Serving members since 1912 from
Fort Washington to Valley Forge, Conshohocken to Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAMBER
COVID-19 UPDATE
Follow us on social media for the most up to date information.
#montcochamber #montcochamberpa
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Dear Members and Friends of the Chamber
Our weekly update is a bit unique this week. Obviously, we have moved it up a day. The other change is we are focusing this week on the one thing that has literally affected the businesses of this county and the other 3140 counties across America. There is a troubling and cruel duality of the viral outbreak. We are generally hunkered down at home and doing our best to protect each other from the virus. Thus leading to the uncertainty of our businesses and livelihoods. There is rightful concern about the economic impact. In full transparency, we as a chamber are doing our best to bring you as much information as possible. We realize your email inboxes are likely flooded with reminders about social-distancing and proper hand-washing techniques.
Our goal is to only email you pertinent information and guide you through the business part of the equation. This email will contain links and information for you to peruse. We know the governor has mandated all essential businesses to be closed for the next two weeks. We can say with great probability this mandate will be extended but we do NOT yet know for how long. One of the most frequent asked questions over the last few days is "what classifies as essential." In conversations with local leaders and other chamber executives, We going to offer you our best interpretation of essential.
Does your business offer a vital service that is imperative to the well-being and safety of humankind? This is why the essential businesses outlined in the mandate are grocery stores (food), pharmacies and hospitals. We would include with that utilities (gas, water and electric). We should also point out this is an interpretation on a mandate that was not precise. At this moment, the government can shut down private businesses and we would respectfully ask that everyone heed to proper safety measures when making these decisions.
As for the chamber, our board has advised us to work from home until further notice. Like you, I (Ryan) am at home with my wife and young children but available by phone and email to answer any concerns you may have. As a very limited service, Janet and I will each be in the office for about 90 minutes each day. The goal is take in the mail and help our import/ export members by stamping their Certificates of Origin (COO). We will be keeping our distance, sanitizing and asking for all other members to visit us by appointment only.
As far as the economic impact, each your businesses are different in size and scope. You each need to make the call as far as shutting down completely (if you are not structured as a work from home business). I know that the one source of economic relief at this time is a Small Business Loan. The federal government has lowered the rate to 3.75 for a 30-year loan. It will be roughly 1 point lower if you are a 501C(3) organization. This will cover operations, debt and payroll. The link is here.
You should know that in order to be considered, the state of Pennsylvania needs to declare an emergency. We are fairly certain this decision is imminent and then you can officially apply. The second we know when this declaration comes, we will post on our website and on social media channels.
You can find the link here.
There are discussions of other larger pieces of legislation in the pipeline. If and when these transpire we can share how that as well.
This next piece of information is super important.
Our friends at the Montgomery Commerce Department are collecting data from county businesses. It's a pretty comprehensive status that captures whether you remain on business and what needs you may have. My hope is to eventually share this information with you in due time but what's even more important is having this information disseminated to our local, commonwealth and federal leaders as they contemplate financial needs to help OUR businesses.
Please Participate In
Please read below for additional meetings, webinars and conference calls to help keep you informed.
Stay Healthy,
Ryan S. Rosenbaum
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Our staff will be working from home for the next two weeks until March 30. We are available by phone and email at
[email protected] from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
We are available by phone at 610-265-1776.
In the meantime we are offering limited office hours for our members who are manufacturers and need to get certificates of origin stamped for export. Please call ahead to make arrangements.
Limited Office Hours This Week- March 16 to March 20
Monday, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
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Small Business Association Disaster Assistance
in Response to COVID-19
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state's or territory's Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
One source of economic relief at this time is a Small Business Loan. The federal government has lowered the rate to 3.75 for a 30 year loan. It will be roughly 1 point lower if you are a 501C(3) organization. This will cover operations, debt and payroll.
You can find the link here:
Follow this page to learn when applications will be accepted for Pennsylvania, which we expect to be imminent.
Our local office
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A Request from the Montgomery County Department of Commerce
Fill out the Survey!
Is it essential that business owners participate in this survey We have been asked by the Montgomery County Department of Commerce to share this survey with our members. If you own a business please fill it out. Thanks.
Please complete this survey to the best of your ability to describe the impact of COVID-19 on your business. Use projections or estimates if you are unsure, or indicate "N/A". Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey and work with us --- Southeast Pennsylvania's Economic Development Community
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/d805663f537744ccb79ae18a569a1acb
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We are Now Virtual!
The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce Phone Town Hall
Friday, March 20th from 1:00 to 2:00 pm
FREE for Members and Non-Members
Special Guest-
Gene Barr, President & CEO of the PA Chamber of Commerce
This town hall is hosted via phone. Here is the phone numbers to sign in:
United States: +1 717-275-8940; United States: +1 712-832-8330; Access code: 734 3432
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2020 Employer Response to the Coronavirus
Webinar Webinar Thursday, March 19, 2020 | 11 am to 12:30 pm | Free
The Pennsylvania Chamber Educational Foundation is presenting a free 1½ hour webinar as a public service to review the facts, legal aspects and the many employment considerations that surround the potential of employee exposure to the Coronavirus.
Webinar Presenters
Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health
Jonathan Segal, Partner of Duane Morris will present the legal perspective.
- What employers should be doing now to prepare and to protect their employees-travel restrictions, reporting requirements, employee education, and more
- Actions employers should take if an official pandemic is announced-protocols for employees working from home, temporary workforce reductions, and more
- Employment laws that may be modified if an official pandemic is announced-employers still need to comply, but modifications and new rules may apply to the Family Medical Leave Act, ADA and other laws during a pandemic
- Best Practices employers need to follow to prepare and to protect their workers
The speakers will open up the last few minutes of the webinar to answer questions from participants.
This is an rapidly changing situation, so at this point the webinar is still scheduled.
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The website is the most up-to-date, so please follow it, and also follow the county's social media sites. Here are the links. The County has a press briefing every day at 3pm on facebook live.
Guidance for Employers Dealing with COVID-19
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All Live Chamber Events from now until 4/10 have been postponed.
This does not included our 3/31 Card Exchange with a big caveat!
Our March 31st Business Card Exchange presented by
VIST Bank will now be a Video Information Exchange. It will be free for members and still $10 for non-members.
Here is how it will work. We can accommodate our first 50 participants. Ryan will moderate a conversation, which will include an introduction by all attendees and some general discussion questions about your businesses. We will be utilizing a free (and easy to use application) called Zoom. We will be emailing our registered attendees on 3/30 with the code to tap into the right call.
Thanks VIST Bank for being our Virtual Business Card Exchange Sponsor!
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We will do our best to keep this list as up-to-date as possible on our website, as the current situation unfolds. The following are resources that provide helpful information you may need to navigate the current situation.
Montgomery County
Small Business Administration (SBA)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Resources that explain the outbreak of the coronavirus and how to best get your business prepared:
Contact information: CDC 800-232-4636 |
cdc.gov
PA Department of Health
Up-to-date information and resources for Pennsylvania on their website:
PA Chamber of Commerce
Free Webinar - March 19 | 11am - 12:30pm
Additional Resources
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One Last Note:
The Chamber has over 400 members. Over 20 of our members are restaurants. If you are a restaurant member and open for take out, please let us know. so we can let our other members know.
Today, I heard from our friends at Sullivans and Bahama Breeze. Both are open for takeout. Feel free to support them.
Sullivan's Steakhouse - King of Prussia- 610-878-9026
Bahama Breeze - 610-491-9822 |
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