#StrongerTogether
IS YOUR BUSINESS OPTIMIZED TO THRIVE ONLINE?
During a call with Congressman Antonio Delgado (NY-19) and business and community members of Delaware County that we hosted last week, the Congressman was asked if he had any advice for businesses in Delaware County. He said that every business needs to ask themselves if they are optimized to be successful online. Covid-19 has changed the way we are all doing business and we need to be able to pivot to a more digital based business model.

We will help you answer that question by offering a free consultation with Business and Marketing Consultant Lisa Wisely of Blue Spark Creative Services in Delhi.

Blue Spark is the full-service marketing agency that handles the marketing and promotion for the County tourism programs and has been working with local businesses of all sizes to ensure they are ready to do business online. In some cases that means creating a website or online store for a business, in other cases that means developing a digital customer service strategy or social media plan. Every industry and organization have different needs and challenges and Lisa has offered a free consultation with anyone who is interested in finding out what they need to do considering our new business realities.

If you are interested in discussing your business plans with Lisa, please click the button below to fill out a simple request form. Someone will contact you shortly with next steps. There is no cost or obligation to work with Blue Spark Creative Services after the initial consultation and all recommendations are just that, ideas that may help you succeed in these changing times.  

This offer is available as an exclusive benefit to Delaware County Chamber of Commerce members.
Phase One Reopening is Underway
The following information is taken from the New York Forward website (https://forward.ny.gov)
 
Businesses in each region will re-open in phases. Re-opening refers to non-essential businesses and business activities. Essential businesses and business activities that are open will remain open.
 
All businesses, including essential businesses, must develop a COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan. Your COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan should include the ways in which you intend to comply with the Guidance to safely reopen.

Those essential businesses that remained opened are NOT required to complete an on-line affirmation. It is, however, required that those business owners prepare a prevention plan and have it available on-site.
 
All Phase One permitted business owners are required to review and complete an on-line affirmation that they have read and will adhere to the detailed guidance prior to reopening. 
 
Here is a breakdown of industries in each phase:

Phase One: Opened May 15th
  • Construction
  • Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
  • Retail - (Limited to curbside or in-store pickup or drop off)
  • Manufacturing
  • Wholesale Trade
Phase Two: Not Open
  • Professional Services (including hair stylists)
  • Retail
  • Administrative Support
  • Real Estate / Rental & Leasing
Phase Three: Not Open
  • Restaurants / Food Services
Phase Four: Not Open
  • Arts / Entertainment / Recreation
  • Education

Phase One: Construction Guidelines
Building Equipment Contractors
Building Finishing Contractors
Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors
Highway, Street and Bridge Construction
Land Subdivision 
Nonresidential Building Construction
Residential Building Construction
Utility System Construction


Phase One: Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Guidelines
Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production
Other Animal Production
Other Crop Production
Support Activities for Animal Production
Support Activities for Crop Production
Support Activities for Forestry
 
View Summary Guidance For:
 
Read and Affirm Detailed Guidance For:
 

Phase One: Retail Trade Guidelines
Phase One includes delivery, curbside, and in-store pickup service only for the following businesses:
Clothing Stores
Direct Selling Establishments
Electronics and Appliance Stores
Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses
Furniture and Home Furnishing Stores
Florists
General Merchandise Stores
Health and Personal Care Stores
Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Stores
Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies Stores
Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Stores
Used Merchandise Stores
Shoe Stores
Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument and Book Stores
Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers
 

Phase One: Manufacturing
Apparel Manufacturing
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
Machinery Manufacturing
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
Paper Manufacturing
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
Printing and Related Support Activities
Textile Mills
Textile Product Mills
Wood Product Manufacturing
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 

Phase One: Manufacturing
Apparel Manufacturing
Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing
Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing
Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing
Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing
Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
Machinery Manufacturing
Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
Paper Manufacturing
Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing
Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
Printing and Related Support Activities
Textile Mills
Textile Product Mills
Wood Product Manufacturing
Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing
 
SBA Releases PPPL Forgiveness Application
The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. 

The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities.

The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including:
  • Options for borrowers to calculate payroll costs using an “alternative payroll covered period” that aligns with borrowers’ regular payroll cycles
  • Flexibility to include eligible payroll and non-payroll expenses paid or incurred during the eight-week period after receiving their PPP loan
  • Step-by-step instructions on how to perform the calculations required by the CARES Act to confirm eligibility for loan forgiveness
  • Borrower-friendly implementation of statutory exemptions from loan forgiveness reduction based on rehiring by June 30
  • Addition of a new exemption from the loan forgiveness reduction for borrowers who have made a good-faith, written offer to rehire workers that was declined.

