PORT & CHAMBER UPDATES
April 8, 2020
Business and Community News
HALLOWEEN INSTEAD OF EASTER?
The CDC has released new guidelines recommending that everyone wear a face mask when out in public and unable to social distance, such as on a trip to the grocery store. The stay at home orders are still in place! These guidelines are to further protect you and others when you must go out. Here are the CDC Guidelines as well as instructions on making masks. Homemade masks are okay to use, but to help connect those who are willing to sew masks for others with those that need them, Columbia County Public Transportation will function as the collection/distribution point. If you are making masks and want to donate them you can either drop them off in a bin at 507 Cameron Street, or call and they will come to pick them up. Once masks are received Columbia County Fire District #3 will wash the masks and bag them for distribution. If you need a mask or groceries delivered please call Columbia County Public Transit at 382-1647. Thank you to Emergency Management, Public Health, CCPT and Fire District #3 for stepping up to help out the community during these crazy times. We're doing well! As of yesterday, we still only had 1 positive case out of 44 tested. Keep it up so we can get back to normal soon!

COLUMBIA COUNTY HEALTH SYSTEM IS OPEN
Even though our hospital has been busy testing and preparing for the potential onslaught of COVID-19 patients, they want everyone to know they are open for business in the other service departments. Please call first! Lots of patients are being helped over the phone, via new telehealth methods, or by appointment as needed. The emergency room is open as well, but if you can call first that is helpful.

WORKING WASHINGTON SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY GRANT Finally! The Washington State Department of Commerce announced a new grant program yesterday. These are not tax dollars - they are lottery proceeds from the Governor's Strategic Reserve Fund, which is why they can be a gift rather than a loan. Application forms will be processed through the Port of Columbia (because we have an existing ADO contract with the state) and are for businesses with 10 employees or less that have been harmed by the COVID crisis. The Department of Commerce will make the grant award decisions. Apply here.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP
With so many changes to our everyday lives and our economy turned upside down, I know there are some of you out there that need help but aren't used to asking for it. This is the time to set that aside and take advantage of the fantastic help our community is offering. Several of us have been working to bring new resources to the community for those of you outside the usual social safety net. Please use these resources!

  • PROJECT TIMOTHY (509-382-2943): Financial assistance for rent, utilities, and food can be provided to those of you that have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis. At our request, the Blue Mountain Community Foundation has awarded a special grant to Project Timothy just for this purpose - to serve the members of our community who don't usually ask for help. Project Timothy has "phone" hours Tuesday - Friday from noon to 2:00 pm. You can call for assistance and then a volunteer will arrange to meet with you individual ias needed at their office downtown. This is a no-judgement zone. Please ask for help if you need it. Business owners - please let any employees you laid off know about this assistance.
  • FEED A FRIEND (Text 206-399-8233): The Dayton Columbia County Fund is generously providing funds to local restaurants so they can provide meals for someone in need - whether it is a family that is truly hungry or just someone who had a bad day or is working in the COVID emergency trenches. This effort helps our local businesses stay afloat and our community stay healthy and happy. Vicki Zoller is coordinating this service. If you know of someone who could use a meal or a pick-me-up, send her a text at the number above or email vzoller@outlook.com.
  • COLUMBIA COUNTY FOOD BANK (Tuesdays from 2 - 4pm next to City Hall: The Blue Mountain Action Council Food Bank serves a large region, including Columbia County, and additional resources are being moved throughout the region in order to serve the same population I mentioned above - those that don't usually need help. Don't be afraid to take advantage of this resource if you need it!
  • DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS LINE (509-529-9922) : Too much togetherness can sometimes exacerbate problems in families. Please call for help if you need it. See YWCA local services.
  • COLUMBIA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH (509-382-2181): The federal government has increased the availability of SNAP food assistance for anyone in need, and the State of Washington is allowing new sign-ups for the Washington Health Benefit Exchange if you need health insurance. You can sign up for these programs, plus others like the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC), through our local public health office. Call the number above for assistance.
  • AGING AND LONG TERM CARE (509-382-4787): Our local office can help connect seniors via telephone with the services they need. They will even help with online applications if the person in need doesn't have a computer. Watching out for our elders during this crisis is important, so please check on your neighbors and make sure they have this number if they need assistance.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Even before this crisis, keeping a rural hospital district alive is a constant challenge. We are so fortunate to have Shane McGuire and his dedicated team working continuously to make sure our community has essential health services. Right now our health system is in crisis. Our rural hospital is at the top of the list of facilities that could be financially wiped out due to the COVID-19 crisis. And what about those stimulus payments and business loans? Too few resources, high demand, and a shaky roll-out are leaving the businesses and citizens of this country with no help. We need your help in letting our state and federal representatives know how our community is hurting and that we need help, Following is the contact info for state and federal representative. Please take a few minutes to send them an email letting them know our rural hospital needs money and our businesses and citizens need help. The state contacts below are direct email addresses. The Governor and the federal links are to contact pages on their respective websites.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE BUSINESS LOANS?
After encouraging every business I could think of to apply for either the EIDL or the PPP last week, everyone else in the country decided to do the same thing and websites started crashing. The only hope of getting through is to keep trying. If they run out of money, maybe a new stimulus program will add more. New information was shared with me today by a local business that actually got through to a customer service representative with the EIDL program. This business was told that if your application number starts with a 3, you're in and you should have your $10,000 in 5 -10 business days. This is much longer than the originally stated 3 - 5 business days that we were given. This person told the business owner that if your application starts with a different number, you should apply again. If you're working on a PPP loan, work directly with your local bank. The US Treasury is guiding banks to lend only to those they have an existing business relationship with. For those non-Banner Bank customers that applied through their site by last Friday, they can honor your request but cannot take any more non-customer applications at this time. If you need help with either of these loan applications, contact Jennifer DeLannoy at jennifer@portofcolumbia.org.
SHOP LOCAL!
We are keeping this business list updated.Please support our local businesses as much as you can! Buy a gift certificate. Order take out.
Still Need Census Forms Filled Out
Even if your household did not receive a code in the mail to use on your census form, you can still fill the form out just by putting in your address. We are only at about 50% completion rate. Please complete your form today!