#StrongerTogether
Delaware County is OPEN!
At the start of the economic shut-down, t he Chamber's Great Western Catskills promotion team quickly pivoted from marketing toward visitors to promoting the businesses that were able to serve people as essential businesses. We continued to do that through Phase 2 of the reopening.

We created a companion website-- SisBoomYum.com--within days of the stay at home order that allowed us to easily inform residents which restaurants, bottle shops, farm stores/stands and general supply shops remained open.

Our campaign netted 95,557 impressions, reaching 13,901 people in Delaware County, and resulting in 2,717 clicks through to the website providing information on Delaware County businesses.

We have shifted our focus now to BRINGING OUR VISITORS BACK.

The message is very simple: Delaware County is open and ready to welcome guests. We have fresh air, wide open spaces, incredible natural resources to offer. We are ready to welcome family and friends back to enjoy the Great Western Catskills.

Our next steps include:
  • Focus on promoting the various businesses open during the current phase of economic reopening.
  • Leverage all press opportunities through I Love New York that match well with Delaware County assets.
  • Continue to update various sections of the GreatWesternCatskills.com site. Add new seasonal content.
  • We have requested all businesses to provide their cleaning and special COVID protocols for us to add to the website. web
Small business owners, as well as family and business associates, need assurance that there is a plan for the future of the business. This is particularly relevant now in a time of economic uncertainty.

Principal Capital Advisor, Cliff Olin, will provide an overview of all the questions and issues you need to know to select the right strategy to ensure smooth succession of your business.

Feel free to submit questions during the registration process. 

Tuesday, August 4, 12:00pm

Poster Welcomes Customers to Your Business
Use this poster to welcome customers back and inform them about the measures you are taking to ensure everyone's health. It also outlines the expectations of those entering your business.

Designed as an 8.5" x 11" poster, it can easily be posted in your window, on your door, at your point of purchase, and other prominent locations.

The Chamber will soon produce a video promoting the "We Can Do It" campaign, featuring Chamber members replicating the iconic image from the Second World War.


Women-Owned Small Business Federal & NY State Certification Webinar
Did you know the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting certification process is changing, and the new certification will be REQUIRED as of October 15, 2020? It's important to note that applications can be submitted using the new process starting in July.

Becoming certified for the WOSB program means your business is eligible to compete for WOSB Federal Contracting Program set-aside contracts.

About the Webinar
The U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Syracuse District, and SCORE present an update webinar on SBA's Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and New York State's Women-Owned Enterprise (WBE) certification programs.

Topics Include:
  • Program Overview
  • Getting the Most Out of the WOSB Program
  • Is the WOSB Certification Appropriate for You?
  • WOSB Contracts
  • Proactive Self-Marketing
  • Upcoming Certification Changes
  • Certification Changes 2020 Timeline
  • Third-Party Certifiers (TPC)
  • Other Program Changes
  • Certification Changes Resources

Join Us for this valuable online Webinar featuring:
  • Stephen Barr - Business Opportunity Specialist, SBA Syracuse District Office
  • Kayla Perry - Program Manger, North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
  • SCORE Syracuse / Utica Chapter

Thursday August 6, 2020 10:00 AM to Noon
New York Forward Loan Fund Webinar Series
The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, including Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs)**, nonprofits, and small landlords that have been excluded by other relief and recovery efforts, as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.
 
The NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. The NYFLF is specifically timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan.
For additional information about the program and other COVID-19 resources please go the Empire State Development’s website at  https://esd.ny.gov/mwbe-covid19-resources .
 
**MWBEs do not need to be NYS certified in order to be eligible for the New York Forward Loan Fund.
 
NEW YORK FORWARD LOAN FUND WEBINAR SERIES:
Tuesday, August 4, 2020 | 2:00 PM | Register:  https://tinyurl.com/y4wsbyfl
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 | 11:00 AM | Register:  http://tinyurl.com/y52rnvqu
Thursday, August 20, 2020 | 2:00 PM | Register:  https://tinyurl.com/y2k9v7rg
 
All sessions will include the opportunity for Q&A with the presenters!
For additional questions or further assistance, please email:  MWBEBusinessDev@esd.ny.gov  or phone: (212) 803-2433
 
For additional information about the NYS MWBE program, please visit:  www.esd.ny.gov/mwbe.html
Are You Thinking About Exporting?
Are you a NYS small business looking to expand your presence in the global marketplace?

Empire State Development’s Global NY Division will be hosting a no-cost, six-part webinar series throughout the month of August. You may join one or register for all markets. Each presentation will feature one of our foreign office representatives - from Canada, China, Europe, Israel, Mexico, and South Africa - who will share in-depth research on market trends and doing business in their respective countries.  

SOUTH AFRICA
Presented by Richard Zurba
Tuesday, August 11, 10:00–11:30 a.m. ET

EUROPE
Presented by Barbara Grunewald
Thursday, August 13, 10:00– 11:30 a.m. ET

CANADA
Presented by Benjamin Kalman
Tuesday, August 18, 10:00–11:30 a.m. ET

MEXICO
Presented by Efren Flores Rangel
Thursday, August 20, 10:00–11:30 a.m. ET

CHINA
Presented by Ying Wang
Tuesday, August 25, 10:00–11:30 a.m. ET

ISRAEL
Presented by Gerry Stoch
Thursday, August 27, 10:00–11:30 a.m. ET


If you have additional questions, please call 212-803-2300 or email globalny@esd.ny.gov.
We're Still in Phase Four
Guidance Released
Reminder: Phase Three Guidelines
The guidelines below apply to non-essential businesses in regions that are permitted to reopen, essential businesses throughout the state that were previously permitted to remain open, and commercial and recreational activities that have been permitted to operate statewide with restrictions. If guidance has not yet been published for your specific industry, but you are permitted to reopen, please refer to the  NY Forward Safety Plan template .

