Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce is pleased to be a survey partner on Phase 2 of the 2021 NH SBDC Business Resiliency Survey, that NH Small Business Development Center (SBDC) developed with the UNH Survey Center.
The survey will deepen our understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses throughout New Hampshire. We learned a great deal in last summer’s Phase 1 survey. We know that businesses and their responses to the pandemic have evolved. Some businesses have thrived, while many are still struggling and need help.
By leveraging the survey results, NH’s economic development partners will be able to help you and other small businesses recover and become more resilient.
The survey will be live through February 19 and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Click here to take the 2021 NH SBDC Business Resiliency Survey.
Business organizations throughout the state are partnering to share the survey with their constituents, so if you have already taken it, thank you for participating!
Together - with your input - we can help even more NH businesses through these challenging times.
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Arrowhead Recreation Club News |
We have volunteer needs all the time, can be outside in the tubing area, inside for kitchen and concessions help, the ski shop, and ski and snowboard instructors ( have a backlog of lesson requests).
Also need same volunteers during the upcoming vacation periods, so will need help from noon-4 on Thursday 2/18, Fri 2/19 and every day for the week of Feb. 22nd. plus our normal weekend schedule.
Upcoming operating schedule;
Regular Schedule:
Friday night 6-9PM, Saturday 10AM-4PM, Saturday night 6-9PM, Sunday 10AM-4PM
Vacation period schedule:
Weekdays noon-4PM starting Thursday 2/18 - Friday 2/26
With guidelines in place, things have been going reasonably well at Arrowhead.
Typical operations requirements are; outside operations of at least 6 people for each session, food service 3 people at a time, a first-aid person on site and two in the rental shop.
If you can help let us know, please pick out some days and times to volunteer. If you have questions please contact us.
Anyone who tubes, skis or snowboards must be on a one time release form.
Tubing is by reservation only. It's an online reservation listing all attendees and must be done before 5PM the day prior to the reservation. No reservations needed for skiing or snowboarding.
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National Entrepreneurship Week (February 15-19) Workshops |
Celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week by learning all the tips and tricks for the apps you use to run your business every day – Video Conferencing (Zoom, Go-To, Skype, or Teams), Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. This series is brought to you by Grafton Regional Development Corporation, River Valley Community College, and UNH Extension.
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Vital Communities is Hiring! |
Vital Communities, a regional nonprofit located in White River Junction, VT, seeks a full time Project Coordinator to implement successful, equitable, inclusive, and community-based projects across multiple issue areas. Initial project assignments will include an e-bike subsidy pilot program and the third round of a crowd-funding campaign supporting locally-owned businesses. The Project Coordinator will lead these and other projects in collaboration with staff and community partners. Responsibilities include managing community partnerships, recruiting and training volunteers and program participants, creating project materials, managing project budgets, seeking community input to inform continuous project improvement, and reporting on project outcomes.
Successful candidates will have a passion for working collaboratively at the local level on issues related to civic, economic, and environmental vitality. Because project assignments change over time, flexibility and willingness to learn about new issues, topics, and approaches are essential. Other qualifications include excellent project management skills, ability to manage several projects simultaneously, ability to work independently and as part of a team, and strong verbal, written, and visual communication skills. Full job description at vitalcommunities.org/employment. Email resume and cover letter to hr@vitalcommunities.org. Vital Communities will begin reviewing applications on February 17, 2021. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
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Put Your Money Where Your Life Is: Series on Investing Locally |
After a year of COVID shutdowns, bankruptcies, deaths, and economic despair, how can individuals help rebuild our economy and community? By investing in their local economy, catalyzing innovation, shifting capital to the local projects, and thus making our communities more sustainable, vibrant, and resilient. Whether managing large funds or modest nest eggs, investors can make a difference.
Additional sessions focusing on investments in housing, food production, and more are planned for late spring, as well as a session for entrepreneurs seeking local investment opportunities.
Read more about these events and browse our growing collection of local investment resources. We hope you'll make a date to join us for this exciting A-B-C in making your money work for a thriving Upper Valley economy rather than Wall Street!
