January 4, 2021
We are excited to have an in person event. This luncheon will also be broadcast via zoom. We have added an RSVP option through Eventbrite. Please note, if attending in person, there will be a charge.

coming_soon_stamp.jpg
Current Development Projects - City of Fort Lupton
See who is coming to town next!
For more information and updates view the link below.

moving-header.jpg
The Chamber Office has MOVED.....
Until we have our final resting place ready for the public, you can continue to reach us online www.fortluptochamber.org , via phone or text at 303-857-4474.

PO Box 404
Fort Lupton, CO 80621

  • January- Membership Renewals
  • January 13 - Chamber Virtual Luncheon
  • January 19 - Coffee & Chat

Save the Date: January 19, 2021
COVID-19 Business Resources
Weld County Business Recovery Program Awards $3M+, Service Industry Relief Fund Accepting Applications
 
Weld County, CO – Just over $3 million in grants has been distributed to Weld County businesses through two rounds of the Weld County Business Recovery Program. Over 400 businesses, employing 2,274 people, applied since the program launched in August. Upstate Colorado administered the program utilizing CARES Act funding from Weld County and contributing municipalities. The Recovery Program was open to all businesses with a physical presence in Weld County, primarily distributing grants to restaurants, service providers, and retail stores to help cover COVID related expenses and lost revenue.
 
The Board of County Commissioners has made a new round of grant funding available, provided by Weld County’s economic development fund, bringing an additional $2 million to support local “high-risk” businesses impacted by the pandemic who have had to close or significantly modify services to meet increased COVID-19 guidelines. The Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund is currently accepting applications and will review and approve grant funding on a two-week rotating basis through the January 31, 2021 deadline. Businesses have already begun receiving awards through this new fund, which will continue on a need based, first-come first-served basis, prioritizing first time applicants in service industries including restaurants, bars and other food and beverage service providers; live event venues; movie theaters; gyms and fitness centers; bowling centers, arcades, and other recreation facilities.
 
Upstate Colorado’s president, Rich Werner honors businesses during this difficult time and takes pride in the resiliency of our local business leaders who continue going above and beyond to ensure the safety of our community saying, “So many of our local public facing business have had been working hard to institute new health and safety measures and it’s important to help them through this process, as they are now faced with additional closures and capacity issues.” 
 
Additional information, official guidelines, and the online application for the Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund can be found at www.weldrecovery.com.
SBA Extends COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application Deadline through Dec. 31, 2021

The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced that the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for the COVID-19 Pandemic disaster declaration is extended to Dec. 31, 2021. The deadline extension comes as a result of the recent bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress and enacted by President Trump on Dec. 27, 2020.

To date, the SBA has approved $197 billion in low-interest loans which provides working capital funds to small businesses, non-profits and agricultural businesses make it through this challenging time. 

“Following the President’s declaration of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the SBA has approved over 3.6 million loans through our Economic Injury Disaster Loan program nationwide,” Administrator Jovita Carranza said. “The EIDL program has assisted millions of small businesses, including non-profit organizations, sole proprietors and independent contractors, from a wide array of industries and business sectors, to survive this very difficult economic environment.”

EIDL loan applications will continue to be accepted through December 2021, pending the availability of funds. Loans are offered at very affordable terms, with a 3.75% interest rate for small businesses and 2.75% interest rate for nonprofit organizations, a 30-year maturity, and an automatic deferment of one year before monthly payments begin. Every eligible small business and nonprofit are encouraged to apply to get the resources they need.

Free Legal Advice in Colorado
COVID-19 Assistance: Free Legal Advice & Help for Colorado Small Businesses
Small businesses provide half of Colorado’s jobs. They have been especially hard-hit by the COVID-19 economic crisis, with minority and woman-owned small businesses being hit the hardest. Volunteer attorneys have offered to provide legal help to Colorado’s small businesses so they can get back on their feet.
This website was created to match small businesses that need limited free legal advice regarding COVID-19 related issues with volunteer lawyers. If you are a small business that needs legal help, you can submit an application and we will ask our volunteer lawyers if they are willing to assist you. If you are a lawyer who wants to help, please sign up to volunteer.
The site also includes other resources available to small businesses, particularly minority and woman-owned small businesses, to meet the challenges of the pandemic. If you identify resources you think we should add to the website, please let us know.




