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As we all deal with the ramifications of the COVID-19 closures, please be patient with us as we maintain the social distancing protocols laid down by the state. The Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Services office will be closed until further notice. Please contact us through our  email at info@tiffinchamber.com or call 419-447-4141. We know our local businesses are working hard to get through this shutdown. That's why we're here for you, working to bring you the latest information on how we all can get through this shutdown together. Below are some resources we have compiled to help inform and educate about programs, loans, or webinars that could provide useful help to you during this time. We will be constantly updating this information as we receive it. In addition, we will be making calls to our members and offering our assistance. If you have yet to receive a call and have questions or comments, please reach out. This is the time to let us know what you need. We have always been here to help, all Seneca County businesses, and this shutdown is no different. We want to thank our community members and businesses that are stepping up to help! Whether it is sewing masks, buying supplies to donate, donating money or treating the hospital or similar organization to donuts or lunch; it is wonderful thing that you are doing!  Thank you!

Help out our local hospitals! Now accepting donations of:   Gloves – Nitrile powered free exam gloves if possible in all sizes. Masks – Surgical/Procedural masks and N95s Disinfecting wipes – accepting Diversey, PDI and Clorox Verasure or bleach wipes Gowns – Any Disposable isolation or surgical gowns. Face shields – Any full length face shield, googles, or glasses with airtight seals. Homemade Masks Please take all donations to John Spahr, Seneca County EMA at 126 Hopewell Ave., Tiffin. Please call 419-937-1967 first to make arrangements for the drop off. Spahr will distribute the items to the hospital and other facilities that need the supplies.

Businesses Resources for Coronavirus There is no question that the coronavirus pandemic is having a large negative impact on our economy and the businesses, and that this will continue for at least the next few weeks. COVID-19 We ... Read more senecasuccess.wordpress.com Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program for Small Businesses Ohio has been declared a disaster state, therefore making Ohio businesses and non-profits statewide eligible to apply for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) assistance. Please understand that these will be loans requiring repayment. The ... Read more www.tiffinchamber.com

Links for Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Here are some resources for you to navigate this difficult and unprecedented time. It is important to stay informed, but watching the news 24/7 is not good for our stress levels. Take some time to step back and focus on something positive. Read more www.tiffinchamber.com Livestream Workshop: How To Save Your Small Business! In this presentation you will learn how to create a cash forecast for your business to survive. We will send you our cash projection/business forecast template prior to the event to help you use these business tools to navigate business survival. Read more www.tiffinchamber.com

Getting hungry? New website lists Tiffin-area... TIFFIN, Ohio - A new website has launched to help people in Seneca County find out what's for dinner, as dining in at Ohio bars and restaurants has come to a temporary halt to fight the spread of coronavirus. Destination Seneca County partnered... Read more www.wtol.com Charter to Offer Free Access to Spectrum Broadband and... Charter to Offer Free Access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi For 60 Days For New K-12 and College Student Households and More STAMFORD, Conn. - In the coming weeks, many Americans will be affected either directly or indirectly by COVID-19 and... Read more www.tiffinchamber.com

April 7 - Webinar: New CARES Act Programs for Business (SBA) Tuesday, April 7 at 2:00 pm. Register here.Guide to the new programs. Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership and the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce - together with other economic development organizations from the area - have invited the SBA's... Read more senecasuccess.wordpress.com SCGHD: COVID-19 Interim Guidance for Employers COVID-19 Interim Guidance for Employers (3/18/2020)Attention Employer:Please keep in mind this is a rapidly evolving situation and guidance may change as we learn more about the virus.We are receiving a lot of calls from people... Read more www.tiffinchamber.com

Disaster Loans Updates SBDC Network Partners and Lenders...please find attached the guidelines for EIDL Program and CARES Act. Please feel free to pass this information along to persons who may have a need for these loans. Thank you for your continued support. Read more www.tiffinchamber.com Instructions for Filing Weekly Claims Related to COVID-19 If you were laid off or had your hours reduced as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic and were approved to receive unemployment benefits, please take the following steps when filing your weekly claim for benefits. Read more www.tiffinchamber.com

Coronavirus in the Workplace Compliance Considerations for Employers Read more www.tiffinchamber.com SBA Loan Information Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Development Services Agency Director Lydia Mihalik today.... Read more www.tiffinchamber.com

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions To minimize the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and continue business operations, our BWC staff is now teleworking. While we may be operating from a different physical location, we do not currently anticipate major issues with continuing to... Read more www.tiffinchamber.com

A Message from the Seneca County Health Department March 23, 2020 Dear Business and Industry Owners in Seneca County, As your health commissioner here in Seneca County I am charged with doing all in my power to protect the health of my citizens. You as employers are crucial in my effort to... Read more www.tiffinchamber.com

