** Member Spotlight **
Brookside Hardware & Auto Sales
The Chamber is thrilled to bring your attention to member Brookside Hardware & Auto Sales of Margaretville!
Whether you’re looking for reliable tools and equipment for your next home improvement or gardening projects or are in the market for a top quality used vehicle, Brookside Hardware & Auto Sales should be your first stop.
Experienced technicians can help you find the tools you need, and our selection of used cars is unmatched in the area. Brookside loves being part of the community and looks forward to serving you today.
Brookside Hardware & Auto Sales is located at 42235 State Highway 28 in Margaretville and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays until 3 p.m.
To learn more about Brookside Hardware & Auto Sales visit brooksidehardware.com, email brookside@catskill.net, find them on Facebook or call 845.586.2345.
Please support the small businesses that support our communities! #strongertogether
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First Friday : Networking @ Noon
We are all doing business in new ways and need to promote our businesses in new ways too! The Chamber is launching a new VIRTUAL member business networking event, First Friday : Networking @ Noon, on Friday, February 5, where members will have the opportunity to promote their businesses to other members in speed-dating style! Each business will have four minutes to talk about their business to promote sales, specials, or simply let other members know what type of business you operate. Referrals are the most effective and powerful way to grow your business!
To register and claim your promotion slot, click here.
This event is sponsored by Community Bank, N.A., Bank Happy!
Community Bank is a full-service financial institution with a passion for providing the highest level of service. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender, and was founded in 1866 with the goal of being a true financial partner.For more information visit cbna.com and click the ‘Find Your Location’ link at the top of the page to find the branch nearest you; or connect with a representative at cbna.com/contact-us or call 1.866.764.8638.
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BOCES and Chamber Offer Business Start-Up Series
DCMO BOCES and the Chamber have partnered to offer “4 Weeks to Launch” an intensive four-week workshop for those interested in launching a micro-enterprise or freelance business.
If you have a hobby that can be turned into a business; are retired and interested in starting a residual income business, prefer business ownership to working for someone else, or are someone who has a skill, passion or talent that could be turned into a part-time or sideline venture, this class is for you!
This hands-on program has a concentrated focus on developing a business plan and will provide a road map to business success, using Growth Wheel certified business coaching that will provide participants with access to comprehensive strategy tools to launch and manage their business start-up.
Classes are Tuesday and Thursday, from 6 - 8 pm, beginning - March 2, virtually and broadcast with live facilitation at the Chamber office at 5 ½ Main Street in Delhi.
Cost is $240 per participant, and includes all program materials plus a one-year membership in the Delaware County Chamber. Scholarships are available.
Registration required by Feb. 12. For more information contact Martha Ryan at DCMO BOCES at 607.335.1292 or visit dcmoboces.com.
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NYS Senator Martucci Talks Business
Freshman Senator Mike Martucci joined the business community on Thursday, January 21 and gave an update on legislative efforts in Albany on behalf of our local business! Watch the full video below:
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Catskills Commerce Radio Talks Paycheck Protection Program
Enjoy this previously recorded broadcast of Jeffrey Boyce and Howard Garrity of the US Small Business Administration discuss specifics of the Paycheck Protection Program and ways the SBA supports small businesses in Delaware County. Catskills Commerce, hosted by Chamber President Ray Pucci, is a bi-weekly radio program on WIOX 91.3 FM and streaming at www.wioxradio.org.
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2021 Tourism Grant Funding Available
The Delaware County Tourism Advisory Board is now accepting applications for funding under the 2021 Tourism Promotion & Development Grant program.
This program will provide funding assistance to eligible applicants for projects that seek to attract visitors to Delaware County and enhance the overall tourism industry.
Applications must be received by the Delaware County Department of Economic Development or postmarked by 5 pm on Friday, February 19, 2021 (Emails will not be accepted).
The Tourism Promotion & Development Grant program is funded through revenues raised through the Delaware County Hotel Occupancy Tax.
Since 2017, funds raised through the occupancy tax have been utilized to support 163 projects that promote and increase tourism in Delaware County.
In 2021, there will be four categories of awards; Promotion/Marketing, Community Celebrations, Capital Improvements, and Arts & Culture.
Previously funded projects include: improving signage for hiking trails, renovations to historic properties, local and regional marketing activities, the development of promotional materials and support for artistic, cultural and community events that seek to attract visitors to Delaware County, and other projects seeking to grow the tourism industry.
