March 29, 2021
If you cannot join us in person, please join us via zoom:
You are invited to check out a beneficial way to serve your local community. Check out the Fort Lupton Chamber Ambassador Team! We are ready to grow again and we want YOU! For more information reach out to one of our current Ambassadors (HERE) or Natalie at 303-857-4474.
Current Development Projects - City of Fort Lupton
See who is coming to town next!
For more information and updates view the link below.
Business Licensing & Permits
Sometimes we have business changes and questions about permits and licensing. Follow this link for answers.
The Chamber Office has MOVED.....
Until we have our final resting place ready, 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

  • April 16 - Chamber Luncheon
  • April 20 - Coffee & Chat
  • Annual Awards Banquet - May 21

Since the fall engagement opportunity, the project team has finalized the Existing Conditions report as well as used your input while developing the PEL Purpose and Need and Goals. The project team has begun to evaluate potential transportation improvements, known as alternatives, along the corridor. Next steps in the project include:
 
  1. Develop Range of Alternatives: Identify corridor alternatives for roadway improvement.
  2. Use Evaluation Criteria and performance measures developed from the Purpose & Need and Goals to evaluate alternatives.
  3. Conduct Level 1 Evaluation: Use evaluation criteria to determine if alternatives meet Purpose & Need and carry forward to Level 2 Evaluation.
  4. Conduct Level 2 Evaluation: Refine alternatives at intersections and add segment specific elements to align with project goals.
  5. Draft the ACP for review by project stakeholders.
 
For more information on this project and to contact the project team, please visit: https://www.codot.gov/projects/co52-pel-acp/about or email cdot.co52pel@gmail.com. 

Please join us for this Mastermind type Networking Meeting on April 20th.
Fort Lupton 2021 Facade Improvement Grant Program Open Again!
Fort Lupton Urban Renewal Authority Member Opening
The Fort Lupton Urban Renewal Authority is looking for an alternate member to join the board. The Authority is the redevelopment agency for the City of Fort Lupton and was formed to promote redevelopment and reinvestment within the City and to create a thriving community that is economically diverse.
In order to qualify as an alternate, you must either own and operate a business and reside in the City, or be a resident of the City. The alternate should plan to attend all meetings of the Authority, and be prepared to serve in place of a regular member that is absent.
The Board meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM. For more information, please contact Alyssa Knutson at 720-466-6128.
You can change the life of a child! Become a CASA volunteer. The CASA program at Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy is recruiting volunteers to advocate for children who have been abused. No experience necessary, just a passion for helping children. Our next independent learning session starts the week of April 12. Our next regular training begins in June. Contact Sharon@lifestoriesweld.org or visit lifestoriesweld.org/casa for more information.
Veteran Assistance
Veterans & Family Advocacy
If you are a Veteran or family member needing assistance and feel stuck because everyone else has told you no, give us a call.
 
We are not the VA, or therapists, or counselors; we’re a resource hub. Our job is to listen to your need and align you with vetted resources that can assist and move you forward in resolving your issue whether VA or non-VA related.
 
We’ve been successful in helping Veterans and families find more peace in their life by reducing stress, lessening anxiety, and restoring hope. We would like to help you.
Qualified Listeners is a Veteran & Family Resource Hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. We impact lives, we change lives, we save lives. For more information visit www.QualifiedListeners.org or call 720-600-0860.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Qualified Listeners has partnered with King Soopers to help support Veterans through their Community Rewards Program for no more than your actual cost of groceries at the checkout. They donate 5% of your total monthly purchases directly into Qualified Listeners’ Veteran Relief Fund to help those in need.
 
You will need a King Soopers shopper’s card and an online account.
 
Visit www.kingsooperscommunityrewards.com. Click “Link Your Shopper’s Card”. Sign into your King Soopers account or create an account.
 
