Chamber Updates May 6, 2020
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Members,
Is Ohio open for business? Is it? Has it been shut down by Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Dr. Amy Acton? I’m going to suggest that it hasn’t been for many businesses across Colerain Township, Northwest Cincinnati and across the state. While several major announcements regarding Ohio's plan to responsibly restart Ohio's economy during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have been posted (details listed below too), it has been suggested by some of the chamber members that I’ve talked to, that for some this “shut-down” has put their business in a choke-hold where businesses deemed “essential” was not necessarily equitable. Some business owners have told me in the last week that they believe that they were potentially “better equipped” to deal with COVID-19 in their small business but were not given the chance. I am certainly not here to be the judge of that one way or the other and we could debate this topic all day long.
As you will come to find out in getting to know me over a length of time, my memory about a ballgame can be rather short. By that I mean, after the game is over, I’m not analyzing what could have happened to change the score because that game is in the past already; I’m rather looking to see what can change in tomorrow’s game to affect THAT outcome? In my business life, my advice is often the same. If you and I ever get into a deeper business conversation, eventually we’ll come around to talking about lead and lag measures. Unemployment figures right now are off the chart and unprecedented…is that a lag or lead measure? Why do I even bring this up?
Last week in our newsletter I touted a statement made by a highly educated group of people associated with business concerns across Ohio and I want to share it again so that you can hear it loud and clear:
“Today’s (April 27) announcement on the reopening strategies of Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted are responsible first steps to Ohio getting back to business. For many businesses in Ohio, the staged reopening of commerce beginning May 1 through May 12 is a relief. We appreciate that the DeWine Administration listened to the business community as well as relevant experts in establishing the required safety protocols."
The statement does not really look back at the challenges faced by those unable to be opened during the last several weeks, nor does it shout from the mountain tops a “woe is me” attitude. It does however spring hope eternal for those businesses soon to open and concern about the safety in which we WILL conduct our business going forward. Believe me, I of all people have been challenged with the work at home order; after all, I was supposed to be out in the community and introducing myself, not conducting ZOOM conference calls from my basement…oh well…that’s life.
I have posted a lengthy blog/article on LinkedIn which can be viewed
HERE
and will be posted out to our website shortly. As I’ve said to all of you and many times in various forums, I look forward to the opportunity to get to know you and your business. Please continue to reach out to me if I have not been able to do so yet. Please support our local businesses, especially those that have recently been reopened or are about to be. Please participate in the ZOOM conferences we have planned or get involved. Do not sit on the sidelines. If you spend any length of time with me, you will likely hear me say, “There are 3 types of people in this world…Those who MAKE things happen, those who WATCH things happen, and those that WONDER what happened?” Which group do you fall into? If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, I suggest you get up and make it happen for your business; there is no time like the present. Together we can make this happen.
Be well and stay safe.
Dave Moravec
President, Colerain Chamber of Commerce
309-838-1947
Newsletter Updates will follow the following schedule unless there is further notice
- Wednesday, May 20
- Monday, June 1
- Wednesday, July 1
- Thursday, July 31
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State of Ohio Responsible Restart Initiative
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HEALTHCARE:
Beginning May 1, 2020,
all medically necessary procedures that do not require an overnight stay in a healthcare facility or do not require inpatient hospital admission and minimizes use of personal protective equipment may move forward. This includes regular doctor visits, well-care checks, well-baby visits, out-patient surgeries, imaging procedures, and diagnostic tests. Dental services and veterinary services may also proceed if a safe environment can be established.
Healthcare providers and facilities that plan to resume providing these services must adhere to infection control practices, have sufficient PPE, and talk with patients about the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Surgeries and procedures that, if not performed, would cause a threat to a patient's life, a threat of the spread of cancer or the permanent dysfunction of a limb or organ, the presence of severe symptoms causing an inability to perform activities of daily living, and/or the risk of rapidly worsening symptoms have always been permitted even if an overnight stay is necessary.
RESPONSIBLE RESTART OHIO:
The guiding principles of the Responsible RestartOhio plan are protecting the health of employees, customers, and their families, supporting community efforts to control the spread of COVID-19, and responsibly getting Ohio back to work.
"We put this plan together based on all the information we have about how dangerous COVID-19 still is right now, balanced with the fact that it's also dangerous to have people not working," said Governor DeWine. "COVID-19 is still out there. It's still killing people. We're asking Ohioans to be reasonable and rational. Please don't take huge chances, and please use common sense when you go out and where you go out."
