Click here to view this email online. If you missed our email on Tuesday, February 9th, you can view it here.

If you know of a business that is not a member of the Chamber, we always appreciate referrals. For more information on joining the Chamber and the costs and benefits, click here, or give our Membership Director Ashley a call at 373-7800.

Joe Garcia

Amarillo, TX 79119

(806) 420-5633

My name is Joe Garcia, and I’m a professional photographer and commercial drone pilot based in Amarillo, TX. My passion is creating stunning photos for my clients. No silly filters or crazy editing. My prices are affordable because I have a fantastic day job, and a strong desire to serve the greater Amarillo community. If you’re looking for beautiful photography at locations that are special to you, then I’m ready for an adventure! Every image has a story, and I’m eager to capture yours!

There is still time to sign up to take part in a virtual economic development symposium with the Texas Comptroller. If you would like to participate in tomorrow's event, email Frank Alvarez for the WebEx invitation link. If you can't join in tomorrow, two other sessions will be offered. You can earn CEU's for this event.

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts will be holding its first statewide Economic Development Symposium Virtual Presentation on a wide variety of economic development tools including Chapter 313 Value Limitation Agreements, Chapter 380/381 Agreements, Economic Development Corporations, Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT), Municipal Development Districts (MDDs), Public Improvement Districts (PIDs), Tax Abatements, and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones.

This virtual symposium is being offered on 3 different dates:

February 24, 1pm - 530pm CST

March 3, 8am - 1230pm CST

If you would like a WebEx invitation for one of these events, please request the date of your choice by email to Frank Alvarez or call (512) 936-9231 for more information.

A New Kind of BusinessConnection^® Planned for 2021

We are excited to be planning our annual BusinessConnection Tradeshow for Thursday, May 20th, but we will have some changes to this year's event. Because the Civic Center Complex is being used as the COVID-19 vaccination location for the foreseeable future, we could not know for certain its availability to host our event in May and had to look at an alternate location. We are thrilled to secure a space at the Tri-State Fairgrounds Amarillo National Center to hold a fun "Boots & Business" type of tradeshow...all the fun of our normal show, but with a business casual, western twist. More details will be coming soon.

If you participated in BusinessConnection in 2019, were on the list to have a booth in 2020, or are new and want to tentatively reserve a booth, email Denise or call 373-7800 to be added to the list.

If you are a small business owner and would like information about free testing for your business, please call Denise at 373-7800 or email denise@amarillo-chamber.org. She will be able to explain the process, requirements, and instructional video needed to be certified before you can begin testing your employees. Once approved, she will arrange for a time for test kits to be picked up and answer any questions.

To learn more about this program that was started in an effort to help support the continued operation of small businesses throughout the state of Texas by Governor Abbott, click here.

The Chamber is thrilled to announce and recognize our new sponsors that are stepping up to be part of the Supporting Small Business Initiative for 2021. This new program is designed to support the Chamber's efforts to serve our small business community better by offering programs, seminars, virtual events, and more for little to no cost to our members throughout 2021.

We strive to provide each and every member with opportunities throughout the year to promote themselves at networking events to help grow their business, but with the challenges of in-person meetings in 2020, we wanted to be able to offer additional benefits for your membership investment. We are optimistically planning our regular big events and free monthly After Hours to resume in March and beyond, but watch our emails for additional events and educational seminars coming soon.

Please join us in thanking these generous underwriting partners that are serving the Chamber, our members, and the entire business community with their support.

If you would like to know more about this program and the benefits of partnership, contact Jason Harrison at (806) 373-7800 or jason@amarillo-chamber.org.

Watch the online calendar for more details and updates coming soon.

