Weekly Village Update 9.17.20

 

Chamber News Grow With Google Fall Webinar Series - STARTS TUESDAY Grow with Google Webinar Series Schedule All events will be held from 1-2PM on the date listed   September 22nd - Reach Customers Online with Google October 6th - Get Your Business Found on Google Search and Maps October 27th – Using YouTube to Grow Your Business November 4th - Make Your Website Work for You November 10th - Using Data to Drive Growth Coming Soon - Chamber Membership Renewal! The Chamber sends out our annual membership investment dues on October 1st. The invoice you receive will be for your 2021 membership. If you have any questions, please call the Chamber at 828.295.7851 or email Regina. Blowing Rock Young Professionals Are you a Blowing Rock Young Professional (ages 21-40) or do you know a young professional who is looking to get more involved? On Thursday, September 24th from 4-6pm a few members of the BRYP will be at the Blowing Rock Farmers Market to meet new members & share more information on the group. Get connected with BRYP, buy some local products, listen to live music and hang out! Tips & Tricks Tips & Tricks is a new segment to the Chamber's Weekly Village Update! This segment will feature Tips & Tricks from member businesses. Interested in submitting a tip or trick to share? Contact Regina at regina@blowingrock.com. Thor is Matt Vincent's of VPC Builders furry friend! Thor's Thoughts On September 21st, we officially welcome in the fall season. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year because the holidays are just around the corner. For me, this means I get more belly rubs from family members and lots of playtime in the leaves. One observation I have around this time of year is that my human friends can be so excited to celebrate the seasons that they forget to prepare their home for the upcoming weather. Below, I have provided a list of helpful ways to get ready for the cooler temperatures ahead. Hopefully, these reminders will allow you to focus more on spending times with your loved ones (and pets) and ease the transition from summer to fall. Check the status of your gutters, they work hard to drain water from your roof yearly. Check for drafts as heat loss contributes to 25-30% of heating energy used. Fix cracks in your driveway because water can freeze and expand existing cracks. Change your filters as clogged ones make it harder to regulate the temperature inside.  Drain your outdoor faucets since the water can freeze and burst piping. To help assist with future home projects, VPC Builders offers a home-watch service. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us at our office at 828-295-0707. Have you taken the Census? Deadline quickly approaching! There are only a few weeks left to take the Census! The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. Learn how to count yourself here. PPP Loan Guide The US Chamber of Commerce has prepared a Guide to PPP Loan Forgiveness. View the the guide here. 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 Grow With Google Seminar - September 22nd Candidates Forum - October 1st Ribbon Cutting at Twin Creeks - October 2nd Art in the Park - October 3rd Concerts in the Park - October 4th Member News Shred Day Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 29th from 9am-1pm at First Citizens Bank! -Bring your old ATM receipts, checks, tax information, credit card statements, copies of bills and any other papers that contain sensitive information. -You do not have to remove paper clips, staples or other bindings. -No need to sort papers by color. -Only dry paper will be accepted. Do not bring plastics, media tapes or cardboard. August Real Estate Report Record surge in home sales continues  July was by far the busiest month for local homes sales in more than 15 years. August almost surpassed it. REALTORS® continued to sell homes at a record pace last month as demand for homes in the region remained strong and interest rates stayed near record lows. That’s according to the latest real estate report by the High Country Association of REALTORS®. There were 365 residential listings sold by REALTORS® in August, just three fewer than they sold in July. The combined sales value was $139 million, as recorded by the High Country Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The median sold price was $319,900, the first time that metric has exceeded $300,000 in a month since at least 2011. Forty-two of the homes sold in August were for more than $700,000. Of those, 14 sold for more than $1 million. The average sale price for August was $381,299, the fourth straight month the metric has exceeded $300,000. Sporting Clay Tournament The Hunger & Health Coaliton is hosting a Sproting Clay Tournament at the Chetola Sporting Reserve October 10th & 11th. All of their fundraising goes straight back into making these programs stay open, and continually able to help anyone in need. Give them a call at 828-262-1628 if you'd like to donate or join the team of amazing volunteers. Register online here. VPC Builders Top 500 Remodeler List 2020  VPC Builders is a full-service construction firm specializing in residential and commercial construction, remodeling and additions, and home projects, that was awarded a spot on the Top 500 Remodeler’s List for 2020. This award showcases the nation’s most successful re-modelers and home improvement firm. The companies selected are ranked based on their remodeling successes and industry metrics. VPC Builders has been honored on the list since 2015. Read the full press release here! Carolina West Wireless -#Win4Schools It has never been a better time to #Win4Schools! We are excited to announce the annual #Win4Schools giveaway! This year we will be selecting TWO (2) random winners to receive an iPad 7 and a $2,000 donation to a school of their choice.* For valid entry all must be completed: 1. Like the Carolina West Wireless Facebook page. 2. Share this post. 3. Complete the entry form: https://bit.ly/2QZ7HqY  *School must be located in one of the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Rutherford, Surry, Watauga, or Wilkes. Contest is only valid for K-12. Intermediate, Colleges, or Pre-Schools are not eligible. 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. 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!