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Marketing Workshop & Technical Assistance Available |
Free Virtual Workshop- March 15, 2021, 9-10:20 am
The pandemic has required businesses to up their marketing game and online presence. Nancy Clark from Drive Brand Studio will share some simple and realistic ways to improve your marketing. You’ll learn how to use back-to-basics tactics whether you’re a first-time or time-pressed experienced marketer.
Join this workshop and be eligible for an opportunity to work with Drive Brand Studio for 10 hours of reduced-cost technical assistance thanks to funding from USDA.
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Stevens High School Alumni Association News |
Due to the persistent existence of Covid-19, SHS Alumni Weekend has been changed to Sat., Oct. 2nd, 2021. We are hoping this will allow the vaccine to take effect and that we can have our much-anticipated parade and other events. All 5-yr classes and both the class of 2020 and 2021 will be honored in the parade. This change will present difficulties for some alumni but for the safety and well-being of everyone, those involved and coming from afar, we have to make this decision now. With June 12th not that far away, reservations have to be canceled and rescheduled, parade units have to be booked and rescheduled. We want everyone to be able to enjoy their weekend festivities and feel safe to gather without the fear and worry of catching this ugly virus.
For those of you who do not remember, SHS Alumni used to celebrate Homecoming weekend in the Fall with many events and even a parade that was on a smaller scale. October should be fun: let's all look forward to making this the best alumni reunion yet. Stay well, Stay strong and let's move forward with plans for a great 150th celebration.
The last year has been challenging, but Stevens High School Alumni Association, the oldest active in the USA, will get thru this. If anyone has questions, please contact Doug LeBlanc '63 at 603-504-5702, Dick Girard '61 at 603-543-6398, Bev Janelle '53 at 603-542-4697, or the Alumni office at 603-542-8987 (someone there on Tues and Thurs afternoons between 2 and 4.
If you are a class rep please help us get this news out to your classmates as quickly as possible.
Follow-up Message to Parade Date Change from Dick Girard Parade Chairman
First, just want to mention that this was not an easy decision to make, a lot of time goes into planning our annual alumni weekend festivities. No one knows more than Bob Stringer, parade chairman for many years, current parade chairman, myself, Dick Girard, and Carolyn Leblanc who books all the units and bands that bring this event together. We have so many dedicated volunteers who assist to make this happen.
I have spent many hours working with the police chief on an extended parade route and staging area to accommodate a longer parade. I have been in contact with the City Manager, who has informed me that there is a major reconstruction on Pleasant St. starting June thru mid to late September. This date change will allow us to keep Pleasant St as part of the route. The new parade route will start the same as always until we get to the square where the route will take a left onto Sullivan St., then a right to Pearl St. where it will take another right onto Central. It will then go up Main toward the Square around the lower side back to Broad St. and the high school. This will allow Broad St. to clear making way for the first part of the parade to disband.
At this time, the plan is to continue to use Broad St. for staging/line-up. The line-up will consist of the 2020 portion which includes the parade marshal, prom king and queen, and the graduating class of 2020 on their trailer followed by anniversary years ending in 0 and 5; this will roll out first. The second portion will consist of 2021, the parade marshal, prom king and queen, and anniversary years ending in 1 and 6 and will form on South St. toward Chestnut. We welcome any and all non-anniversary years to participate in our 150th alumni reunion. I am sure there will be changes or tweaks to this plan and I welcome any comments you might want to share.
As a reminder, 2020 theme is “Board Games” but these classes are welcome to use the 2021 theme of “SHS Alumni Proudly Presents our 150th Reunion Celebration” which can be anything from 1871 thru 2021. It is wide open.
We look forward to seeing everyone the weekend of Oct. 1st and 2nd.
If you have questions, please contact me
Dick Girard, Parade Chairman, and 1st VP SHS Alumni
Phone: 603-543-6398 (call or text) Email
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City of Claremont Boards, Committees and Commissions |
Boards, Committees, and Commissions play an integral role in the community. They are comprised of citizens who generously volunteer their time and expertise. Being a city volunteer is a way to participate in community affairs, to work with interesting people, and to aid in Claremont's development.
