Click here to view this email online. If you missed our email on Tuesday, February 16th, you can view it here.

With the effects that the Pandemic has had on the make-up of the "typical traveler" profile over the past 12 months, there has been a shift in travel demand. As overall demand continues to rebound at a quicker rate, month over month, business travel is still slow to show a return to some level of normalcy. In its place, we continue to see a significant increase in leisure travel demand. Demand that is referred to as VFR Demand (visiting family & friends). Travel demand at the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport is approaching 55-60% of the previous year's demand, with a substantial number of these travelers being VFR travelers. With this in mind, the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport (AMA) has been given the opportunity to present its case for discussion about a potential new non-stop route to Phoenix, Arizona. The Amarillo Chamber, in conjunction with the Taking Flight - Amarillo Air Service Team, has been tasked with gauging the interest in and potential support of this new route. A Phoenix non-stop flight would not only meet the growing need by VFR travelers to get to leisure (wide-open spaces) destinations but as business travel continues to rebuild, this route will provide additional connecting opportunities to "key" destinations beyond the Phoenix hub.

Taking Flight - Amarillo is asking for your assistance in this effort by completing our brief survey. Thank you in advance for your assistance as we continue to work together to improve Amarillo and rebuild air service at the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport.

With Warm Regards,

President & CEO

Amarillo Chamber of Commerce

Office: (806) 373-7800

Email: jason@amarillo-chamber.org

If you know of a business that is not a member of the Chamber, we always appreciate referrals. For more information on joining the Chamber and the costs and benefits, click here, or give our Membership Director Ashley a call at 373-7800.

Madison Monday

3572 S Soncy Road

Amarillo, TX 79119

(888) 772-2792

Coming soon! Quick Quack Car Wash has 4 exterior-only, express car washes in the Amarillo area and is home to Free self-serve vacuums and $14.99 per month “Wash All You Want” Unlimited Car Wash Memberships. Our express car wash is 3 minutes fast so you never wait in long lines or lobbies, and we are also environmentally friendly by conserving and recycling water.

Ground Breaking: Quick Quack Car Wash

1:00pm

3572 S Soncy Rd

More Information: Amaris or Madison, 828-8063

See more upcoming ribbon cutting & ground breaking events on our Week's Sneak Peek page. If you would like more information on scheduling an event like this for your business, email christy@amarillo-chamber.org.

Steps to Promote Equitable Relief for Mom-and-Pop Businesses

The Paycheck Protection Program has had major improvements made to the program’s implementation including:

Read the entire press release and find links for more information here.

If you missed this virtual economic development symposium last week with the Texas Comptroller, you still have two chances to join. If you would like to participate in tomorrow's event, email Frank Alvarez for the WebEx invitation link.

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts will be holding its first statewide Economic Development Symposium Virtual Presentation on a wide variety of economic development tools including Chapter 313 Value Limitation Agreements, Chapter 380/381 Agreements, Economic Development Corporations, Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT), Municipal Development Districts (MDDs), Public Improvement Districts (PIDs), Tax Abatements, and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones.

This virtual symposium is being offered on 2 remaining dates:

March 3, 8am - 1230pm CST

If you would like a WebEx invitation for one of these events, please request the date of your choice by email to Frank Alvarez or call (512) 936-9231 for more information.

Promote Your Business at the BusinessConnection^® Tradeshow

If you participated in BusinessConnection in 2019, were on the list to have a booth in 2020, or are new and want to tentatively reserve a booth, email Denise or call 373-7800 to be added to the list.

Watch our website for more details coming soon and sponsorship information.

If you are a small business owner and would like information about free testing for your business, please call Denise at 373-7800 or email denise@amarillo-chamber.org. She will be able to explain the process, requirements, and instructional video needed to be certified before you can begin testing your employees. Once approved, she will arrange for a time for test kits to be picked up and answer any questions.

To learn more about this program that was started in an effort to help support the continued operation of small businesses throughout the state of Texas by Governor Abbott, click here.

The Chamber is thrilled to announce and recognize our new sponsors that are stepping up to be part of the Supporting Small Business Initiative for 2021. This new program is designed to support the Chamber's efforts to serve our small business community better by offering programs, seminars, virtual events, and more for little to no cost to our members throughout 2021.

We strive to provide each and every member with opportunities throughout the year to promote themselves at networking events to help grow their business, but with the challenges of in-person meetings in 2020, we wanted to be able to offer additional benefits for your membership investment. We are optimistically planning our regular big events and free monthly After Hours to resume in March and beyond, but watch our emails for additional events and educational seminars coming soon.

Please join us in thanking these generous underwriting partners that are serving the Chamber, our members, and the entire business community with their support.

