Serving members since 1912 from
Fort Washington to Valley Forge, Conshohocken to Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAMBER
Follow us on social media for the most up to date information.
#montcochamber #montcochamberpa
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Dear Members and Friends,
All Face-To-Face Meetings from 4/1-20 to 5/15/20 have been cancelled for the Chamber. If you are registered for any of them (Non-Profit Series,LeaderCast, Lunch and Learns, etc) your credit card purchases will be refunded in full by 4/10. Anyone who paid by check will be refunded by check by 4/15/20. In Lieu of Face-To-Face Meetings, we will be offering Virtual Meetings at no costs toour members later this month and into May. Stay tuned next week for those events.
Video Message
Ryan S. Rosenbaum, Executive Director
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Office Hours
Manufacturers that need to get certificates of origin stamped for export please reach out to Ryan to make arrangements at
ryan@montgomerycountychamber.org and 610-265-1776.
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Here are some of the special offers and ideas shared by the group:
Access Services
by Hannah Merchesen
This is a free service that is available to any resident of Montgomery County
The Peer Support and Teen Talk Lines are warm lines where teens and adults can speak or text anonymously with a peer about any issues or problems they are facing without fear of judgement. The talk/text lines are available seven days a week from 1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
https://www.accessservices.org/services/peer-teen-line/
The Escape Room -
Liz Cleven
The Escape Game King of Prussia- a live 60 minute adventure attached to the KOP mall has made a website called TEG-at-Home to keep you busy while stuck inside. You will find Unlocked (a fun digital escape game), TEG Field Trips (a free digital learning game), and 30% gift cards! Make the most of your time off with the whole family!
https://theescapegame.com/teg-at-home/
Sales Tips 101- Gary Kurtis
From owner Gary Kurtis: I'd be delighted to offer a completely free consultation for anyone or organization looking for ideas to grow their business. I will take the time to understand your challenges and objectives. Salestips101.com, garyk@salestips101.com
Integrate for Good - Bev Weinberg
A fun Zoom-based networking event on Tuesday, April 7th from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.
Participate enjoy live games and raffles, share your 30 second commercial, let us know how the community can help your business, make new connections, and support a local nonprofit organization.
Join the fun here
Banking Resources
If you have banking questions, please considering reaching out to Mike Parelli at Tompkins VIST MParelli@tompkinsfinancial.com Bank or Dennis Wolf at Republic Bank, dwolf@myrepublicbank.com
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Our next Virtual Business Exchange is on Thursday, April 16 at 5:00 pm. It is hosted by
Sky 750 , Luxury Apartments located 750 Moore Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406. It will be free for members and still $10 for non-members.
Registration is Open.
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Advertisement
CJ's Tire and Automotive is family owned and operated with multiple locations throughout eastern Pennsylvania. From tires to tune-ups and everything in between, CJ's is your one stop shop for better, faster, and more affordable vehicle maintenance and repairs.
Now open in Lansdale.
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Wolf Administration: Business Exemption Submission Period Ends Friday, April 3
On April 1st, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin announced that the exemption application process for businesses created in response to Governor Tom Wolf and Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine's orders to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, will close on Friday, April 3, 2020 at 5:00 PM.
If you have not yet submitted a waiver, click here.
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MontcoPA COVID
-
19 Response Fund Launched
Focus on Montco Chamber Member-The Montgomery County Foundation
The Montgomery County Foundation is a non-governmental, non-profit community organization whose purpose is to help donors achieve their philanthropic ideals.
Montgomery County has one of the highest concentrations of COVID-19 cases of any county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
"The reduction of services along with
strict
social distancing
guidelines due to COVID
-
19
make it harder for
low
-
income
and food
-
insecure
residents, seniors, veterans, homeless and homebound individuals to get
what
they
need
,"
said
Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr., Vice Chair, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners
.
"
As a result
of
the pandemic
, we
are expecting
a sharp
increase in
safety net services, and we want to be prepared
."
To respond to this growing crisis, concerned leaders joined together to create a rapid response fund for Montgomery County:
The MontCoPA COVID-19 Response Fund.
Financial contributions will exclusively assist community safety net organizations critically impacted by the current public health crisis.
Contributions: All individuals, businesses and institutions wishing to make a donation to the MontCoPA COVID-19 Response Fund are invited to do so by
clicking here.
Donations of any size may be made online, by check or by wire. Checks should be made payable to
Montgomery County Foundation, Inc.- MontCoPA COVID-19 Response Fund, and mailed to 4 Sentry Parkway, #302, Blue Bell, PA 19422. The Foundation's EIN is 23-3070457.
Grants: The MontCoPA COVID-19 Response Fund will provide grants to nonprofit organizations with a successful track record of serving vulnerable populations in Montgomery County. The Fund is designed to complement the work of Montgomery County's public health, state, and federal officials and expand local capacity to address the outbreak as efficiently as possible. Initial grant applications may be submitted for up to $5000.
Nonprofit organizations wishing to apply should
Click Here and look for the MontCoPA COVID-19 Response Fund for access to the online application. Applications will be reviewed, assessed for impact and funded on a rolling basis dependent on available resources. Nonprofits are encouraged to check the website for future funding announcements.
