COVID-19 Impacts. Information YOU Need

SPECIAL EDITION II, COVID-19 RESPONSE | April 2020

COVID-19 Response - Information YOU Need

The Magnolia Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing you with up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the relief efforts available to small businesses. This includes posting updates on your business through our "Shop Local" campaign. We also provide daily updates focused on the latest federal, state, local and private business resources information. And, we are advocating on your behalf with elected officials and public safety professionals. This special edition newsletter provides additional tips, tools, and information to help you navigate this unprecedented impact on our small businesses, non-profits, and family members.

Stay up-to-date on a daily basis: Discover Magnolia website

Members only Magnolia Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1101648570034374/

Seattle Office of Economic Development Workshop: CARES Relief Package, SBA Resources

Thursday, April 9th - 1:00 to 2:00 pm, via Zoom - details forthcoming

Please join AJ Cari, a small business advocate with the city of Seattle's Office of Economic Development (OED) to learn more about the key grant and loan provisions of the CARES Act. Learn more about how best to apply and access the SBA resources for small business, including:

Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Loan Advance
SBA Express Bridge Loans
Paycheck Protection Program
SBA Debt Relief

OED is providing technical assistance on these resources and your local advocate to receive relief funds.

We anticipate Councilmember Andrew Lewis along with lining up an additional speaker, hopefully representing a lending institution. We will be seeking your questions in advance.

To learn more and prepare for the workshop, please review the information provided to the right.

Details on accessing the Zoom meeting call will be emailed to members early next week.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan

SBA Express Bridge Loans

Paycheck Protection Program

SBA Debt Relief

Keep Your Business Safe

The increase in burglaries is of deep concern to merchants and the Magnolia Chamber. We have reached out to elected officials and to Seattle Police in response to several local burglaries that have affected local businesses. SPD offers the following safety tips to local merchants and business owners:

Make sure your business’s address and signage is visible from the street
Post emergency contact information at the front and rear of your business.
Ensure all doors can be locked with deadbolts.
Install latch guards no smaller than 11-inches over locks.
Windows should have secure locks and shatter-resistant glass.
Consider installing security film on vulnerable windows.
Remove expensive items from visible store displays.
Keep your business well-lit inside and out.
Leave registers open and obviously empty after closing.
Consider installing cameras and alarm systems.
Consider videotaping your current belongings and store items for evidence and insurance purposes.
Have mail stopped and held at the post office or forwarded to another location.
Check on your business regularly and work with neighboring business owners to keep an eye on others’ storefronts.
For carry-out businesses, move tip jars behind customer service counters and add additional signage to let customers know your business accepts tips

For additional tips from Magnolia merchants, please click here .

Shop Local - #KeepMagnoliaMighty

With the COVID-19 Pandemic evolving rapidly, the Magnolia Chamber continues to follow the local, state, and federal guidelines. We are witnessing the significant economic strain on our local business community.

As a champion for our local businesses, we want to assure our neighborhood that Magnolia is still open for business.

We are putting the health and safety of our community members first, and advise everyone to follow all guidelines of public health officials. While visiting some local businesses in person may not be an option, there are still ways you can continue to "Shop Local " and support the Magnolia business community during this challenging time:

Shop local first

Whether you’re getting your morning coffee fix or stocking up on food and necessities, we encourage you to look to our local businesses first. Not sure where to start? We have created a list of businesses who are operating during the state's Stay Home, Stay Healthy orders.

Shop local, online

While many businesses are closed, some have online services. If your favorite local retailer doesn’t have an online store, some merchants may be willing to take an order over the phone and have it delivered – it never hurts to ask!

Order takeout or delivery

A large number of our local restaurants are offering takeout and delivery options. Many businesses are even offering to bring take out orders directly to your car for you. Check out our list of businesses and help support our local restaurants!

Stay Subscribed

If you have an ongoing subscription at a gym, or with a stylist, or similar Magnolia business, consider keeping it active – even if you’re unable to show up right now.

B2B Collaboration

If you are a local Magnolia business owner, take this opportunity to collaborate with others in our business community to see how you can help one another overcome challenges. A local grocery store, as an example, may have a need for the staff you had to reduce hours for. Collaborating and understanding the unique challenges of different businesses will lead to solutions that benefit everyone.

Buy a gift card

We're of course, unable to shop or dine-in right now. So, instead buy a gift card from a local Magnolia business to use later on. Want to thank a first responder, a nurse and/or doctor, a local hospital? Purchase a gift card from a local Magnolia business and give a gift that gives back two ways. Many businesses will offer to mail or email you the gift card upon request.

Donate

The COVID-19 outbreak will undoubtedly present new community challenges for our local non-profits to address. Now is a time to donate to the causes and organizations you care most about and if you have the resources.

Utilize social media/chamber marketing platforms

Social media can play a significant role in supporting Magnolia. Share specials or snap a photo of your favorite dish from local restaurants. Leave a review and share it after receiving great service from your local landscaper. Lead by example in encouraging your online following to support local businesses. Tag us with #discovermagnolia and #KeepMagnoliaMighty so we can help spread the word!

If you are a Magnolia Chamber of Commerce member, we are happy to help promote you on our website and social media platforms. We make it easy through our Member Spotlight campaign. Click here, fill out the requested information and presto: we will promote you just the way you want!

Practice compassion

In these times of uncertainty, it is important to remember that many may be stressed and anxious. Please be patient with one another, practice compassion, collaborate, and remember that we will #KeepMagnoliaMighty by coming together as a community.

If the COVID-19 crisis has caused challenges for your business that you feel the Magnolia Chamber can assist with, we’d love to hear from you. Please give Jason a call at 206-618-1589 or email jason@discovermagnolia.org.

You can also visit our website which provides valuable small business resources and updates.

Business Survey - Seeking your Participation

To assist the Magnolia Chamber in our advocacy role on behalf of our members, we will be preparing and sending out a survey. The survey will be seeking information on the current business impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.

We will use the results to share with local elected officials in the weeks ahead. The quantifying of impacts will be particularly important as we work with the city, state, and our state's Congressional delegation to advocate for your needs, address your challenges, and promote local solutions during the "stay home, stay healthy" guidelines in effect through May 4th.

Please stay tuned and we implore you to participate when you receive the survey.

What other ideas/needs do you have?

Please let us know what other things that you as a business owner or service provider may need and/or how the Chamber can better share information and support you and your business. It takes our community to support our businesses, customers, and neighbors during some tough and potentially challenging weeks ahead. Jason can be reached at 206-618-1589 or email jason@discovermagnolia.org.

Stay up to date on the latest information:

https://www.discovermagnolia.org

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1101648570034374/