The Chamber Supports Business Owners
During COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic "Pause"
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The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce believes 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.
Our mission statement has taken on new meaning over these past several weeks as many businesses are closed and all Delaware County business owners reconsider their products and services and ways in which they engage customers.
The Chamber remains a trusted source for accurate and timely information. We're here to help by providing information, advocating for business concerns, and promotion to visitors and residents.
Here are several of the actions we have taken:
- Created a COVID-19 resource page. The site includes links to federal and state agencies, partner business organizations, guides and articles, videos, and more resources. It is updated regularly; date is noted at top of page.
- Produced videos to assist business owners to complete EIDL and PPPL applications
- Produced a series of Stress Management videos with Chamber member Maia Wilde Consulting
- We've partnered with MARK Project and local chambers to assemble information about open eateries, farm stores, and bottle shops, beverage producers and other businesses. SisBoomYum.com now connects local residents, full and part time, with over 100 local businesses (members and non-members) that are still open and providing take-out, home delivery and curb service.
- Re-launched our "I Pledge" campaign as a way to remind everyone of the important roles our small businesses have in our communities. Digital and print versions of our poster are available for use.
- Increased our advocacy efforts to federal and state officials to encourage support of small businesses. The Chamber’s participation in Congressman Delgado’s Small Business Advisory Committee and inclusion as a panel member on his town hall meeting has delivered our message directly.
- Our "Open for Business" series highlights a different Chamber member each weekday on the Chamber's Facebook page.
- We're now sending this weekly newsletter with current information to chamber members as well as other business owners for whom we have an email address.
- Created the ripeCommunity Directory to allow food businesses to create listings and update food availability in real time, giving consumers a cost-free, single source, way to access accurate information about food options, hours of operations, ordering instructions, and food safety precautions. Community members can also use this platform to understand donation support options, regardless of a business’ operational status. Partnering with Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship, Delaware County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Watershed Agricultural Council and the Food and Health Network of South Central NY.
- Offering two FREE online workshops, “Working Remotely: Now What?”, and “COVID-19:What You Need to Know” through our training provider at New Haven Consulting Group. Our updated Sexual Harassment Prevention Training is also available.
- Crisis management tools are available for no cost to Delaware County area businesses through our relationship with GrowthWheel International, a trainer of business planning professionals. We hosted a workshop and distributed twenty decision sheets to participants. A recording to the presentation and worksheets are available through our website. A team of crisis coaches have been trained to assist business owners use the decision sheets to navigate through the crisis.
- We are coordinating online meetings of agencies and groups engaged in economic development activities in the region to update, seek collaboration, and support efforts.
As we move forward, the Chamber, led by our board of directors, will continue to partner with municipal leaders, community organizations, and local companies that share our commitment to support our businesses and communities. We are focused on taking the steps necessary to prepare for our economic recovery. We are stronger together.
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Listen to Crisis Management and Recovery Workshop Recording
GrowthWheel for Crisis Management is a tool designed to help you make good and helpful decisions during a crisis. These tools encourage you to identify personal challenges, look for financial warning signals, and establish a solution plan. It includes 11 decision sheets specifically designed to improve the operational aspect of the crisis.
Chamber member GrowthWheel is a worldwide recognized visual tool to help entrepreneurs make decisions and take action.
All webinar participants will receive 20 one-page worksheets at no cost for your use. Additionally, we have created a team of trained volunteers who have offered to guide you through the worksheets to find the ones that are most useful to your business.
This workshop is for business owners and managers, and will help guide participants through how make the best decisions in business during these stressful times.
Register to receive a copy of the recording
here.
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ripeCommunity:
A collaborative platform for listing and finding local food options during the COVID-19 crisis
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We understand things are rapidly changing and recognize the need for a collaborative solution that will provide consumers accurate information about local food availability while giving local businesses access to markets. Along with other regional entities, including Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship, Delaware County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Watershed Agricultural Council, Pure Catskills, Great Western Catskills, and the Food and Health Network of South Central NY, the Chamber encourages local food businesses (farms, farm businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, liquor stores, and others) to use this shared directory to get your information out to the community!
The ripeCommunity Directory allows food businesses to create a listing for themselves and update food availability in real time, giving consumers a cost-free, one source, way to access accurate information about food options, hours of operations, ordering instructions, and food safety precautions. Community members can also use this platform to understand donation support options, regardless of a business’ operational status.
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Childcare Funds Available for Essential Workers
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Delaware Opportunities is excited to announce that the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and Governor Cuomo’s Administration have developed a plan to provide child care to essential workers (https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026) . This allocation of funding for child care for essential workers comes to the state from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”).
Essential workers (who are income eligible*) using a regulated child care provider will receive a scholarship for the cost of care as long as the funds to support it are available. All OCFS regulated providers who are providing child care for essential workers are eligible to participate in this new program.
