News & Events from the Lafayette Chamber
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Jay Lifson, Executive Director
251 Lafayette Circle, Ste 150, Lafayette, CA
Virtual Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm, Friday 9am-1pm
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It’s Monday – Now what?
Let’s start with a quick check on things…
The COVID-19 Pandemic
We are told this is going to be our “Pearl Harbor Moment.” A brutal week ahead, according to the government and the media. Your business is closed and you are on your 4th book and 3rd puzzle and you dog wonders why they hell you won’t leave for work. Sorry, no immediate end in sight.
Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP)
You can begin on your
PPP application. It appears that the SBA has finally settled on a form/process to apply. All the lenders were not quite ready on Friday. Lenders, including Bank of the West which information is below, are now ready and the application does not look too difficult.
Special City Council Meeting today at 2pm
- The City of Lafayette has been working with Townsend Public Affairs in Sacramento to help with Lafayette’s best interests at the State Level. They have tentatively agreed to enter into a 90 day contract to help small businesses navigate through the loan and grant processes of the various relief being offered during the Pandemic. Some small businesses have never had to deal with the SBA.
- Townsend will dedicate 3-4 staff members to act as an ombudsman to assist small businesses and non-profits in accessing available resources offered by state and federal governments.
- Small business interest free deferral of sales/use tax up to $50,000 for businesses with less than $5 million in taxable sales. Learn more here.
Some Bay Area Cities have also made it illegal for the eviction of Commercial Property tenants for the next 60-90 days. Some have started Small Business Funding campaigns. This will also be discussed.
Planning Commission Meeting tonight at 7pm
The Architect for the rebuild of 100 Lafayette Circle will be going before the Lafayette Planning Commission this evening. The proposal calls for replacing and increasing office and retail space.
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Please take 3 minutes and complete this
survey
about how your business is handling the Shelter-in-Place ordinance.
Having an accurate estimate of how businesses are impacted will help us advocate for more funding, services, and information for you.
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Information for Lafayette Businesses during COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Order
Last week the Chamber sent an email outlining what essential businesses need to do per the March 31, 2020 Health Order. If you are an essential business, please take note of the items you need to complete and display in your business.
Review our email here.
Lafayette Small Business and Covid-19 Webinar RECORDING
On Tuesday, March 31, Chamber hosted a Lafayette Small Business and Covid-19 Webinar.
Moderated by Chamber President John McCormick (Lamorinda Music) the one-hour Zoom meeting answered some of the most often asked questions about the shelter-in-place and business/disaster recovery. Jay Lifson, Executive Director of the Chamber, Niroop Srivatsa, Lafayette City Manager, and California State Senator Steve Glazer joined the Webinar and took questions. There was very good information provided for both residents and small businesses in Lafayette.
View recording here.
News Post: No Joke, Today is April 1st and your rent is due…
Read the April 1 (no joke) news post about rent payments
here.
Did You Miss the Mayor’s Virtual Lunch? Tune-in Now on YouTube
Lafayette Mayor Mike Anderson held a Virtual Lunch last week on Facebook Live to answer residents’ questions concerning the Covid-19 emergency and how it affects Lafayette. He was joined by City Manager Niroop Srivatsa, and over 50 residents viewing the broadcast live on Facebook. You can watch the complete broadcast now on the
City’s YouTube channel here.
Non Profit & Art ~Events~ Email Blast
On Friday, the chamber sent it's April 2020 Non Profit and Art ~Events~ email blast to our subscribers. This issue focused how
you can help our non profit and art community.
View eblast here.
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The Lafayette Chamber is providing COVID-19 business and community resources through a number of channels. Please visit the following for further information:
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Welcome to our Newest Members!
The following business recently joined the Lafayette Chamber. Visit their website for more information!
9854 National Blvd, 469, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Dawn Patton, 323-855-0966
Try MY T is a beverage manufacturer of premium iced teas. We are a women minority owned entity.
Categories: Food Concessions, Health Food / Nutritional Supplements
P. O. Box 97, Orinda
Marie Waterman, 925-254-0800
The Orinda Association's events and programs include The Orinda News, Seniors Around Town ride program, Orinda's Annual 4th of July Parade, Orinda Classic Car Show, Orinda Volunteer Center and Public Forums (see Staying Safe in Orinda & Wildfire Preparedness videos).
Category: Non-Profit Organizations & Clubs
1164 Crescenta Court, Lafayette
Clay Fry, 925-765-2876
Residential and Commercial Architecture
Category: Architects
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Glisten and Glow Skincare offers advanced skincare including: luxurious treatments, specialized facials, chemical peels, LED light therapy, microdermabrasion, teeth whitening, back treatments, and other add-on services.
Mention this post to receive 20% off all treatments. Let’s get you glowing! Instagram and Facebook: glistenandglow_skincare.
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COMMUNITY CAN’T BE CANCELED - Let’s Support Lafayette Businesses!
Join Acalanes High School families and the Lafayette community in a
Community Can’t Be Canceled campaign highlighting how we can use this time apart to come together.
