This morning's State of Emergency announcement by Premier Doug Ford, while not unexpected, brings with it an immediate and significant impact to our local business community.
We are actively gathering feedback from our member businesses and organizations, and will compile our results to share (anonymously) with both chamber umbrella organizations (like the Ontario Chamber of Commerce) and local government representatives. Please take this short
survey
and let us know what your business is experiencing, and what help and supports you need.
We take the health and safety of our business community very seriously, so we are following the public health mandates and postponing or cancelling all March and April chamber events. The AGM originally set for March 24 will be rescheduled to a later date. In the meantime, as an emergency measure, our current Board of Directors will remain in place to direct Chamber activities. Our
website will be updated with new details and dates as soon as we have them.
SUPPORT
: The Chamber office is working remotely for the time being, to observe the recommended protocol of social distancing. We are still here for YOU, our member businesses and the business community, so please don't hesitate to reach out by
email.
RESOURCES
: We shared some relevant links with you last week, but we have updated the list with new information and resources:
MONITOR
Stay up to date on the rapidly evolving situation by frequently checking provincial, national, and international websites.
PREVENT
Use best practices, at home and at work, to prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19:
- encourage anyone who is feeling ill to stay home and consult public health authorities
- use and encourage good hygiene practices like frequent handwashing and avoiding physical contact with others
- implement social distancing measures and, where possible, work remotely
- reschedule events and conference, as well as face-to-face meetings (phone, online, email, postpone)
PREPARE
Ensure your business is prepared to handle business potential disruption by reviewing or creating your Business Continuity Plan, which should include the following:
- process to follow if an employee becomes ill
- policies around travel and sick leave
- mitigating risk, so essential business functions can continue
- internal and external communications plans
ASSIST
Consider how you can support your immediate community through the crisis:
- offer and provide support to employees and coworkers who are at home
- determine whether your organization can provide goods or services to assist those in self-isolation or quarantine (eg, delivery of groceries and other supplies, online or telephone consulting and counselling, internet and remote-work options, etc)
- consider how you might be able to support local, small businesses who are particularly vulnerable during a pandemic (eg, shop online, purchase gift cards for later use, etc)
We remain committed to providing accurate, verified, and relevant information to our members, and the business community.
We will continue to closely monitor the changing situation and keep our members informed.
Stay healthy, stay positive, work together!
- Grimsby & District Chamber of Commerce Staff and Board of Directors
