available. 828.438.8400.
Wine prices:
Zenato Lugana, $16.99
Zenato Alanera, $16.99
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CELEBRATING POETRY WRITING CONTEST
Snowball
I made myself a snowball
As perfect as could be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet
And let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
And a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first it wet the bed.
By Shel Silverstein
So many of us are sheltered at home and if you have kids the day to day challenge of being a parent, entertainer, chief bottle washer and teacher, might be getting the best of you. But in those moments of clarity maybe you can channel some of that energy into some creative writing!
The Morganton Main Street office has partnered with Angela Shores, owner of Adventure Bound Books to promote poetry as a part of National Poetry Month, a celebration of poetry which takes place each April.
As a part of the promotion we are announcing a Poetry Contest for all ages. Winning poems will be displayed in various forms throughout downtown during future events. For this April 2020, poetry will be spread throughout downtown in surprising places and forms offering an opportunity for people to be exposed to poetry and the literary arts.
Writers of all ages are invited to submit poetry for our inaugural Celebrating Poetry Writing Contest with the theme of Nature’s Playground. The Poetry Contest seeks to celebrate the undeniable magic of words and the beauty of poetry. There will be cash prizes for the top 3 winners. The entry fee is $5 and poets of all ages are invited to submit their work.
TIMELINE
Registration and Entry Period - March 1-March 31, 2020. Judging Period - April 1 - 25, 2020
Public Announcement of Winners - April 30, 2020 * All submissions must be made by 11:59pm EST on March 31, 2020.
PRIZES
Based on judges’ scoring, three poems will be selected and designated as 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place poems. All poems, regardless of participants’ age, will be judged in the same category with only three winning poems selected.
1st Place Winner - $500
2nd Place Winner - $250
3rd Place Winner - $125
LOGISTICS AND DETAILS
The Celebrating Poetry Writing Contest is an online poetry contest. Registration and all submissions for judging must be submitted online. In-person registrations and submissions are not accepted. Participants must create a free account with Submittable, the online contest submission platform.
Poems can take any form (examples include, but are not limited to, couplets, free verse, rhymed poetry, sonnets, haiku, narrative) and should address the contest theme. The 2020 inaugural contest theme is Nature’s Playground.
Individuals wishing to participate will register for the contest, pay the entry fee, and submit their poem at the same time. The deadline to do so is March 31, but may be done as soon as the writer has completed their poem and is ready to submit it for judging. Judging will take place after April 1st, so early submission does not grant favor by reviewers. Therefore, be sure to take your time and submit your best work.
Judges will be individuals from the community who are published poets, writing and English literature educators, librarians, scholars, and community leaders. Judges will review all submissions for (1) connection to contest theme, (2) technical content (grammar, spelling, punctuation), and (3) overall message conveyed.
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Curbside Service & Ideas on Supporting Local Businesses
Downtown Morganton
Restaurants have begun participating in curbside pickup operations. Signage for designated curbside pickup areas have been placed throughout Downtown Morganton. Customers can call their favorite restaurant, place an order, and then drive up to these designated areas to pick up their order. Customers are required to call ahead to pick up an order using these areas.
During this time of adjustments in social events, work schedules, and travel, we encourage you to remember our many small businesses in Downtown Morganton and throughout our community and to continue supporting them even if you cannot visit them physically. Please visit our website at
www.downtownmorganton.com
for a list of online shopping options, call ahead with curbside pick-up locations, closures, cancellations, special offers, and public service announcements. Call the Main Street office at 828-438-5252 for assistance or if you have any questions.
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Virtual Tip Jar
with Burke County Chamber of Commerce
The Burke County Chamber of Commerce is rolling out the Virtual Tip Jar. This is to help the employees who have been laid off, as well as giving an opportunity for people to support our small businesses to help get them through their shut down period. Below is a page from our website,
http://burkecountychamber.org/. Employees and small business owners can sign up to be a part of this. You just need to have a Venmo or PayPal account. Then others can go on and support their favorite server, bartenders, hairdresser, etc. This type of activity may be the difference in a small business staying in business or shutting down completely. It may pay the light bill for that bartender who can't work right now.
