Mountain Area Chambers' Economic Impact Task Force

The Economic Impact Task Force met today. As I have information to share I will send that out as soon as possible. Today we have 3 action steps to pass on.

1. Register with the SBA for the Disaster Fund relief. Registering now will shorten the time to receive assistance once it is released. Register Here TODAY : disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Account/Register1

2. Reach out to your insurance company to see if your policy includes Business Interruption Coverage.

3. SURVEY: This coming week the team will be reaching out to the businesses in the community. Through these conversations we will start collecting data to figure out where we can help the most and how we can get businesses connected to available resources. Monday afternoon a survey will be sent out, please complete this brief survey as soon as possible and encourage other businesses to fill out the survey. We will also be dividing out the membership list and reaching out to each member encouraging them to fill out the survey as well.

Please reach out with any questions.

Melanie Swearengin
Conifer Chamber
303-838-5711


The Conifer Chamber has created an Economic Impact Task Force to support our members and our community during this difficult and uncertain time. I'm inviting those interested in joining this task force to attend the following meetings. If you have experience in working on task forces in the past, please let me know. Our goal is to compile resources for businesses, brainstorm on creative ways businesses can adapt to these circumstances and come up with ideas on how the Chamber can support both our businesses and community.

Leading the community by providing economic guidance for businesses during the coronavirus impact.

5 ACTION STEPS - Monday, March 16, 2020.

1. COMPLETE SURVEY: CLICK HERE FOR SURVEY.
This brief survey is for all business owners. If you know a business owner that is not a chamber member, please encourage them to fill out this survey.

2. BE PROACTIVE: Create your Business Emergency Kit. (The following information is needed for anyone that has 20% or more ownership in the business.)
This includes:

1. 3 year personal tax return
2. 3 year business tax return
3. Personal Financial Statement
4. Business Debt Schedule (long term liabilities)
5. Income Statement
6. Balance Sheet

Call your banker NOW and start the conversation. The faster you get in, the faster you get ahead of the things.

Additional funding sources. If you need money NOW or don't want to wait for the SBA, see our Business Resource Guide (link at bottom).

3. BE ADAPTABLE: A community is best when we pull together. Let's put our heads together to come up with creative solutions on how businesses in your industry can adapt to the new situation. Join in on a Collaboration Call. The first call is set and I will update the website with more calls as they get scheduled and also push out on Facebook.

First call: Restaurants/ Food Service - Thursday via ZOOM at 10:00am.
CLICK HERE for the zoom call in link.

4. REACH OUT to Governor Polis and Senator Bennet.
Please copy and paste the following email and send to Governor Polis and ask the Governor and Senator to request that Colorado be a designated state to offer low-interest federal disaster loans to small businesses.
Polis: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bennet: email from website: CLICK HERE

EMAIL:
The Conifer Chamber of Commerce, our community and surrounding communities request the existing Preferred Leander Program be used to expedite relief funds to our business and our community. We request a change from 50% to 90% Federal guarantee to the bank in order to give our banking system more confidence in dispensing loans quickly.

Thank you from your local mountain communities!

5. LOG ON FOR UPDATES: TWO new sections to GOCONIFER.com
1. Business Resource Guide
2. Community Resource Guide
As the situation is very new and changing rapidly, we will be updating the site often. Please be patient as we gather facts and resources and check back to these web pages frequently for updates.

Governor Jared Polis Press Briefing March 18, 2020 - Live Video
New website to help at-risk individuals across our state get through the COVID-19 crisis.
www.helpcoloradonow.org
Volunteer or Contribute

Volunteer
If you are an organization, government agency, or nonprofit that needs volunteer assistance please sign up here. By working together, we can build a cohesive network to make sure no one falls through the cracks at this difficult time.

Contribute
We must make sure we have the resources available to combat this outbreak. If you are unable to volunteer, we greatly appreciate any contribution you can make to the response effort. Every dollar will go to helping your neighbors and saving lives in Colorado.

Donate Supplies
We are soliciting donations for supplies such as: masks, gloves, swabs, cleaning supplies and baby formula. Sign up below to create an account and we will be in touch with you.

Blood Donation
There is an urgent need for blood. If you would like to do something to give back, you are healthy and eligible, please make an appointment at a Vitalant donation center or blood drive near you: vitalant.org.

