Springfield Chamber
COVID-19 Bulletin
May 1, 2020
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This week we saw details emerge on our state leaders’ phased plans to reopen businesses. Thank you to many who provided input to employer guidelines drafted for retail, restaurant, and childcare businesses. Your feedback has been very helpful as we advocate for clear and useful tools during reopening phases, ones that will help us all prepare and plan for what’s ahead.
Please keep an eye on opportunities to stay connected, informed, and engaged via our chamber committees and key communications and continue to check our
COVID-19 Business Resource hub
as we post important updates as they become available. And, if you haven’t already, scroll through our newly launched
Advocacy and Elections Page
to keep up to date on our local elections.
Your courage and resilience is our motivation. Remember, we’re still just a phone call away.
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-Vonnie Mikkelsen, President and CEO
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Member Continuity and Relief Options
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We are deeply appreciative of our members’ support to the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and grateful for the sacrifices you’ve made to protect the health of our community, employees, and families during these unprecedented times.
Many of our members who are feeling the greatest impacts are the same local small businesses and non-profit organizations that have and will define us as a community. We are very aware of the overwhelmingly difficult decisions you may be facing. We are equally aware of the financial burdens.
To this end, we’ve established multiple COVID-19 member continuity and relief options that we think you’ll find of value, including the Membership Match Program, sponsored by Oregon Community Credit Union. If you have any questions about our COVID-19 member continuity and relief options, please reach out to our Member Services team at
max@springfield-chamber.org
.
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Legislative Advocacy
Your Business. Your Community. Your Voice.
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In Your Words
Oregon Businesses Respond to COVID-19
In just the past 48 hours, local Chambers of Commerce collected nearly 200 personal stories from Oregon businesses and non-profits that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. These local businesses shared their challenges accessing federal stimulus dollars, impacts to their workforce, and issues they anticipate in reopening when the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order is eventually lifted.
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The stories being collected are part of an effort by the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce to collect unfiltered and real feedback from local businesses to help policymakers both understand what's happening to local businesses and adopt policies that hit the mark in helping with recovery.
Governor Kate Brown recently announced that she is considering a sector-specific strategy to reopen Oregon. The Governor and state legislature needs to hear from impacted businesses today to secure the support they need to reopen and recover.
Share your story by taking the survey below.
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Government Issues & Economic Development Committees
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As the COVID-19 response continues to move rapidly at the local, state, and federal levels, we have moved our Government Issues Committee meetings to a weekly occurrence. We invite you to join us 8am Tuesday mornings via Zoom to stay on top of local, regional, and state issues of impact on business and community.
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Upcoming Government Issues Committee Meetings
Tuesday, May 5th, 8:00am, Zoom Conference
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A recording from this past Tuesday's committee meeting can be viewed below. Sarah Means, Regional Solutions Coordinator for the Governors Office presented on the draft reopening framework for Oregon.
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Bicoastal Radio Stations in Eugene
( 1120 KPNW, 104.7 KDUK, KOOL 99.1, and U.S. 101) have daily commercial inventory that is going unused. If Springfield Chamber members would like to access that inventory at special rates to get their message out, contact General Manager Jeff Gaulton at 541-284-3662.
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Open for Business
Stay Home | Support Local
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If you have gift cards available for sale, list your organization on
supportlocal.usatoday.com
, and help in building a one-stop-shop for purchasing from local Springfield restaurants and retailers.
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Update Your Chamber Listing
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We're in the works making our
2020-2021 Springfield Magazine + Directory!
We ask that you please check if your listed Membership Information is correct for inclusion in the directory portion of our print magazine:
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Please login to your member account if you'd like to make any changes to your primary representative, address, phone numbers, emails or website:
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COVID-19 CARES Act Updates
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The second round of applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reopened earlier this week.
If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to check in with your lending institution or the SBA on the status of your application, or advice on how and with whom to initiate one.
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Watch the latest US Chamber + Inc. National Town Hall for more information and a robust Q&A on the PPP, EIDL, Main Street Lending Program, and Employee Retention Tax Credits.