Anyone who is a Claremont resident and would like to offer their services is welcome to apply for a seat on the Board, Committee, or Commission of their choice. The City Council, Mayor, or City Manager appoints new members according to the method dictated by city policy.
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Sullivan County (SC) NH Government posted their first YouTube Channel Zoom informational video related to the new HUD Lead Paint & Healthy Homes (LA & HH) program and it’s ready to view and share!
Click on the following link https://youtu.be/vy4_4zLCs1M to watch the video, where HUD LA & HH Program Project Director/County Manager Derek Ferland and Kate Kirkwood, SC HUD Abatement & HH Program Manager provide introductions, discuss the program goals and scope of work, talk about training & certification requirements, the bidding requirements, how to get registered as a contractor for the upcoming projects, and answer questions.
Viewing the video is a great way for contractors to learn more about this new local work opportunity, to get tips on contractor pre-qualifying, and to help us create healthier, safer, multi-family housing for our children.
What can you help us with? We need contractors trained in RRP – Renovate, Repair, and Paint class (a national 1-day certification) and certified in lead abatement (a 3-4 day training, dependent on contractor role). Good news – there’s scholarship monies available to help with training!
So, PLEASE, check out the video as it covers a lot of info, share this message widely with contractors you know ~ remodelers, painters, plumbers, electrical, property owners of multi-family units doing their own work, etc. ~ and have them reach out to Program Manager Kate Kirkwood at kate@kkirkwood.com or T. 603-781-4304 with additional questions or to be added to the contractor list for projects. Thank you!
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Sullivan County Pictures Project |
In a way to help show off our region, one of the projects I’m collecting pictures for is to highlight on county war memorials and to display these in a video on our Sullivan County New Hampshire Government Facebook page and through the video banner of pictures on the website www.sullivancounty.gov during Memorial Day weekend 2021.
Yes, lots of advance planning 😊 as I hope to collect pictures capturing all our New England four seasons! If you have, or know anyone who has, pictures that would be great for this project, please feel free to send the pictures to commissioners@sullivancountynh.gov with info about where the memorial is located and who took the picture.
P.s. War memorials are not the only pictures we would enjoy receiving. If you have other scenic views of the region, don’t hesitate to share those, too. Thank you.
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Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Employees Donate Nearly $12,000 to Seven Nonprofit Organizations |
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust recently presented donations totaling nearly $12,000 to seven Northern New England nonprofit organizations from its employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause. The recipients of the contributions collected in Q4 2020 are: BROC Community Action, Capstone Community Action, Friends in Action, Island Connections, Knox County Homeless Coalition, Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice, and Tedford Housing.
“These nonprofit organizations provide much-needed services to our communities, and the employees of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust are honored to be able to assist them with their efforts,” said Jack Frost, VP Director of Community Giving at Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.
Casual for a Cause gives Bank employees the opportunity to dress casually on Fridays in exchange for a bi-weekly payroll deduction made to a pool of funds collected during each quarter. The employees then vote on the nonprofits to receive their contributions. Employees have donated more than $100,000 to more than 50 organizations across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont since the program launched in 2018.
Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice provides health care and hospice services for individuals and families in homes and community settings, fostering continuity of care across settings and enabling people to stay in their homes as long as possible. They serve more than 30 towns in the Lake Sunapee and Upper Valley region. Learn more about Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice at www.lakesunapeevna.org.
“We are very grateful for the strong and continued support of Bar Harbor Bank & Trust as Lake Sunapee VNA & Hospice remains committed to enhancing quality of life of for so many people in the regions both our organizations serve,” said Cathy Raymond, Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice Development Officer. “Our team of nearly 200 staff travel to every corner of a large service area, making a difference every day. It really does empower them to keep up their good and often challenging work knowing that organizations like yours have our back and believe in what we do.”
