Weekly Village Update 8.27.20

 

Chamber News Become a Chamber Board Member The Chamber has few board vacancies to fill specifically in the retail, accommodations and professional services sectors. The Chamber board has a distribution of seats among business sectors. Terms are two years with an option of renewing up to three terms. If you are interested in serving along with other Blowing Rock business community leaders on the Chamber board, please email Charles Hardin at HardinCE@BlowingRock.com or call to get more information. Chamber members may nominate any other Chamber member or you may nominate yourself. If you nominate someone else, please let them know that we will contact them.  Email Regina Your Job Posting Part-Time Job Fair The Blowing Rock Chamber will be representing Blowing Rock businesses at the App State Part Time Job Fair on Wednesday, September 2nd. Need help? Submit the following information to Regina by Tuesday, September 1st to be represented at the job fair. Business Name Contact Information Job Title (Ex: Host, Desk Clerk, Retail Sales) Business & Entrepreneurial Development Committee Goal Complete! High-speed Internet is a very important consideration for people considering relocating to Blowing Rock, especially those who plan to work from home, start a new business, or buy an existing business. The Business & Entrepreneurial Development Committee of the Chamber’s EDC has thus long been seeking to expand the high-speed Internet options available in the Blowing Rock area. We are very pleased to announce that a High Country company, SkyBest Communications - the wholly-owned subsidiary of SkyLine Membership Corporation, recently celebrated its arrival in Blowing Rock with a ribbon-cutting. As SkyLine Chief Marketing and Sales Officer Edward Hinson explained, “Blowing Rock is a natural fit for us. Even with a bustling downtown, the deficiencies in broadband communication services really stood out. Working with the community, we were able to make a business case for bringing fiber here. We aren't investing in yesterday's technology. Bringing just 10-15-20 Mbps service to a customer doesn't cut it anymore. We're bringing symmetrical Gig-level speeds – both ways (uploading and downloading). That's taking us into the future, meeting the demands that have been created by advances in technology.” NC Broadband Survey We urge all homeowners and businesses to complete the broadband survey below sent to us by Blue Ridge Energy from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology. The survey will gather information on locations with adequate internet access and speeds with the results used to determine which communities receive future grant funding for high speed internet service. Click here for more information on how to take the survey. For homes or businesses WITH internet service, take the survey at NCBroadband.gov/survey For homes or businesses WITHOUT internet service, text "Internet" to 919-750-0553 Blowing Rock Community Calendar It's time to gather details for the 2021 Blowing Rock Community Calendar! As always, our goal is to have the calendar printed and ready for distribution by Thanksgiving weekend. The calendar lists Town and civic events, as well as festivals, event series, and cultural programming. Please send your public events for inclusion by September 30. We know that 2021 may still warrant some tentative planning, so the usual scheduling disclaimers will reflect that. Photo submissions are also welcome! The image theme for 2021 is animals, so we're accepting photos of birds, deer, or other wild High Country critters, as well as pets enjoying mountain activities. Photos must be high resolution for printing, and the cutoff date is the same: September 30.   Send events and photo submissions to amanda@visitblowingrock.com.  To submit your news to our weekly newsletter, email Suzy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday. Our newsletter reaches over 1,000 member contacts each Thursday! Upcoming Activities & Meetings Blowing Rock Farmers Market - Weekly on Thursday from 3-6pm Art in the Park- September 12th Concerts in the Park - September 13th Member News Live Music at Egg Rollin Egg Rollin is hosting the Keith Stroud Band on September 4th from 4pm-8pm. Join them for great food, drinks and southern classic rock! Book Signing at BR Antiques Co-Op Enduring Southern Homes by Eric Ross Book signing at Blowing Rock Antiques Co-Op September 5th from 4-6pm September 6th from 1-3pm Blue Ridge Conservancy Raffle Enter for a chance to win an awesome outdoor package from our friends at Footsloggers Outdoors and Mast General Store! Tickets are $10 apiece and can be purchased on the website store. https://blueridgeconservancy.org/store. Winners will be announced on September 8th. 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. Famous Toastery Grand Opening! Dine with them seven days a week from 7am-3pm. 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!

Weekly Village Update 8.20.20

 