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The Oregon Employment Department is now providing unemployment benefits through the CARES Act Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. In preparation, the agency has recruited and trained staff to process PUA claims. Please access the PUA application and certification forms on the CARES Act section of the Employment Department’s COVID-19 web page:
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IRS information (English & Spanish) for taxpayers, businesses, tax-exempt organizations, and others who need information about Coronavirus tax relief and economic impact payments:
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Business Bootcamp LIVE
Wednesday May 13, Wednesday May 20, & Wednesday May 27
Virtual Zoom Webinars - FREE for Members
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SESSION 1:
Wednesday, May 13
How to Reopen: Tips for relaunching your business in a changing world
Robert Killen, Lane SBDC
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SESSION 2:
Wednesday, May 20
Best Practices for a Secure Remote Workforce
Brought to you by Partnered Solutions IT
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SESSION 3:
Wednesday, May 27
Mental Health and Wellness Discussion for Business
Roger Brubaker, Lane County Public Health
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If you are looking for opportunities to stay connected and informed, you can watch all of our COVID-19 related informational webinars on our Business Resource Hub under the “Informational Webinars” tab:
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Education & Talent Development
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Upcoming Education Meetings
May 21st, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
If you would like to join this committee meeting or if you have any questions please email our Director of Development and Talent Initiatives Paige Sharpe (
paige@springfield-chamber.org
)
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The Chamber Community has been stepping up, leaning in, making tough decisions, surviving, innovating, hiring, pivoting, and is deserving of support and acknowledgment. Check out some of these important updates from our Chamber members:
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To help you grow fresh produce while physical distancing like a pro, your pals at
Willamalane
have developed The GROW Project! These kits are hand-built by Willamalane employees and come with soil and seeds — just add water!
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If you have kids at home, or just enjoy a good science experiment, we recommend you check out the
Eugene Science Center
YouTube Channel! From making slime to DIY lava lamps, you're guaranteed to find an exciting family activity.
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Springfield is host to an array of AWARD WINNING businesses!
Congratulations to
Systems West Engineers
for getting listed for the second year in a row as one of Oregon's 100 Best Green Workplaces by Oregon Business Magazine.
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During these uncertain times, we recognize the strength and resiliency of the Springfield Chamber community. Thank you to those who have shared your story. To all our members, please help us share yours. Contact Elora Kelsh,
elora@springfield-chamber.org
for more information.
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Forum focus: The future
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Chamber of Commerce held a virtual Leaders Forum during their LunchVox session on April 17 to discuss the state of business through the lens of Springfield Chamber board leaders.
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Gov. Kate Brown Orders Oregon Agencies To Plan Nearly $2 Billion In Spending Cuts
Gov. Kate Brown is ordering state agencies to plan for nearly $2 billion in budget cuts, as she prepares for a potentially devastating blow to the state’s finances.
In a memo issued to agency directors on April 24, the state’s chief financial officers directed agencies to submit plans for 8.5% cuts in their allotted general fund spending for the two-year budget cycle, a scenario that would reflect what budget officials believe is likely a worst-case outcome for the current two-year budget cycle.
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Coronavirus: Manufacturers Rethink Global Supply Chain
The pandemic has laid bare the shortfalls of relying on overseas suppliers.
It was a sign of desperation. The
Oregon Nurses Association
launched a campaign on April 10 asking the public to
sign a petition
urging Gov. Kate Brown to insist that health care employers provide medical gear to protect frontline workers from contracting COVID-19.
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We want locals and visitors to know that we are proud of the ways our local communities are coming together to support one another, and that we’ll be ready to welcome travelers when it’s time to travel again. We #LoveLane County, and want to encourage anyone connected with our communities to help us celebrate why.
In partnership with ten of Chamber of Commerce agencies throughout Lane County, Travel Lane County
developed a suite of creative assets, including video, photo and shareable graphics that will help us all show that Lane County is united in supporting local businesses and that we are eager to welcome back visitors when the time is right. Check out the video and download some #LoveLane media assets below!
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Friday COVID-19 Bulletin | Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
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