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Third Thursday: Chamber Connects
Start your day with a productive and potentially profitable virtual learning opportunity! Stay current on what’s happening in Delaware County and the region, and learn how to effectively pivot toward a sustainable and thriving business model.
Our FREE monthly Third Thursday : Chamber Connects interactive, virtual
Q & A webinar on February 18 from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., is a terrific opportunity to participate in a leader-led conversation focused on building a better business and better business climate!
This event is sponsored by sfcu. sfcu is a full-service financial institution providing the tools and resources our members need to make banking easy and convenient. As a credit union, sfcu values members of our community. The sfcu mission is to offer superior service to members to empower the financial well-being of the community. Learn more at sfcuonline.org.
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From the US Small Business Administration
SBA and Treasury Announce PPP Re-Opening; Issue New Guidance
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility was released on January 6 in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act.
This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.
Key PPP updates include:
- PPP borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs;
- PPP loans will cover additional expenses, including operations expenditures, property damage costs, supplier costs, and worker protection expenditures;
- The Program’s eligibility is expanded to include 501(c)(6)s, housing cooperatives, direct marketing organizations, among other types of organizations;
- The PPP provides greater flexibility for seasonal employees;
- Certain existing PPP borrowers can request to modify their First Draw PPP Loan amount; and
- Certain existing PPP borrowers are now eligible to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.
A borrower is generally eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan if the borrower:
- Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses;
- Has no more than 300 employees; and
- Can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.
The new guidance released includes:
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Chamber Check - In
Chamber staff have been hard at work for members this week! Upcoming events include a virtual event on Friday February 5 at noon, join us for another FREE virtual business networking event First Friday : Networking @ Noon where Chamber members will have an opportunity to promote their business to other Chamber members in speed-dating style! For more information and to register visit delawarecounty.org.
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Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Leader?
Leaderful Delaware, an initiative of the Chamber, is seeking people committed to community service who would benefit from strengthening leadership skills while developing a personal professional network.
The 2021 Leaderful Delaware program is currently accepting applications for its eight-month curriculum that begins with virtual classes in March 2021. Up to 20 individuals can participate and half-day sessions will meet virtually twice monthly.
Participants will learn about critical issues facing Delaware County and the Catskill Mountains region through lectures, discussion groups, personal introspection, and panel discussions featuring current community leaders. The innovative curriculum is based on scientific theories of organizational and community leadership. Leaderful Delaware offers an alternative to the traditional model and calls on leaders to be concurrent, collective, collaborative, and compassionate. Strategies include effective facilitation, dialogue skills, active listening skills, managing conflict, intercultural competence, leadership styles, and peer coaching.
Candidates will be selected based on their:
- Commitment and motivation to community service.
- Previous community service or desire to become involved in community activities.
- Interest in public service and desire to learn more about public policy.
- Potential to advance to a leadership position within their companies.
- Commitment to remain in Delaware County.
Preference will be given to Delaware County residents but non-residents are encouraged to apply.
Applicants should be sponsored by a business or a community leader and provide references. Tuition, payable by a sponsor or a participant, is $300, and includes all materials and fees.
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Chamber Online Learning Center |
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As part of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce ongoing initiative to respond to member needs, an online learning center has been opened to help businesses meet their training needs in three key areas:
- Leadership, Management, and Supervisory Skills
- Sales and Customer Service Skills
- Human Resource Compliance Skills
In a self-paced, online learning environment, your staff can learn and enhance various skills including how to create a productive working environment, effective delegation, conflict management, working in a remote environment, working post-COVID and much more.
Sales and customer service modules focus on handling client or customer attitudes and objections, negotiating styles and effective sales negotiation and the dos and don'ts of effective customer services.
Human resources modules include diversity and inclusion training, micro-inequities, process of stereotyping and methods of exclusion, among other topics.
Each module is priced at a reduced rate of $45 per person.
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Annual Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
The Chamber has partnered with New Haven Consulting Group, Inc. to provide our members with an online “Preventing Sexual Harassment" workshop that meets the requirements of the new law.
This program is available at a Chamber-member reduced price of $20 per participant.
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The Delaware County Chamber is a private, non-governmental, not-for-profit membership organization. We believe that healthy communities begin with healthy businesses. By focusing on key areas–community and economic development, advocacy, tourism promotion, and business engagement–we partner with municipal leaders, community organizations, and local companies to present a unified voice of business for the improvement of our communities. |
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5 1/2 Main Street
Delhi, New York 13753
Give Us A Call: 607.746.2281
DelawareCounty.org
GreatWesternCatskills.com
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