If you are a business owner who has had to lay off employees, please share this with them!
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Note to Users: The references to companies mentioned herein are not intended as endorsements of services by the NC Main Street & Rural Planning Center. However, now, more than ever, is the time to share best practices and borrow from one another to provide resources for our communities.
“Small businesses are more than just job providers, they are pillars of our communities.” ~ North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
Tips for Small Businesses
Make Sure That Your Business Is Safe:
Be A Leader:
- Tap into resources for assistance and share with your neighboring businesses.
- Call Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) at 800.228.8443. BLNC staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. Se Habla Español. There are Spanish-speaking counselors.
- Call volume in BLNC is expected to be high, and callers may need to leave a message and await a returned call. Please be patient.
- BLNC counselors will gather basic information from callers and refer the case to the most appropriate resource – small business experts with the either the Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) or the state’s Small Business Center Network (SBCN) -- for assistance.
- SBTDC and SBCN small business counselors will assess needs – working, for example, to assist with the preparation of any U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application materials that may be appropriate.
- Direct employees to Unemployment Insurance System to the following resources:
- The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at: https://des.nc.gov/need-help/covid-19-information
- Website is www.des.nc.gov and the call center is 888-737-0259.
- Federal Disaster Loans The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is known for its flexible and useful lending programs - especially in times of crisis. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, SBA has redoubled efforts to administer its Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Working with state governors, SBA will fund low-interest loans for businesses and non-profit organizations that have been severely impacted by the outbreak. Loans may total up to $2 million and provide targeted, short-term support to help borrowers compensate for revenue losses caused by the virus. Learn more about the Disaster Loan Program at www.sba.gov/disaster.
- NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program The Golden LEAF Foundation announces $15 million in funding to launch a rapid recovery loan program in response to economic losses related to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Golden LEAF funding will support the NC COVID19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program by enabling loans to be made to eligible businesses for up to $50,000 with zero interest and no payments for six months. If not repaid in six months, the loan will automatically convert to a term loan. The NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program (https://ncrapidrecovery.org/ ) is managed by the NC Rural Center, a statewide nonprofit that has been supporting small business owners for more than 30 years. Read press release here.
- NEW 3/27/2020 Register essential industries:
- https://www.manufacturednc.com/ [manufacturednc.com]
- https://hub.bio.org/ [hub.bio.org]
- www.carolinatextiledistrict
- NC Emergency Management has a process to vet businesses and allow them the ability to move IF an emergency or shelter in place is declared, should their usual operations warrant such.
- Businesses should email beoc@ncdps.gov . In the email, they should provide the following:
- Business name
- Point of Contact including: -name -email -phone number -address
- Nature of their business and why they are critical to continue operations
- Business website
Federal Resources
Others
- Research business interruption insurance and apply if you qualify.
- Reach out to your Main Street Organization, Chamber of Commerce, and/or Town/City Government for technical assistance, resources, and information.
- Find ways to help neighboring business owners connect and build relationships
- Example: Ask community leaders (business, government, education, religious, neighborhood, etc.) who are already “connectors” to help. Have each contact five business owners, for example, and talk about how they can get to know each other. Business owners may learn that the product or service or helping hand they need is just down the street. They may also find businesses that are willing to trade goods and services or delay, or even waive, payment for them. Source: Hitting the Pause Button on the Economy: Fund Small Business Relief of COVID-19 Now
- Work with neighboring businesses and community leaders to brainstorm new forms of revenue.
- Example: Work with small business owners to help them identify new needs being generated by COVID-19. Are there products or services that are and could be in demand that existing businesses could provide, at least in the short-term? Ask business owners to participate in brainstorming sessions with five other businesses, for example, to discuss potential business opportunities. Source: Hitting the Pause Button on the Economy: Fund Small Business Relief of COVID-19 Now
- Use this time to take some additional online business courses to come back even stronger when you reopen. Encourage a neighboring business to take the courses with you.
