Support for your Small Business
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June’s Monthly Mingle’s
“
Virtual
Munch & Mingle”
We were ALL used to mingling while we are having delicious food at the East Bay Chamber’s Monthly Mingle at a fabulous destination. Well, things have changed quite a bit but it just means we have to change how we do things.
- In June, all registrants will receive a special little surprise at their doorstep from our host, Bookkeeping Towne to enjoy while we network – BUT you have to register by 6/8/2020 at midnight.!
Join us for a
Virtual Monthly Mingle
Thursday, June 11, 2020 from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Hosted by Bookkeeping Towne
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Phase Two to start June 1st
In Phase Two, we’re going to be navigating our way forward. Our focus is on getting more Rhode Islanders back to work while continuing to prioritize public health and safety.
- Social Gatherings: I know how hard it’s been to be away from our families and friends for months. Video calls are great, but they don’t replace in-person interaction. In Phase Two, the social gathering limit will be 15 people. While that's a big change, the rules around it are still the same: you still need to practice social distancing, you still need to wear your face covering, and you shouldn’t be seeing a different 15 people every day. I know that we're all anxious to reunite with your friends and family, but we need to take it slowly as we start to get together with the people we’ve missed.
- Travel: As we approach the summer months, how we'll handle travel is a question on everyone’s mind. In Phase Two, the travel restrictions will largely lift – with some important distinctions. The 14-day quarantine will only be in place for those returning to Rhode Island from an area still under stay-at-home order or similar type of restriction.
- Restaurants: Our restaurant industry has been among the hardest hit over these past few months. We’ve worked hard to ensure restaurants can stay open for takeout, delivery, and outdoor dining. In Phase Two, we’re going to allow indoor dining at up to 50% capacity. There will still be many other restrictions in place around cleaning, common areas, mask wearing and spacing out tables. Going out to dinner will still feel different, but we’ll be finding ways to get back to business.
- Retail: In Phase Two, we’ll be continue to relax capacity restrictions so more people will be allowed in a store at one time. We’ll also be allowing malls to reopen – again, with restrictions. We can’t allow large groups to congregate in open areas. That means you won’t be able to gather in a food court or hang out in large groups in common spaces, but more of the retails stores we miss will be allowed to open.
- Offices: Rhode Island's businesses have done an incredible job adapting to the circumstances with teleworking, video meetings, conference calls and more. We still want everyone who can work from home to do so. In Phase Two, if it is necessary that some of your workforce be on-site, business can allow up to 1/3 of their workforce to return. Everyone is going to have to continue taking precautions around cleaning, screening, social distancing, and most importantly, staying home if you’re sick and completing a coronavirus control plan template.
- Haircare and Personal Services: In Phase 2, hair services including barbershops, salons, and hair braiders will all reopen with capacity restrictions. In addition, lots of other personal close-contact services – nailcare, waxing, tanning, massage, tattoos – will reopen. The person performing the services will have to wear a mask, and the customer will have to wear a mask as long as practically possible. Customers should make appointments so we can avoid crowded waiting areas . Customers will have to space out, and cleaning will be very important.
- Gyms and Fitness Studios: Staying active and healthy is so important. In Phase Two, gyms and fitness studios will reopen with restrictions. Group fitness classes will also be allowed to resume. The name of the game is going to be maintaining your social distance, keeping your group consistent and planning ahead. We’re asking fitness centers to go with a reservation system so they can prevent overcrowding and keep people socially distant. If you take a class, you should stay with the same consistent group.
- Outdoor Entertainment and Recreation: This virus thrives in crowded spaces, and so we still need to wait to reopen things like theaters and concert halls – places where maintaining social distancing is really challenging. However, we know it’s a lot easier to keep people spaced out when we’re outside and that the virus also doesn’t spread the same way outside. In phase 2 we can start to allow outdoor activities to come back. This includes things like going to the zoo and outdoor activities such as mini golf and boat rentals, and visits to areas such as public gardens and the outdoor ground of historical sites.
