$100M to Aid Small Businesses & Nonprofits

Issue 6.34

August 21, 2020

$100M Grant Program Launched to Aid Small Businesses and Nonprofits

Governor John Carney, New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and the Delaware Division of Small Business on Wednesday announced a grant program of at least $100 million to assist Delaware small businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

The DE Relief Grants program is a joint initiative of the State of Delaware and New Castle County, and is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The program is expected to reach more than 3,000 small businesses and nonprofit organizations with grants of up to $100,000. Read more >

DE Relief Grants can be used for:

Purchasing equipment to make a workplace suitable for COVID-19 safety (such as PPE, plexiglass, air purifiers, etc.)

Refinancing of debt incurred due to COVID-19 (including State of Delaware HELP loans)

Advertising efforts undertaken as a result of COVID-19

Fixed expenses the applicant accrued during COVID-19

JOIN US!

Chamber Leadership with Dr. David Tam

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27 | 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Originally slated to begin as the new president & CEO of Beebe Healthcare in April, Dr. David Tam jumped into the position feet first in mid-March as the coronavirus outbreak started spreading in the First State. After moving across the country to lead a healthcare system in the midst of a public health crisis, Dr. Tam has been quite busy in his first months here in Delaware.

$20 Members | $35 Future Members

Why Insurance Careers Work for Millennials

When I took my first insurance course at the University of Mississippi, I learned two important things: first, this business is all about the relationships you form with clients and carriers. Second, the industry has a lot of gray hair.

Insurance is a dynamic industry full of possibilities for the next generation. It’s an evolving industry, shedding its “boring” reputation for a robust future invigorated by new ideas and digital transformation. An industry that offers many of the attributes millennials seek from a job. Here are five reasons why millennials should consider a career in insurance. Read more >

Message from the President

We are into the middle of summer and a few business-related, COVID-19 observations are worth noting. In Delaware, the construction industry never idled while many other industries limited operations or closed. Given the number of people employed in construction and the accumulated hours those men and women have worked over the past five months, it’s important to note that very few businesses report virus positives. Is it the safety steps those businesses took, the "open-air" environment that is common for many jobs, both, or something else? Even hospital workers, frequently exposed to virus-positive patients, seldom caught the virus. This can be attributed to PPE, dedication to smart safety precautions, and building or modifying best practices. There is much to be said that is positive about safety in the workplace. Read more >

Delaware Businesses Respond to and Innovate Through Unprecedented Change

These truly have been unprecendented times. COVID-19 will continue to impact businesses and communities in ways we have not experienced in generations. Now that businesses have developed their reopening plans, it’s a good time for all of us to evaluate these changes while still providing employees (at WSFS, we call ours Associates) and customers with the services they seek. Your top priorities, of course, should be the health and safety of your employees and the needs of your customers while optimizing the operation of your business. Here’s a glimpse of what we can expect as the next phases of reopening unfold. Read more >

Delaware High School Seniors Need Your Help

A Message from the Office of Work-Based Learning:

With virtual learning and limited extracurriculars, the Class of 2021 is facing an unprecedented senior year. But with your help, we can give them a meaningful learning opportunity that will prepare them for their futures!

Many seniors at Delaware high schools will be starting their senior projects in the fall of 2020 and need virtual mentoring support from local employers. Specifically, we are looking for individual professionals to virtually meet with a student, once per month, to provide advice and guidance on their projects. In an initial meeting, you will help the student identify industry challenges; the student then selects a project within their area of study and performs research on a question or problem. The project develops during their senior year and culminates in a product or presentation, which you will be able to see.

This is a manageable and rewarding experience for employer mentors and we hope you’ll consider participating! Please fill out this form to signal your interest or get more information about the program.

Virtual senior project mentoring is one of many employer partnership opportunities that the Delaware Office of Work-Based Learning facilitates. Once the school year is underway, we will bring you additional virtual experiences that you and your staff can engage in to develop Delaware’s future workforce and enrich your own professional path.

On behalf of Delaware’s seniors, thank you for considering becoming a virtual senior project mentor!

CREATE YOUR BUSINESS' FUTURE

Sometimes, the best advice turns out to be that which we decide not to take. Often, we realize too late just how valuable that advice was. Regardless, the best advice rings true no matter the circumstances, and for business owners today, consider this wisdom from Abraham Lincoln: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.” Read more >