January 13, 2021
Thank you to all who attended either in person or online. Thank you to Darin Ray for helping us get the year started well and our goals simplified
Access Passcode: @b2#Nw14
*please note you will want to skip through the first 26 minutes while we were getting food and getting started.
TOMORROW-January 19, 2021
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Current Development Projects - City of Fort Lupton
See who is coming to town next!
For more information and updates view the link below.

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The Chamber Office has MOVED.....
Until we have our final resting place ready for the public, you can continue to reach us online www.fortluptochamber.org , via phone or text at 303-857-4474.

PO Box 404
Fort Lupton, CO 80621

  • January 19 - Coffee & Chat
  • January 27 - Deadline to order your Valentine's Fort Love-ton Baskets
  • February 10 - Chamber Luncheon

Children who are in the dependency and neglect system often meet a lot of new people – new foster families, new teachers, new social workers, new therapists. That can be overwhelming and scary. CASA volunteers (Court Appointed Special Advocates), however, are the one consistent adult in the lives of these children. If you are looking for a way to give back to your community, consider becoming a CASA volunteer. Our next virtual training starts February 4 but we have independent learning opportunities throughout the year. For more info: contact Sharon@lifestoriesweld.org or call 970-353-5970 or visit lifestoriesweld.org/casa
United Power Accepting 2021 Scholarship Applications
Eighteen Scholarships are being awarded for a total of $20,500

Brighton, Colo. — United Power is now accepting scholarship applications for its 2021 awards. This year, the cooperative will award more than $20,000 in scholarships to outstanding students in its service territory. The United Power Scholarship Committee will select eighteen high school seniors based on a combination of grades, test scores, extracurricular activities and a brief essay.
 
United Power’s scholarship recipients for 2021 will be announced during the cooperative’s Annual Meeting & Director Election in April and recognized in its monthly newsletter later this summer. The scholarships available are:
 
  • Basin Electric Power Cooperative Scholarship, awarded to a student pursuing any post-secondary education at an accredited institution.
  • United Power Colorado College Scholarship, awarded to a student attending a public Colorado university or college. Two scholarships will be awarded.
  • Lois Lesser Education Scholarship, awarded to a student pursuing a degree in education.
  • Bill Berens Memorial Scholarship, awarded to a student pursuing a degree in engineering at a Colorado university or college.


 
  • Tri-State Generation & Transmission Scholarship, awarded to a student pursuing any post-secondary education at an accredited institution.
  • United Power Youth Leadership Scholarship, awarded to a student pursuing any post-secondary education at an accredited institution, who also shows strong involvement in community service activities and a record of youth leadership.

United Power also dedicates book scholarships to a student from each high school within its service territory. This year, United Power will distribute eleven book scholarships, including one “at-large” selection.
 
Book scholarships for 2021 include: Brighton, Eagle Ridge Academy, Erie, Frederick, Fort Lupton, Mead, Prairie View, Riverdale Ridge and Weld Central. A book scholarship is also available for one mountain student.
 
Scholarship applications are now available on our website and may be either mailed to United Power or submitted online. To download a United Power scholarship application, go to www.unitedpower.com/scholarships.
 
United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering electricity to more than 97,000 meters at homes, businesses and farms in Colorado’s north-central front range. For more information about the cooperative visit www.unitedpower.com or follow on social media at facebook.com/unitedpower or twitter.com/unitedpowercoop.


COVID-19 Business Resources
Weld County Business Recovery Program Awards $3M+, Service Industry Relief Fund Accepting Applications
 
Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund
Funds have begun to be distributed to applicants applying for the Weld County Service Industry Relief Fund. This fund, comprised of $2 million provided by Weld County's economic development fund, allows grants up to $10,000 to be provided to high-risk businesses throughout Weld County. Applications are being reviewed on a need based, first-come first-served basis, prioritizing first time applicants in the following industries:
  • Restaurants, bars and other food and beverage service providers
  • Live event venues and movie theaters
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Bowling centers, arcades, and other recreation facilities
  • Additional public facing businesses with consideration under special circumstances - see formal guidelines
Grant applications will be reviewed and awarded on a bi-weekly basis through the January 31, 2021 deadline. To qualify, businesses must have 3+ employees, be able to show loss of revenue and/or COVID related expenses during the time period of 11/1/20 - 1/31/21, and be located in Weld County.

Complete eligibility guidelines can be accessed online by clicking here. Questions can be directed to Upstate Colorado by calling 970-356-4565 or emailing recovery@upstatecolorado.org
Free Legal Advice in Colorado
COVID-19 Assistance: Free Legal Advice & Help for Colorado Small Businesses
Small businesses provide half of Colorado’s jobs. They have been especially hard-hit by the COVID-19 economic crisis, with minority and woman-owned small businesses being hit the hardest. Volunteer attorneys have offered to provide legal help to Colorado’s small businesses so they can get back on their feet.
This website was created to match small businesses that need limited free legal advice regarding COVID-19 related issues with volunteer lawyers. If you are a small business that needs legal help, you can submit an application and we will ask our volunteer lawyers if they are willing to assist you. If you are a lawyer who wants to help, please sign up to volunteer.
The site also includes other resources available to small businesses, particularly minority and woman-owned small businesses, to meet the challenges of the pandemic. If you identify resources you think we should add to the website, please let us know.




