Weekly Village Update 8.6.20

 

Chamber News State of the Town State of the Town Thursday, August 13th Tune in to hear about this year's successes, current challenges and the future of our village. Updates from the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, Town of Blowing Rock and Blowing Rock TDA. Please submit questions to villagefoundation@blowingrock.com by Wednesday, August 12th at 5:00pm. The event will be live streamed on the Town of Blowing Rock's YouTube channel. North Carolina's Safer at Home Phase 2 extended to Friday, September 11th Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 155, extending Phase 2 restrictions for another 5 weeks to Friday, September 11th. “Other states that lifted restrictions quickly have had to go backward as their hospital capacity ran dangerously low and their cases jumped higher. We will not make that mistake in North Carolina.” - NC Governor Roy Cooper   View Executive Order 155 View FAQs about Safer at Home Phase 2 SkyLine SkyBest brings Fiber Internet to Blowing Rock! The SkyLine/SkyBest business team looks forward to meeting Blowing Rock business owners at the ribbon cutting on Friday, August 7th at 9 am in Memorial Park. The first 25 attendees at the ribbon cutting will receive a ‘token’ for a free treat at Kilwins Ice Cream, courtesy of SkyLine/SkyBest. Future plans include the expansion of fiber connectivity to residential areas in Blowing Rock. Residents interested in acquiring services through SkyBest are encouraged to provide their information by visiting www.skybest.com/newfibercommunity For more information on SkyLine/SkyBest please visit, www.skybest.com or call 1-844-SKYBEST. 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 Our State Made in NC Awards The Made in NC Awards are for all you North Carolina makers, bakers, crafters, and creators. Categories include: Food, Drink, Style, Craft, and Home & Garden. Learn more here. Applications close August 12th. SBA and Department of Treasury Have Released New PPP Forgiveness FAQs SBA and Department of the Treasury released new FAQs today. These FAQs fall into the following categories: General Loan Forgiveness FAQs Loan Forgiveness Payroll Costs FAQs Includes Information on Owner Compensation  Loan Forgiveness Nonpayroll Costs FAQs Loan Forgiveness Reductions FAQs This 10-page document will answer many questions posed by small businesses regarding PPP loan forgiveness.  See the FAQs here.  There Is Still Time to Apply for a PPP Loan   Unless Congress extends the date, Saturday, August 8, 2020, is the final day for PPP loans to be approved by SBA. If you are interested in a PPP loan and haven't yet applied, consider applying today. These loans will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 60% of the forgiven amount must be used for payroll). Please note that forgiveness will be reduced by any EIDL advance.  Find out more about Paycheck Protection Program.  Upcoming Activities & Meetings Blowing Rock Farmers Market - every Thursday from 3-6pm 1st Annual BR Women's Show Benefiting Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge - August 6th 2-8pm Ribbon Cutting for SkyLine/SkyBest Fiber Internet - August 7th Ribbon Cutting & Open House at Diamond Properties - August 10th Virtual Sign Unveiling for Berkshire Hathaway/ Vincent Properties - August 11th Town Council Meeting - August 11th Blowing Rock State of the Town - August 13th Art in the Park -August 15th Concerts in the Park - August 16th Member News Diamond Properties Ribbon Cutting On Monday, August 10th the Chamber will host a ribbon cutting at Diamond Vacation Rental Properties located on Sunset Drive at 5 pm. A Stone's Throw, Sticks & Stones, and Two Steps Down will be open to the public to view the newly renovated properties. Diamond Properties Vacation Rentals will serve food and wine. The Chamber will live stream a tour of the three vacation rentals. Proper social distancing guidelines and required face masks will be adhered to. Vincent Properties Joins Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Vincent Properties has joined forces with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Join the Chamber on Tuesday, August 11th at 11 am on Facebook live to watch the new sign unveiling! To learn more about Berkshire Hathaway | Vincent Properties visit their website, https://vincentproperties.com/ . Watch the sign unveiling here! Autumn Times - Coming Soon! The most popular and comprehensive