Weekly Village Update 7.16.20

Chamber News Art in the Park July 18th Art in the Park returns this Saturday, July 18th. The show will feature a limited number of artist and new procedures. What you need to know if you plan on attending Art in the Park: Artists, Chamber staff and visitors will be required to wear a mask on Park Ave There will be a limited number of artists, each artist display will be 10 feet from each other allowing artists to display their work from three open air sides of their 10×10 tent. Artists will sanitize booth surface area periodically There will be stanchions dividing the street allowing for one-way walk paths There will be signage in and around Park Ave and the downtown area of Blowing Rock promoting the 3W’s (wear, wait, wash) and the NC Face Mask Requirement Seniors and more vulnerable patrons will be encouraged to shop from 9-11 and after 3:00 pm Peak hours will be monitored to ensure that the density of attendees does not get too high for proper 6 ft. social distancing. If it “feels” too crowded, we will hold patrons outside the show area or encourage them to come back at another time. Art in the Park will be used as a mask distribution point for masks from AppHealthCare branded with the Show Your Love Watauga logo to promote the partnership between the Chambers of Commerce and AppHealthCare. Visit ChamberPPE.com Chamber PPE Discount Do you have the PPE (masks, gloves, sanitizer, etc.) that you need for next week, later this week or even tomorrow? Place your order with ChamberPPE.com today! With standard, two-day, and next-day shipping options, you can get your supplies when you need them (and at a great price)! Use coupon code "Blowing Rock Chamber" for an additional 10% off. Sign Up Now! Reboot. Recover. Rebuild. Calling all small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19. The Small Business Center is offering professional service grants to help you reboot, recover and rebuild your business. Call the Small Business Center to learn how we can assist you. Availability is limited. Call today at 828-726-3065 or learn more about the Small Business Center here. Christmas in July! The Chamber will be celebrating Christmas in July by selling previous Holiday Ornaments for $ 5 each. We have limited quantity of: 2019- Mayview Manor 2018- Sold Out 2017- Memorial Park Gazebo 2016- Martin House 2015- 1888 Museum 2014- Grandfather Mountain 2013- Sold Out 2012- Edgewood Cottage 2011- 50th Anniversary of Art in the Park 2010- 7th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway To purchase ornaments visit or call the Chamber at 828.295.7851 Business Resources Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act PPP Loan Self- Employed Loan Forgiveness Better Business Bureau- Can you mandate employees are tested for COVID-19? Guide to PPP Loan Forgiveness - U.S. Chamber Guide to Main Street Lending Program - U.S. Chamber Re-Energize Watauga Fund How to Create A Recession-Proof Business Plan Upcoming Activities & Meetings Blowing Rock Farmers Market - Today! Art in the Park - July 18th 10am -5pm Concerts in the Park - July 19th from 4-6pm Blood Drive at Tanger Outlets - July 19th Famous Toastery Soft Opening has been postponed Egg Rollin Ribbon Cutting - July 21st Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show - July 21-26th Member News Welcome New Members - Main & Pine Main & Pine features 4 new construction short term rentals conveniently located on the corner of Main Street and Pine in downtown Blowing Rock! Now open for reservations beginning August 1st! Tweetsie Opening July 17th! Beginning Friday, July 17, Tweetsie Railroad will open with limited weekend operations, Friday – Sunday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Guests will be able to enjoy Main Street, Junction stores, and the Wild West Train ride aboard the park’s historic steam engine. During this phase of operation, the park will be limiting capacity. Therefore, all Guests need to pre-purchase tickets for a specific date and train ride time. Tickets have been reduced to $10 for an Adult and $7 for a Child (age 3-12). Children 2 and under will remain free. Golden Rail Season Pass Holders will have the first chance to reserve a daily admission and train ride ticket for the July 17-19 opening weekend Monday through Thursday, July 13-16. Then beginning on Friday, July 17, the general public will be able to purchase any remaining tickets for the weekend by calling the Ticket Office 866-893-3874. Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show starts July 21st For the past 97 summers the Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show and the Town of Blowing Rock have attracted horse lovers from across the nation to celebrate the connection between these regal animals and their human partners. The COVID-19 restrictions have placed severe challenges on the show this year, but the event will be held over two weeks beginning on July 21 with a full schedule of Hunter and Jumper classes. There will, however, be no spectators permitted. Only exhibitors, attendants, management and crew will be permitted on the grounds.   High Country Real Estate Report The High Country real estate market recorded its busiest month since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in June as pent up demand powered local home sales throughout the four-county area. Three of the four counties represented by the High Country Association of REALTORS matched or recorded their highest monthly unit sales of the year. The overall median sold price for June was also the highest of any month this year. Read the full report here. Todd Bush Photography Local photographer, Todd Bush, captures a Comet over Linville Gorge. View more of his work on his website. Hunger & Health - A Simple Gesture program Hunger & Health Coalition's program, A Simple Gesture, is one year old! They've collected 64,370 pounds of of food and provided over 70,000 meals in the last year from those green bags! Drop off your A Simple Gesture bag at the Chamber by August 15th for the next pick up. Don't have a green bag? You can pick one up Sunday, July 19th at Concerts in the Park. Our presenting sponsor Alair Homes has partnered with the Hunger & Health Coalition. Hunger is not just at Christmas time. We'd love to see you! The Chamber Team is glad to see our businesses re-opening! Email Regina to let us know you're open and we will stop by for a socially distance visit. The Chamber's Community, Government & Education committee met last week outside and socially distant! The Chamber attending Zaloo's Kayak & Fly Fishing shop ribbon cutting last week! More events and updates 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!