Weekly Village Update 4.9.20

Chamber News

Blowing Rock Business Relief Grant Request The Blowing Rock Chamber is excited to announce the creation of the Rock United Relief Fund in partnership with The Village Foundation of Blowing Rock. The money in this fund will be made available through a grant application process to local business in need of support until government aid is available.  Businesses can apply for a grant from the Rock United Relief Fund using the grant application found on our website here. The application deadline is April 30th.  For more information or questions on the Rock United Relief Fund or the Business Relief Grant Application please visit our website www.loveblowingrock.com or call the Business Relief Hotline at 828-414-2888.

The Blowing Rock Visitors Center is closed to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. We would like to echo our friends at the Blowing Rock TDA and High Country Host and say #StayWell and #VisitLater. You will likely see this campaign in the coming weeks encouraging regular and potential visitors to plan a trip for later in the year. The campaign will feature billboard, video and social media PSAs. You can always reach the Chamber Team via email or phone: 828-295-7851.

Business Updates Visit BlowingRock.com for a list of Blowing Rock Businesses operation updates. Restaurants are able to provide takeout. Please consider calling our local Blowing Rock restaurants and ask about take out services. #LoveBlowingRock When posting on social media, remember to tag us and we encourage you to show your support for the town by using the hashtag #LoveBlowingRock

Property Owners Traveling to Watauga County to Self-Quarantine Upon Arrival While the best thing to do is stay where you are and not travel, all residents and non residents of Watauga County arriving for overnight stays are ordered, while present in the County, to self-quarantine for a period of 14 days or until 7 days after symptoms have resolved, whichever is longer, if arrival was preceded by overnights outside the County. The only exceptions to this provision are the commuting “essential” workforce and emergent response as coordinated through the Watauga County Emergency Services Director, AppHealthCare Director, and/or Sheriff and their designees.

The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce has compiled extremely valuable information for business owners and their employees. Please take some time to review this information.  Small businesses should apply for the SBA disaster loans even if you don’t think you will need them. You can always decline them later if things turn out better than you thought and you don’t need the assistance. The Chamber encourages you to assist your employees who you hope to get back when this is all over. The information regarding NC Works unemployment and the additional assistance from the Federal Government. This can also be available to you as a sole proprietor.

Click Here for a comprehensive list of  COVID-19 Information & Resources

Small Business Support Kit offered by Constant Contact In these unprecedented times, businesses across every state, town, and Main Street are scrambling to find new ways to operate. The Small Business Support Kit is designed to help businesses understand options and strategies to endure the current environment while also planning for the future of your business. We know the future can seem uncertain and the next step isn't always clear. Constant Contact is offering these tools to help. Click here for the Small Business Support Kit. Here are some other webinars offered through Constant Contact that you might find useful: April 15th - Email Marketing Bootcamp | $99 AND How to Have a Great Website without Tech Skills & on a Budget | FREE April 22nd - Email Marketing Bootcamp | $99 April 29th - Website Builder Bootcamp | $99

App Regional Health System If you suspect that you may have COVID-19, APHRS has arranged a safe, convenient, and cost-effective option for your screening, so that you can avoid unnecessary hospital or clinic visits. Start with a screening through a virtual physician visit for just $49. Visit their website for more information.

Caldwell Valley Community College FREE Webinars Caldwell Valley Community College is also offering FREE Seminars for smalll business owners. Find a list of the programs offered here which include creating online shopping, selling through Amazon and Etsy and more!

Click Here for a List of Offerings and Times

Do you have Extra Time and Can Sew? Have Extra Fitted Sheets? Many Local agencies including Appalachian Regional Healthcare are looking for masks to help control the spread of COVID-19. If you have some time and know-how, please consider making a few masks and donating them to a local agency. The CDC provides a tutorial on mask-making and other tips here. If you are unable, please consider donating fitted sheets to Roey's 12 Corner Custom Quilts. She will re-purpose the elastic, which is in short supply.

Your Contact in Western NC for the SBA is:  Sharon Harvey sharon.harvey@sba.gov 202.805.8947

Member News

El Rincon's Pop-Up Corner Store El Rincon has opened a pop-up corner store. They have hard to find essentials like bleach, gloves, toilet paper, paper towels, rice, potatoes, flour, ground beef, chicken, eggs and more! They may be able to special order additional items by request. El Rincon is offering free delivery if you live within 5 miIes!! Open 7 days a week: Monday-Saturday 8:00am to 6:00pm  Sundays - 8:00am to 3:00pm. Call (828) 414-9784

BRAHM at Home To provide some creative light to these uncertain and challenging times, they've launched #BRAHMatHome and we want to connect with you! Join them twice daily for inspiration, knowledge, and prompts related to the Arts & Appalachia. BRAHM at Home Also, browse BRAHM's online gift shop here. Shipping or scheduled pick-up is available for your purchased items.

Experience Blowing Rock At Home

Visit BlowingRock.com for more ways to stay connected while you at home. The link includes: virtual tours, educational activities, and how to online shop! Our Blowing Rock businesses are getting creative!

Get Some Advice From a Professional If you are a commercial property owner, give The Trahan Group (David Trahan at 832.971.2885 or Lesley Ashworth at 828.295.7801) a call and let’s see if we can save you some money on your income taxes and increase your 2020 after tax cash flow.  CSSI is offering a no cost review of your current situation to determine if you qualify for some of these new federal incentives and an estimate of how much we can save you by applying for these benefits. Everything we suggest is set forth in the federal tax code and recommended by the AICPA. In the last 2 years, we have helped to defer/save clients over $20,000,000 in income taxes on all types of commercial/multifamily properties.

Live Music Stream to Benefit Hunger and Health Coalition A local brewery and their non-profit are launching a weekly in-home concert experience with the goals of bringing the community together and raising money for the Health and Hunger Coalition. Tune in every Friday starting 4/10/20 from 8-10pm going for 4 weeks. April 10: Andrew Massey and the Midnight Americans April 17: The Harris Brothers April 24: Andy Ferrell May 1: The Older Brothers

Click Here To Get to Live Stream

Online Events Throughout April at the Art of Living Retreat Center Online programs in April culminate with: Practice Spirituality Online Event Join best-selling author and renowned master teacher, Dr. Barbara De Angelis, for this profound and experiential 1-day online journey of inspiration, healing, and wisdom. Tap into your own inner source of deep wisdom, cultivate emotional and spiritual steadiness, and experience more moments of true meaning every day. More Info Here

More events can be found on our online calendar. To submit your news to our weekly newsletter, email Suzy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday.  Our newsletter reaches over 1,000 member contacts each Thursday!

Thank you to our 2020 Chamber Partners!