Evergreen Chamber President's Letter 04/17/20
The beauty of today’s bluebird day with trees filled with snow reminds me that after each storm comes the recovery. Our businesses and our community will need to work together as we come out of our current economic and health storm. Have hope, have faith. Here is the latest.

  1. Monday: Unemployment Claims-the applications for the self employed open. There is a virtual town hall on Monday at 9:30am covering FAQs regarding PIN’s, gig workers, self-employed and updates on the additional $600 benefit. LINK TO REGISTER
  2. Monday: COVID Funding Q&A 10-11am held by the Jefferson County Business Resource Center CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
  3. Monday: RTD Telephone Town Hall at 7:30pm with Director Peggy Caitlin about impacts of COVID 19 on our public transportation To participate visit www.RTD-Denver.com/TownHall
  4. Online Candidate Forums for our local elections. Tuesday at 7pm Evergreen Park & Rec Board and Wednesday at 7pm Evergreen Fire Board-The Chamber and the Canyon Courier are hosting a Candidate Forum for our community learn who is running. The elections are May 5 and you need to order an absentee ballot BEFORE April 28. ELECTION DETAILS
  5. Wednesday 5:45-6:45pm Jefferson County Commissioners Telephone Town Hall LINK TO SIGN UP
  6. Thursday: Representative Lisa Cutter weekly Town Hall 4pm LINK
  7. USDA Rural Development Program Assistance-the USDA Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19 *Updated April 15, 2020 Both Evergreen and Conifer are eligible for the rural development programs offered by the USDA. These development programs include the Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, the Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program, and the Rural Business Services Program. The USDA Rural Business Services includes a number of loan and grant programs, including Business and Industry Guaranteed Loans; Rural Business Enterprise Grants; Rural Business Opportunity Grants; the Rural Energy for America Program; the Rural Community Development Initiative; and Rural Economic Development Loans; among others. LINK TO RESOURCE GUIDE
  8. Reopening of restaurants: We do not yet know what the timeline of this is, but we are likely to see staggered openings and a gradual ramp-up in allowed capacity. The state is developing clear, concise guidance that is easy to implement and that assures patrons/staff that it is safe to eat in restaurants again.
  9. Reopening of other businesses: The County and state are creating a 4 step checklist to determine when this will happen. In the meantime, if you are a business owner you need to prepare the safety guidelines that your staff will follow. These will get posted on your website and your front door. Commerce will not happen the same as before-think about how to take care of customers' needs and wants in our new normal.
  10. Alternative Funding Ideas: The Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade has a great chart of Alternative Funding Sources LINK TO LIST
  11. EIDL Loans-If you need to follow up and get status you can call (expect to wait 30-45 minutes during peak times) at 1-800-659-2955 or email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
  12. Shop Only Local Update: $7000+ back to our local businesses. Buy now through the Chamber and support multiple businesses. Use later, give as gifts, pay it forward. It is helping! CLICK TO BUY NOW

There is progress being made on flattening the curve of Covid-19. It’s slow, but steady – please stay home and follow guidance for physically distancing and mask usage. We all thank you and remember we are stronger together.

STAY POSITIVE-WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS TEMPORARY SITUATION AND BE MORE RESILIENT THAN EVER.

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we have made the decision to ask our employees to work remotely for their health and safety. 

Please reach out via email us with any questions.

President/CEO Betsy Hays
president@evergreenchamber.org