COVID-19 Business Resources

SPECIAL EDITION, COVID-19 BUSINESS TOOLKIT| MARCH 2020

COVID-19 Business Resources and Formation of the Magnolia Chamber Care Corps

This special newsletter is dedicated to helping our local business and community by providing the latest resources that can assist Magnolia during the fast-moving COVID-19 outbreak. Below, we provide a number of helpful resources from various governmental, private, and media entities. We are also forming what we are calling the Magnolia Chamber Care Corps . The MCCC will assist businesses by providing an extra set of helping hands or skill sets due to employees needing to stay home or if we should experience school closures that could impact employee work schedules. Please read on and we will ask you to suggest other ways the Magnolia Chamber can support you!

To stay up-to-date on a daily basis regarding COVID-19 and Magnolia, please access our Magnolia Facebook group. Please click:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1101648570034374/

State COVID-19 Resources for Businesses

For the latest state of Washington business services and information regarding COVID-19, and providing an array of COVID-19 related business assistance, please visit:

https://www.governor.wa.gov/node/439842

Small Business Specific Resiliency Kits and Guides

The following link provides general tips and resources for small businesses in preparation and/or response to various natural and disease driven disasters. The information is courtesy of the Washington Small Business Development Center.

https://wsbdc.org/protect-your-business/business-resiliency/

Regional Business Guidance COVID-19

For regional advice and tips for the greater business communities in Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, and Tacoma, please visit Greater Seattle Partners “ Managing the Impacts of COVID-19 on our Business Community ”

https://greater-seattle.com/en/2020/03/05/managing-the-impacts-of-covid-19-on-our-business-community/

COVID-19 Medical Tips and Resources

We are including the latest medical advice and information from Evergreen Health located in the Kirkland-Redmond area. Evergreen Health is currently the epicenter in serving many of the most ill and vulnerable patients infected with the COVID-19 virus. Evergreen Health has also been working closely with federal, state, and local health authorities.

https://www.evergreenhealth.com/coronavirus

The Seattle Times provides an excellent visual guide on the latest facts about the COVID-19 virus and how best to protect you, your employees, and family from falling ill. Please access the full pictorial guide by clicking:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/facts-about-novel-coronavirus-and-how-to-prevent-covid-19/

Formation of the Magnolia Chamber Care Corps

On Friday, March 7th, one of our merchants and cherished members visited the Magnolia Chamber with a real life example of a COVID-19 related challenge many businesses may experience in the weeks ahead. One of the employees is a person who fits the profile of being particularly at-risk for catching COVID-19 and if infected, could experience life threatening pulmonary challenges. The employee has heeded public health advice and will be staying home from work for the foreseeable future. The owner has been summoned to serve on jury duty for King County next week, starting March 9th. The county is currently keeping to its regular court schedule and she has been asked to honor her summons. She shared her concerns that should be selected for jury duty, it would leave just one employee available to serve customers and keep the business open.

Based on the discussions, Jason Thibeaux, our Chamber's executive director and the merchant agreed to reach out to Chamber Board members and other key volunteers to see how together, the Chamber and local merchants might work together to address the pending challenges.

The ask?

Jason is asking if some of our members will pitch in and use years of experience to help support our small businesses, particularly should they need an extra set of hands if the local epidemic gets worse and more employees are affected. This support could take the form of helping greet customers, be behind the counter, or helping to clean or do other tasks that need to be done, but manpower is short. It could also mean picking up lunches, or helping with delivery tasks, or cleaning the "store." Right now, we are naming this effort the Magnolia Chamber Care Corps .

Please let Jason know your general availability and areas you might be comfortable in helping with as a part of the Magnolia Chamber Care Corps and helping further frame this SWAT effort to assist our local businesses. Jason can be reached at 206-618-1589 or email jason@discovermagnolia.org

What other ideas/needs do you have?

Please let him know what other things that you as a business owner or service provider may need and/or how the Chamber can better share information and support you and your business. It takes our community to support our businesses, customers, and neighbors during some tough and potentially challenging weeks ahead. Jason can be reached at 206-618-1589 or email jason@discovermagnolia.org. Stay up to date on the latest information found in this newsletter: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1101648570034374/

In the meantime, check out this visual guide for washing hands courtesy of our friends at The Seattle Times: