Click here to view this email online. If you missed our resource email on Tuesday, September 8th, you can view it here.

As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration and cosponsors will host all virtual events September 22-24, 2020. This year’s National Small Business Week activities will include numerous educational panels providing retooling and innovative practices for entrepreneurs as our nation’s small businesses look to pivot and recover, contributing to a stronger economy. The event will recognize the national award winners, including the naming of the National Small Business Person of the Year.

The National Small Business Week event schedule includes three days recognizing America’s outstanding entrepreneurs, shining a spotlight on the nation’s 30 million small businesses across the country.

Details and registration information will be posted on https://www.sba.gov/NSBW as events are finalized.

Tuesday, September 22, 1 p.m. EDT – “Pride in America’s Small Businesses”

National Small Business Week Welcome - SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza

Keynote Address

National Small Business Week Awards Presentations

Wednesday, September 23, 9 a.m. EDT– “Preparing for a stronger tomorrow: Recovery, Adaptation, and Innovation”

Panel Discussion Series - America’s Strength, Learning to Pivot and Innovate

Mid-day Sessions - SBA’s Veteran Resources and Veteran Success Story Videos

Thursday, September 24, 9 a.m. EDT – “Preparing for a stronger tomorrow: Recovery, Adaptation, and Innovation”

Panel Discussion Series - America’s Strength, Learning to Pivot and Innovate

Mid-day Sessions - The Business Landscape of today and Federal and Local Resources to Empower Small Businesses

More than 55 years ago our community shared a robust vision for the future; voting to build the Civic Center and putting Amarillo on the entertainment map.

Over the next several decades, as the needs of our community and the entertainment industry evolved, the Civic Center underwent several expansions and renovations hoping to remain relevant and competitive.

While these projects proved beneficial for the Civic Center at the time, today, we’ve reached another critical juncture; carry on that robust vision for the generations to come or watch the outdated facility wither away.

If we don’t move forward and vote FOR the Civic Center on November 3rd, we will lose major events like the WRCA World Championship Ranch Rodeo and the Farm and Ranch Show, which pour more than $6.3 million into our economy and attract 80,000 people to Amarillo annually.

If we aren’t forward thinkers like those who came before us, the value of the current Civic Center will continue to depreciate, and the number of events, attendees, hotel room nights and economic impact generated by the Civic Center will decline and die.

By embracing and enhancing this 55+ year legacy with another positive vote for our City’s future, we will keep critical events from leaving Amarillo and finally be able to compete against other cities for larger concerts, conventions and other entertainment.

It will be a great value for Amarillo taxpayers, generating an additional $28 million in annual economic activity for $130 per year, or $10.90 a month, for an owner of a $100,000 home. Seniors whose taxes are frozen will NOT see an increase in taxes. Even if home valuations go up, taxes for those 65+ will remain frozen.

Not only that, high school graduates would be able to walk the stage with all their family in attendance, cheering them on to the next phase of their life, while local youth sports would have a place to play tournaments for decades to come.

The redevelopment of the Amarillo Civic Center is a critical component to the future prosperity of Amarillo, and the future prosperity of our families, for generations to come.

Vote FOR the Civic Center November 3rd and vote to build a better future for Amarillo.

Find out more about the redevelopment of the Amarillo Civic Center on the website and Facebook page.

Ribbon Cutting: I am Rt 66 Visitor Center and Gallery

Ribbon Cutting:  Ace Handyman Services

Community Event: Chamber Mobile Blood Drive with Coffee Memorial

Appointments are required. Click here to schedule.

Ribbon Cutting: ​Berkshire Hathaway Premier Properties/Morgan Moss

Ribbon Cutting: Texas Panhandle War Memorial

View more Ribbon Cutting & Ground Breaking photos in our Facebook album.

