Volume 091721 | Sept. 17, 2021
Your weekly news & updates
Thanks to all who came to the Expo!
The Taylor Lions Club booth was the People's Choice for best booth at the 2021 Business Expo & Job Fair.
The St. Paul Lutheran Church and Child Development Center booth won the award for Most Enthusiastic at the 2021 Business Expo & Job Fair.
The Williamson Museum won the award for Most Original booth at the 2021 Business Expo & Job Fair.
And a final (but HUGE) thank you to our sponsors...
PLATINUM SPONSORS: S&D Plumbing and Taylor Press
GOLD SPONSORS: Cargill, City of Taylor, Sirloin Stockade, Taylor Housing Authority and Taylor ISD
SILVER SPONSORS: A Veteran Storage, American Legion Post 39, City National Bank of Taylor, Durcon, Hart Components, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Lower Brush Creek WCID and
Stars & Science Austin
Information & Education
Chamber News and Community Calendar
Customer Service of the Month -- Ryan Stiba, Citizens National Bank
Congratulations to Ryan Stiba of Citizens National Bank for being honored with the Customer Service of the Month award from the Taylor Chamber Ambassadors. When Ryan learned that a client had been the victim of a scam that cleaned out her account. She called him from the grocery store. . He could not resolve the issue on the spot but wanted to ensure she had food for her family and he knew Shepherd’s Heart could help. So he reached out to them on her behalf.
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DO YOU WANT TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR THIS AWARD?
Employees of ALL Chamber-member businesses are eligible. Just give us the information and tell us YOUR story about outstanding customer service here.
*SPECIAL TWO PART WORKSHOP* -
8:30-10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28

Learn how your business can be found online with Google. This workshop explains how Google Search works and how you can improve a website's visibility with Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The session
also introduces products like Google My Business, Google Trends, Search Console, Google Analytics,
Google Ads, and more.
The third special session is underway and we have identified a number of bills that we believe are likely to have an impact on your business or personal finances.
These can be tracked by clicking HERE to and entering the bill number. An example for SB11 is shown below.
SB=Senate Bill HB=House bill
The information Type selection can be changed to History if you want to check where the bill has progressed in its route toward passage.
CATEGORY
Personal finance:
SB26 and Senate Joint Resolution 7 both concern removing the provision that the appraisal district can impose tax payments for the imputed value of agricultural land that is sold and ultimately used for non-agricultural purposes.
If the land use changes and no longer qualifies for an agricultural appraisal, the landowner must pay the difference between its tax based on productivity value and the tax based on market value for the present year and the preceding 3 years plus interest at the rate published for delinquent taxes. 
The change to the constitution that will allow this tax to be eliminated will be on the general ballot Nov 8,2022 and will take effect, if passed Jan 1,2023.
Business impacts:
  • SB11-prohibits governmental entity, employer, labor organization, or employment agency from requiring proof of vaccination as a condition of employment or hiring (effective date if passed --91 days after end of special session)
  • SB12-requires any employee who suffers an adverse reaction or death caused by an employer required COVID vaccination to file for workman’s comp benefits (effective date if passed --91 days after end of special session)
  • SB13-prohibits governmental entity from requiring the vaccination of an individual who is not an employee,, requires governmental entities to provide exemptions to employees who request them on grounds of medical condition or reasons of conscience, allows individuals or employees to recover expenses due to filing suit(effective date 1/1/2022)
  • HB14-prohibits state agency or political subdivision from contracting from contracting with any company that requires its employees to have ANY vaccination (effective date 91st day after end of special session)
  • HB18-prohibits employers, labor organizations, or employment agencies from taking any action (discharge, compensation etc) against an employee based on vaccination status (effective date; either immediately upon passage or on 91st day after end of special session).
  • HB33-makes it a class B misdemeanor to require for any company or hospital to require a COVID vaccination as a condition of employment. Every employee required to be vaccinated triggers a new class B misdemeanor, and if the company has a license under Texas law, that license will be invalid for five years from date of last conviction (effective date-91st day after special session ends)
  • HBH37-requires companies, labor organizations, and employment agencies to provide exemptions to COVID vaccinations if employee submits notarized exemption affidavit detailing medical condition or reasons of conscience for not consenting to vaccination, and requires companies, labor organizations or employment agencies to provide those affidavits on request (effective date: immediately if 2/3 of house vote in favor of it, or on 91st day after special session ends if 2/3 threshold not met)
 
Please CLICK HERE to comment or provide perspective on any of these bills.
Calendar
Community events are underlined. Chamber events are bolded.
  • Friday, Sept. 17, 4 p.m. -- Ribbon cutting: Dickey-Givens Community Center inside Fannie Robinson Park, 260 S. Dolan St. This is a City event.

