Member Brief Bytes
COVID UPDATES

Wright County Offering Up Grant Program for Eligible Businesses

Go to www.wrightpartnership.org for link to apply between tomorrow and October 8th. All applications will be completed online only.

This is monies that the County has allotted from the Cares Act for businesses effected by COVID. If you didn't apply for the City of Buffalo grant, or even if you did, this is an opportunity to help make 2020-2021 sustainable for your business. This is a grant - not a loan. Thanks WCEDP for managing this process and for helping make the businesses of Wright County stay alive!

DEED UPDATE

The Small Business Relief Grants are nearing finalization. These were the grants that were a lottery system. There was 62.5 million in the program, so will be helping over 6,000 businesses! 2200 have been fully approved thus far with about 15% being ineligible so if you applied and haven't heard, there is still hope! Hoping to have everything wrapped up and monies distributed by the end of the month.

LOST WAGE ASSISTANCE (LWA)
Minnesota applied and the Federal Government approved the application, for additional unemployment assistance. LWA will give temporary additional $300 a week to those getting at least $100 a week in unemployment benefits for being unemployed due to COVID019. This assistance will be retroactive to July 26th.

LOCAL UPDATE
The City of Buffalo Cares Grant applicants will be notified on Monday, September 14th as to their status. There will be a second round of review on October 1st for those who applied later or who didn't receive their full funding request.

WHO'S THAT MEMBER BUSINESS/BUILDING?
WHO'S THAT MEMBER BUILDING

You will get this one right - you can bank on it!

Last weeks winner was Jen Carlson from American Family/Chris Chapman with Emily Theisen Photography. Read more about everything Emily below as the Chamber Ambassadors paid her a visit!
 
Email me at [email protected] if you think you have the right answer! First one in gets put in a quarterly drawing for $10 of Buffalo Bucks!
New Members 2020
CARIBOU COFFEE
701 3rd Ave NE
Buffalo

The best ever grand opening of a Caribou Coffee (all 370+ of them) was right here in Buffalo! They have been here since March of 2016 and we are delighted to now have them and their 20+ employees as a Chamber member. As Caribou is known for its hospitality they, and their Buffalo Store Manager, Sydney Kurth, are excited to get more involved in the Buffalo community.

Though the drive through is busier now than ever, we know our Buffalo community loves their Caribou coffees and drinks and their tasty Einstein bagels! Did you know that they now have coffee free bousted juices and sparkling water? They take the caffeine from the coffee bean, but not the coffee flavor. No sugar rush here in these energy drinks!

Maybe now a pumpkin bagel or pumpkin latter or mocha is more your style! Always something tasty, hot or cold, at Caribou! Below is General Manager Sydney (Syd) - who will always greet you with a smile!
Ambassadors on the Move
EMILY THEISEN PHOTOGRAPHY
108 Division Street E Buffalo

MOMENTS MATTER
If you are looking for a truly one-of-a-kind photographer you need to check out Emily Theisen Photography. Emily has an authentic approach to her craft, and she’s with you for every step of the process. Along with her hair and make-up team, you will have access to her unique Styling Guide and her “Top-Secret" (access pass only) shooting locations.  She focuses on creating an experience for her clients and her witty charm makes you feel so comfortable you’ll forget you’re in front of a camera. She is not one to make you say "smile" or "cheese" in front of the camera and doesn't use many props. She captures the true essence of the day!

Emily is a photographer of many things: from senior portraits to engagements/weddings and birth/family shots, she also does boudoir, cake smashing, head shots, branding sessions and more!

Make sure you like her Facebook Page so you can grab up one of her mini-sessions as they don't last long! Check out her photos and her famous selfies that she takes after each session.

Emily is married and has three kids. She keeps busy with them and her photography business, but enjoys hammocks (it's a secret word to use if you want to book a session with her for a surprise), bonfires,
cross-fit, yard work and dance parties! If you haven't met her yet - she's got great energy and passion for her business and life in general! Go to her website and check out all her beautiful work!

Below is Emily and Ambassadors Denise Koch, Tina Anderson and Jennifer Carlson showing some of Emily's work!
Chamber Events
FEEDBACC TRAINING
(forums for engagement and educational development by the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce)

LAST CHANCE - REGISTER BY FRIDAY!



ACTIVE SHOOTER
PROPERTY LOSS PREVENTION/IDENTITY THEFT
CIVIL UNREST
THIS Tuesday, September 15th 11:30-1:00
Wild Marsh Restaurant ( boxed lunches)

This has been a requested training opportunity and our Buffalo Police Department is ready to serve! See what our own BPD has been trained to know and do and share with us as business owners as to what we should know and do in an active shooter situation.

