October 2021
Arcadia * Benzonia * Beulah * Copemish * Elberta * Empire * Frankfort * Honor
Interlochen * Lake Ann * Sleeping Bear Dune National Lakeshore * Thompsonville
Chamber Newsletter

Your Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce encourages you to Shop Local ALL YEAR LONG!
CHAMBER
UPDATES
NEW LOGO COMING SOON!
The Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce is finalizing its new logo using the Make It Benzie Branding. Tell us what you think!
Chamber of Commerce and Community
Your Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce always has a full agenda. Economic development initiatives, legislative advocacy, workforce strategies, broadband and infrastructure, housing developments and more keeps your Chamber working for your business and the community.
Chamber Ambassadors
We would like to give a special shout-out to our Ambassador Mari Heffelfinger who was an integral part of making our first Making Benzie Better Event a success.

We are always looking for more volunteers to help the Chamber make a difference in the Benzie area.
* * * * Directories, Maps, & Visitor's Guides * * * *
We are happy to deliver Chamber literature to your business or organization.
Please let us know if you need any Chamber Directories or Chamber Maps
Email Michelle - chamberinfo@benzie.org or stop by the Chamber Office 9am - 3pm daily!!
BUSINESS
ENRICHMENT
Business Enrichment Program
SAVE THE DATE - 11/4/2021
The Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing another great Business Enrichment program under the Making Benzie Better moniker. These will be quarterly programs designed for business owners and community leaders on topics that affect our area.

The Benzie Chamber knows it is important to get Business Owners and Community Leaders together to have an open dialogue about needs in our community. We look forward to bringing more leaders together to Make Benzie Better.

4th Quarter Topic - Workforce Housing
1st Quarter Topic - Workforce Development
NETWORKING
Save the Dates!!
Thursday, October 21 - 5p-7p
@ Five Shores Brewing Company
w/ Sponsors Honor Building Supply & Honor Market
(Octoberfest Theme + Doug's Birthday)

Thursday, December 9 - 5p-7p
@ The Garden Theater w/ Sponsor State Savings Bank
(Holiday theme)
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
Northwest Michigan Works is now utilizing the Chamber Conference room on Fridays for Path Advisor Programming until their regular room at the library is ready.

We have some great ideas for furthering Workforce Development opportunities using the Chamber building...stay tuned.
Job Seeker Services
Networks Northwest and Northwest Michigan Works have great programming for those re-entering the workforce or even changing careers. Most programs are available via Zoom. Check out their websites for programs available.
There is still time to apply for a COVID-19 EIDL!


Applications deadline is December 31, 2021!
All eligible applicants should file their applications as soon as possible.
Do you qualify for PPP Forgiveness?
On September 9, 2021, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the following major enhancements to the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
  • Increasing the COVID EIDL Cap. The SBA will lift the COVID EIDL cap from $500,000 to $2 million. Loan funds can be used for any normal operating expenses and working capital, including payroll, purchasing equipment, and paying debt.
  • Implementation of a Deferred Payment Period. The SBA will ensure small business owners will not have to begin COVID EIDL repayment until two years after loan origination so that they can get through the pandemic without having to worry about making ends meet.
  • Establishment of a 30-Day Exclusivity Window. To ensure main street businesses have additional time to access these funds, the SBA will implement a 30-day exclusivity window of approving and disbursing funds for loans of $500,000 or less. Approval and disbursement of loans over $500,000 will begin after the 30-day period.
  • Expansion of Eligible Use of Funds. COVID EIDL funds will now be eligible to prepay commercial debt and make payments on federal business debt.
  • Simplification of affiliation requirements. To ease the COVID EIDL application process for small businesses, the SBA has established more simplified affiliation requirements to model those of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
LEGISLATIVE
ADVOCACY
With our partnership with the Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance representing 16 Chambers across Northern Michigan gives us a fair and equal voice in Lansing and Washington DC.

For example, measures were taken last summer to ease COVID restrictions in our Region ahead of the remainder of the State. The combined resources help us monitor State and Federal legislation that would affect our Northern Michigan economy and lifestyle.
STATE OF MICHIGAN - SENATE

Michigan's 35th District
PO Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536
(517) 373-1725
SenCVanderWall@senate.michigan.gov


STATE OF MICHIGAN - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Michigan's 101st District
PO Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 373-1825
PASSED BY THE HOUSE PASSED BY THE SENATE BILL IS LAW
HB 4052 & SB 0231- Daylight Savings Time Participation

HB 4060 - Microenterprise Development

HB 4081/4641/4646 & SB 0198/ 0364/ 0459- Neighborhood Enterprise Zoning

HB 4136 /4137/ 4139 & SB 0210/ 0211 - Snowmobile, Watercraft & ORV Safety requirements

HB 4162/ 4544 - Michigan Strategic Fund designations

HB 4289 & SB 0145/ 0146- First-time homebuyers savings account program

HB 4413 - Minimum Wage update

HB 4722 & SB 0446- Land Use - Short-Term Rental Zoning

HB 4835/4836 & SB 0433/0434- Drivers License / State ID allowance for undocumented individuals

HB 4842 & SB 0444- Spirit Tax & Reform

SB 0432 - Rural Workforce Housing Project compensation amended

SB 0501 - Individuals collecting unemployment benefits will be required to seek work
COMMUNITY
UPDATES
New Workplace Took Kit
The Benzie-Leelanau Distric Health Department has put together a new COVID-19 Workplace Toolkit. As always, you are within your rights to require additional safety and health measures at your discretion to protect your staff.
Premier Investor Sponsors
Benzie Area Chamber of Commerce - 826 Michigan Ave. / PO Box 204, Benzonia, MI 49616
(231) 882-5801 / chamberinfo@benzie.org