New York State’s plan will ensure that the workforce that is needed to protect and care for the public during this pandemic will have the child care that they need that allows them to perform their critical jobs. A member of our statewide network of CCR&Rs is available in every community, eager to work with you to access this new program.
If you have employees that are classified as essential workers and are income eligible, and are looking for child care or a child care provider for essential workers please contact your local CCR&R agency, Delaware Opportunities at 607-746-1620. Or families can click on this link for the Cares Scholarship application
https://forms.gle/9Fk827RCQu3bokNA6
The Delaware Opportunities Child Care Resource R staff are your local child care experts, able to assist individual essential workers and/or provide you with information on their services for you to distribute to your workforce
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" I Pledge," Now More Than Ever
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We are re-launching our "I Pledge" campaign as a way to remind everyone of the important roles our small businesses have in our communities.
Printed copies (11 x 17 inches) are available in the front foyer of the Chamber office in Delhi.
Let's deliver this important message.
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Partnering with our friends at the MARK Project and our local chambers of commerce throughout Delaware County, we’re helping connect restaurants, farm stores and stands, beverage producers, bottle shops, and general stores with customers at
SisBoomYum.com
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Tips, Techniques and Exercises for Stress Relief and Self Care
The Chamber has partnered with Maia Wilde of
Maia Wilde Consulting
in Treadwell to provide stress relief tips and techniques for use in a business setting or at home.
This three part video takes you through a variety of poses, exercises and planning tips created to release tension from the body and the mind and help us navigate the uncertainties we are facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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The New York State Office of Mental Health Emotional Support Helpline provides free and confidential support, helping callers experiencing increased anxiety due to the coronavirus emergency. The Helpline is staffed by volunteers, including mental health professionals, who have received training in crisis counseling. Call
1-844-863-9314.
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Tell Everyone that You're OPEN FOR BUSINESS
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Our "Open for Business" series highlights a different Chamber member each weekday on the Chamber's Facebook page.
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U.S. Chamber Guides to Federal Assistance
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The
Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist serves as a comprehensive step-by-step tool to help small businesses, independent contractors, gig economy workers and other qualifying individuals prepare to file for a coronavirus relief loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The guide has been updated to include new information from the U.S. Department of Treasury.
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The CARES Act expanded the Small Business Administration’s long-standing Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The program is applicable to small businesses and most small nonprofits (less than 500 employees), sole proprietors and independent contractors. Check eligibility, understand loan parameters, and
find out how to access up to $10,000 in emergency grants.
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Local Media Offering Promotion Specials
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Product and service promotion does not stop during a crisis. Several local media outlets are offering special programs to Delaware County Chamber members.
- Decker Advertising, publisher of The Reporter, County Shopper, and other publications are encouraging businesses to post that they are open for free on their websites, The-Reporter.net and CountyShopperOnline.com in their newly created section called, WHAT’S OPEN. There are optional upgrades available to choose from as well. They are also currently offering a discounted non-profit rate display advertising in The Reporter and County Shopper. Call 607-746-2178.
- Bold Gold Media Group, broadcasting at Thunder 104.5FM in Hancock, is matching dollar-for-dollar advertising from businesses affected by the crisis. Call Dawn Ciorciari, General Manager at 845-794-9898
- The Daily Star is extending non-profit advertising rates to all businesses in Otsego, Delaware, Chenango and Schoharie counties regardless of their tax-exemption status. This temporary change is being made in an effort to help our local business owners cut expenses during this unpredictable time. This rate reduction will remain in effect until May 1, 2020 for The Daily Star, The Cooperstown Crier and The Weekly Star. Contact The Daily Star at 607-441-7235.
- The Mountain Eagle will include all businesses in their Open listing each week for free. Display ads for restaurants are half-off through the end of April. Call 607-652-5252.
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"Essential Business" Rules Revised (Again)
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Empire State Development, the economic development office for New York State recently released new rules to determine essential businesses.
Note that the exemption for sole proprietors or single employee has been removed.
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Chamber Creates COVID-19 Business Resource Site
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As small business owners across Delaware County are grappling with the current and potential impacts associated with COVID-19, the Chamber staff continues to track the latest developments from healthcare agencies, local, state, and federal officials, and our business association partners.
The site includes articles, information, and tools you can share with your staff and use for your company. We will continue to update this list as conditions change and we learn more.
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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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FREE WORKSHOPS
Our partners at New Haven Consulting Group are also offering two FREE online workshops:
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FREE (Virtual) One-on-One Business Counseling Sessions in Delhi
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The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering FREE comprehensive programming to provide management and technical assistance to small businesses in Delaware County!
Specializing in direct one-to-one counseling, the SBDC offers assistance in the following business areas:
- Start-up assistance
- Business Plan Development
- Accounting and Financial Projections
- Sources of Financing
- Marketing
- Business Expansion
- Relocation and Agribusiness
There is no cost for the counseling services of the SBDC.
Reservations are required for the one hour appointments. To make your reservation for
Tuesday, April 28 (10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.) email us at info@delawarecounty.org.
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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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