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Business Resources & Community Information |
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UVBA, SCORE & SBA Offer Resources to Businesses |
“We’re here to help small businesses” is a theme three local business resources want to deliver to those who are looking to open a business or who own a business and need some fresh perspective as they enhance or reorganize their businesses.
On Wednesday, February 24, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EST, The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Upper Valley Business Alliance are teaming up with SCORE with a free online event that requires registration.
“This is an opportunity to hear and learn from a variety of great resources who are coming together to offer their services and who can provide years of knowledge to new and established businesses and entrepreneurs. We are all collaborating to share information about our business offerings so we can empower those who are starting out or are operating a business and looking for some new and fresh approaches during these trying times,” said Bruce Butler, chair of SCORE Upper Valley.
The event will be hosted by SCORE and will feature panelists Rachael Roderick, Deputy District Director of the NH District office of the SBA; Tracy Hutchins, Executive Director of the Upper Valley Business Alliance, and Bruce Butler, a Certified SCORE Mentor. Other current Certified SCORE Mentors will also be present.
SCORE, which offers workshops and complimentary, confidential counseling and mentoring, is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. The Upper Valley Business Alliance promotes the economic prosperity and quality of life for the Upper Valley region. They help create advocacy and economic opportunities that strengthen the community and host networking and community events. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream. The SBA is the only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small businesses and provides counseling, capital, and contracting expertise as the nation’s only go-to resource and voice for small businesses.
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Canada’s New Consul General to New England to keynote
U.S. Trade with Canada Webinar- February 25th, 11:00am
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If you do business within Canada or want to learn more about Canada-U.S. bilateral trade policies, you’ll find the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade’s (CONECT) next webinar to be full of valuable information about policies, priorities, and best practices related to U.S.-Canada trade.
The Consulate General of Canada is proud to partner with CONECT to jointly present a special webinar on U.S. Trade with Canada, on Thursday, February 25, at 11:00 a.m. EST. A special highlight of the program will be the keynote speaker, Rodger Trueman Cuzner, Canada’s new Consul General to New England.
Other speakers include Jon Sorenson, President, New England-Canada Business Council (NECBC); Lise-Anne Veillette from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); and a customs official representing U.S. Customs & Border Protection (USCBP). Matthew Bock, Partner, Middleton, Shrull & Bock, will act as moderator.
The cost is $19 for CONECT members and $29 for non-members. Click here to register.
(Students and educators may register at no charge; please contact the CONECT office at (508) 481-0424 to register.)
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NH SBDC & UNH Cooperative Extension Launch Resiliency Academy |
Work toward recovery and plan for future disruptions...whenever they happen.
The NH SBDC and UNH Cooperative Extension are partnering to offer the Resiliency Academy to help small businesses and communities
move toward economic recovery and future resiliency.
Schedule:
Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
April 7th, April 21st, May 5th, May 19th, & June 2nd, 2021
The Resiliency Academy consists of five two-hour sessions of virtual learning. Each session will focus on a different resilience topic with related readings, videos, and online content. Businesses will receive the tools and support they need to develop or update their business resiliency plan.
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Solar Assistance for NH’s Small Businesses:
NH Rural Renewables and USDA REAP Programs
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Join us for a February 24 webinar to learn how a central NH farm leveraged USDA grants and other incentives to fund their solar project.
Does your NH small business have the perfect roof for a solar array? Are you interested in learning how a solar PV can help your bottom line? Join USDA Rural Development and NH Rural Renewables on Wednesday, February 24 at 2 pm for a live webinar for NH small businesses. Learn about accessing free technical assistance, financial incentives and grants designed to support your solar energy goals.
Join NH Rural Renewables’ Sandra Jones & Andy Duncan, and USDA Rural Development’s Ken Yearman to learn about no-cost technical assistance and USDA REAP grants. Learn how NH small businesses are leveraging incentives over 50% to fund their solar projects. Find out if your small business is eligible for NH Rural Renewable’s no-cost, vendor-neutral technical assistance.
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2:00 - 3:00 pm live webinar via Zoom
Click Here to sign up and receive the Zoom link.
