Weekly Village Update 09.29.22

Chamber News Upcoming Meetings & Events Artisan Market @ Tanger Outlets - Sept 30th - Oct 2nd Mining For A Purpose @ McCoy Minerals & Doc's Rocks - Oct 1st @9:30am-5pm Art in the Park - October 1st @ 10am - 5pm (Last one of the Season) Alair Summer Concert Series - October 2nd @ 3pm - 5pm Chamber Community Clean-Up - October 6 at 9:45am - Noon / Volunteers needed Meet The Candidates Forum - October 6th @ 5:00 - 9:00pm Fall Festival @ Blowing Rock School - Oct 8th @ 11am - 3pm A Simple Gesture Food Bag Pick-Up - Oct 14th - Morning Pick-up Business After Hours @ Blowing Rock Brewing Co. - October 20 @ 5:30 - 7:00pm Watauga County Humane Society Christmas Sale - October 22 @10am - 2pm Change of Date - Business After Hours Thursday, October 20th @ 5:30 - 7:00pm Blowing Rock Brewing Company Business After Hours The purpose of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours is to provide networking opportunities for our members, giving business owners a chance to meet one another and to discuss issues relevant to their businesses and the community. The Chamber strongly encourages member-to-member business whenever possible, making these events a critical part of keeping in contact with other members.   If you are interested in hosting a Business After Hours in 2023, contact Cathy Barker at the Chamber at Cathy@BlowingRock.com or call 828-295-7851.   Frequently Asked Questions:             When are Business After Hours held? The Chamber has found that the best time to host a Business After Hours event is on a Tuesday evening, typically from 5:00pm -7:00pm.             Who is invited? All members of the Blowing Rock Chamber are invited. Invitations may also be extended to potential members, media, and community leaders.             Who sponsors a Business After Hours? A business may choose to hold a Business After Hours one of two ways: with additional sponsors or on their own. Some events have up to three sponsors.             How will the Business After Hours benefit me? If you are hosting a Business After Hours, this is the perfect opportunity to showcase your business and distribute information about the products and services you offer. You will have the opportunity to address the attendees and share your business story. If you are sponsoring a Business After Hours that is held at another business, the event also allows you to gain exposure for your business by distributing informational literature, product samples, etc., without having to accommodate a large group for the evening.             Who handles the food/catering? You provide the food and beverages. Providing wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages for guests is common. Depending on the venue, we can connect you with a caterer to assist.             How do I sign up for a Business After Hours? Business After Hours are scheduled one per month from March to November (excluding July). It is first come/first reserve basis so if you know you want to host an event, call the Chamber to book now. We will help promote and market the event by featuring on our social media channels, newsletter, Chamber website and master calendar. REMEMBER TO SUBMIT YOUR VOTES BY FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 30 @ 3:30PM - CLICK TO VOTE - * Save the Date * Tuesday, November 1, 2022 – 11:30am At Appalachian State University’s Grandview Ballroom (North End of the ASU Football Stadium) Registration & Networking will begin at 11:30am and the program will begin at noon.   $35 per person * RSVP required (click here) !! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED !! Please call the Chamber office @ 828-295-7851 or email Cathy@BlowingRock.com Meet the Candidates Forum The annual Watauga County Meet the Candidates Forum is scheduled for Thursday, October 6th, from 5:00-9:30pm. The event is co-hosted by the Boone Area & Blowing Rock Chambers of Commerce. For those who cannot attend, this will be broadcast live from the Appalachian Theatre in Downtown Boone. For More Information Restaurant Hours As our local restaurants continue to face unpredictable staffing and abrupt changes in travel patterns, restaurant hours continue to change often. The Chamber of Commerce is currently maintaining a listing of Blowing Rock restaurant hours. The hours are updated weekly. Bookmark this page for reference so you can help your guests and customers when they are looking for dining!  Restaurant Hours List Member News   Congratulations The Restaurant at  Gideon Ridge! Trip Advisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform, today announced the next in its community-powered Travelers' Choice® Awards series: the 2022 Best of the Best Restaurants. The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge has been ranked: 2nd in the Top 10 Fine Dining Restaurants in the US 1st in the Top 10 Date Night Restaurants in the US                                                               (#11 in the World) Trip Advisor's 2022 Top Rated Restaurants Mining for a Purpose This Saturday! October 1st @ 9:30am - 5pm Join Doc's Rocks Gem Mine & Appalachian Fossil Museum and McCoy Minerals for a day of Fun & Charity.  Silent Auction     Treasure Hunt Gemstone Raffle   Rubber Duck Race And More... 100% of the proceeds are donated to cancer patients via the 'Cancer Patient Emergency Fund'. Doc's Rocks Facebook Page Purchase Raffle Tickets & T-Shirts Online   Tanger Outlets Blowing Rock Hosts Annual Go Green! Electric Vehicle Showcase Saturday October 1st - 11am - 2pm Sponsored by Blue Ridge Energy, the event will showcase the latest electric cars and allow shoppers to learn more about which electric vehicle best suits their individual needs and preferences.  