Business News | May 19 2020
COVID-19 Related Business News
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has issued Executive Order 141 - moving us to a modified Phase II as of 5:00pm on May 22nd. Highlights from the press release:

  • Mass gathering limits in Phase 2 will be no more than 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors in most circumstances. These limits apply to the following: event venues; conference centers; stadiums and sports arenas; amphitheaters; and groups at parks or beaches. 

  • Some businesses will remain closed in Phase 2 including: bars; night clubs; gyms and indoor fitness facilities; indoor entertainment venues such as movie theaters, and bowling alleys. 

  • Certain businesses will be open at limited capacity with other requirements and recommendations including: restaurants at 50% dine-in capacity with distancing and cleaning requirements; personal care businesses, including salons and barbers, at 50% capacity with distancing and cleaning requirements; pools at 50% capacity with distancing and cleaning requirements. Employees of personal care businesses will be required to wear face coverings. 

  • Childcare facilities, day camps and overnight camps will be open with enhanced cleaning and screening requirements. Retail businesses allowed to open in Phase 1 at 50% capacity will continue at that level. 

  • Public health recommendations are provided for worship services to practice enhanced social distancing and other cleaning and hygiene practices.

The Safer At Home Phase 2 runs through at least Friday, June 26.
Southport-Oak Island Promise
If your business has posted the Southport-Oak Island Promise certificate, please let us know so that we can add you to the list of businesses who accepted the challenge. The list is posted on our website.

Did you miss the information on the Southport-Oak Island Promise? Click Here to learn about the promise and how it can benefit your business.

Reopening Guides
There are a number of reopening guides to assist you when you are looking for for the nuts and bolts resources for how to reopen in the safest manner possible. Here are a few of our favorites:





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THISWEEKSt. James FREE Advertising Offer
THISWEEKStJames, an online newsletter provided to subscribing St. James residents, is offering a FREE advertising opportunity to members of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce. As we enter into the various phases of opening back up area businesses, you can take advantage of this opportunity with no obligation and no charges.
 
This will give you the chance to get your business name and services in front of St. James residents to let them know of your availability and contact information as you reach out to customers in this new business climate. Submit your businesses notices up to 2 times monthly for the next two months, to be posted in the newsletter. All current Business Subscribers in THISWEEKStJames will also have their subscription extended for 2 months at no charge and may also submit their updates. 
For this FREE listing, Click Here to submit: Name of Business; Business Address; Phone Number; Service availability description (currently open; limited service; projected opening date); Link to your website or Facebook page.  Business submissions will be verified for accuracy prior to publication. Businesses may also opt to receive issues of the newsletter at no cost for the next 60 days.
 
To learn more about THISWEEKStJames visit the website: www.thisweekstjames.com
PPP Loan Forgiveness Guide
Under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created by the CARES Act, loans may be forgiven if borrowers use the proceeds to maintain their payrolls and pay other specified expenses.

The Treasury Department and Small Business Administration recently released the application form and instructions for loan forgiveness. The forgiveness forms, instructions, and worksheets can be downloaded here

Play for a Purpose
We are in week 5 of the Chamber's Tic Tac Toe board game to promote our local shops and restaurants. Freelance writer Carolyn Bowers, wrote a nice article for the South Brunswick Magazine about the program. Read here.

BCC Small Business Center Webinar Schedule
What seemed like an overnight transformation of our lives due to COVID-19 has sharply increased the demand for digital knowledge.  You asked and the BCC Small Business Center is delivering several webinars that will help your business grasp a better understanding of social medial, digital skills and how you may consider increasing your web presence.


NC 4th of July Festival News....
The City of Southport has closed use of public parks for large gatherings until after Labor Day. Therefore, The North Carolina 4th of July Festival will not be able to go forward with a full calendar of events but the Festival Board is working on ways to celebrate our nation's independence - virtually. Be on the look out for more information about this in the coming weeks.

The Festival Board is also working on a special commemorative t-shirt to celebrate our nation's independence. Proceeds from the shirts will not only benefit the festival but it will also benefit area businesses. The Festival will not sell directly to the public but will wholesale the shirt to the area businesses and then drive customers to those businesses. If your business is interested in
pre-ordering shirts to sell at your location contact the Festival at (910) 457-5578 Email.
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Treatment & Vaccine News
Right now, there are 174 COVID-19 treatments and vaccines in the clinical stages of development , not to mention 81 additional therapies in the pre-clinical stage. The world is holding its breath for the data.

Already, early results are showing promise. And this week, a small San Diego biopharmaceutical company, Sorrento Therapeutics, released new laboratory evidence that could move the needle from promise to product.

Sorrento claims to have discovered a unique COVID-19 antibody – a blood protein the body makes in response to and in defense against a specific antigen – that can create “100% inhibition” of COVID-19. In other words, the unique antibody has so far been 100% effective in blocking COVID-19 from infecting healthy cells within just four days.

Sorrento, in partnership with Mount Sinai , is working to develop an antibody cocktail containing the unique antibody and other antibodies that they hope will prevent new COVID-19 infections. While the cocktail still needs to be tested in animal and human clinical trials, the initial laboratory performance has been positive.

According to Sorrento CEO Dr. Henry Ji , “Our […] antibody shows exceptional therapeutic potential and could potentially save lives.”
While the world awaits the discovery of a vaccine, the antibody cocktail could temporarily protect individuals from contracting COVID-19, which will be critical to getting America safely back to work.
We hope to see that potential realized soon.

-Jonathan Weinberger, Executive Vice President, Global Innovation Policy Center. Reprinted from an article from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Message From Chamber President - 5/19/20