To stay up to date with Rhode Island's latest COVID-19 statistics, please check the Department of Health's
new data dashboard
for all the information you need about the spread of coronavirus in Rhode Island.
It's important that every reopening business – and every business that is continuing operations – completes a COVID-19 control plan. This plan will ensure that you’ve digested the public health guidance, that you’ve tailored the guidance to your business, that you’re prepared to open.
-Gina Raimondo Governor
Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes:
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INSPECTION CHECKLIST
The State of RI will be doing inspections specifically in retails stores across the state.
Our hope is the educate and work with business owners on the requirements with the hopes that it makes customers feel more safe to shop in retail stores. The focus for the next week will be on small, main street type retail stores.
We are providing you with the
inspection checklist
(click here
)
so that you will know what the inspectors will be looking for.
Elizabeth M. Tanner, Esq., Director, Department of Business Regulation
1511 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920
Work Phone: (401) 462-9531
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Restaurant Outdoor Dining
Sidewalk Seating & Roadway Parking
Permit Application
(Reopening RI Plan – Phase 1)
In conjunction with these guidelines, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has established a process by which restaurants may apply for and obtain a permit to: 1) use a “sidewalk” (the area outside the paved portion of the state roadway right-of-way designated for vehicular traffic and on-street parking) along a state highway for outdoor dining/seating, and 2) allow parking along a state road in areas where it would normally not be permitted. Only restaurants that utilize their on-premises parking lots for outdoor seating may apply for the parking modification. Municipal Police Chief or Chief Public Safety Official concurrence is required.
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We appreciate your feedback
.
On
Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 at 4:00pm, S
iu-Li from CommerceRI will be hosting a
tech support coaching session
for our local merchants. This meeting will featured an open discussion with select merchants on what challenges they currently facing and how they can use technology to transform their business's operations. Based on this discussion, businesses will have the opportunity to set up a 1-on-1 support sessions, where volunteer staff can assist with an array of items including home office setup, remote business setup, e-commerce, marketing, and delivery services.
May 22, 2020
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97886376224?pwd=N2JsRDloV3JrdkZUUVB5Z0pxVjd6dz09
Meeting ID: 978 8637 6224
Password: 630991
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,97886376224# US (Chicago)
+19292056099,,97886376224# US (New York)
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The Gardens are Open!!
Blithewold re-opens the gardens!!
Here are some things you should know before you visit:
- You'll need to present your ticket purchase email confirmation
- You'll be checking in with the greeter stationed in the parking lot
- Your group must be 5 or less people
- Everyone in your group must be wearing a face covering
- You'll need to remain physically distanced from other visitors
- Unfortunately, the visitor center will be closed weekdays
- Unfortunately our bathrooms will be closed until further notice.
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Success Stories from Chafee Center
Growing Beyond R.I. Border
AVTECH Software
, in Warren, is a leading manufacturer of environment monitoring solutions for critical facilities and assets. In business for 30 years, AVTECH has products in use in 186 countries.
“Prior to engaging with the
Chafee Center
, our international sales accounted for approximately 23% of revenue,” said Richard Grundy, president of AVTECH. “In the last 12 months, this has grown to 32% of revenue, and we’re on track to see international sales reach 40% of revenue within the next 18 months.”
AVTECH has received customized market research from the Chafee Center and participated in trade missions to Israel, Ireland, the U.K. and the United Arab Emirates, as well as regular exhibitions at overseas trade shows.
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Virtual Art Night Bristol Warren at
The Gallery at Sprout
, May 28th 5:30 pm
Join
Art Night Bristol Warren
for the first virtual event of the 2020 season! Tune in through
Art Night
's website on
May 28th at 5:30pm
to view The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking featuring artwork by local photographer Mary Murphy-Taylor. Celebrate local music, open studios, arts and demos online with the full line-up of participating
Art Night
art spaces – featuring Sowam Cider Works, Makers RI, HotPoint Emporium, Bristol Art Museum & more! Check out
https://artnightbristolwarren.org/art-night-may2020/
to learn more about this exciting virtual event.