PPP Second Round
 
SBA and Treasury Announce PPP
Re-Opening; Issue New Guidance
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. To promote access to capital, initially only community financial institutions will be able to make First Draw PPP Loans on Monday, January 11, and Second Draw PPP Loans on Wednesday, January 13. The PPP will open to all participating lenders shortly thereafter. Updated PPP guidance outlining Program changes to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility was released on January 6 in accordance with the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act.
This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.
“The historically successful Paycheck Protection Program served as an economic lifeline to millions of small businesses and their employees when they needed it most,” said Administrator Jovita Carranza. “Today’s guidance builds on the success of the program and adapts to the changing needs of small business owners by providing targeted relief and a simpler forgiveness process to ensure their path to recovery.”
“The Paycheck Protection Program has successfully provided 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion to America’s small businesses, supporting more than 51 million jobs,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “This updated guidance enhances the PPP’s targeted relief to small businesses most impacted by COVID-19. We are committed to implementing this round of PPP quickly to continue supporting American small businesses and their workers.”
Key PPP updates include:
  • PPP borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs;
  • PPP loans will cover additional expenses, including operations expenditures, property damage costs, supplier costs, and worker protection expenditures;
  • The Program’s eligibility is expanded to include 501(c)(6)s, housing cooperatives, direct marketing organizations, among other types of organizations;
  • The PPP provides greater flexibility for seasonal employees;
  • Certain existing PPP borrowers can request to modify their First Draw PPP Loan amount; and
  • Certain existing PPP borrowers are now eligible to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan. 
A borrower is generally eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan if the borrower:
  • Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and will or has used the full amount only for authorized uses;
  • Has no more than 300 employees; and
  • Can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.
The new guidance released includes:
For more information on SBA’s assistance to small businesses, visit sba.gov/ppp or treasury.gov/cares



 
Like other states, Colorado continues to see increased unemployment fraud activity. Many Colorado employers are noticing fraudulent unemployment claims being filed in the names of active employees.

When a claim is filed using the identity of one of your employees, you receive a questionnaire by email or U.S. mail requesting information about the job separation. If your employee is still employed, and they state they did not file a claim, please complete the questionnaire as soon as possible.

Employees who are the victim of UI fraud should submit a Fraud Report online. They should visit ColoradoUI.gov, click the “Report Fraud” button, then the “Submit a Fraud Report” button. Our website also outlines other important steps that employees who are victims of UI fraud should take. 

Please feel free to share this infographic with your employees.
COVID Business Hotline 303-860-5881
FREE Webinars from the SBDC
Webinar Topics in English, Spanish and MANY TOPICS

All COVID-19 Business Resources have been combined HERE and are updated regularly.

COVID-19 Personal & Health Resources
All Personal Resources have been combined HERE and are updated regularly.

 olorado Sprit is a North Range Behavioral Health-provided resource to assist those whose behavioral health has been impacted by COVID-19. At no cost to patients, it provides assistance and confidential support to people struggling with mental and emotional challenges as a result of the crisis caused by this pandemic.  Please contact Shawna Cranmer (shawna.cranmer@northrange.org) with questions.
 
Additionally, there is now a specialized confidential/no cost statewide telephone/text support line for Teachers/Educators and Healthcare Workers (303-724-2500), being offered by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The line is open 8:00am-8:00pm 7 days a week. 

For the latest updates from the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment visit:
 
·       COVID-19 Testing Locations in Weld County:


COVID-19 RAPID RESPONSE TEAM OFFERS TESTING FOR WINDSOR AND SURROUNDING AREAS
 
WELD COUNTY, CO — A COVID-19 testing site will be open at Eastman Park in Windsor starting Monday, December 21 and running through December 31. The testing, operated by MAKO Medical, was made possible through the efforts of the Board of Commissioners, the Weld County Health Department, the Weld County Office of Emergency Management, the Town of Windsor and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
 
Testing, which will be at 7025 Eastman Park Drive, Windsor, 80550, is open to the public and is offered at no charge. Testing times will be from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
 
The testing site will be closed on December 24 and December 25; however, it will be open on Saturday, December 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 
Pre-registration is recommended to reduce wait times for testing, but on-site registration is available. Test results will be provided four days following the test.
 
To learn more about the testing or to register, please visit: https://mako.exchange/scheduler/registration/?location=2714
 
Colorado Sprit is a North Range Behavioral Health-provided resource to assist those whose behavioral health has been impacted by COVID-19. At no cost to patients, it provides assistance and confidential support to people struggling with mental and emotional challenges as a result of the crisis caused by this pandemic. See the attached email and below-linked website for more details.