For More Information Full Press Release                     Details & Registration Lantern Farm Maze and Pumpkin Picking Experience Join us from mid September to late October and enjoy autumn along the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Halloweentime fall event. This year we have a 4 acre corn maze and a pumpkin patch that has been approved by the Great Pumpkin himself. Lantern Farm Website For more information and to purchase family wristbands Complexions Contemporary Ballet Prepares to Rock Boone in STAR DUST: From Bach to David Bowie The Schaefer Center Presents series welcomes the acclaimed rock ballet to the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts on October 6 at 7pm. For Information & Tickets For Additional Events at The Schaefer Center Buskers Fest 2022 ​A First Friday Art Crawl Like No Other Friday, October 7 @ 5:00 - 8:00pm "Live it up!" and join us in Downtown Boone to experience the arts in action as you walk the streets visiting the galleries, shops, and restaurants. Buskers Fest is a celebration of our eclectic creative community, and a nod to our town’s rich history of busking. Buskers Fest offers attendees a chance to experience the arts as they walk along the streets of Boone from the Turchin Center all the way to Mellow Mushroom. Information Tommy Emanuel, C.G.P. to Perform in Boone Friday, October 7 @ 7:30pm The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country is welcoming Australian native and award-winning recording artist Tommy Emmanuel, C.G.P. to the mountains for a live appearance and debut performance at its historic venue in downtown Boone.   The highly-anticipated concert is part of the Mast Store Americana Music Series on the Doc Watson Stage of the Appalachian Theatre. This series is an ongoing, year-round program of artists and events celebrating the genre unique to our country.  Information & Tickets Women’s Leadership Conference, presented by Catawba Valley Health System Tuesday - October 25th @ 8:30am-4:00pm Hickory Metro Convention Center Our goal with this conference is to create a high-quality local professional development opportunity for women in leadership roles (and male allies) within our region. It also gives attendees an opportunity to connect and foster relationships. Use the promo code: PARTNER to receive our Chamber Partner rate of $85.00 (a $14.00 discount) that can be applied at check-out. (Please note: The promo code is case sensitive!) To Register   Chamber Discount Just For You     Proudly supporting small businesses. Click for Special Chamber Offer Appalachian State University's Cyber Summit is our annual one-day professional development event where attendees will learn from the leading experts in the cybersecurity field. Held on Appalachian's campus in the new Grandview Ballroom at Kidd Brewer Stadium, attendees will network with industry specialists, business leaders and develop partnerships with the Department of Computer Information Systems and its rising star students. All Proceeds from the event fund student scholarships in the Department of Computer Information Systems.  Click for a copy of the Attendee Brochure Registration Now Open   Next Pick-Up Date October 14th The Chamber is a collection point. Please stop in and pick up an empty bag to fill. A Simple Gesture makes it easy, convenient, and inexpensive to give food, and thus supplies a steady flow of food to our food banks and food pantries. For More Information Festival of Trees Designer Recruitment Designer Recruitment for themed trees & wreaths is underway for the 2022 Festival of Trees, presented by Western Youth Network and the Leslie Eason Real Estate Team with Keller Williams! Large and small trees are hosted in public locations in Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties.  Designer Registration is quick & simple - sign up today! $ponsorships are also welcome. Contact fot.wyn@gmail.com for more information. Savored Moments Travel is partnering with Turn It Up Consulting for a Powerful Planning Mastermind Retreat, November 10-14 at the Bend of Ivy Retreat Center in Marshall, NC. This incredible mastermind opportunity is being facilitated by Certified Neuro Coach and Mastermind Guru, Maelea Galyon. Maelea called the High Country home for several years before moving back home to Maryville, TN to be near family.  For Full Press Release For More Information and to Register N.C. Department of Transportation Requests Public Feedback The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is asking for public feedback on the Draft 10-Year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The STIP identifies the construction funding and schedule for transportation projects over a 10-year period. We invite the public to learn more and submit their feedback September 1 through October 28.    We need your help getting the word out. Public feedback is very important to us. Putting people first is a commonsense way to plan and design public infrastructure. Please assist us in maximizing public outreach by forwarding this email or the attached flyer to your constituents, members, and/or staff.    The public can comment in the following ways:  Take an online survey on NCDOT’s public engagement website by October 28 at https://metroquestsurvey.com/ew73x  Submit comments online, by phone, or mail using the contact information associated with each county (view here)  Attend a drop-in meeting (view dates and locations here)    Next Steps: Once the public comment period ends, NCDOT will review and address comments. This will help in the next round of project prioritization for the 2024-2033 STIP. We will also share feedback with the Board of Transportation. The Board is expected to approve the Final 2024-2033 STIP in Summer 2023.    Note:  NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who want to participate. Anyone requiring special services can contact Simone Robinson at strobinson1@ncdot.gov or 919-707-6085 so that arrangements can be made.    