What a busy start to the year for our Chamber! Our team has been hard at work building partnerships, securing funding support, and developing meaningful programming for our members. We encourage you to engage with our upcoming webinar opportunities!

This week, the Biden administration announced several changes to the Paycheck Protection Program, including a key modification to loan calculations for sole proprietors and independent contractors that should increase loan amounts significantly. There's a lot we don't know yet because the official rule hasn't been published, but here's what we do know:

The rule will be clarified to state that non-citizen small business owners who are lawful residents and file taxes using their Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) are eligible for PPP funds.

Again, the rule has not yet been published, and changes will go into effect once guidance is issued. If you are already in the process of applying for PPP, please contact your lender to see how this might affect your loan amount - this only applies prospectively at this time, but a coalition our Chamber has been active in is working diligently to advocate for a retroactive fix to loans that have already been made and disbursed.

If you had previously decided not to apply for a PPP loan, or if you qualified for too small an amount because of the net profit calculation, you should explore whether this calculation fix changes how the program works for you. We are working with lenders to get Chamber members ready to apply for first draw and second draw loans as soon as the changes go into effect — please contact me to be connected to a lender. We will keep you informed as this develops further.

Questions? Please contact Engagement and Membership Director Thais De Marco.

Event catering is one of the industries that has been hit especially hard by COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings. Like many other businesses, Chamber member Basil Tree Catering has gotten creative and shifted their model to adapt to these times: they now sell individually packaged meals, available for delivery or pickup — and all at reduced prices but NOT reduced values! Basil Tree continues to stand by their tagline “Catering with a Conscience” by using only compostable packaging, sourcing their products locally, and giving back to the community with food donations. Visit Basil Tree's website for more details on how to order! For regular updates on other Chamber members make sure you follow our social media pages!

The Chamber would like to welcome the following small business members who have joined thus far in 2021!

Why do we fail to reach our goals? Most folks, even those who are highly successful, have a hard time answering this. Why? Because most people don't know how to set up their goals for success. Join Rach SebellShavit, Chamber member and Professional and Leadership Coach, for a lively session that will cover ways to tune up your goal-setting approach so that you (and your team) can establish stronger goals that you hit every time. The session will include presenting new techniques as well as break-out discussions, so this is a great opportunity to connect with others while learning new skills!

Date: Thursday, March 11, 2021

Time: 12–1 PM

Please join members of the Berkshire Bank Pride Employee Resource Group as they review how to present your business for financing. Join us for the opportunity to participate in a candid conversation with Scott Gillanders, co-chair of the Berkshire Bank Pride ERG, and a 30-year veteran of small business lending. This webinar is a great opportunity to connect with others while learning new skills!

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2021

Time: 12–1 PM

Chamber members are invited to join our statewide Facebook networking group.

Stay informed about the latest news and events by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and visiting our website.