NH Rural Renewables program
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Claremont MakerSpace Events Schedule |
View the entire class schedule and upcoming events online here. |
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Certified Food Protection Manager Online Training March 13 |
Online Certified Food Protection Manager Training and Exam Prep
Studies have shown that food establishments that have a certified food protection manager on staff are less likely to have a foodborne illness outbreak.
New Hampshire Rules for the Sanitary Production and Distribution of Food requires the Person in Charge (PIC) during hours of food preparation to be a Certified Food Protection Manager.
The PIC is required by the Food Code to demonstrate food safety knowledge to safely run the operation and perform the applicable duties.
This two-part online course will include critical food safety topics such as active managerial responsibilities, proper personal hygiene, cooking to correct temperatures, proper holding of food (time and temperature), cleaning and sanitizing food surfaces and equipment, obtaining food from safe sources and pest management. COVID 19 updates will also be included.
Who should take the course?
- food service establishment managers and PIC at bars and restaurants,
- prepared food department in grocery stores,
- mobile caterers,
- food trucks,
- assisted-living and nursing homes,
- prison facilities,
- senior and child daycare centers.
Information about in-person test locations will be provided soon. The online Certified Food Protection Manager Training and Exam Prep offered by UNH Professional Development & Training will prepare participants to sit for any of the following accredited food service safety exams offered by these NH Food Protection Section approved entities (additional fee applies):
- 360training.com, Inc. - Learn to Serve
- National Registry of Food Safety Professionals
- Prometric Inc.
- StateFoodSafety.com - Above Training
- National Restaurant Association - ServSafe®
- Always Food Safe
NOTE: Advanced enrollment is required for this program. Enrollment will close 10 days prior to the class date to allow for time to mail course textbooks to enrollment participants.
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S.A.F.E. Food Handling Workshop |
Join University of New Hampshire Extension’s food safety team for a free online safe food handling workshop for food service workers in schools, restaurants, delis, hospitals, nursing home, camps and other places that prepare and serve food.
When: Wednesday, March 17th from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. OR Wednesday, March 24th from 1:30 – 3:30. You will need access to Zoom -- join by computer or phone.
Topics:
•Why food workers should not be working when ill.•The importance of personal health & hand hygiene.•Preventing the spread of pathogens in a food service kitchen.•Why cleaning & sanitizing are key in keeping a food safe kitchen.•Important food safety temperatures as food flows throughout the kitchen.
No cost but preregistration is required:
Certificates of attendance will be available after the program. NOTE: Certificates will contain hours of participation and can be used by school nutrition programs to fulfill required food safety training.
For more information, contact:
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Substance Use Cost Calculator for Employers Webinar on March 17, 2021 at 2pm |
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NH SBA Information & News |
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The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.
Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
The recent passage of the economic aid act brought with it several updates to PPP, PPP forgiveness, EIDL and other COVID relief programs. Please join the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for a free virtual roundtable event sponsored by Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) office to help walk you through what’s new and what’s next for these programs.
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
10:00 -11:15 am
The SBA has re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to all participating PPP lenders. PPP provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. SBA is currently offering:
- First Draw PPP loans- for those borrowers who have not received a PPP loan before August 8, 2020.
- Second Draw PPP loans- for eligible small businesses with 300 employees or less and that previously received a First Draw PPP loan. These borrowers will have to use or had used the full amount of their First Draw loan only for authorized uses and demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020. The maximum amount of a Second Draw PPP loan is $2 million.
The Paycheck Protection Program remains open for First and Second Draw PPP loans until March 31, 2021, as set forth in the Economic Aid Act, or until Congressionally-appropriated funding is exhausted.
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Ways to Connect with SBA New Hampshire:
Phone: 603-225-1400
SBA Webinar Wednesday
The SBA has programs and services that help small business owners start, grow, expand and recover. Get the latest updates on federal relief programs every Wednesday morning, 9-10am at this Teams meeting link.
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If you'd like to have an item appear in the newsletter please email it by noon on Monday to appear in that week's regular issue. |
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Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce | 24 Opera House Sq. Claremont, NH 03743
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