If you would like to know more about this program and the benefits of partnership, contact Jason Harrison at (806) 373-7800 or jason@amarillo-chamber.org.

Watch the online calendar for more details and updates coming soon.

3/11 - Business After Hours at Rockwood Furniture

3/25 - Accelerate Success Seminar with Jody Holland

4/8 - Business After Hours at FirstBank Southwest Tower

4/12-14 - Panhandle Days in Austin

4/22 - Spring Mega Market

5/6 - Business After Hours at WTAMU Amarillo Center

5/20 - BusinessConnection® at the Tri-State Fairgrounds

5/27 - Business After Hours at Carson Wealth

6/10 - Business After Hours at Adobe Walls

7/8 - Business After Hours at First United Bank (The Colonies)

7/22 - Chamber Open Golf Tournament at Tascosa Golf Club

7/29 - Business After Hours at WT Enterprise Center (or Revolution at 800)

8/12 - Business After Hours at Nistler's Lawn & Landscape's Resplendent Garden

8/26 - Annual Banquet & Business Excellence Awards

9/9 - Business After Hours at Amarillo Club

9/23 - Business After Hours at Courtyard by Marriott Amarillo West Medical Center

10/7 - Good Times Celebration® Barbecue Cook-Off at the Tri-State Fairgrounds

10/21 - Business After Hours at Casey Carpet One

10/28 - Business Seminar

11/4 - Business After Hours at The Nesting Place - Bushland

11/18 - Fall Mega Market

12/1 - Ag Appreciation Luncheon at the Amarillo Civic Center

12/2 - Business After Hours at Street Toyota

12/16 - Business After Hours at Rt. 66 Auto Haus

If you know an outstanding individual or business that you would like to nominate for a 2021 Top 20 Under 40 Award, Top Business Award, or Top Emerging Business Award, click here to fill out the form and submit the nomination to us by May 7, 2021. We will send nominees an official application to be completed and returned to us by Friday, May 28, 2021. Award winners will be selected by the Business Council of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and recognized in August 2021.

The City of Amarillo Public Health Department is currently administering COVID-19 vaccines to all individuals identified in the State of Texas Phase 1A and 1B Vaccine Allocation Plan as well as Second Dose Vaccine.

Immunizations will take place at the Amarillo Civic Center Complex (401 S Buchanan St, Amarillo, TX 79101). Eligible citizens should enter the North Exhibit Hall through Entrance 3.

Be sure to check the clinic hours and vaccine availability ONLINE before going.

**Public Health may close the line early in order to serve everyone in line before closing time.** All operational changes will be updated in real-time on this website.

CGI Communications has been a partner of the Amarillo Chamber for a number of years. CGI handles several advertising products offered to our members including website banner ads, community videos, ReviewTube reviews, and now has a new Magellan tool for voice activated website searching for text and videos.

Our representative, Al Forys, and his team will be reaching out to some of our members to offer more information about these tools that may be beneficial for your business.

Should you want more information on any of their products, reach out to Al Forys at the contact information below.

We try to alert you anytime a third party may contact you so that you know they are a trusted and legitimate partner of the Amarillo Chamber. You may see our complete list of advertising options and partners on the Advertising Opportunities page of our website. We encourage you to always check this site or contact Penni Bentley at (806) 373-7800 to verify our official program partners before giving out personal or financial information.

The Chamber has compiled a list of links to helpful resources on our Chamber website. From our homepage, simply click the Learn More button under the COVID-19 Resources section or go directly to the page at https://www.amarillo-chamber.org/covid-19-info--resources.html.

See our Staff Directory with photos, direct phone numbers and more on our Contact Us page of the website.

Tyler Andrews, Andrews & Associates / cat.man.du

Blaine Baker, Crown House Insurance

Scott Bentley, Amarillo EDC

David Bishop, Amarillo ISD

Lew Bradshaw, Pat Davis Properties

Kevin Carter, Amarillo EDC

Ryan Chandler, Northwest Texas Healthcare

Richard Constancio, Shiver-Megert & Associates

Joe Graham, Graham Brothers Jewelers

Jason Henderson, Bell

Brady Hochstein, Elevate Amarillo

Mark Hodges, FirstCapital Bank of Texas

Julie Imke, WTAMU Amarillo Center

Charles Leard, M&R Liquor

Trent Morris, Workforce Solutions Panhandle

Ed Nichols, Brown, Graham & Company, P.C.

Joseph Peterson, Edward Jones

Stephanie Price, Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum

Aaron Sage, Sage Oil Vac

Doug Street, Affiliated Foods

Wendi Swope, Double U Marketing 

Ronnie Walker, Xcel Energy

Peter Warrick, Atmos Energy

Mikel Williamson, Happy State Bank

Lance Wolff, Insurica DFB

on our website. 

                                                   –  Author Unknown