Jan 7, 2021
Activity in the Texas service sector returned to positive territory in December, according to business executives responding to the Texas Service Sector Outlook Survey. The revenue index, a key measure of state service sector conditions, rose from -0.7 in November to 4.2 in December, indicating a modest increase in activity.

Labor market indicators point to an increase in employment and hours worked. The employment index rose over four points to 5.1, while the part-time employment index advanced from -0.4 to 1.7. The hours worked index was mostly unchanged at 2.1.

MCMURRY CANCELS SPRING BREAK DELAYS START OF SEMESTER
Universities are sending out detailed health and safety protocols for the spring semester. That includes updating COVID-19 dashboards that were suspended at the end of the fall semester for schools in Abilene. McMurry University is also pushing the start of classes back one week and canceling Spring Break. McMurry, like many universities in the region, usually starts the spring semester the second week of January. But over the break university officials decided to move the start back to January 19th. Officials will require returning students, faculty and staff to have a negative COVID-19 test result before moving into campus housing, or returning to work and class. University President Sandra Harper says the increase of positive cases in Taylor County and across Texas informed their decision, "You know the experts are calling it a surge on top of a surge. We thought that extra nine days would give us a chance to participate in all the students getting tested, all the employees getting tested, etc."
The school will cover the costs of testing with discretionary funds from its Board of Trustees and have begun administering tests this week. Harper says administrators considered requiring campus members to get tested before the previous fall semester, in order to stay ahead of potential outbreaks. "At the time there weren't enough tests available. We really spent the fall semester looking for test availability. Let's go ahead and start with a clean slate. Start the isolation and quarantining right off the bat."
As part of the spring semester reconfiguration, McMurry is also canceling Spring Break. The University will keep the two-day Easter holiday break in April. A statement on McMurry’s website encourages all students and employees to limit off-campus activities to essential outings while the positive case count numbers in Taylor County remain high. (Source: KACU)
AISD SUPERINTENDENT GIVES UPDATE ON SPRING SEMESTER
Abilene ISD Superintendent Dr. David Young says the new year holds many opportunities for the district and its students as all embark on another semester of studies alongside the pandemic.

On the second day back following winter break, Dr. Young says all is well so far in the district. The newly-opened Taylor Elementary welcomed its first classes of students Tuesday. Dr. Young says students, parents, and staff are acclimating to the new facility well.

“They’re doing a great job adjusting to a new place, new logistics,” said Dr. Young in a Zoom meeting Wednesday afternoon.

PANDEMIC RELIEF INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans
Click here to view the U.S. Chamber's new Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans with the latest information and answers to FAQs about the changes that have been made to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Program as part of the end-of-year pandemic relief package Congress has passed. We encourage you to share this resource with your members and networks as you see fit and will continue to make updates as more information becomes available.

Summary of 501(c)(6) Eligibility in Pandemic Relief Package Expansion of PPP
Click here to view the U.S. Chamber's summary of the extension of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in the Pandemic Relief Package as it pertains to the eligibility of 501(c)(6) organizations.
CO— Pandemic Relief Small Business Update (12/22) Recording
On December 22, 2020, the U.S. Chamber's CO— hosted a Pandemic Relief Small Business Update during which executive vice president and chief policy officer Neil Bradley shared more about what the new stimulus bill will mean for the small business community. If you weren't able to join the program, or would like to watch it again, please click here to view the recording.
U.S. CHAMBER COVID-19 VACCINES FAQ
As you know, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted emergency use authorization for COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna. As states begin to prioritize, allocate, and distribute the first doses, the U.S. Chamber has created a new COVID-19 Vaccines FAQ one-pager to answer the common questions being asked by Americans—and especially business leaders.

Click here to view the one-pager with accurate and current information about the vaccine allocation process, expected timelines, and what it all means for the road to recovery. The U.S. Chamber will continue to update this resource as new information becomes available.
CONNECT ABILENE COMMUNITY SURVEY
The City of Abilene is currently updating its Comprehensive Plan. This document helps the City set priorities for infrastructure and other improvements over the next 5 to 10 years. Help us make Abilene an even better place to live, work, and play. As a concerned citizen, the City takes your views very seriously. Please take some time to answer this survey and help guide future decisions. Your answers will remain anonymous. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes.

You don't want to miss these upcoming event for
your business.

JAN 7 A DEEP DIVE INTO THE RECENT COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE Join the U.S. Travel government relations team for an in-depth overview of the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package and the components of the legislation that have important impacts on travel businesses. Learn how to access relief, when funds will be made available and other considerations to be aware of as you navigate the process to secure funding for your organization. The webinar will allow for plenty of time for Q&A from participants. Register here.

JAN 13 INTRODUCTION TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING The Federal Government spends over half of a trillion dollars on goods and services each year. States and local governments spend 1.5 trillion dollars on goods and services cumulatively each year. This webinar covers the basics of doing business in the public sector at all levels. Register here.

JAN 14 UPDATES ON PPP LOAN AND EIDL PROGRAM Join SBDC CARES Act Coordinator, Kenny Heaton as he covers the basics of what is required to qualify and apply for the PPP loans plus, the extension of the EIDL program. Register here.

JAN 26 CYPERSECURITY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: THE FUNDAMENTALS This "Cybersecurity for small business: The Fundamentals" webinar is intended to share the "how to's" of cybersecurity as recommended by NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology. You, your team, company or community group will learn the steps for understanding cybersecurity, the risks and steps to mitigate them. Presented by SBDC Business Counselor, Manzel McGhee and CARES Act Coordinator, Kenny Heaton. Register here.