#StrongerTogether
** Member Spotlight **

Stony Creek Farmstead

The Chamber shines this week's member spotlight on Stony Creek Farmstead located at 1738 Freer Hollow Road in Walton.

Stony Creek Farmstead is a farm. campground, farm store and farm stay and offers ready-to-go meals, beyond organic meats, eggs soups, salads and bread.

They host kids' workshops in the summer and farm tours and pizza night on Saturdays.

Stony Creek Farmstead is located at 1738 Freer Hollow Road, Walton, NY 13856. For more information click here, email office@stonycreekfarmstead.com, call 607.434.9788 or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Please support the small businesses that support our communities! #strongertogether
New Mandates for ALL NY Businesses

New mandates have been issued under the NY HERO Act which require employers to implement work safety plans to protect employees from exposure and disease in an airborne infectious disease outbreak.

The New York State Department of Labor has developed an Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Standard, a Model Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Plan, and various industry-specific model plans for the prevention of airborne infectious disease. Employers can choose to adopt an applicable template/plan provided by NYS DOL or establish an alternative plan that meets or exceeds the standard’s minimum requirements.

Your Chamber, along with nearly 30 other business advocacy groups across New York, urged Governor Hochul to not invoke the HERO Act because it would further burden small businesses. Many small businesses do not have human resources departments or labor law lawyers to help them navigate the complex requirements or advise them of new regulations.

For detailed information about the new requirements click here.

For template plans for your business, click here.
** Member Event **

High Holiday Services at B'nai Israel in Fleischmanns

Yom Kippur holiday services will be held at Chamber member Congregation B'nai Israel at 347 Wagner Avenue, Fleischmanns, on Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. and on Sept. 16 at 9 a.m.

Services will be in person and via Zoom. To attend in person, everyone 12 and older must be fully vaccinated and wear a mask. Children ages 2 to 11 are required to wear a mask.

For Zoom link, email bnaiisraelfleischmannsny@gmail.com.
For more information click here or call 845.254.995.
Business and I.T. Certifications FREE through Project Excite

SUNY Delhi's Office of Continuing Education and Professional Studies is announcing an exciting opportunity for individuals to earn certifications in a number of business and information technology online programs. All costs are covered by Project Excite.

Project Excite is 100% funded by a United States Department of Labor H1-B One Workforce Grant. Individuals are able to receive up to $5,000 per person toward certifications to be completed no later than May 2024. All courses are fully online and can be started anytime.

Available classes and certifications include Certified Administrative Professional with Microsoft Office Master 2019, Certified Administrative Professional with Microsoft Office Specialist 2019, Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP), CompTIA Certification Training Network+, Security+, and Information Security Training.

For more information and to enroll click here or contact the Office of Continuing Education and Professional Studies at CEPS@delhi.edu or call 607.746.4545.
Virtual Job Fair September 14
Join a Business Check-In & Community Sync-Up 

What makes your business tick?

What challenges do you have to grow your business?

Which resources are valuable to you?

The Chamber wants to hear from you. Join other business owners for a facilitated discussion of shared challenges and opportunities, ways to better connect our businesses and communities, and priorities for business growth.
Our local economy has many inter-connecting pieces. Let's brainstorm ways we may better collaborate with our business owners, economic development agencies, and other chamber and business association leaders to promote greater community prosperity in Delaware County.

Plan to attend a session near you. Bring your ideas, energy, and calendars. 

Upcoming sessions:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 21, 6 - 7:30 p.m., Union Grove Distillery, Arkville
  • Wednesday, Sept. 22 - noon - 1 p.m., virtual & 6 - 7:30 p.m., Delaware County eCenter, Main Street, Delhi
  • Thursday, Sept. 23, 6 - 7:30 p.m., Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR) Front Street, Hancock
** Exclusive Member Benefit **

Retirement Planning For Chamber Members

Join Chamber member Integrated Financial Partners on September 29, 2021 at 5:30 p.m., at the Delaware County e-Center, 5 1/2 Main Street, Delhi, in-person or virtually, to hear about an exclusive member benefit - a Pooled Employer Plan - retirement planning.

Take advantage of this "economy of scale" plan to get significant cost savings that you can not access on your own. Highlights include:
  • Tax benefits for your business and your employees
  • Outside administration support via a third-party administrator
  • Objective advice and support from a local financial advisor
  • Reduced overall implementation costs and annual administrative expense.

IFP can help employers determine if its in their best interests to offer or sponsor an employee retirement plan!

To register for this informational session, click here.
** New Member **

Devine Design

Meet new Chamber member Devine Design - providing responsive websites and designs that work for print, social media, blog posts, press releases and more!

Devine Design, located in Denver, creates easy reading websites and navigation across a wide range of devices, from mobile smart phones to tablets to laptop and desktop monitors. Devine Design, works closely with you to create a site that really represents you and your business.

Devine Design also provide marketing services. They will work with you to create compelling marketing pieces, collateral, business materials and logos all with a consistent look to help get your brand across all print and web media.

For more information about Devine Design, visit their website by clicking here, email info@devinedesign.com or call 845.783.9291.
SBA Enhances COVID Disaster Loan Program

The US Small Business Administration has enhanced the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to to better serve and support small businesses still reeling from the pandemic, especially hard-hit sectors such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels. The SBA is taking new applications immediately from small businesses looking to take advantage of these new policy changes.

Key changes to the program include:
 
  • Increasing the COVID EIDL Cap. The SBA will lift the COVID EIDL cap from $500,000 to $2 million. Loan funds can be used for any normal operating expenses and working capital, including payroll, purchasing equipment, and paying debt.
  • Implementation of a Deferred Payment Period.  The SBA will ensure small business owners will not have to begin COVID EIDL repayment until two years after loan origination so that they can get through the pandemic without having to worry about making ends meet.
  • Establishment of a 30-Day Exclusivity Window. To ensure Main Street businesses have additional time to access these funds, the SBA will implement a 30-day exclusivity window of approving and disbursing funds for loans of $500,000 or less. Approval and disbursement of loans over $500,000 will begin after the 30-day period.
  • Expansion of Eligible Use of Funds. COVID EIDL funds will now be eligible to prepay commercial debt and make payments on federal business debt.
  • Simplification of affiliation requirements. To ease the COVID EIDL application process for small businesses, the SBA has established more simplified affiliation requirements to model those of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Eligible small businesses, nonprofits, and agricultural businesses in all U.S. states and territories can apply. Visit www.sba.gov/eidl to learn more about eligibility and application requirements. The last day that applications may be received is December 31, 2021. All applicants should file their applications as soon as possible.
Member Benefit!

Each week for the next several weeks, the Chamber will highlight one of its many exclusive member benefits. This information, and more, can be found in the Chamber's Guide to Membership, available at delawarecounty.org or at the Chamber office, 5 1/2 Main Street, Delhi.

Telecommunication Services: DTC and MTC

Telecommunication service credits are available to Chamber members for new business accounts and upgraded services. $300 credit for new accounts to be used toward installation and monthly service charges. A one-time $150 service credit for existing business accounts to be applied toward standard upgrade charges and incremental monthly service fees for an enhanced level of service.
Chamber Check In

This week we check in with Walton Mayor Ed Snow, who gives an update on economic developments in the village of Walton. Business Sync Ups and Community Check Ins are scheduled for the week of Sept. 20. For more information visit delawarecounty.org
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.

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.
5 1/2 Main Street
Delhi, New York 13753

Give Us A Call: 607.746.2281

DelawareCounty.org
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