Remember that during this time blood is still needed more than ever. We are still getting hundreds of cancellations from businesses that usually host blood drives but haven't returned to work. This has resulted in thousands of lost units, and the blood supply is critically low! We appreciate the Chamber of Commerce for stepping up to host a blood drive to support the local blood supply. Our staff is taking extra sanitation precautions to ensure donor safety. Schedule your lifesaving appointment today!

The Coffee Memorial Blood Center Bloodmobile will be at the Chamber at 1000 S Polk downtown on Friday, September 25th for a blood drive. To schedule an appointment, call 806-331-8833 or visit https://www.yourbloodinstitute.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/342596

All donors will receive a BigFoot t-shirt*, a coupon for a free bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes, one free entry to the Discovery Center, and an $8 Fandango movie voucher.

All donations* will be tested** for COVID-19 antibodies to identify potential convalescent plasma donors. Appointment needed to participate. Masks required for all donors.

*Donors ages 16 or 17 years old need parental consent to be screened for COVID-19 antibodies and are not eligible to donate convalescent plasma. **This test has not been FDA cleared or approved. It has been authorized by the FDA under the EAU (Emergency Use Authorization) for use by authorized laboratories. The test has been authorized only for the detection of the IgG antibody against SARS-Co-V-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens. Blood drives will be managed according to CDC safety recommendations. Test results will be made available post-donation.

CGI Communications has been a partner of the Amarillo Chamber for a number of years. CGI handles several advertising products offered to our members including website banner ads, community videos, ReviewTube reviews, and now has a new Magellan tool for voice activated website searching for text and videos.

Our representative, Al Forys, and his team will be reaching out to some of our members in the coming days and weeks to offer more information about these tools that may be beneficial for your business.

Should you want more information on any of their products, reach out to Al Forys at the contact information below.

We try to alert you anytime a third party may contact you so that you know they are a trusted and legitimate partner of the Amarillo Chamber. You may see our complete list of advertising options and partners on the Advertising Opportunities page of our website. We encourage you to always check this site or contact Penni Bentley at (806) 373-7800 to verify our official program partners before giving out personal or financial information.

The Chamber has compiled a list of links to helpful resources on our Chamber website. From our homepage, simply click the Learn More button under the COVID-19 Resources section or go directly to the page at https://www.amarillo-chamber.org/covid-19-info--resources.html.

See our Staff Directory with photos, direct phone numbers and more on our Contact Us page of the website.

Dusty Doyle - Chair

Chris Reed - Chair-Elect

John Luciano - Finance Chair

Michelle Reichert - Past Chair

Gary Molberg - President & CEO

Brandy Sanchez - Membership Chair

Wes Wright - Business Chair

Bob Murray - Governmental Affairs Chair

Leon Church - Agriculture Chair

Stephanie Price - Quality of Life Chair

Angela Knapp Eggers - CVC Chair

Ginger Nelson - Mayor

Tyler Andrews, Andrews & Associates / cat.man.du

Blaine Baker, Crown House Insurance

David Bishop, Amarillo ISD

Lew Bradshaw, Pat Davis Properties

Lloyd Brown, Amarillo EDC

Kevin Carter, Amarillo EDC

Ryan Chandler, Northwest Texas Healthcare

Richard Constancio, Shiver-Megert & Associates

Joe Graham, Graham Brothers Jewelers

Jason Henderson, Bell

Mark Hodges, FirstCapital Bank of Texas

Julie Imke, WTAMU Amarillo Center

Charles Leard, M&R Liquor

Trent Morris, Workforce Solutions Panhandle

Ed Nichols, Brown, Graham & Company, P.C.

Joseph Peterson, Edward Jones

Aaron Sage, Sage Oil Vac

Doug Street, Affiliated Foods

Wendi Swope, Double U Marketing

Ronnie Walker, Xcel Energy

Peter Warrick, Atmos Energy

Mikel Williamson, Happy State Bank

Lance Wolff, Insurica DFB

on our website. 

                                                   –  Author Unknown