Click here  to view the application and instructions. 

Listen to Crisis Management and Recovery Workshop Recording

GrowthWheel for Crisis Management is a tool designed to help you make good and helpful decisions during a crisis. These tools encourage you to identify personal challenges, look for financial warning signals, and establish a solution plan. It includes decision sheets specifically designed to improve the operational aspect of the crisis.

Chamber member GrowthWheel is a worldwide recognized visual tool to help entrepreneurs make decisions and take action.

All webinar participants will receive 20 one-page worksheets at no cost for your use. Additionally, we have created a team of trained volunteers who have offered to guide you through the worksheets to find the ones that are most useful to your business.

This workshop is for business owners and managers, and will help guide participants through how make the best decisions in business during these stressful times.

Register to receive a copy of the recording here.
FREE Workforce Training Available
CDO Workforce has made Metrix Learning® available to all unemployed and underemployed residents of Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Madison, Oneida, and Otsego counties. Metrix Learning® is a comprehensive platform that delivers career exploration tools, career pathways, job search tools, assessments, and online skill training. Customers will have the ability to virtually register, update job skills via e-learning courses, track their progress (e.g. course completions, hours, skill badges, etc.) and explore careers.

SUNY Delhi is offering 10 free non-credit classes through the online education platform Ed2Go. These are available from April 29 - June 30, 2020. Topics include website development, customer service, marketing, personal finance, fundamentals of supervision and management, job search skills, and individual excellence. Each class is a self-paced tutorial with 24 hours' worth of content that you can complete on your own time. Classes are for personal/professional development and cannot be applied toward a SUNY Delhi degree.

STILL Open for Business
Partnering with our friends at the MARK Project and our local chambers of commerce throughout Delaware County, we’re helping connect restaurants, farm stores and stands, beverage producers, bottle shops, and general stores with customers at SisBoomYum.com .
Tips, Techniques and Exercises for Stress Relief and Self Care

The Chamber has partnered with Maia Wilde of Maia Wilde Consulting in Treadwell to provide stress relief tips and techniques for use in a business setting or at home.

This three part video takes you through a variety of poses, exercises and planning tips created to release tension from the body and the mind and help us navigate the uncertainties we are facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The New York State Office of Mental Health Emotional Support Helpline provides free and confidential support, helping callers experiencing increased anxiety due to the coronavirus emergency. The Helpline is staffed by volunteers, including mental health professionals, who have received training in crisis counseling.  Call 1-844-863-9314.
Tell Everyone that You're OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Our "Open for Business" series highlights a different Chamber member each weekday on the Chamber's Facebook page.

Contact us at info@delawarecounty.org to be highlighted in a future post.
Go to Chamber COVID-19 Business Resource Site for Latest Information
As small business owners across Delaware County are grappling with the current and potential impacts associated with COVID-19, the Chamber staff continues to track the latest developments from healthcare agencies, local, state, and federal officials, and our business association partners.

The site includes articles, information, and tools you can share with your staff and use for your company. We will continue to update this list as conditions change and we learn more.
Online Workshops
The Chamber has partnered with New Haven Consulting Group, Inc. to provide our members with an online “Preventing Sexual Harassment" workshop that meets the requirements of the new law.

This program is available at a Chamber-member reduced price of $20 per participant.

FREE WORKSHOPS

Our partners at New Haven Consulting Group are also offering two FREE online workshops:



FREE (Virtual) One-on-One Business Counseling Sessions in Delhi
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering FREE comprehensive programming to provide management and technical assistance to small businesses in Delaware County!

Specializing in direct one-to-one counseling, the SBDC offers assistance in the following business areas:

  • Start-up assistance
  • Business Plan Development
  • Accounting and Financial Projections
  • Sources of Financing
  • Marketing
  • Business Expansion
  • Relocation and Agribusiness

There is no cost for the counseling services of the SBDC.

Reservations are required for the one hour appointments. To make your reservation for Tuesday, May 26 (10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.) email us at info@delawarecounty.org.
The Delaware County Chamber is a private, non-governmental, not-for-profit membership organization. We believe that healthy communities begin with healthy businesses. By focusing on key areas–community and economic development, advocacy, tourism promotion, and business engagement–we partner with municipal leaders, community organizations, and local companies to present a unified voice of business for the improvement of our communities.
5 1/2 Main Street
Delhi, New York 13753

Give Us A Call: 607.746.2281

DelawareCounty.org
GreatWesternCatskills.com