For help determining whether or not your business is eligible to reopen, use the reopen lookup tool. You can also scroll down to find the guidance for each phase.

Guidance for Phase Three includes:

FOOD SERVICES

PERSONAL CARE
Reminder: Phase Two Guidelines
The Phase 2 guidelines apply to non-essential businesses in regions that are permitted to reopen, essential businesses throughout the state that were previously permitted to remain open, and commercial and recreational activities that have been permitted to operate statewide with restrictions. If guidance has not yet been published for your specific industry, but you are permitted to reopen, please refer to the  NY Forward Safety Plan template
 
For help determining whether or not your business is eligible to reopen, use the reopen lookup tool  HERE
 
Guidance for Phase 2 Include:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business Owners must read the detailed guidelines and provide their digital signature affirming that they have read and understand the document.
Chamber Member News
The Arc of Delaware County Seeks Members
Become a member today!

An annual membership at just $5, or a Lifetime membership for $100 gives us clout on the state and national level. Your three tier membership to The Arc of Delaware County, The Arc NY and The Arc National helps us with important advocacy efforts.

Now more than ever we need our Delaware county friends to support us through membership. 

Habitat for Humanity Seeks Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity of Delaware County, Delhi, N.Y., seeks an experienced, goal-oriented, passionate self-starter as Executive Director.

Ideal candidate will possess proven leadership skills and the relevant experience needed to drive a renewed and energized organization in the expansion and fulfillment of the Habitat mission.

Successful candidate should be knowledgeable about nonprofit administration and fiscal management, creating and implementing strategic plans, cultivating and motivating volunteers and board members, and fundraising and grant writing. Applicants must possess strong verbal, written communication, and
presentation skills. The Executive Director must have the demonstrated ability to work with diverse interest groups, stakeholders, board members, community
leaders, and other audiences. This full-time, exempt position offers a salary of
$45,000-$55,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Some evening,
weekend work, and travel will be required.

Applications welcomed through August 21, 2020. Applications should include resume, a cover letter describing interest and qualifications, and three current references, including at least one supervisor. Please submit via email in PDF format to Habitatdelcony@gmail.com or by mail to Executive Director Search, Habitat for Humanity of Delaware County, P. O. Box 226, Delhi, NY 13753.
Happy Birthday DCHA!
The Delaware County Historical Association hopes you'll stop by and say Happy Birthday! We're celebrating our 75th birthday throughout 2020.

We're giving away prizes (while supplies last) to guests who stop by our site in Delhi to wish us a Happy Birthday through the month of August. Guests will receive a free “Birthday in a Bag," which consists of a box of cake mix and frosting, candy cigarettes, a DCHA t-shirt, and two recipe books. (One bag per group, first come, first serve.)

The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11am – 4pm and is located on State Route 10 outside of Delhi next to Curtis Lumber. 

Please remember to follow social distancing guidelines and wear your mask when you visit the museum.

If you have any questions - or would like to confirm the availability of the Birthday Bags, feel free to email us at dcha@delhi.net or call 607-746-3849.
Listen to Crisis Management and Recovery Workshop Recording

GrowthWheel for Crisis Management is a tool designed to help you make good and helpful decisions during a crisis. These tools encourage you to identify personal challenges, look for financial warning signals, and establish a solution plan. It includes decision sheets specifically designed to improve the operational aspect of the crisis.

Chamber member GrowthWheel is a worldwide recognized visual tool to help entrepreneurs make decisions and take action.

All webinar participants will receive 20 one-page worksheets at no cost for your use. Additionally, we have created a team of trained volunteers who have offered to guide you through the worksheets to find the ones that are most useful to your business.

This workshop is for business owners and managers, and will help guide participants through how make the best decisions in business during these stressful times.

Register to receive a copy of the recording here.
Feeling Stressed?

The Chamber has partnered with Maia Wilde of Maia Wilde Consulting in Treadwell to provide stress relief tips and techniques for use in a business setting or at home.

This three part video takes you through a variety of poses, exercises and planning tips created to release tension from the body and the mind and help us navigate the uncertainties we are facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The New York State Office of Mental Health Emotional Support Helpline provides free and confidential support, helping callers experiencing increased anxiety due to the coronavirus emergency. The Helpline is staffed by volunteers, including mental health professionals, who have received training in crisis counseling.  Call 1-844-863-9314.
Online Workshops
The Chamber has partnered with New Haven Consulting Group, Inc. to provide our members with an online “Preventing Sexual Harassment" workshop that meets the requirements of the new law.

This program is available at a Chamber-member reduced price of $20 per participant.

FREE WORKSHOPS

Our partners at New Haven Consulting Group are also offering two FREE online workshops:



The Delaware County Chamber is a private, non-governmental, not-for-profit membership organization. We believe that healthy communities begin with healthy businesses. By focusing on key areas–community and economic development, advocacy, tourism promotion, and business engagement–we partner with municipal leaders, community organizations, and local companies to present a unified voice of business for the improvement of our communities.
5 1/2 Main Street
Delhi, New York 13753

Give Us A Call: 607.746.2281

DelawareCounty.org
GreatWesternCatskills.com