Once logged into your account, click on the Community Rewards tab and search for Qualified Listeners or NPO# BV076. Click Enroll. That’s it! You’re done!
COVID-19 Business Resources
TWO NEW GRANTS AVAILABLE TO HELP THOSE WHO LOST THEIR JOBS DUE TO COVID-19 GET BACK IN THE WORKFORCE
WELD COUNTY, CO — In response to the economic shock and employment impact of the pandemic, Employment Services of Weld County has received funding through two new state grants to provide employment opportunities to individuals who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
In cooperation with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Employment Services of Weld County is one of the statewide workforce recipients of the newly-created RecoverCO and COResponds grants. Both of these National Emergency Grants were created to address the workforce-related impacts of COVID-19 on local job seekers.
The RecoverCO grant provides career, training and employment services to dislocated workers (job seekers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and do not have the skills to compete for current job openings) with the goal of minimizing the employment and economic disruption on individuals whose jobs have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Services provided can include career services to assess job seeker needs and develop an individual employment plan, training services and skill upgrading, work-based learning services including apprenticeships and on-the-job training, and supportive services to help job seekers obtain and retain employment such as work attire, dependent care, transportation assistance and more. Statewide, the $4,995,000 RecoverCO grant projects to serve 600 job seekers.
The COResponds grant provides subsidized wages and fringe benefits for temporary jobs that help Colorado recover from the immediate impact of COVID-19. This grant creates disaster-relief jobs that help stem the rise of COVID-19 and provide clean-up and humanitarian assistance including actions to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity. Positions include contact tracers, temperature screeners, sanitation workers at schools and homeless shelters, food bank delivery drivers, child care providers for first responders and other positions as identified. Statewide, the $4,995,000 COResponds grant projects to serve 332 participants and provide up to $15,000 for wages and benefits per participant.
As always, veterans and their eligible spouses are entitled to priority of service for this and other Department of Labor funded programs.
Learn more about the RecoverCO and COResponds grants by visiting https://www.weldgov.com/departments/human_services/employment_services/adult_employment_and_training_programs, under the Discretionary Grants tab.
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 Second Round
 
Second Round of PPP Loan Applications Close on March 31.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility was released on January 6 in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act.
This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.
“The historically successful Paycheck Protection Program served as an economic lifeline to millions of small businesses and their employees when they needed it most,” said Administrator Jovita Carranza. “Today’s guidance builds on the success of the program and adapts to the changing needs of small business owners by providing targeted relief and a simpler forgiveness process to ensure their path to recovery.”
“The Paycheck Protection Program has successfully provided 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion to America’s small businesses, supporting more than 51 million jobs,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “This updated guidance enhances the PPP’s targeted relief to small businesses most impacted by COVID-19. We are committed to implementing this round of PPP quickly to continue supporting American small businesses and their workers.”
Key PPP updates include:
  • PPP borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs;
  • PPP loans will cover additional expenses, including operations expenditures, property damage costs, supplier costs, and worker protection expenditures;
  • The Program’s eligibility is expanded to include 501(c)(6)s, housing cooperatives, direct marketing organizations, among other types of organizations;
  • The PPP provides greater flexibility for seasonal employees;
  • Certain existing PPP borrowers can request to modify their First Draw PPP Loan amount; and
  • Certain existing PPP borrowers are now eligible to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan. 
A borrower is generally eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan if the borrower:
  • Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses;
  • Has no more than 300 employees; and
  • Can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.
The new guidance released includes:
For more information on SBA’s assistance to small businesses, visit sba.gov/ppp or treasury.gov/cares. 



 
Like other states, Colorado continues to see increased unemployment fraud activity. Many Colorado employers are noticing fraudulent unemployment claims being filed in the names of active employees.

When a claim is filed using the identity of one of your employees, you receive a questionnaire by email or U.S. mail requesting information about the job separation. If your employee is still employed, and they state they did not file a claim, please complete the questionnaire as soon as possible.

Employees who are the victim of UI fraud should submit a Fraud Report online. They should visit ColoradoUI.gov, click the “Report Fraud” button, then the “Submit a Fraud Report” button. Our website also outlines other important steps that employees who are victims of UI fraud should take. 

Please feel free to share this infographic with your employees.
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.
 
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.