The Gallery at Sprout CoWorking, located at 489 Main Street in Warren
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Virtual Business Roundtable Discussions
State Treasurer Seth Magaziner to Join in on Thursday
Warren, RI -May 26, 2020 –
The Town of Warren and Discover Warren who are hosting twice weekly business roundtable discussions Tuesday’s at 10 AM and Thursday’s at 5 PM and are pleased to announce that Rhode Island
State Treasurer Seth
Magaziner
will be joining the discussion this Thursday (5/28) at 5 PM.
. It is expected that the Treasurer will discuss how the State will distribute funding received through the initial CARES Act, expectations for additional federal funding coming to the State, impacts on municipal aid, as well as expectations regarding the lack of a State Budget.
Thursday 5 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 895 5405 1931
Password: 573906
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,89554051931#,,1#,573906# US (Chicago)
+16465588656,,89554051931#,,1#,573906# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 895 5405 1931
Password: 573906
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Rhode Island Small Business Development Center Upcoming WebEx
Thursday from 11am-12pm
Click those links for more info and to sign up. After you register, we'll send out the WebEx login info before each webinar.
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Lt. Governor McKee hosts virtual town hall meetings for small businesses
every Tuesday and Friday at noon
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WEBOND Women's Group online LIVE ZOOM Presentations Tuesday's at 12:00
Links and access to the live presentations are posted on
www.meetup.com/webond
and on the events calendar at www.eastbaychamberri.org
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RI SCORE Virtual Marketing Series
RI SCORE and the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) have developed a virtual marketing series, Marketing Mondays. It is the beginning of a robust set of programs designed to help you understand the issues and challenges of surviving and thriving amidst the economic upheaval of COVID-19. Click each link below for more information.
Title: Social Media Marketing in the Time of COVID-19
Date: 5/26/2020 Time: 1:00 PM
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Rhode Island STEP Grant
The SBA has approved increasing the maximum State Trade Expansion Program reimbursement for Website and Marketing Material projects from $3,000 to $6,000 in an effort to support export sales.
STEP is a federally funded grant created to help small businesses increase their export sales.
STEP 8 funding is now available!
Any eligible R.I. small business is encouraged to enroll in the program and apply for financial assistance to support projects and activities designed to grow their international business.
For more information, contact Linda Woulfe
Phone:
401-232-6525
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RESOURCE LINKS
TOWN HALL Council MEETINGS:
click links for times/dates
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Tech Resources for Small Biz
I
f you need help with technology in order to minimize in-person interactions as a result of coronavirus, RI's leading tech businesses are volunteering free 45-minute
remote support sessions
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UNDER THE DOME
The State House remains closed to the public at this time. Three Senate Committees are meeting to hold advice and consent hearings for Acting Director Brett Smiley (Thursday, Senate Finance Committee) and Acting Director Kathryn Power (Wednesday, Senate Health and Human Services) as well as some board and commission appointments of the Governor.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will also hold a hearing on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. The public will not be permitted to attend. Testimony can be submitted by email.
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MICROENTERPRISE STABILIZATION GRANT PROGRAMS:
offering working capital grants to qualifying small business microenterprises adversely impacted by COVID-19.
The Town of
Bristol
application: AVAILABLE
HERE.
The Town of
Barrington
application: AVAILABLE
HERE
The Town of
Warren
application: AVAILABLE
HERE
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Artist Mark Wholey
reminding everyone to stay safe
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We Want to hear from you!
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How are you doing during this Coronavirus Pandemic. Send us your story, information or video - we'll do our best to highlight your business.
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Have you filled out your 2020 Census form yet?
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