PPP Forgiveness Forms
If you received a PPP Loan, please start this process to get forgiveness/repayment in process. Not all of the loan can be forgiven but a percentage can and you earned it!!
 
The SBA and Treasury have put out today a simpler loan forgiveness application for PPP loans of $50,000 or less. As many of you know, SBA began approving forgiveness applications as of October 2, and that process continues. As always, encourage your members or businesses your work with and counsel to work in conjunction with their lender.
 
I have attached three documents, and linked to them below as well:
 
  1. Simpler loan forgiveness application (Form 3508S): https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/PPP%20Loan%20Forgiveness%20Application%20Form%203508S.pdf
  2. Instruction for completing the above application: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/PPP%20Loan%20Forgiveness%20Application%20Form%203508S%20Instructions.pdf
  3. Interim Final Rule on the loan forgiveness process: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/PPP%20-%20IFR%20--%20Additional%20Revisions%20to%20Loan%20Forgiveness%20and%20Loan%20Review%20Procedures%20Interim%20Final%20Rules.pdf
 
COVID Business Hotline 303-860-5881
FREE Webinars from the SBDC
Webinar Topics in English, Spanish and MANY TOPICS

All COVID-19 Business Resources have been combined HERE and are updated regularly.

COVID-19 Personal & Health Resources
All Personal Resources have been combined HERE and are updated regularly.

 olorado Sprit is a North Range Behavioral Health-provided resource to assist those whose behavioral health has been impacted by COVID-19. At no cost to patients, it provides assistance and confidential support to people struggling with mental and emotional challenges as a result of the crisis caused by this pandemic.  Please contact Shawna Cranmer (shawna.cranmer@northrange.org) with questions.
 
Additionally, there is now a specialized confidential/no cost statewide telephone/text support line for Teachers/Educators and Healthcare Workers (303-724-2500), being offered by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The line is open 8:00am-8:00pm 7 days a week. 

For the latest updates from the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment visit:
 
·       COVID-19 Testing Locations in Weld County:


COVID-19 RAPID RESPONSE TEAM OFFERS TESTING FOR WINDSOR AND SURROUNDING AREAS
 
WELD COUNTY, CO — A COVID-19 testing site will be open at Eastman Park in Windsor starting Monday, December 21 and running through December 31. The testing, operated by MAKO Medical, was made possible through the efforts of the Board of Commissioners, the Weld County Health Department, the Weld County Office of Emergency Management, the Town of Windsor and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
 
Testing, which will be at 7025 Eastman Park Drive, Windsor, 80550, is open to the public and is offered at no charge. Testing times will be from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
 
The testing site will be closed on December 24 and December 25; however, it will be open on Saturday, December 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 
Pre-registration is recommended to reduce wait times for testing, but on-site registration is available. Test results will be provided four days following the test.
 
To learn more about the testing or to register, please visit: https://mako.exchange/scheduler/registration/?location=2714
 
Colorado Sprit is a North Range Behavioral Health-provided resource to assist those whose behavioral health has been impacted by COVID-19. At no cost to patients, it provides assistance and confidential support to people struggling with mental and emotional challenges as a result of the crisis caused by this pandemic. See the attached email and below-linked website for more details. 
 
One moment could change a child’s life. YOU could change a child’s life! CASA of Weld County, a program of Life Stories, is recruiting adults in our community to become CASA volunteers to work with and advocate for children who have been abused or neglected in Weld County. No experience necessary. Next training will be on-line starting June 11. Contact kodie@lifestoriesweld.org or go to www.lifestoriesweld.org/casa for more information and to get started.