Support Lafayette Restaurants and Businesses is a community-wide effort to help our Lafayette restaurants and essential businesses stay open during and after the Shelter in Place. It’s a great way to thank the businesses that support us year in and year out! You can help them by purchasing gift cards or by getting take-out or delivery of coffee, breakfast, lunch and/or dinner through-out next week and beyond.
Please remember to adhere to the county’s social distancing guidelines when picking up meals.
Are you a Lafayette business interested in supporting this campaign?
Send us an email!
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Please note, we have cancelled or postponed all in-person events through the end of June. This includes the postponement of the
Taste of Lafayette, Rock the Plaza concert series and all ribbon cuttings and mixers. See below for our virtual events!
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Noon Webinar Wednesdays:
Learn Client Attraction 2020 and Do Some Speed Networking
Wednesday, April 8, 12noon
Meeting ID: 415 781 9296
Password: 219761
Bring your questions and your short positive introduction! Here are some of the things covered in these online Open House Meetings:
- How to use our digital meetings online to group and educate your own groups about Cross-Group Networking promotions.
- Learn how to grow your net worth with networking invitations.
- Grow your audience further with more groups, same invitations.
- How to make more effective presentations with simpler videos.
- Connections for cross-group networking easily within Meetup.
- How to use email swipe copy from the world's greatest copywriters.
- Use Zoom breakout rooms for speed networking online to build more audience and engagement! .... and a LOT more!
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3 Business Time Savers: Cloze, Acuity, & Active Campaign
Wednesday, April 8, 6pm-7pm
Learn how to build email & marketing automation, how to simplify scheduling online, & how to build close relationships w/your customers.
Learn how to leverage Active Campaign for email & marketing automation, how to utilize Cloze CRM for creating high touch personalization with your potential & current customers, and how to save time using Acuity for scheduling. These 3 tools, used correctly, will save you loads of time.
Register here >>
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ONLINE: Coffee with Lafayette Mayor Mike Anderson
Friday, April 24, 8am-9am
Coffee with Mayor Mike Anderson will be held online via Zoom. Fill your own cup and log on! Have a question? Send it via email to
info@lafayettechamber.org.
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The Lafayette Chamber would like to thank chamber member
Shred Defense
for their complimentary service and prompt pickup! We highly recommend their services!
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Parenting During COVID-19
Monday, April 6, 2pm-3pm
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan will be hosting a discussion this Monday with Dr. Christine Carter on parenting in the time of COVID-19. Dr. Carter is a Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center and the author of some of her personal favorite parenting books. Dr. Carter focuses on using scientific research and attainable strategies to help people learn to thrive in difficult circumstances. Submit questions in advance to
Assemblymember.Bauer-Kahan@assembly.ca.gov. Livestream information provided upon
RSVP.
Paycheck Protection Program through Bank of the West
If you are a small business or nonprofit looking to take advantage of the Federal government's
Payment Protection Program
(PPP) to help keep your employees working, Bank of the West can help you right now. The Bank of the West PPP is currently only being offered to existing customers with a business checking account as of February 15, 2020. For information and to apply, click
here
. Once you apply you will receive an email requesting documents needed for verification and as soon as that is done, funding should be quick. The program is also open to non-profits.
Project LPIE is happening!
Projects are due April 8 and cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places will be awarded. Submissions will be judged by professionals and experts in 16 different areas of the competition. We are currently hard at work planning a virtual awards event to celebrate talented, creative, and innovative Acalanes students. Check with LPIE at
office@lpie.org for more information.
Orinda News Advertising Opportunities
In these trying times, there are few actions as important as taking care of yourself, your family and your community. The Orinda News is here to support YOU.
Is your business offering new services to accommodate for the circumstances of social distancing and shelter-at-home?
To help get the word out,
The Orinda News
is offering a 50% discount on advertising for the month of May, just $30 for web ads. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to make our community aware of your takeout services, new office hours, special virtual events and more. To take advantage of this offer, please contact our ad representative Elana O’Loskey at
925-984-1751
or
elaneo@mac.com
)
. Ad reservations due by April 10.
Free Event for Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
Business owners are feeling the impacts of the pandemic the most. If you want a community of speakers, experts, and business owners to help you rise up during this challenging time, then check out this free 20 day challenge. You will walk away with insights across 7 key areas: business, personal growth, wealth, relationships, mindset, health, and faith. Join the challenge today:
www.riseupworld.com and join the Facebook group to get started now!
EBMUD Trails Update
As the COVID-19 situation changes, so does access to EBMUD trails. Currently, due to overcrowding and in order to provide safe trail access, Valle Vista, Chabot, Briones Overlook and Bear Creek Staging areas (parking lots and restrooms) are closed. The watershed trail system will remain open and accessible to the public. Please maintain six feet or more of distance from rangers, walkers, hikers and cyclists. Be considerate and let others pass at a safe distance. You can stay up-to-date on the
status of EBMUD’s East Bay watershed trails.
