Business developments relating to the pandemic have been coming in daily during the last couple of months. Your Manistee Area Chamber has been continually following the executive orders, and have tried to summarize the important pieces that affect our business community. Since our last update, Michigan’s Stay at Home order has been modified again. The most recent executive order (EO) 2020-110 from the Governor lifted travel restrictions and allows outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people,
with social distancing between household groups.
The EO also addressed statewide retail and restaurants, day camps, swimming pools, libraries and museums. Athletic practices, trainings along with outdoor fitness classes while maintaining social distancing can take place. The following remain closed: cinemas, theaters, salons/space and indoor gyms See the
order
for more details on all of the above.
Other EOs have opened up portions of our state’s economy and offer some regulatory relief given the circumstances of pandemic response. Some of these may affect our local businesses, so we wanted to summarize them for you:
- EO 2020-111: Protecting the Food Supply and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers from the effects of COVID-19
- EO 2020-106: Establishing deadline to redeem property for nonpayment of delinquent property taxes
- EO 2020-104: Expanded COVID testing sites and who can be tested
- EO 2020-103: Alters public hearing requirements dealing with tax abatement and appeals
- EO 2020-102: Temporary relief for fuel retailers and distributors on using winter fuel mixtures
- EO 2020-101: Provided guidance for watercraft renewals/stickers
- EO 2020-100: Extended a number of executive orders for three additional weeks
- EO 2020-97: Expanded outpatient health care services for some procedures and non-critical services
- EO 2020-96: Opening up car dealerships and retail statewide, by appointment
- EO 2020-93: Expanding pharmaceutical services and filling prescriptions
If these executive orders pertain to you, or you have an interest in reading them,
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RETAIL BUSINESS
INFORMATION
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Your Chamber and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) partnered and held a Revive & Thrive - Reopening Retail Webinar, the speaker was
Meegan Holland, Michigan Retailers Association.
Two important lessons learned were that “it’s all about relationships” and a web presence for your business is absolutely necessary. Right now, retailers should rethink the process of selling by focusing on a functional layout, cleanliness, and to regain the trust of your customers.
Some ideas are to have a station or a greeter at the door with hand sanitizer, wipe down credit card machines with each use, and to think about dedicating doors for entry and exit. You should also think about decluttering merchandise and widening aisles to keep people moving through the store.
There were many more tips and strategies in the Chamber webinar, but we want to leave you with one last piece. Our economy runs on consumer confidence, and it is important for our business community to portray hope to our customers and area visitors. Building their trust, your business brand, and our Manistee area brand are important steps.
The Retailers website has many tools available here are some quick links we thought may be helpful to today:
RETAIL SPECIFIC DE-ESCALATION WEBINARS
MRA is sponsoring webinars to help you and your employees deal with belligerent customers who don’t want to follow your store guidelines, such as wearing facemasks. We have hired Keene Training to conduct the seminars; the company has years of experience training the private sector in dealing with crisis situations. All their trainers are current or former law enforcement officers. We’re offering the following themed webinars (sorry, no recordings available):
- 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 10 - learn how to de-escalate tense situations with customers
- 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 - techniques for spotting and dealing with potentially dangerous customers
- 2 p.m. Monday, June 22 - learn how to de-escalate tense situations with customers
- 2 p.m. Thursday, June 25 - a repeat of one of the above themes, whichever is more popular
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We are extremely proud of this class and their support of this community project.
As part of the leadership program, each class takes on the Manistee County Big Day of Serving community project. It is up to the class to determine how the event looks each year. This year posed a challenge to the group, as no one could have anticipated COVID-19, but this class has stepped up and refocused the event to serve those in need in another way.
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If you click on the flyer, you can download it to print or save!
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CHAMBER GOLF OUTING!
NEW DATE
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Admission includes 18 Holes of Golf, Cart, Lunch, Beverages, Dinner, and
We have several affordable sponsorship opportunities from $40 - $200 still available for the event.
Click here to see what is available and purchase
. If you have questions or need assistance on sponsorship or registration please email kristina@manisteechamber.com.
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Join a live presentation with our health care experts, examining topics you've told us mean the most to your business. Ask questions... get answers... stay informed.
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WHERE CAN BUSINESSES FIND LOCAL
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (PPE)?
M R PRODUCTS
- Visual Barrier products (plastic chain, traffic cones, cone chain connectors)
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Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
We encourage you to continually visit our
WEBSITE
as we now have
a COVID-19 page with resources and links to keep you updated and informed.
We are continually posting and sharing updates on our
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STAY HEALTHY!
MUNSON NURSE HOTLINE
231-935-0951 - press 5 to reach a nurse
7:00 am - 7:00 pm
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