2020 Chamber Golf Outing Tuesday, August 11, 2020 $400 per team/$100 per golfer First come, First served Limited number of foursomes Sponsorship Opportunities Available Contact: heidi@lemarschamber.org Entry Fee Includes : -18 Holes of Golf - Golf Cart (if needed) - Box Lunch @ Check-in - On Course Prizes - Flight Awards

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2020 Open 4 Business Semi-finalists Announced Le Mars Piece of Cake competes for $8,000 Thursday, May 28 The 2020 Open 4 Business contest had 19 Main Street communities submit applications for this annual program designed to assist local businesses with expansion plans. The Open 4 Business program is designed to assist Iowa Main Street businesses as they take steps to expand and improve their goods and services and improve their bottom line. To date, Main Street Iowa has awarded over $375,000 in grant funding to support this effort. All twelve of these businesses will compete in the interview phase on May 28th. The field will be narrowed to five state finalist, one from each population category and two wild card selections. Those five will each win $8,000 and advance to the state contest in July for a chance to win additional funds to support their projects. The 2020 Semi-finalists include the following businesses: Small Communities (population under 5,000) Elkader – Cutting Edge Archery This business specializes in everything needed related to archery including an indoor 3D archery range, custom bows, and all the accessories to take you to the top of your game. With the grant funds, they would expand into the unused space in the building to enhance inventory to include ground blinds, tree stands, cross bows, and additional merchandise. Lansing – River n Ridge Outdoors River-N-Ridge Outdoors is a full-service outdoor store on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Lansing, Iowa. If awarded the Open 4 Business grant funds, they expand the services and products offered to include things such as a full line of archery, fishing and hunting clothing, and a full line of boating supplies. Mount Vernon – Bauman & Company Bauman & Company has been selling men’s clothing and accessories from our uptown location in Mt. Vernon, IA since 1909. Grant funds would allow them to expand their inventory offering women’s clothing and shoes. West Union – Unique Memories by Rachel Unique Memories by Rachel is a full-service photography studio that recently relocated to a downtown building. They would use the grant funds to enhance the ordering area of their studio, update equipment and enhance their marketing efforts. Medium Communities (population 5,001 – 25,000) Keokuk – Tangles Hair Salon Tangles a four-chair salon with a unique culture and brand. Open 4 Business funds will help purchase new salon equipment. A portion of the funds would be used to create an amazing website - a missing component needed to take the salon to the next level.

Piece of Cake is competing on Thursday, May 28 for $8,000 in the Open 4 Business Competition against Keokuk, Mount Pleasant and Spencer.

Le Mars – Piece of Cake This downtown bakery offers fresh-baked pastries, cupcakes, cookies, pies and cakes made on-site; plus, a dine-in lunch bar with home-made soups and sandwiches. Grant funds would be used to acquire 3 new temperature-controlled display cases for baked goods as well as other equipment. Mount Pleasant – Central Park Coffee Company Central Park Coffee Company is a downtown coffee shop that not only offers excellent coffee, but delicious homemade food as well. They would like to improve lighting, purchase a refrigerated display case and add a mobile coffee cart to use for events. Spencer – Pressed Pressed is a handcrafted jewelry, apparel, and letterpress brand. If awarded Open 4 Business funds to purchase the photo, video, and podcast equipment needed for a new space within their store that other small business owners could rent. We would also use it to create a website platform where customers can log in to reserve their desired time slots. Large Communities (population over 25,001) Cedar Rapids – Almost Famous Popcorn Almost Famous Popcorn is a gourmet popcorn shop that also sells ice cream, fudge and glass-bottled soda. They plan to use grant funds to refine and improve their retail space to better display their products. Fort Dodge – Dungeons & Dodgers Dungeons and Dodgers is a full-service comic book and game store. Grant funds would allow them to purchase more inventory and improve their gaming areas with comfortable chairs and an improved party area. Marion – The Grill Works The Grill Works is a shop that specializes in all things grilled or smoked. They recently added additional space and would like to add new inventory including an outdoor kitchen for demonstrations and classes. They would also purchase a new forklift to help them move all their new merchandise efficiently. Ottumwa – Family First Chiropractic Clinic Family First Chiropractic Clinic takes a holistic approach to health care, incorporating multiple chiropractic techniques and physiotherapy to ensure that their patients achieve the best results as fast as possible. They would use grant funds to purchase a new patient table and update their computer systems.

US Small Business Administration Covid Information. This is a good place to start if you have a small business.

Iowa Economic Development Covid Resources

Find out about our partnership with Northwest Iowa Development and available resources. An information clearing house for COVID crisis resources.

SBDC counselors are your first stop for navigating through the COVID-19 crisis. SBDC offers one-on-one counseling that can be done through zoom (skype or hangout) meetings or phone conference calls. We can help you through loan application process or other business issues that this crisis is causing including distribution, sales, buying, marketing, HR Issues and more.

OSHA Guidance on preparing your workplace for COVID

Priority and Action Items

Resources . . .

Small Business? Here are your options. (click above or links below)

• Paycheck Protection Program This loan program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. • EIDL Loan Advance This loan advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties. • SBA Express Bridge Loans Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. • SBA Debt Relief The SBA is providing a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Save Small Business Fund is a $5,000 grantmaking initiative offering short-term relief for mall employers in the United States and its territories.

NEW! PPP Loan Forgiveness Application

IMPORTANT 5/18

Chamber Coffees and New Members

No coffee? Send us a virtual message! May is Mental Health Month! a message from Plains Area Mental Health