Earth Day Celebration 2020 - Celebrate Spring with Flutter-Flies-Butterflies!
The Lafayette Community Garden - Outdoor Learning Center was scheduled to have an Earth Day Open House at the garden. During that celebration we were planning to celebrate the wonder of butterflies and their amazing transformation from caterpillars to flying beauties. In that same spirit, and due to the shelter in place restrictions, we invite you to make your own “Flutter-Flies” and, if so inspired, hang them about your garden or neighborhood for a virtual Community Celebration. All you need to get started are assorted papers, scissors, a pencil for tracing, a stapler, and some string or yarn to hang them by.
Here you will find a project plan, examples, potential materials to use, and suggestions for engaging your family and hopefully community. Let’s make a visual celebration of our lovely butterfly pollinators and let them bring joy by sailing throughout our neighborhoods. Have fun and feel free to forward the project plan to friends and family. Sincerely Yours, Lafayette Community Garden Members
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Agents of Change: A Call for Entries by
Diablo magazine
Diablo magazine is looking to highlight the next generation of changemakers. We want to hear about people making a mark on the East Bay.
Submit yourself or a trailblazer you know by May 15, 2020.
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Pinnacle Apparel & Promotions' Face Mask Offer
We know that many of you have been drastically impacted by COVID 19 and we want you to know that we are here to help you. We can order disposable face masks for you through one of our partnering essential service suppliers. There is a limit to the number of masks that can be ordered – 300 per day to the same address – however you can order the quantity that you need in multiple days or to a different address. Please contact Jennifer Aiello at 925-946-1657 or
jaiello@thepinn.com
.
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What does fiscal responsibility mean to me?
That is the question that Mercer Partners Wealth Management would like to pose to high school seniors. Answers must be submitted in a 300-500 word essay and received by Friday, May 8th.
Two winners will be awarded a $1000 college scholarship. (One entry per high school senior.) For more information and to download an application form, visit our website at
www.mercerpartnerswealth.com.
Completed entries may be mailed, faxed or emailed to: Mercer Partners Wealth Management, 1243 Alpine Road, Suite 219, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. (925) 932-4700, or email:
Jadi.S.Christiansen@lpl.com.
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How can you help or be helped?
During this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, many of you have reached out and asked, “How can I help?” Read the April issue of the Chamber's Non Profit and Art ~Events~
email blast here.
Additional resources posted by Supervisor Candace Andersen include:
Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation
In response to the current public health crisis, Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation has launched a COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund. This fund, initiated by generous donations from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, will support our region’s medical community, workforce development, food distribution and access, emergency financial assistance, and more.
Your donation will directly support trusted and vetted local nonprofit partners and focus on meeting community needs, including:
- Food & Financial Support: helping those impacted by this crisis with funds for such things as food and groceries, rent, and transportation.
- Emergency Housing & Shelter: covering leasing costs for alternative care sites and expanding operations in homeless shelters.
- Public Health Interventions: supporting needed public health activities, such as increasing the availability of community testing and tracking, mobile testing, protective equipment for medical staff, and enhanced sanitizing practices.
- Workforce Support: responding to the many needs related to the safety and support of workers providing essential services.
- Other Emerging Needs: none of us can predict how the community’s needs around COVID-19 will shift and evolve in the days and weeks to come and new opportunities for support.
SOS Emergency Relief Fund
Community members facing financial hardship resulting from COVID-19 may be eligible for assistance through the Season of Sharing (SOS) Emergency Relief Fund.
The Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) has just published an updated
Emergency Relief Fund flier outlining who may be eligible, criteria and types of assistance available. EHSD’s Volunteer & Emergency Services, in partnership with San Francisco Chronicle’s SOS Program, is accepting applications from Contra Costa families. Please call the SOS Hotline (925) 521-5065 for more information or to apply.
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From the Lafayette Library and Learning Center
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April is National Poetry Month
"Poetry ... is the revelation of a feeling that the poet believes to be interior and personal which the reader recognizes as his own." - Salvatore Quasimodo
You will find a selection of poetry available in ebook format from the Library, including former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, a Lafayette Library guest speaker in 2016.
Friends of the Lafayette Library Virtual WOW!
Popular Lafayette Library independent art lecturer Avril Angevine has recorded short lectures related to Bay Area art, available for your listening pleasure.
OLLI @Berkeley -
Coming Together, Learning Together
Lafayette Library and Learning Center Community Partner OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) is offering its spring courses online. Now more than ever, it's important to hold onto social connections and keep routines. Deep breaths, everyone. Let's get learning!
CLICK HERE
for OLLI online spring courses plus live-stream and pre-recorded videos.
We are all in this together.
Our LLLC Foundation team is working remotely. If you need assistance or have questions about Library and community resources, we’ll do our best to help. Email (
information@LLLCF.org
) or phone message (925-283-6513 ext. 102).
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Please note: to signup you will be asked for your birthdate. This information is not stored, it is only used for verify you are over 21 years of age.
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