Issue V| May 2020
We Work for YOU
Rebound and Recover - Resources for You

The May newsletter is devoted to providing you with the tools, resources, information and material that will assist our local business community rebound and recover. Restarting our local economy will be a deliberate process that requires care and with worker and public safety top of mind. We hope you find this newsletter timely and helpful

Keep those updates coming by emailing updates@discovermagnolia.org.

With your help, we aim to keep our  Shop Local  page fresh and doing all we can to help you drive business! #KeepMagnoliaMighty

Stay up-to-date: Discover Magnolia website

Members only Magnolia Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1101648570034374/
Magnolia Chamber of Commerce Small Business Survey – please participate

If you have not, please  fill out the survey  we sent to our business members. We know you are busy and engaged in re-opening and/or addressing the impacts of the last two months. However, with the information gleaned from you, we can share the impacts you are experiencing with policy makers, elected officials, and other business organizations – all in the effort to tell your story, share your needs, and express your situation.

Thanks for your participation – access the survey  here .
New COVID-19 Lease Amendment Toolkit and Legal Support to Help Small Businesses, Nonprofits Explore Options, Including Renegotiating Leases with Their Landlord

The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development (OED) announced that it has partnered with Communities Rise and Perkins Coie to launch a new toolkit to help small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic explore options for their commercial leases with a goal of remaining in their spaces. The new COVID-19 Lease Amendment Toolkit provides a suite of tools – including template lease amendment language – to assist navigating the negotiation of commercial leases with landlords. The toolkit will also help small businesses understand the full range of policies in place to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Small businesses and nonprofits that have 50 or fewer employees are also eligible for a free, 60-minute consultation with a legal professional from the lawfirm Perkins Coie to assist with any COVID-19 commercial lease-related questions.

The information and resources provided in the toolkit will also help businesses and nonprofits assess the appropriate options available to them as it relates to their particular lease circumstances. For example, should a business receive a late rent notice during the moratorium, the toolkit provides sample legal documents and letters to landlords to communicate concerns and negotiate a rent payment plan. Businesses can also make an appointment with the legal clinic to get one-on-one consultation with an attorney to receive advice on how to work with their landlord in their situation.

OED has created a comprehensive resource page for small businesses, nonprofits, and workers impacted by COVID-19. This page is continually updated.
Rebound and Recovery Campaign/Resources – Association of Washington Business

The Magnolia Chamber of Commerce has joined the Association of Washington Business (AWB) Chamber of Commerce Grassroots Alliance. The AWB grassroots alliance coalition is made up of 91 chambers from all across the state of Washington and offers its members a host of gratis small business and employer resources, tools, and information.

AWB's Rebound and Recovery campaign launched a specially designed website to help you reopen. The new website, designed for employers, offers an online portal to connect Washington employers with `Made in Washington' manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE.) The second feature is a toolkit for small businesses that can help them prepare their locations for reopening and communicate new health and safety rules with both employees and customers.

The website includes connections to about 40 Washington manufacturers today. Washington manufacturers wishing to be included in the database are invited to submit information at www.bit.ly/awbppeform.

The website also includes a back to business toolkit for small and medium-sized employers. The toolkit includes templates that can be downloaded and customized to create a Safe Work Plan, signage, training videos, social media content and floor stickers to remind people of social distancing, among other resources.

We will share more resources of the AWB Rebound and Recovery Campaign in the days ahead.

Reimagine Magnolia – Phase 1 a stunning success

The Magnolia Beautification Committee is busy putting the final touches on Phase 1 of the  Reimagine Magnolia streetscape improvement project . Last week saw the new bistro tables, chairs, and refurbished benches being installed. New this week will be festive umbrellas that will provide shade and cover for those enjoying the new seating. Additional fixes and safety features will continue this week and into early June.
 
Launched two years ago, the project has a total of five phases that will improve commerce and neighborhood life in Magnolia Village. The streetscape improvements will attract new businesses and increase interaction among neighbors and visitors. Importantly, Reimagine Magnolia is a strategy to maintain and enhance the character of the Village for decades to come.
 
Now is the time to support Phase 2 and 3 of Reimagine Magnolia. For those who have donated, thank you – your support and investment are making a beautiful difference. Please look to the  list  of current donors on our website and join your neighbors and friends in making Phases 2 and 3 a reality -  donate  today. 

Send us your latest hours and reopening plans - email us at updates@discovermagnolia.org
Building Community, Connecting Students and Business: #KeepMagnoliaMighty
 
Even though we might be physically apart, we know that we are still together – and together is mightier! The Chamber has partnered with our local schools to launch a story telling and art project for local students to engage in . 
 
Local students are encouraged to write a story or create some artwork about one of our local businesses or about how our community continues to come together to support each other, even when times are hard. 
 
Stories and artwork will have the opportunity to be read by a number of local business owners and displayed in store fronts as we prepare to re-open Magnolia! 
 
Click for the  PDF file  with the  submission form (required)  and there are optional templates for students’ story/drawing. There are different ways to participate, including:
 
  1. Writing a story about a local business or about the kind of work they do. It can be a true story or make-believe. 
  2. Writing a story about how our community works together to keep Magnolia mighty. 
  3. Creating a piece of art that shows a local business at work. 
  4. Creating a piece of art that shows our neighbors keeping Magnolia mighty. 
Magnolia Strong – thank you renewing members, welcome to new members

New Members
  • Ann Goos
  • Lew & Polly Latimer
  • Goodall Family
  • Jenni Sandmeyer Real Estate- Windermere
  • Fairleigh Family
  • Furness Family

Renewing Members
  • Zundel Law Offices
  • Fitness by Deisgn
  • Carefree Boat Club
  • Rotary Club of Magnolia
  • Michael Olden
  • Electronic Processing Consultants
  • Reese Chiropractic
  • Don’s Daughter Donna’s Barber Shop
  • Dubin Law Group
  • Peoples Bank
  • Cook and Bartlett
  • Marcus Pape
  • Queen Anne & Magnolia Interiors
  • Holpainen Family
  • Kaleidoscope School
Free Resources during this time of rebound and recover:

Helping Make Masks Comfortable. Local Magnolian Rob Scherzer is offering free National Institute of Health-approved, ear-pain reducing mask holders for employees or neighbors who are wearing masks for long periods of time. Rob is 10-year Magnolia resident and is busy assisting both employees and employers with his home-made mask holders. He has been using his 3D printing to make the holder in small quantities (20-25 / day max) and has already given over 250 to local recipients. Rob is extending his free mask holders to the greater Magnolia business community, He recognizes that relieving discomfort of extended periods of mask wearing may be appreciated by the local work force. Contact Rob at robscherzer@gmail.com

UW Business Fraternity Offering Free Business Services.. Business student Alina Guo reached out on behalf of Alpha Kappa Psi Rho Chapter, a professional business fraternity at the University of Washington. They are currently looking for ways to support local businesses through these hard times. AKPsi’s goal is to support local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through its resources, including advertising. With their extensive social media platform, they hope to help leverage businesses and assist in social media marketing. The UW AKPR Chapter has a marketing and design team that can create graphics on your behalf or can post pre-existing advertisements you may have. If you are interested in this service. Please contact Alina at University of Washington | Michael G Foster School of Business (949) 573-4547 | alinaguo@uw.edu

In addition, if there are any other ways the UW AKPsi students can help, please contact Alina. The 100-year old business fraternity will be offering all services free of charge.
Stay up to date on the latest information:

https://www.discovermagnolia.org

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