Traditionally, the evening before Salter's Annual Fall Sales Event, Chamber members will gather for a sneak-peak mixer to network and shop the public sales event. For the safety of our members, business, and community, the sneak peak mixer will not be held this year. However, PV Chamber members are invited to visit Salter's during the Annual Kickoff Sales Event on Friday, September 11th 10am - 8pm and Saturday, September 12th 10am- 6pm. Plus be entered to win a $2,000 Gift Certificate to Salter's! Visitors on Friday receive 2 entries/household into the raffle drawing!

We hope to share a sneak peak of the sales event with our members on FaceBook...look for details in next week's enews.

I hope this email finds you healthy and enjoying the last week of August. A warm welcome to new members that joined the PV Chamber in August - Royersford Track Club, Keller Williams and StretchLab Collegeville. Please take the time to learn more about our newest members by visiting their websites (hyperlink in new member section of enews below).

As a reminder, today is the deadline to apply for Round 2 of Pennsylvania's COVID-19 Relief Fund Program. The program will distribute $225 Million in grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to qualifying small businesses (fewer than 25 employees and under $1M revenue) that have been economically impacted by COVID-19. All applications must be made through a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in the county where their business is located. Read more about this program and the 30 Day Fund on the Chamber's COVID-19 Resource Hub.

Stay connected with Chamber members by participating in PVCC Virtual programs, follow us on FaceBook, share your events on weekly enews/community calendar and shop the Chamber directory. We welcome suggestions for our upcoming virtual events; email renee@pvchamber.net to recommend a keynote speaker, topic, fundraising opportunity or program.

On behalf of the PV Chamber Board, thank you for your continued support. We appreciate your patience as we continue to plan and adapt member programs and services during these challenging times. Remember, renewing your Chamber membership enables us to continue to develop programs and initiatives to help you stay connected and build relationships, promote local business and lead members through the recovery phase of COVID-19. Together we will prevail!

Small business is the backbone of our regional economy. Please look for ways to support these businesses during the pandemic. Please visit the Chamber Directory for a complete list of members. Consider purchasing gift cards for businesses that are not currently open (salons, restaurants, spas, retailers, etc) to support them now and use at a later date. Please call your senior neighbors and friends to lift their spirits and ensure they have food and proper medication. Contact the Community Food Pantry for updated hours of operation and needed supplies.  

Please share your positive experiences with others and on social media platforms to help promote and support our local businesses. Should you have a less than satisfactory experience, please be patient; relay your concerns privately with the store manager so he/she can evaluate the issue and consider ways to improve for future visits.TOGETHER we will reset, restore and rebound our community!

Bartlett Blinds 

The Physical Therapy & Wellness Institute Royersford

veJov Design, LLC 

The COVID-19 PA Hazard Pay Grant Program was established to help employers provide hazard pay to employees in life-sustaining occupations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. 

Senator Bob Mensch presents Zooming Around the 24th District, a series of virtual meetings with local businesses and organizations to discuss the experiences they have had during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of these meetings is for businesses to stay in touch with their communities, and for us to spread the word about some of the challenges facing our local businesses during this time. Watch the meetings here: https://www.senatormensch.com/zooming-around-the-24th-district/

PA 30 Day Fund , provides forgivable loans for Pennsylvania-based small businesses and is eager to see an increase in applications from eligible small businesses in Montgomery County, particularly in applications from eligible minority and/or women owned businesses.  The forgivable loan is intended to provide immediate financial assistance (within maximum 3 days).

COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Grants: $225 Million grant program for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 are available through 3 programs; $100M for Main Street Business Revitalization; $100M for historically disadvantaged business revitalization program and $25M for loan payment deferment and loss reserve program. The program expects to begin accepting applications by the month's end and businesses must apply through an eligible CDFI.

 PA Department of Labor and Industry

As you are recovering from the businesses shut downs, this is an opportunity to rebrand and polish your new image. Let us know if you have any photography needs. We have implemented contactless protocols to keep you, your staff and family safe. Contact us for more info: https://www.scilliaphotography.com/contact

The FRIENDS of Pennypacker Mills, a Montgomery County owned historical site located at 5 Haldeman Road in Schwenksville, PA, is holding its Ninth Annual Craft Marketplace on Saturday, September 19, 2020, from 9:30 AM to 3 PM on the grounds of the Mills. Start your holiday shopping NOW!!! We have over 60 carefully selected, skilled craftsmen to fulfill your every need and desire. Our only handcrafted items include unique sterling and gemstone jewelry, wire and bead jewelry, an abundance of beautiful fabric crafts and clothing, woolen wear made from alpaca, angora, and llama, bird houses and feeders, theorem painting, soaps and balms, leather work, broom corn and so much more, all in prices to please every pocketbook. (Go to www.friendsppm.org to see a complete list of crafters and their crafts) After shopping, visit our food vendor, the FRIENDS’ table, and take a tour of the unique turn-of-the-20th Century mansion. Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, MASKS ARE A MUST! And all precautions are being taken to prevent spread of the virus to the public and our crafters.  All proceeds go to benefit Pennypacker Mills. For information call Carol at 610-489-9732, email grammyx5@verizon.net, or visit our websites: www.friendsppm.org or www.montcoPA.org/PennypackerMills or visit us on Facebook.

Please fill out this form with as much details as possible to indicate your interest. We will review the submission within 2 business days. Appropriate opportunities will be shared with our students within 5 business days or less. While we hope you will receive interest from our students, we cannot guarantee applications. Please note that Ursinus College reserves the right to determine the eligibility of a posting and to delete postings deemed unsuitable for our students. 

PA Career Link of Montgomery County is relocating from 1855 New Hope Street, Norristown, PA to a newly renovated location within the Human Services Center (HSC) at 1430 DeKalb Street, Norristown PA. The new office is scheduled to open to the public by appointment only on August 17, 2020.

Montco Strong Small Business Grant Round 3 awardee list has been posted and can be found HERE. 60 grants for a total of $631,500 awarded.

As of 8/10/20, the countywide response rate was 74%. You can view the latest response rate at the county and community level here. Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year. With just a 5% undercount in 2020, we could lose $72,336,780 annually in funding for Montgomery County schools, infrastructure, Medicaid, SNAP, housing choice vouchers, head start, senior programs, and more! 

Visit www.2020census.gov

Montgomery County is asking for donations for commercial masks, surgical masks and impervious (waterproof) gowns. Any business that has an interest in or capacity to turn their existing supply chain into the PPE output that the health care industry so desperately needs to please contact Montgomery County Commerce Department by emailing: COVID19@montco.org.

Montgomery County released guidance for reopening Pre-K to 12 schools for Fall 2020. Montgomery County officials and the Montgomery County Office of Public Health in collaboration with Montgomery County school superintendents have developed general recommendations to support the prevention of the spread of coronavirus in the school environment as they plan to open for the 2020-21 school year. The complete recommended guidelines can be found here.

Montgomery County is now offering free COVID-19 testing, for all ages, at six sites across the county. This testing is made possible by CARES Act funding that has been allocated directly to the County.

MontcoStrong T-Shirts are for sale as a great initiative through our partners at VFTCB. The t-shirt fundraiser is to help support Montgomery County PA’s COVID-19 Response Fund, which was recently established to support local relief efforts in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The t-shirts can be purchased here