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 How Can Businesses Help?
Request for Donation, Manufacturing of Medical Personal Protective Equipment
A message from the PA Chamber of Commerce:
The strong sense of community that has long been shown among Pennsylvania's business leaders has set us apart as leaders around the world. At this moment, that community strength needs to be exhibited more than perhaps at any time in our lives. As the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the Commonwealth and the nation, there has been much attention paid to the fact that the health care community is critically low on the personal protective equipment (PPE) that will help guard them against contracting the virus as they continue to perform the important work of diagnosing and treating patients.
The PA Chamber is making two urgent requests of businesses across Pennsylvania
- We are imploring businesses that have access to or a supply of N95 masks, eye gear, medical gowns and medical gloves and do not anticipate the need to utilize these items in the near future to donate them to their local hospitals. At the moment, a shortage of these items is resulting in health care providers having to wear the same PPE for hours on end, heightening their risk of contracting the virus. A complete list of in-demand supplies that are needed can be found here. If you are able to assist in this crucial request, please email opportunities@hapevolve.com. Any questions may be directed to Joe Tibbs, President of HAPEvolve, who is coordinating the effort on behalf of HAP-The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.
- We are urging all businesses that believe they are able to turn their existing supply chain into the PPE output that the health care industry so desperately needs to please contact PA Chamber Government Affairs Director Kevin Sunday at 717 645-2071 or ksunday@pachamber.org.
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Guide to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES)
The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Treasury have begun releasing the information that will guide the programs created through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
To stay up to date on the implementation of these programs, please visit the following websites:
- Small Business Administration SBA - here you will find information on all COVID-19 related programs that SBA is providing, including the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and Emergency Grants, and Small Business Debt Relief.
- Department of Treasury - here you will find information on the Paycheck Protection Program, as well as other tax provisions meant to help employers, including non-profits.
These programs and initiatives are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. While these programs are being implemented, you may continue to use this guide as a source of information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the SBA and Treasury.
The following questions might help point you in the right direction
Do you need
Need a business counselor to help guide you through this uncertain time?
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Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers
employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known
as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the initiative provides
100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses.
Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain
their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward.
The administration has released initial guidelines; they are
available at
www.treasury.gov,
Small businesses and sole proprietors can begin applying on April 3. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply beginning on April 10.
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 Small Business Administration's long-standing Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act expands
the Small Business Administration's long-standing Economic Injury Disaster
Loan Program (EIDL). The EIDL program was created to assist businesses,
renters, and homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters. View Quick Guide.
Who is eligible? In general, all of the following entities that have suffered substantial economic injury caused by a disaster provided they were in existence on January 31, 2020:
- Businesses with fewer than 500 employees
- Cooperatives, ESOPs, and tribal small businesses with fewer than 500 employees
- Sole proprietors
- Independent contractors
- Most private nonprofits
What are the Loan Parameters?
- The maximum EIDL is a $2 million working capital loan at a rate of 3.75% for businesses and 2.75% for non-profits with up to a 30-year term
- Up to $200,000 can be approved without a personal guarantee
- Approval can be based on a credit score and no first-year tax returns are required
- Borrowers do not have to prove they could not get credit elsewhere
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Pennsylvania's Working Capital Assess Program for Small Businesses
Announced on Wednesday, March 25 by Governor Tom Wolf
The COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program offers 0% loans for up to $100,000.
Learn more. Important Links
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Small Business Development Center R
esources
From our colleagues at the Temple SBDC are sharing these webinars to help businesses with their applications for state and federal COVID-19 economic development assistance.
These programs are free for participants.
Friday, April 3, 9:00-10:30: SBA Disaster Loan Webinar and Pennsylvania State Financing Programs to help Small Businesses with COVID 19
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Members Supporting Members - Focus on Banks
The Chamber has over 400 members. Together we navigate through this crisis we strongly encourage our members to support each other.
Here is the list of chamber members who are banks and financial institutions. They are ready to serve you and your business and are also listed in our business directory
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East Norriton, King of Prussia, Conshohocken, West Norriton, Blue Bell
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Blue Bell, Bridgeport, Conshohocken, East Norriton, King of Prussia, Limerick,
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West Norriton
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Meridian Bank
Blue Bell
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Perkasie
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Plymouth Meeting
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VIST BankA Tompkins Community Bank
Conshohocken
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Ardmore, Blue Bell, Conshohocken, Flourtown, Jenkintown, King of Prussia,
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WSFS Bank
Lansdale, Limerick, Narberth, Norristown, Maple Glen, Phoenixville, Trooper
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If we have inadvertently missed your bank's branch on this list, please let us know and we will add you to our directory and website post.
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The website is the most up-to-date, so please follow it, and also follow the county's social media sites. Here are the links.
The County Commissioner have a press briefing every day at 3pm on facebook live.
Guidance for Employers Dealing with COVID-19
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Welcome to New Members That Joined the Chamber in March
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