The Bastrop Chamber of Commerce lobby has been closed to the public since March 17 due to COVID-19 to protect our staff and membership. We want you to know we are still here working hard for you to provide updates and resource information to help your business during these most unusual times.

Please remember that there is a deadline of FRIDAY, April 10 at 1pm to apply for the Bastrop EDC COVID-19 Relief Grant. There are three very simple documents you need to supply and it is a grant not a loan to help our local Bastrop businesses.

If you have have not checked out our Resource Page on our website, please do. It is being updated with information almost daily to give you information to help your business. Below is a sample of some of the information you will find.

For State of Texas resources and business information: http://gov.texas.gov/coronavirus.

US Chamber has some excellent business information as well:

https://www.uschamber.com/

SBA Loan Disaster Program for businesses and non-profits:

https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

As employers, we want you to know several of the local banks in town can help you with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). When it comes to EIDL loans, you will have to apply directly with SBA. We know that the SBA website may be hard to navigate and the process can be frustrating. Congress has only approved $349 Billion so our business community needs to take action quickly before funds run out. The BEST thing you can do is be in contact with your banker. Your banker may have other programs and services they can offer to their business customers during this difficult time.

Workforce Solutions hosted a Virtual Town Hall meeting on Monday. Employers were allowed to submit questions that were answered by a panel of experts. It covered business services, employment laws and general COVID-19 concerns. While you are Staying Home & Staying Safe, here is the link so you can watch and educate yourself: https://workforcesolutionsrca.com/blog/virtual-town-hall-held-for-rural-capital-area-employers

Volunteers are also needed in many areas of our community and county. Please visit the Bastrop County Cares website at www.bastropcares.org and volunteer to help a neighbor.

The most important thing we want to stress at this time is to Stay Informed - Stay Kind - Stay Home - Stay Safe. If you have to go out, make sure it is only for essential items and wear a mask and gloves, practice social distancing and wash your hands. The predictions are that COVID-19 will not peak until April 22. The sooner we all practice these basic things, the sooner we can get this virus under control and get back to business as normal.

#stayhometexas