President & CEO John Detwiler Announces His Retirement

After 11 years of service, Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Services President and CEO John Detwiler has announced his retirement from the position. Born and raised in Tiffin, Detwiler left the community in his late teens and worked in sales and marketing. In 2009, he and his wife, Linda, returned to the community where he took the job of president and CEO of the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce. Since joining the organization, Detwiler has been instrumental in the revitalization of Tiffin, including being involved with Tiffin Tomorrow, a citizen-led group with the goal of promoting and encouraging economic development in downtown Tiffin, and helping to unveil the Downtown Strategic Survey in 2010. Detwiler also championed and implemented successful events for the Chamber, especially the Seneca County Farmers Market in Downtown Tiffin starting in 2010, that he and Linda have been organizing and working for two Saturdays a month for much of the year. Starting this year, the farmers markets are to be organized through a new group. Under his leadership, Detwiler brought the county’s visitor services under the direction of the Chamber, renaming the organization the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Services and creating a separate organization in Destination Seneca County under the umbrella of the Chamber. Since DSC’s inception in 2012, the number of visitors to the community has greatly increased, with visitors now patronizing our local hotels, restaurants, shopping, and attractions. During the past 11 years, successful fundraising has given the Chamber more resources to promote local businesses, added an award to honor local educational leaders, and not only supported Tiffin, but all of Seneca County. Chamber Board Chair Peter Holbrook said he will miss Detwiler’s leadership, but the Chamber is wellpositioned for the next chapter. “Building off of what John has accomplished, we are in the perfect time to transition,” Holbrook said. “We have a stable foundation to build onto moving forward.” The search for his successor will be announced next month. « BACK TO BLOG

2020 Census Jobs There are many jobs available helping with the 2020 United States Census. Would you like to earn extra income with flexible hours, weekly pay, and paid training? The U. S. Census Bureau is an equal opportunity employer. Shape your future by applying online at  2020census.gov/jobs . For more information or help with applying, please call 855-JOB-2020.

Outstanding Educator Award Nominations The Chamber is seeking nominations of educators who have exemplified vision, leadership, and commitment to the improvement of education in our community. Outstanding Educator Award nominations may be made online   or  print the  Nomination form .  The deadline for nominations is July 6, 2020. The award will be presented at the Educators Appreciation Breakfast in August. Students should nominate a teacher that has inspired them to be the best they can be. Parents should nominate teachers that have challenged and helped their son or daughter to achieve what they thought was impossible. Teachers may nominate a co-worker who goes above & beyond for their students. Questions: email Deb or call 419-447-4141.

Tiffin 200 Bicentennial Events Survey The Tiffin 200 Bicentennial Committee is looking for community input on celebratory events in 2022. In 1822, Josiah Hedges purchased the land that would become Tiffin from the Delaware Land Office, and by March, it was named Tiffin. The legislature established Tiffin as the permanent seat of justice for Seneca County on March 25, 1822. The survey asks for community opinion and suggestions for the bicentennial, including new and existing events that fall into the categories of education, celebration, and heritage for Tiffin's 2022 celebration. The survey can be found  here. More information and a link to the survey can be found at  bit.ly/Tiffin200 .  Follow the Facebook page  @Tiffin200  to stay up to date as the committee finalizes current projects, including plaques for downtown buildings listing historical information and a Bicentennial Ball event.  We are looking to you! We need your help! Is your organization or business planning events for 2022? Consider making it a Tiffin 200 event! Let us know by responding to the  survey .

2024 Seneca County Bicentennial In 1820, the Ohio government authorized the creation of the county from part of Huron County and was attached to Sandusky County. On April 1, 1824, the county was fully organized. Want to help us plan for Seneca County’s Bicentennial? Contact  Brittany  to get involved!   Seneca County Bicentennial Barn Quilt Trail  From Fostoria to Attica, help us build a barn quilt trail through Seneca County in celebration of the 2024 Bicentennial. A barn quilt mirrors the cloth quilt and is painted on wood or metal. It can be placed on any building—barns, historical places, or freestanding. The barn quilt movement began with Donna Sue Groves and her wish to honor her mother, Maxine, and her Appalachian heritage by having a painted quilt hung on her barn in Adams County, Ohio in 2011. For more information about Suzi Perron and her barn quilt workshops, visit  barnquiltinfo.com ! Watch for presentations and workshops coming soon!

For more information, please visit our Community Calendar , which has complete and up-to-date information on all these events. We hope to see you there!

Do you have an Upcoming Event? You may submit information on any events, club meetings, or fundraisers that your business or organization is planning. You may submit online or use a printed Event Submission form. Chamber members should post their events directly online. Read more www.tiffinchamber.com

Member News Blast The Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Services is offering a new Business Benefit to its members. Once a month, one member will be permitted to send out a news blast. The cost for this news blast is $100. This service is a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested sending your own news blast, please contact Deb. The business is responsible for providing all content and submitting it by the end of the month prior to the month that the message is sent.

Keep your Customers Informed Members are encouraged to log in to Tiffinchamber.com and update their content. As we go through this COVID-19 situation, it is important to keep your customers informed. Please add your hours and any other information that will be of interest. Let them know what you are doing as we go through this together.   Join the Ambassadors today!

Check our website for updated news and events!