3/11 - Business After Hours at Rockwood Furniture

3/25 - Accelerate Success Seminar with Jody Holland

4/8 - Business After Hours at FirstBank Southwest Tower

4/12-14 - Panhandle Days in Austin

4/22 - Spring Mega Market

5/6 - Business After Hours at WTAMU Amarillo Center

5/20 - BusinessConnection® at the Tri-State Fairgrounds

5/27 - Business After Hours at Carson Wealth

6/10 - Business After Hours at Adobe Walls

7/8 - Business After Hours at First United Bank (The Colonies)

7/22 - Chamber Open Golf Tournament at Tascosa Golf Club

7/29 - Business After Hours at Revolution at 800 OR WT Enterprise Center

8/12 - Business After Hours at Nistler's Resplendent Garden

8/26 - Annual Banquet & Business Excellence Awards

9/9 - Business After Hours at Amarillo Club

9/23 - Business After Hours at Courtyard by Marriott Amarillo West Medical Center

10/7 - Good Times Celebration® Barbecue Cook-Off at the Tri-State Fairgrounds

10/21 - Business After Hours at Casey Carpet One

10/28 - Business Seminar

11/4 - Business After Hours at The Nesting Place - Bushland

11/18 - Fall Mega Market

12/1 - Ag Appreciation Luncheon at the Amarillo Civic Center

12/2 - Business After Hours at Street Toyota

12/16 - Business After Hours at Rt. 66 Auto Haus

If you know an outstanding individual or business that you would like to nominate for a 2021 Top 20 Under 40 Award, Top Business Award, or Top Emerging Business Award, click here to fill out the form and submit the nomination to us by May 7, 2021. We will send nominees an official application to be completed and returned to us by Friday, May 28, 2021. Award winners will be selected by the Business Council of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and recognized in August 2021.

The City of Amarillo Public Health Department is currently administering COVID-19 vaccines to all individuals identified in the State of Texas Phase 1A and 1B Vaccine Allocation Plan as well as Second Dose Vaccine.

Immunizations will take place at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex (401 S Buchanan St, Amarillo, TX 79101). Eligible citizens should enter the North Exhibit Hall through Entrance 3.

Be sure to check the clinic hours and vaccine availability ONLINE before going.

**Public Health may close the line early in order to serve everyone in line before closing time.** All operational changes will be updated in real-time on this website.

CGI Communications has been a partner of the Amarillo Chamber for a number of years. CGI handles several advertising products offered to our members including website banner ads, community videos, ReviewTube reviews, and now has a new Magellan tool for voice activated website searching for text and videos.

Our representative, Al Forys, and his team will be reaching out to some of our members to offer more information about these tools that may be beneficial for your business.

Should you want more information on any of their products, reach out to Al Forys at the contact information below.

We try to alert you anytime a third party may contact you so that you know they are a trusted and legitimate partner of the Amarillo Chamber. You may see our complete list of advertising options and partners on the Advertising Opportunities page of our website. We encourage you to always check this site or contact Penni Bentley at (806) 373-7800 to verify our official program partners before giving out personal or financial information.

The Chamber has compiled a list of links to helpful resources on our Chamber website. From our homepage, simply click the Learn More button under the COVID-19 Resources section or go directly to the page at https://www.amarillo-chamber.org/covid-19-info--resources.html.

See our Staff Directory with photos, direct phone numbers and more on our Contact Us page of the website.

Tyler Andrews, Andrews & Associates / cat.man.du

Blaine Baker, Crown House Insurance

Scott Bentley, Amarillo EDC

David Bishop, Amarillo ISD

Lew Bradshaw, Pat Davis Properties

Kevin Carter, Amarillo EDC

Ryan Chandler, Northwest Texas Healthcare

Richard Constancio, Shiver-Megert & Associates

Joe Graham, Graham Brothers Jewelers

Jason Henderson, Bell

Brady Hochstein, Elevate Amarillo

Mark Hodges, FirstCapital Bank of Texas

Julie Imke, WTAMU Amarillo Center

Charles Leard, M&R Liquor

Trent Morris, Workforce Solutions Panhandle

Ed Nichols, Brown, Graham & Company, P.C.

Joseph Peterson, Edward Jones

Stephanie Price, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum

Aaron Sage, Sage Oil Vac

Doug Street, Affiliated Foods

Wendi Swope, Double U Marketing 

Ronnie Walker, Xcel Energy

Peter Warrick, Atmos Energy

Mikel Williamson, Happy State Bank

Lance Wolff, Insurica DFB

on our website. 

                                                   –  Author Unknown