Greetings!

As we bid farewell to another difficult year, we look ahead with optimism and a sense of renewal. There are still some hours left to reflect on personal and professional highlights that have made 2021 memorable despite the challenges of yet another season of varying degrees of restrictions plus the rising cost of living all associated with the global pandemic.

The Chamber is excited to use the new year as an opportunity to REFRESH - to roll up our sleeves and work collaboratively to recover, rebuild and strengthen our organization and our private sector. It will continue to be a long road ahead but with all of us working together, we will cultivate the beginnings of a brighter tomorrow. 

May the hope and brightness of the upcoming season bring you a rejuvenation of spirit in the New Year. Cheers to 2022!

Onward together,

Catherine Castro
President
Small Business Relief and
Support Available through LEAP
Applications now available
Governor Lou Leon Guerrero announces the opening of the application period for the Local Employers’ Assistance Program (LEAP) will be at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, December 20, 2021. LEAP was established through Executive Order 2021-25 and will provide direct financial assistance to small businesses that experienced extreme levels of pandemic-related interruption. 

LEAP funding will be prioritized for the following:
  • Small businesses that can demonstrate a business interruption rate of 50% or greater; and 
  • Small businesses that have been verified as a “covered establishment” pursuant to Department of Public Health & Social Services requirements and that can demonstrate a business interruption rate of 20% or greater.

LEAP provides loans to small businesses that meet all eligibility criteria, chief among them a demonstration of business interruption experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Loan funds can be used for eligible business operating expenses with a focus on ensuring that businesses have adequate resources to maintain and possibly increase employment. Loans may be forgiven if at least 60% of all proceeds are used for eligible employee wage and benefit costs.
REMINDER:
ZERO Plastic Bags in 2022
Guam has had several months to consider alternative sources as Guam phases out the use of plastic bags by TODAY, December 31, 2021. Paper bags for most retail and all wholesale establishments will be phased out by July 1, 2022 (with exemptions for eating establishments).

View PL 35-130
FREE ON-SITE COVID TESTING 
Guam has a new on-site Covid testing option, which makes it convenient for your company to test at your place of business.

USA Medical LLC, a company focused on developing safe, accurate, and fast COVID-19 test kits, announced the immediate availability of free test kits for all organizations. Organizations include schools, colleges, prisons, businesses, government organizations, shelters, manufacturing plants, and other organizations with individuals in close proximity to each other.
 
The federal CARES Act has provided $10 Billion in CDC funding that allows for FREE in-house Covid testing for all organizations and businesses. These tests are easy to administer, and results are reported confidentially to your organization within 48 hours of receiving your samples. NO personal information is collected from your employees during the entire process. The process is simple: Organizations contact the local representative, Phil Leddy, to schedule their day/time for the weekly testing. A trained professional will be present to administer the tests on-site (est. 2 mins per person). The tests are mailed to company labs in Hawaii. 

Working with CDC Guidelines, the goal is to quickly track any virus spread to keep your employees and students safe during current uncertain pandemic-related times. Everything is no charge, FDA approved, 100% accurate, and organizations are notified within 48 hours after the ones that tested positive, and all results are accessible via our secure web portal.  **These tests detect new COVID strains/variants, including Omicron.
Organizations can schedule and order their Free Covid tests by reaching out to Phil Leddy II at (671) 777-0240 or emailing at marianasfreecovidtesting@gmail.com. 

U.S. Chamber Updates
The Latest on the Vaccine Mandate Lawsuits and
What Employers Need to Know
As you know, the Biden Administration announced sweeping vaccine mandate requirements for large employers over the summer. The ETS issued by OSHA has been litigated recently in the courts. Here’s the latest on where those court rulings stand:

  • On December 17, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reinstated the OSHA ETS requiring employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their employees are fully vaccinated by January 4 or allow employees to submit weekly negative test results. This was a reversal of the previous stay by the Fifth Circuit. 

  • On December 22, the U.S. Supreme Court scheduled oral arguments for the ETS to occur on Friday, January 7.

  • To account for the litigation uncertainty, OSHA updated its enforcement policy stating that it “is exercising enforcement discretion with respect to the compliance dates of the ETS.” It will not issue any citations before January 10 and will not enforce the vaccine or testing requirement until February 9 “so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard.”

  • Click here to read more about the OSHA ETS, Federal Contractor Mandate, and CMS Rule.
Resources & Planning
GVB
December 24th
Industry Recovery Report
Chamber Holiday Office Hours
Your Guam Chamber office will be closed from Friday, December 24th to Friday,
December 31st. Regular office hours will resume on Monday, January 3, 2022.
Sending you warm greetings for a safe and joyful new year! Biba 2022!

Did you miss our holiday greeting? View here!