tourist guides in the High Country! The 2020 Autumn Times is coming soon! Shine a spotlight on your business to all three counties of the High Country this Fall! Call or Email Mark Mitchell today at 828-278-3633 or mark.mitchell@mountaintimes.com. BRAHM Plein Air Festival The Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival is a four-day plein air painting event. It takes place August 19 - 22, 2020. Its aim is to bring painters together from around the world to paint outside in the fresh air while getting to know each other and sharing their work. The event prompts applicants to explore the unique Blowing Rock architecture, spectacular Blue Ridge Mountain views, and overall Appalachian feel of one of the most scenic areas in the country. Hospitality House ‘Hope Survives’ Luncheon Going Virtual on August 20, 2020 The 15th annual fundraiser to stream on Facebook Live and YouTube Live; online auction to run from August 14 thru August 20. Executive Director Tina B. Krause, along with the Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina Board of Directors will be broadcasting its annual Hope Luncheon on Thursday, August 20 at 7:00 pm via Facebook Live and YouTube Live. A center-piece of the event has been the wine social and silent auction. 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 pm and run through Thursday August 20 at 12:00 pm. The total value of items up for auction exceeds $50,000 and includes a 1967 Classic Plymouth Belvedere, one week stays at Holden Beach and Ocean Isle, Biltmore Estate weekend excursions, original oil paintings, custom metal artwork, travel packages, dozens of gift baskets and over one hundred area adventures and gift certificates. Rock Out for Healthcare Rock Out for Health Care Benefiting the Community Care Clinic August 31st from 6-9 pm Live streamed event from Appalachian Mountain Brewery Back Stage VIP Experience - $200 donation First 25 to RSVP with $100 donation receive a Wine & Cheese basket on their doorstep. More information at ccclinic.org James Fisher Memorial Foundation International Grand Prix Cancelled Launches matching donation campaign in lieu of event to benefit the Hunger and Health Coalition Preserve Communities, the national leader in thoughtful real estate development, has canceled its annual James Fisher Memorial Foundation International Grand Prix due to ongoing health and safety concerns amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The fourth annual fundraising event was originally scheduled for Sept. 19 at the Broyhill Equestrian Preserve in Blowing Rock, N.C. In lieu of the in-person event, Preserve Communities is launching a matching donation campaign to raise money for the Hunger and Health Coalition. All donations will be made through the James Fisher Memorial Foundation. The Hunger and Health Coalition began in 1982 to assist food insecure families in need in the Blowing Rock and Boone area. The organization has expanded its efforts to include a pharmacy, fresh produce market, backpack program and more, and continues to support the communities in Watauga County. To learn more about the matching campaign and to make a donation, visit https://jamesfisherfoundation.org/. TANGER OUTLETS GEARS UP FOR BACK TO SCHOOL 2020 Tanger Outlets Blowing Rock is inviting shoppers to kick off their back-to-school shopping with the 2020 TangerSTYLE sale now through August 30th. Though the beginning of the school season may look different this year, shoppers can still experience the best savings Tanger has to offer, no matter where their classroom might be. Celebrate TangerSTYLE at Tanger’s open-air centers, where shoppers will be greeted with amenities and support to ensure that the shopping experience is as safe and enjoyable as it has always been. 20% OFF Single Item and 20% OFF Entire Purchase (select stores) Shoppers can access the deals before they shop on tangeroutlet.com/tangerstyle or on the Tanger mobile app. Martin House Gallery First Annual Blowing Rock Women's Show Benefiting Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge Celebrating Women Artists Thursday, August 6th 2-8pm 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. Shout Out to Chris Pate and his team for the beautiful flowers all over town! The flower bed in front of Town Hall is over flowing. Ribbon Cutting at Blowing Rock Antiques Co-Op. Visit their store on Sunset Drive! 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!