Persons who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request by calling 1-800-481-6494.    Aquellas personas que no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación llamando al 1-800-481-6494.  Now open: 2022 Small Business Credit Survey The Federal Reserve Banks invite you to take our annual 10-minute survey of small business owners and the self-employed. This survey is designed to track small business conditions and capital needs across the nation. Your confidential answers provide critical information to service providers, policymakers, and lenders to improve programs that help businesses like yours thrive. Take the survey by November 4, 2022 For more information about the survey and to see past reports, visit FedSmallBusiness.org. SBA North Carolina District Office Seeks Nominations for National Small Business Week 2023 Do you or someone you know have what it takes to become America’s “Small Business Person of the Year” for 2023? If so, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) wants to hear from you! The SBA is pleased to announce it is accepting nominations for the 2023 SBA Small Business Person of the Year and other National Small Business Week Awards. Visit the SBA’s dedicated website at www.sba.gov/nsbw to download forms, criteria, and guidelines for submitting a nomination.  For the North Carolina Small Business Person of the Year, Exporter of the Year, 8(a) Graduate of the Year, Women's Business Center of the Year, and Small Business Development Center of the Year, the North Carolina District Office must receive all nominations by electronic submission ONLY to the District’s BOX account found at www.sba.gov/nsbw no later than 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on December 8, 2022. Additional nominations are being sought for disaster recovery, federal procurement and small business investment company of the year; those nominations are to be submitted via separate box accounts as indicated in www.sba.gov/nsbw . To obtain additional information, please contact Eileen.Joyce@sba.gov. Changing Lives One Laptop At A Time! The mission of E2D is to ensure that all NC families have affordable access to essential at-home technology to support academic success, and prepare students for college, careers, and beyond, as well as to foster job creation and retention for adult members of the household. For More Information, visit our Website How To Track and Make an EIDL Loan Payment You are responsible for your COVID-19 EIDL monthly payment obligation beginning 30 months from the disbursement date shown on the top of the front page of your Original Note. During this deferment: You may make voluntary payments without prepayment penalties Interest will continue to accrue on your loan during the deferment If you do not make voluntary payments during the deferment, a final balloon payment will be due on your loan at maturity Create an account in SBA’s Capital Access Financial System (CAFS) to monitor your loan status, there will also be a link to pay.gov so that you can make a payment. You must have a funded loan to access the CAFS system. Get account enrollment instructions. If you are in need of a copy of your loan closing documents you can contact the servicing center. For North Carolina the servicing center is the Birmingham Loan Servicing Center. Birmingham Service Office  Telephone: 800-736-6048 TTY: 711  Email:Bham.servicing@sba.gov Hours: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday  Welcome New Members!   Two Hoots Home Staging Our passion at Two Hoots Home Staging is taking your vision from ideas to reality. Inspired spaces do so much to enhance your living, as well as attract home buyers. We concentrate on creating a beautiful space for yourself or your potential buyer while providing functional, comfortable and fabulous homes that will remain classic for generations to come. We are client focused whether providing staging, interior styling/redesign or beautifying short-term rentals. Two Hoots is bonded, insured and certified. Serving the High Country.    We look forward to seeing you soon! Tammy Walker & Tudy Fletcher - Phone: 828-434-0500 Two Hoots Home Staging Website   Lantern Farm The Lantern Farm Features: Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch, and Christmas Trees. We have something for every season. Lantern Farm aspires to provide only the highest quality products and build memories that will last a lifetime. Our goal is not only to create distinctive experiences but also to provide decor and apparel that you can be proud to own. Located in West Jefferson, come to play or to stay. Chad Belteau - Phone: 828-278-9805 Lantern Farm Website The Victorian Inn Blowing Rock The Victorian Inn offers quaint rooms and old-fashioned charm. Situated in the heart of lovely Blowing Rock, NC, The Victorian Inn is your mountain home away from home. Stay for the night, or the week, and settle into the peaceful rhythms of southern mountain living. Relax and escape the bustle of the city. We provide complimentary 100+ Mbps Wi-Fi, cable/premium TV, a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, microwave, spa bath products, a down comforter, and an electric fireplace in every room - you can stay as connected (or disconnected) as you please. Linger on the Rhododendron Deck or enjoy a glass of wine in the English Garden. Cameron Snyder - Phone: 828-295-2172 242 Ransom Street, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 The Victorian Inn Website More events and updates can be found on our online calendar. To submit your news to our weekly newsletter, email Cathy@BlowingRock.com by Wednesday. Our newsletter reaches over 1,100 member contacts each Thursday! Thank you to our 2022 Chamber Partners!