Chamber News To submit your news to our weekly newsletter, email Suzy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday. Our newsletter reaches over 1,000 member contacts each Thursday! Email Regina Your Job Posting Part-Time Job Fair The Blowing Rock Chamber will be representing Blowing Rock businesses at the App State Part Time Job Fair on Wednesday, September 2nd. Need help? Submit the following information to Regina by Tuesday, September 1st to be represented at the job fair. Business Name Contact Information Job Title (Ex: Host, Desk Clerk, Retail Sales) Tarleton Reappointed to NCDOT Board Cullie Tarleton has been reappointed as a member of the N.C. Board of Transportation by Gov. Roy Cooper. Tarleton will continue representing Division 11 which consists of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. He originally joined the board in 2017. Tarleton brings decades of leadership experience in communications and broadcasting to the board as a retired senior vice president and general manager of WBT, WBTV and WCCB-TV. He also served in the N.C. General Assembly from 2007 to 2010 and served on various boards of directors for nonprofit and charitable organizations. He will work with NCDOT staff to make decisions about transportation policies and priorities. He serves with 19 others from across the state who represent NCDOT’s 14 highway divisions and six areas of statewide interest. Cooper appoints members representing the 14 highway divisions while the speaker of the N.C. House and the N.C. Senate President Pro-Tempore each appoint three at-large members. Tarleton is a native of Union County and resident of Blowing Rock. He is also a veteran of the N.C. National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves. Find Out More & Get Tickets Here Outdoor Economy Conference The Outdoor Economy Conference connects, educates, and inspires leaders and doers working to grow the outdoor industry and craft an economy that's intimately tied to the well-being of their places and communities. Join hundreds of other community and outdoor industry leaders to take action together and build an outdoor economy that works for all! Chamber PPE Discount Touchless, infrared thermometers have been reduced another 37% with Chamber member discount prices ranging from $26.99 - $44.99 (depending on how many you order). Starting prices for 2oz sanitizer (gel or liquid) has been reduced 57% to $1.13 - $1.35 a bottle with member discount. 3-ply mask starting price has been reduced by an additional 13%, now $0.37-$0.54 per mask with member discount. A gallon of liquid or gel sanitizer has been reduced 12%, now $26.96-$33.75 per gallon ($.21 per oz), with member discount. KN95 starting prices have been reduced 9.7%, now $2.25 - $2.84 per mask with member discount. **New Products Now Available** Face Shields Alcohol Wipes https://chamberppe.com/ USE CHAMBER DISCOUNT CODE: Blowing Rock Chamber The Small Business Center offers a wide variety of FREE workshops to help your small business succeed. Register online today!   AUGUST 8/3 - Making Quality Video For Your Small Business 8/4 - How to Start a Business 8/18 - Developing a Business Plan 8/20 - Selling Online Today 8/25 - Basics of Bookkeeping   SEPTEMBER 9/1 - Build Your Business Influence with LinkedIn 9/2 - Basics of Capturing Visuals for Your Business 9/10 - How to Find Your Customers Using Social Media 9/10 - Funding Your Business 9/15 - Finding Customers for Your Business 9/21 - Google My Business 9/28 - Using Facebook and Instagram 9/30 - Grant Writing: What the Pros Know   OCTOBER 10/1 - How to Start a Business 10/2 - Creativity in Multimedia & Commercial Video 10/5 - Using Video and YouTube 10/8 - Basics of Bookkeeping 10/12 - Public Relations and Influencer Marketing 10/29 - Maximizing the Value of Your Business Upcoming Activities & Meetings Blowing Rock Farmers Market - Weekly on Thursday from 3-6pm Soft Opening at the Famous Toastery - August 22nd & 23rd Art in the Park- September 12th Concerts in the Park - September 13th Member News Rosen Sculpture Competition Now on View For the last 34 years, the annual Rosen Outdoor Sculpture Competition & Exhibition has showcased contemporary American sculpture in outdoor settings across the campus of Appalachian State University. The sculptures in this year’s competition represent a diversity of styles from biomorphic to whimsical to thought-provoking. The artists have expressed their three-dimensional concepts with expert craftmanship utilizing a variety of materials, designs and techniques to create their sculptures. American Red Cross Volunteers Needed Local volunteers are needed for the 2020 hurricane season! Join the Disaster Response Virtual Volunteer Fair on Tuesday, 9/1 from 12-1 pm to learn more about how you can help your neighbors and community in times of need! Sheltering and Health Services roles will be discussed along with day to day volunteer opportunities. RSVP Required by 8/28/20. To sign up, visit: https://tinyurl.com/VirtualVolunteerFairRSVP ; Questions? Contact kasey.marshall@redcross.org or 336-646-4047 The online auction is available for preview and can be accessed by visiting www.hosphouse.org/auction or https://hosphouse.betterworld.org/auctions/hope-luncheon 'Hope Survives' Online Auction to Benefit Hospitality House Bidding begins August 14 on nearly 225 items, valued at over $65,000 As previously announced, Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina is moving forward with its largest annual fundraiser in a virtual way on August 20. However, the online auction portion of the event will begin August 14 at 12 p.m. This theme for this year’s event, “Hope Survives,” speaks directly to the challenges and obstacles facing the homeless, hungry and impoverished individuals and families that rely on the programs and services of Hospitality House. The wine social and silent auction had become a much looked-forward-to staple of the annual Hope Luncheon in years past. This year, the silent auction transforms to an online auction that will be open for a full week beginning Thursday August 14 at 12:00 p.m. and run through Thursday August 20 at 12:00 p.m. Free Wifi for Students Blowing Rock Parks & Recreation will be offering 5 Work Stations for students Grade K-12. The Work Stations will be open Monday through Friday from 7:45AM-3:45PM starting August 24th, 2020 in the Rec Center. Students under 12 years old will need to be accompanied by a guardian at all times during their session. Upon entry, masks will be required at all times, the temperature of each individual will be taken, and health related questions will be asked. Parks & Recreation staff will sanitize each Work Station at the end of each day. You may also access Town Park WiFi anywhere inside Memorial Park for free. Please note that this is not a tutoring or child care service. Please call our office at 828-295-5222 for any other questions. 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 Plein Air Festival is going on through Saturday. You might notice almost 80 artist around town painting. Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening at the Blowing Rock Holiday Express. View photos of the renovation here! 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!