- If you are a property owner, try to offer free or reduced rent for business tenants for a specified period (or defer it). Business retention is a better long-term economic development strategy than business recruitment.
- NEW – 3/31/2020 Take the National Main Street Center Survey – Small Businesses and the Impact of COVID-19
Increase Your Online Presence:
- Tell people if your business is open. Post its status, plans, and hours prominently on your website, social media, in an email newsletter, etc. Also update your Google My Business profile. If you need assistance, contact your Main Street Organization, Chamber of Commerce, Town/City Government, or a local technology business for help.
- Share the business’s commitment to protecting the health and safety of customers, staff, etc., and steps it is taking to do so.
- Promote existing and new product offerings, services and experiences that are available now or will be in the future (e.g. offer bundles items, such as books, puzzles, art supplies, etc., that could keep homebound families busy).
- Develop online shopping list services. For example, many grocery stores offer grocery pickup or delivery to customers who submit shopping lists online.
- Advertise discounts and sales for online orders.
- Sell gift cards for future use.
- Cross promote your goods and services with other businesses to increase revenue for more than one business.
- Share web and social media posts from local businesses through your social media outlets.
- Promote locally sourced products and local supply chains on web and social media platforms.
- Offer a Frequent Buyer Discount Program for 3 purchases per week.
Offer Virtual Services:
- Use technology (e.g. FaceTime, Skype, Facebook Live, and others). If you need assistance, contact your Main Street Organization, Chamber of Commerce, Town/City Government, or a local technology business for help.
- Have live, face to face, interactions/events with customers for buying/selling, responding to inquiries, conducting meetings, etc. (e.g. personal shopper service).
- Livestream educational programs, fitness training, music and art lessons, gallery tours, cooking classes, and more.
- Provide virtual social activities/interactions with and between customers (e.g. a brewery offering a virtual version of its trivia nights or a salon previewing new trends, styles, and techniques, etc.).
- Conduct telemedicine, counseling, and other appointments/consultations.
Increase Communication:
- Write stories about your business to build a personal connection between your business and your community.
- Keep your Business Top of Mind by dressing up your windows.
Offer Delivery, Pickup, and Subscription Services:
Enhance or establish services to:
- Allow for telephone, online, text, etc., ordering and (curbside, back door, or other location) pickup or delivery of products such as groceries, pet supplies, meals, etc.
- Partner with local delivery services or use those offered by larger businesses such as Door Dash, Grub Hub, Uber Eats, etc.
- Offer free shipping for retail items as a means of increasing online sales.
- Become a personal shopper and offer to do the shopping for your customers.
- Offer subscriptions for customers to order and have products such as meals, produce, fresh-roasted coffee, etc., delivered according to a schedule (e.g. “subscribe and save” discounts; coffee of the month; etc.).
Resources: Articles
Agency Resources
Technology
- Creating a YouTube channel to talk about products, tell stories about the business, etc. (https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/1646861?hl=en )
- Microsoft – Currently offering a free version of Microsoft Teams that allows users to schedule video calls and conferences with no limit on the number of participants.
- Google – Providing free access through July 1, 2020, to its advanced Hangouts Meet video-conferencing capabilities to all G Suite and G Suite for Education customers.
- ShopLoyal™ (shoployal.com) – App that allows merchants to recognize customer loyalty by providing a higher level of customer service, VIP offers, personalized treatment, real time two-way messaging, and more. Merchants register with ShopLoyal and pay a monthly subscription fee to use it. The company offers a 60-day free trial. Shoppers can download the app for free.
- NEW 3/27/2020 - WooCommerce – eCommerce site that works with Wordpress to get online sales up fast!
Our sincere thanks to the National Main Street Center, various state and local Main Street organizations, and many other partners for sharing information used to create this publication.
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