Small Business Relief and Support Available through LEAP

Applications available December 20

Hagåtña, Guam – Governor Lou Leon Guerrero announces the opening of the application period for the Local Employers’ Assistance Program (LEAP) will be at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, December 20, 2021. LEAP was established through Executive Order 2021-25 and will provide direct financial assistance to small businesses that experienced extreme levels of pandemic-related interruption.

LEAP funding will be prioritized for the following:

Small businesses that can demonstrate a business interruption rate of 50% or greater; and
Small businesses that have been verified as a “covered establishment” pursuant to Department of Public Health & Social Services requirements and that can demonstrate a business interruption rate of 20% or greater.

LEAP provides loans to small businesses that meet all eligibility criteria, chief among them a demonstration of business interruption experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Loan funds can be used for eligible business operating expenses with a focus on ensuring that businesses have adequate resources to maintain and possibly increase employment. Loans may be forgiven if at least 60% of all proceeds are used for eligible employee wage and benefit costs.

View Website

View LEAP Application Guidance

EO 2021-31

On Friday, December 17th, Governor Leon Guerrero issued Executive Order No. 2021-31 Relative to Lifting Social Gathering Restrictions.

View Amended EO 2021-31

View DPHSS

Governor Leon Guerrero's Message

EO 2021-31

On November 22, 2021, the Department announced the publication of the final rule, “Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors.” The Department has finalized regulations to implement Executive Order 14026, “Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors,” which was signed by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on April 27, 2021. Executive Order 14026 states that the Federal Government’s procurement interests in economy and efficiency are promoted when the Federal Government contracts with sources that adequately compensate their workers.

The Executive Order raises the minimum wage paid by those contractors to workers performing work on or in connection with covered federal contracts to $15.00 per hour, beginning January 30, 2022; and beginning January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, an amount determined by the Secretary of Labor (Secretary). This final rule establishes standards and procedures for implementing and enforcing the minimum wage protections of Executive Order 14026 and is effective on January 30, 2022.

This EO now covers Guam.

VIEW Presidential Executive Order 14026

VIEW Final Rule Comparison from Previous EO to latest EO

REMINDER: BIG SHIP VISIT!

December 23-28

Joint Region Marianas has confirmed that a big ship visit will take place between December 23rd - 28th. There will be over 5,000 military personnel on Guam for some R & R and about two-thirds of the group will be out in town to enjoy our island's culture and people for the Christmas holiday. Let's ready our businesses and employees to welcome our guests with a warm Hafa Adai!

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

With the Buy Local Holiday Guide, we are shining a light on our member businesses that can use all the love and support we can give them.

For many businesses, holiday shopping can determine their very existence in the new year. The Buy Local Holiday Guide has been available on our website and is promoted in our various social media and email blasts. Be sure to support these great member companies!

This is a member benefit. Contact the Chamber for details: (671) 472-6311 or email us!

EIDL ends December 31

The COVID EIDL and EIDL Advance programs still have billions of dollars available to help small businesses hard hit by the pandemic. More than 3.8 million businesses employing more than 20 million people have found financial relief through SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

Learn more

US Chamber Updates

Courts are Ruling on Vaccine Mandates: What Employers Need to Know

5 Reasons Why People are Changing Careers More than Ever Before

Shopping Small Benefits More Than Just Small Businesses

Cyber Security Basics

Protect your business and yourself from ransomware attacks, which take place prevalently during the holidays and the weekends (when offices are normally closed in the U.S.).

Download Cybersecurity factsheet

View Joint Cybersecurity Advisory

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

HOLIDAY LED LIGHT SHOW

Hotel Nikko Guam welcomes you to attend the launch of the Hotel Nikko Guam Light Show, a festive LED light performance unlike any other on the island and sure to be a local favorite.

The LED light show runs for seven minutes, and all are welcome to enjoy any of the four nightly shows at 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. through Jan. 5, 2022. The show is family-friendly, and there is no charge to attend.

For those who would like to extend this festive experience, the Nikko’s lobby café, Fountain, will be open nightly to sell desserts, bread, coffee, and cold beverages. Contact Hotel Nikko Guam for details:

671-649-8815.

Electric Winter Wonderland

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio, and the Guam Museum Foundation invite the island community to celebrate the holiday season by visiting the Electric Winter Wonderland in downtown Hagåtña. Skinner Plaza will be decorated with Christmas lights, pixelating trees, holiday arches, and blizzards of snow for the community to enjoy from December 2, 2021 to January 8, 2022.

Organizers will continue adding to the exciting light display leading up to Christmas Day. Special light shows will be featured in 30-minute intervals every Thursday to Sunday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. COVID-19 social gathering limits will be enforced and mask-wearing is required.

H oliday Mood

Looking for a new holiday playlist? We got you!

Check out your Chamber Spotify holiday playlists!

Enjoy! 🎶🎧

Holiday Wishes 🎄🎅🏽playlist

Starry Christmas Night ⭐️playlist

Let's ring in the holidays together! Merry, Merry Christmas!

Community

2021 GIG Timeline Post Hand Drawn Timeline Infographic 1 Page _2_.jpg

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Stay tuned to this space

As we look optimistically to the new year, we at the Chamber are revamping and retooling our Chamber committees and are looking forward to rolling out updates to you very soon! Until then, we encourage you to consider how you can participate in Chamber programs and activities to help move our economy forward to a better and brighter future!