  • Saturday, Sept. 18 -- Kid Fish at Bull Branch Park, 904 Dellinger Dr. Free event for kids under 17. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with poles in the water 9 a.m.-noon Find more HERE.
  • Monday, Sept.20, noon--Luncheon: Jesse Ancira's Legislative Update at the Holiday Inn Express. Catered by and sponsored by Scott Morales Catering. Click HERE to register!
  • Wednesday, Sept. 22, noon -- Ambassadors at the Chamber
  • Tuesday, Sept. 28, 8:30 a.m. -- *SPECIAL TWO PART ONLINE WORKSHOP* Get Your Local Business on Google Search and Maps & Reach Customers Online with Google. Click HERE to register
  • Wednesday, Sept. 29, noon -- Banquet Committee at the Chamber
  • Thursday, Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m. -- Open House at Taylor Press and Granite Publications, 211 W. Third. Ribbon cutting at 5:45 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 5 – National Night Out Register HERE now!
  • Thursday, Oct. 7, 8 a.m. -- Finance committee on Zoom
  • Saturday, Oct. 9 – 2nd Saturday Shopping
  • Saturday, Oct. 9 – Good Life 5K at Bull Branch. Cluck (it's chicken-themed) HERE for more information.
  • Monday, Oct. 11, 5:15 p.m. -- Chamber board meeting at Holiday Inn Express
  • Wednesday, Oct. 13, noon -- Advocacy committee on Zoom
  • Thursday, Oct. 14, 1:30 p.m. -- Tourism committee on Zoom
  • Friday, Oct. 15, 3:30 p.m. -- A Shot in the Dark nighttime golf tournament at Mustang Creek Golf Course. Click HERE to register.
  • Saturday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. – Life Park Center Community Festival in Heritage Square
  • Monday, Oct. 18, noon -- LUNCHEON: A look at the area workforce with Carl Braun of Rural Capitol Area Workforce Solutions. Click HERE to register.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 20, noon -- Programs & Services at the Chamber
  • Thursday, Oct. 21 – 3rd Thursday and Music on Main featuring the Czech Melody Masters at 7 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Oct. 27, noon -- Ambassadors at the Chamber
  • Saturday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. – Main Street Car Show in downtown Taylor. Click HERE for more information or to register.
  • Sunday, Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m. – Halloween Spooktacular Scare on the Square in Heritage Square. To learn more, click HERE.


For information on joining these or any Chamber meeting or committee, email info@taylorchamber.org.
What's happening at the Lege?
It has certainly been a crazy year at the Texas Legislature and since they haven't even started re-districting, there is a LOT more that needs to get done.
Join us at noon Monday, Sept. 20, at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Taylor to hear the inside scoop from lobbyist and former Taylor Mayor Jesse Ancira.
This luncheon begins promptly at noon with Scott Morales Catering providing food and serving as the event's sponsor.
Registration has closed but we may still have room. Call us at 512-352-6364 if you want to attend.
Member Appreciation Contest
Chamber members, watch for the appearance of a duck in each weekly newsletter and send us an email with your business name describing what makes the duck unique and we will enter you in a monthly drawing for a FREE AD for four weeks in the next month's newsletter. Email info@taylorchamber.org your business name and tell us what this duck is doing.
A Veteran Storage (see their ad on this page) was the winner for September. Will your business win for October?
You can't win if you don't enter. Just send us an email!
Member Announcements
Watch out for cyclists on Saturday
Lone Star Circle of Care's Mamma Jamma Ride will roll through Taylor Saturday, Sept. 18 with scores of cyclists to support the operation and administration of the Big Pink Bus, a mobile mammography unit. Click HERE to learn more.
It's BAW-BAWK!!
The Good Life 5K returns to Bull Branch Park Saturday, Oct. 9!
Get your friends and lace up to support this event that promotes healthy families and is raising money to build an all-abilities percussion park inside Murphy Park.
Designed with input from competitive runners, the course zips you through North Taylor with multiple changes in scenery on a flat route.
No matter your experience, we encourage all skill levels to participate. Strollers, teams & costumes are welcome.
Early registration is $25 through Sept. 30. Oct. 1-8, registration is $30 and on Race Day it's $35.
Want to learn more about the project or volunteer for the event? Click HERE.
Ready to lace up? Register HERE.
Help women in an area shelter!
Rotarian Regina Jo Carlson is collecting gently used luggage, backpacks or large totes and full-size bottles of necessities like shampoo/conditioner, lotion, powder, feminine hygiene items, body wash, soap, hair brushes, socks, wipes, etc. to send to an area women's shelter. Donations, including money that can be used to purchase these things, can be dropped off with any Rotarian or at the Taylor Chamber of Commerce, 1519 N. Main St.
It's that time of year again...Oktaylorfest!
Texas Beer Company is celebrating Taylor's proud German and Czech heritage with its fifth annual Oktaylorfest! The annual celebrtaion in Germany kicks off Saturday, Sept. 18th, and TBC will do the same.
They will have their TBC Oktaylorfest beers on tap, German/Czech polka music, German potato salad, brats made with Texas Beer, and some tasty Oktoberfests beers from a few of our favorite local Texas breweries.
SCHEDULE:
  • 11:00 AM - Taproom opens
  • Noon - Food served
  • 3:00 PM - Costume Contest
  • 4:00 PM - Austin Polka Band
  • 6:00 PM - Czech Melody Masters
OKTAYLORFEST BEERS:
  • TBC Oktaylorfest Marzen Lager
  • TBC Whiskey barrel aged Oktaylorfest
  • Oktoberfest beers from other local craft breweries
SOUVENIR STEINS:
They will have a have limited edition ceramic 1 liter Oktaylorfest steins for $20 and your first fill is on the house.
Entertainment calendar
  •  WilCo EXPO: Click here to look at what's going on out at the Expo Center.
  •  SPJST Post 29: You can find September's schedule here and October's here.
  • Texas Beer Company: To keep up with everything going on at TBC, click here.
  • Red Cap Cigar Lounge: See their schedule here
  • Marshall's Tavern 2: Find out what's going on here.