Attention retail businesses! You have requested some information on what to do if there is theft in your store. Come find out how to best handle those scenarios!

Identity theft is out there and the BPD have suggestions as to how to avoid having it happen to you!

Great time to ask our Buffalo PD questions you may have about the safety, in general, of our community!
FINAL RIDGEWATER TRAINING
Monday, September 14th 11:30
ZOOM Meeting ID: 93616228771 PW 354302

I know there were some of you that attended some of the 7 professional development classes that Ridgewater College offered up for free over the summer. They are rerunning, by request, the Communication Management session again. It's about communication skills necessary for the management of your workforce.

If you would like to offer up any of the classes that were in this Lunch and Learn series or something more specific to your staff, just contact Gary Foster at 320-234-8537. They would be happy to put something together – either virtual or in-person. For In-person training, they can train groups of up to 25 if the training space is large enough for social distancing.

What a great free opportunity this has been. Thank you Gary for offering it up to our members!
GOOD MORNING BUFFALO
NEXT Thursday, September 17th 8:00 a.m.
Insurance Center of Buffalo
310 10th Ave S.

Join us for our rescheduling of the Good Morning Buffalo that was to have happened in March! With 2020 comes much flexibility and we are happy that Gary Trogstad and his team are able to host us now and show us their newly remodeled space. Come meet the team you read about last week in person!

Enjoy some treats, elbow bump and meet some new leaders of the community and start your Thursday off right!
GOOD TO KNOW
WHAT IS RESILIENCE?
TOURISM HAPPENINGS
WHAT'S ON YOUR BUFFALO BACKYARD BUCKET LIST?

With fall and the start of school we tend to stick closer to home, but it's not time to "hunker down" yet!
The Buffalo Tourism Bureau is here to help you with ideas that you and your family can do right in your own backyard! Follow us on Facebook starting September 14th and see the top 10 ideas - all outdoors - all COVID friendly right here at home!
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
Fare for All at Zion Lutheran Church
September 15th, 4:00-6:00

If you haven't tried any of the Fare for All food offerings, this might be a good time to start! Practice now and be ready for the holiday packs that are offered in November and December.
STREET PARTY OF HOPE TO BE A VIRTUAL EVENT THIS YEAR!

LET'S STEP UP AND GET INVOLVED!

There will be an online fundraising campaign through Buffalo Hospital's Facebook page and www.StreetPartyofHope.org. There will be printable flyers, posters, coloring sheets and yard signs for anyone making a tribute gift. Here are some fun ways you and your business can get involved!


BUSINESS SPONSOR WINDOW DECORATING CONTEST
NEW THIS YEAR — ONLINE VOTING
Business sponsors are invited to decorate their business windows in support of the Street Party of Hope and email photos to [email protected]. Bring your colors and creativity to show your support and help us spread the word of the Online Street Party of Hope.

Instead of committee judging, we will post each participant’s pictures online for the community to vote.
Business sponsors at any level are eligible for the contest prize (treats for your team, a trophy to show off for the next year and a shout-out in the newspaper & Buffalo Hospital’s Facebook page). A Street Party of Hope Support Sign will be provided & must be displayed to qualify. Please keep your decorations up through the month of September to help us spread the word of the event.

Even if you don’t sponsor, you can still show your support by decorating your business windows!

NEW! HOME & YARD DECORATING CONTEST
Decorating isn’t just for businesses anymore! All local community members are encouraged to decorate your homes, yards, apartment balconies, etc. in support of the Street Party of Hope! Those who make a tribute gift or event contribution will receive a yard sign to display and will be eligible for the contest prize (special treats and a shout-out in the newspaper & Buffalo Hospital’s Facebook page). Send photos to the above email address.

OTHER EASY WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THE STREET PARTY OF HOPE
Decorate your business windows in support of the event – sponsors will be eligible to enter the online voting contest, but all businesses are welcome to participate to help us spread the word! There are downloadable images on the website!
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Consider hosting your own colorful business event/sale and dedicate a percentage of your sales to support Buffalo Hospital Foundation’s Community Cancer Care Fund
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Offer a round-up option to your customers with their round-up totals supporting the Community Cancer Care Fund
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Please like and share the Street Party of Hope Facebook event page and future posts to help us spread the word of this year’s online fundraiser
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Download and print the free materials for your business or home
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Purchase Street Party of Hope merchandise and designate a special day in September for employees to wear them!
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Your creative ideas! Share your stories or ideas to us at [email protected].
KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW

Quick-link to the recent City of Buffalo public meetings:
Why did the math book look so sad when school started again? Because it has so many problems!
Be sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce
763-682-4902
STAY CONNECTED