LOCAL BUSINESSES CHANGE COURSE TO HELP
XO Alambic, a Port business tenant at Blue Mountain Station, and Red Band Cellars, a Port business tenant in the Rock Hill Industrial Park, have teamed up to distill an
ethanol-based hand sanitizer for use by our local first responders. MANY requests have come in from other businesses and residents who would like some of this product to use for cleaning, which we're trying to make happen. We'll keep you posted.
DEVOTION TO DAYTON IS SHOWING: The goodwill and community spirit being shown in Columbia County throughout this economic and health crisis is astonishing. Grocery stores shopping for people and setting up deliveries, businesses changing their operations models to keep people safer yet provide essential services, citizens purchasing gift certificates to local businesses and leaving them on people's doorsteps, restaurants donating meals...the list goes on and on. Thank you to everyone for helping make this catastrophe more tolerable!!
GROCERY DELIVERY: The Columbia County Public Transit grocery delivery model is working like a charm! You can find contact info for the stores and for the Senior Center Meal Delivery on the list at the bottom of this newsletter.
GIVING TO THE CAUSE: A local fund called Soldiers & Sailors Fund is available for assistance to veteran-owned businesses. Contact the County Commissioner's office at 382-4542 to learn more. Additional assistance is coming for others in the community and we should be able to share details next week. In the meantime, read this Times article about
Helping the Helpers.
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS LIST: There are some updated items on the
Essential Businesses List. If you have questions on whether or not your business is considered essential, please call the Port office at 392-2577 and we'll do our best to help you sort through it. At the very bottom of the list there is a link to a form to fill out if you'd like to appeal to have your business considered essential.
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM GOES LIVE TOMORROW:
Every business guide I've read in the last few days encourages businesses to sign up for the Paycheck Protection Program loan. The portion of funds used for payroll, rent, and utilities that keeps your people employed for 8 weeks can be forgiven - meaning that a portion of the loan turns into a grant! Banner Bank has a link that can get you "in line" for this loan. Click on this link and get signed up now!
GRAVIS LAW OFFICE is offering a FREE webinar called
Navigating Through the Crisis on Friday, April 3 at 11:00 am. Their CEO will share what they've learned as they've taken significant steps to ensure their own survival.