Additionally, Garth Englund has donation sites in Fort Collins as well as Loveland for more information call (970-495-8965). The Children’s Hospital has requested people to have their call screened before making an appointment (720-777-5398).

If you have additional questions please:
Call: Sarah Andrews (720)-601-1980
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We received a phone call from Santiago Grado, owner of the Aspen Park Montessori today, asking us to pass along this information:

Aspen Park Montessori is an authorized daycare for any essential employee needing assistance with daycare costs at this time, and currently have openings available for 20 children in grades K-6.

To anyone that is looking for childcare and wants to qualify for childcare under the Covid19 order, I am attaching the following link: covidchildcarecolorado.com/ for you to complete.

If you have any questions, please call 303-668-1532, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Aspen Park Montessori serves the area from Shawnee to Evergreen.

www.aspenparkmontessori.org/

Covid-19 Funding Options Panel by Jeffco

Join Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center for a virtual panel to discuss the resources available during this global pandemic.

When: Friday, April 3, 2020
9 AM to 10:30 AM

Event address for attendees: *UPDATED* jeffco.webex.com/jeffco/onstage/g.php?MT...e7f25efa46644773c944

Event number: 969 109 673
Event password: smallbiz
+1-408-418-9388 United States if you have to dial in

If you have questions please contact:
at 303-271-4800 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Panelists Include:

Angela Atkinson - Director, Front Range SBDC
Steven White - Lead Lender Relations Specialist, SBA
Robyn Burnett - UI Re-Employment Program, CDLE
Lou Riverso - Business Adviser, Jeffco BRC
Jason Jacksack - Business Advisor, Business Acceleration Services Colorado Enterprise fund

Happy Tuesday! Yesterday, Governor Polis began to lay out the road map to recovery. As I get additional details from the county I will pass them on.

The May membership meeting will be held in the evening on Friday, May 8 and we will host the Annual Awards online. Stay tuned for details.

Funding – What Else Can I do?
We are still waiting on more information regarding the emergency funding for the PPP. On the Task Force call this morning Steve Collier, with the SBA, is encouraging businesses that have not received funding, to continue to reach out to your local banker, make sure your application for the PPP loan is complete and/or submitted.

Unemployment for self-employed applications is now open

Additional funding opportunities to look into :
Hello Alice COVID-19 Business for All Emergency Grant
Hello Alice is offering $10,000 grants being distributed immediately to small business owners impacted by coronavirus, as part of our broader mission to ensure Business for All. In addition to funding, grant recipients will receive ongoing support from the Hello Alice community.
www.covid19businesscenter.com

Facebook - is giving away $100M to businesses with 2-50 employees in the cities/regions in which they are doing business- including the Denver area. Click the link to see if you can apply for this grants. Here’s the link: www.facebook.com/business/boost/grants

USDA Rural Development Program Assistance-the USDA Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19 *Updated April 15, 2020 Both Evergreen and Conifer are eligible for the rural development programs offered by the USDA. These development programs include the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, the Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program, and the Rural Business Services Program. The USDA Rural Business Services includes a number of loan and grant programs, including Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans; Rural Business Enterprise Grants; Rural Business Opportunity Grants; the Rural Energy for America Program; the Rural Community Development Initiative; and Rural Economic Development Loans; among others. LINK TO RESOURCE GUIDE

CLICK HERE for a comprehensive spreadsheet of alternative funding sources from the Colorado Economic Development & International Trade.

BUSINESS SURVEY
CLICK HERE to fill out the Business Survey. Please fill out this survey each week. The task force is comparing data over time to share with our representatives.

UPCOMING CLASSES for this week
Marketing Series - Wednesday @ 12:00pm
with Mindy Hansen, AlphaPixel Reach
Social Media for Business. How and Why?
How Well is Your Website Working? How Can You Improve It?
Getting The Word Out. Digital Marketing 101.
Alignable, NextDoor and More!
Register by clicking here.

FACE MASKS
Pam Wilcox with The Fat Envelope and a chamber member, has graciously offered to make face masks for any business that is in need of mask for their business. If you are in need of masks, please reach out to Pam by emailing her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or myself. Thanks Pam!