Beginning on May 4, 2020,
manufacturing, distribution, and construction businesses may reopen if these businesses can meet mandatory safety requirements for customers and employees. The full Responsible RestartOhio plan for manufacturing, distribution, and construction can be found at
coronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio
.
Beginning on May 4, 2020,
general office environments may reopen if these businesses can meet mandatory safety requirements for customers and employees. The full Responsible RestartOhio plan for general office environments can be found at
coronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio
.
Beginning on May 12, 2020,
consumer, retail and services, may reopen if these businesses can meet mandatory safety requirements for customers and employees. The full Responsible RestartOhio plan for consumer, retail and services can be found at
c
oronavirus.ohio.gov/ResponsibleRestartOhio
.
The general safe business practices that all businesses must follow as they reopen are:
- Requiring face coverings for all employees, and recommending them for clients and customers at all times
- Conducting daily health assessments or self-evaluations of employees to determine if they should work
- Maintaining good hygiene at all times such as hand washing and social distancing
- Cleaning and sanitizing workplaces throughout the day and at the close of business or between shifts
- Limiting capacity to meet social distancing guidelines
"I have an obligation as the Governor of Ohio to get people back to work and keep them safe. Opening everything up at once would not be consistent with the obligation to keep people safe," said Governor DeWine. "Our Responsible Restart Ohio plan is the best guarantee that Ohioans will feel safe going to stores and employees will feel safe going to work. I'm optimistic about our future, but we can't be reckless."
CONTINUED CLOSURES:
The following types of establishments are ordered to remain closed due to their increased risk of potential COVID-19 exposure:
- Schools and daycares
- Dine-in restaurants and bars (carry-out is still permitted)
- Personal appearance and beauty businesses
- Older adult daycare services and senior centers
- Adult day support or vocational rehabilitation services in group settings
- Entertainment, recreation, and gyms
STAY AT HOME ORDER / LARGE GATHERINGS:
Because the danger of COVID-19 still exists, Ohio's Stay at Home order will remain in effect to encourage Ohioans to continue making reasonable, rational decisions about leaving home.
Although anyone is susceptible to getting sick with COVID-19, those who are 65 or older are encouraged to be especially careful, as are those with high-risk conditions such as chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, heart conditions, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or liver disease, as well as those who are immunocompromised or obese.
Large gatherings of more than 10 people are still prohibited.
MORE INFORMATION:
CURRENT OHIO DATA: (as of Tuesday May 5
th
)
- 20,072 confirmed cases, 897 additional probable cases
- 1,038 confirmed deaths, 97 additional probable deaths
- 3,956 hospitalizations to date (19%), 1,123 ICU admissions to date (5%)
- 3,284 cases in healthcare workers (16% of total cases)
- 159,838 total tests administered (12.6% positive)
- 2,126 confirmed cases locally (Hamilton—1,480, Butler—346, Warren—178, Clermont—109, Brown—13)
- Graphed statistics can be found HERE
- Video of the Monday April 27th full update, including versions with foreign language closed captioning, can be viewed on the Ohio Channel's YouTube page.
- For more information on Ohio's response to COVID-19, visit coronavirus.ohio.gov or call 1-833-4-ASK-ODH.
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- The amount you should be requesting for your loan needs to correspond to 2.5 times your eligible average payroll expenses.
- There are some options on picking which months/quarters you use to calculate the average (e.g., all 4 quarters in 2019, Q2 2019 through Q1 2020, the first two months of 2020, etc.) – but whichever option you choose – you’ll need to document the amounts with your quarterly IRS 491s, payroll processing reports, etc.
·
There is also a
free
NDC webinar that walks through the process.
The following is a list of the documents you're likely to need to complete the application (but all are not necessary if they don’t apply to your business). Having this information and the associated paperwork organized for when you complete your application online will speed up the process:
1. Articles of Organization for the Business
2. By Laws for the Business
3. Income Statement for the Business
4. Tax Return for the Business
5. Tax Return for the Owners
6. Copy of the Driver’s License
7. Bank Statement Proving Payroll
8. Employee Pay Stubs
9. IRS Form 1099
10. IRS Form 940
11. IRS Form 941 (All Four Quarters)
12. List of Employees and Salaries Living Abroad
13. Payroll Summary Report (they can download a version from the page that thanks them for applying.
ATTENTION SMALL BUSINESSES! The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched a Save Small Business Fund
to offer short term relief for businesses affected by COVID-19. The application process has gone live. Each grant is $5,000; this is a great opportunity that could benefit many small businesses here in Colerain. Click on
this link to apply! Share with any businesses owners that you know.
The Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation wanted to share the following information about the
COVID-19 Payroll Reporting Guidelines and 2020 Estimated Annual Premium Notice for Private Employers
which are included as an attachment.
- The 2020 Estimated Annual Premium Notices for private employers have been mailed. At this point for private employers, the next invoice with a payment due would be for the Estimated Annual Premium. This is due on June 22 If an employer would like to change their installment option (annual, semi-annual, quarterly, b-monthly, or monthly), let me know by May 15.
- For the Estimated Annual Premium, we reduced the estimated payroll by 20% due to COVID-19. If you would like to make an adjustment to this estimate prior to your next billing, please let me know by May 15.
- Employers do not have to report to BWC the wages for employees for the period that they are using Emergency Sick Leave or Extended FMLA pay under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. You should keep track of this time by employee so if you have a premium audit, you are able to account for the time. (See Reportable Payroll Guidelines and Question # 24 on the attached FAQ for guidelines)
- Employers do not have to report to BWC the wages for employees while they are idle at home and being paid because of the COVID-19 pandemic. You should also keep track of this time by employee so if you have a premium audit, you are able to account for the time. (See Reportable Payroll Guidelines and Question # 29 on the attached FAQ for guidelines)
- Private employers may report operational staff currently teleworking to class code 8871 – Clerical Telecommuter during a declared state of emergency. We are creating a new class code, 9420- Public Employee Clerical Telecommuter, to report operational staff currently teleworking. (See Reportable Payroll Guidelines and Question # 25 on the attached FAQ for guidelines)
Here is a
link
to BWC/COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions or you can contact Kathleen Davenport at 513-785-4591.
The US Chamber of Commerce has also been publishing new resources and tips every day for small businesses,
from how to effectively manage a team remotely, to mastering social media, to utilizing technology to keep productive at home. Check out this
link to see what other small businesses are doing during this crisis.
Encouragement comes in a Variety of Languages – If you haven’t seen
this video prepared by the Colerain Township, be sure to take 2 minutes and see what a diverse community we live in.
The Annual Meeting of the Colerain Township – City of Cheviot Joint Economic Development District I
will be held at 10:30 a.m., May 7, 2020 in the Colerain Township Trustee’s Chamber located at 4200 Springdale Road, Colerain Township, Ohio 45251. Please note that due to COVID-19 and orders issued by the State of Ohio,
attendance at this meeting by the general public will not be permitted
. As always, the meeting will be broadcast
live online.
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TOMORROW, May 7, 8:30 am – Sales Summit Organizational Meeting – It’s still not too late…The Sales Summit concept brings together sales professionals from the business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) marketplaces to look at sales from a human to human perspective (H2H). Sales is a profession and should be looked at this way...how would you feel if your physician was still using tools from the 1950's? Our first meeting will pair us up with a group from Illinois next Wednesday, May 13
th at 9 am. For more information, contact Dave Moravec or visit our
Registration Page
THIS FRIDAY, May 8 – Housing and Commercial Real Estate Concerns – A financial look at where we are and will be going into the later parts of 2020. Award winning syndicated talk show host and author
Ilyce Glink will share her thoughts and we will hear from local resources about the coming economics around commercial and residential real estate. Please find the registration and ZOOM conference information
here. Non-members are welcome to this forum.
NEXT MONDAY, May 11- Master Series ZOOM Conference – Valuable Chamber Membership Resources
– 401K Benefits and Chamber Energy Program
Our business community has been hit hard by mandatory closures and safety measures required to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Many business owners are struggling to cover their bills and are asking for help and wondering what they can do. The Chamber Energy Program is available our members to help reduce their utility costs. On average, members are saving 15-20% and Rick Davidson (Community Energy Advisors) will be on hand to share how this can benefit you, your business and your employee’s residential gas and electric savings. Mike Wolterman (LongSchaefer) will also be our guest on Monday to share more details about how your business can take advantage of a 401K plan that not only helps attract & retain employees, but also address how it can benefit your overall business. Be sure to watch for future topics in our Monday Master Series which will continue on May 19 with a presentation by Cincinnati Benefits Solutions on our Anthem Health Insurance, Dental and Disability benefits. Registration and ZOOM information can be found
here.
NEXT TUESDAY, May 12 – Tuesday Women’s Networking Luncheon – Sylvia Dwertman from Visiting Angels will again be hosting this event in a virtual environment with the hope of getting back to an in person event as we open up restaurants again in June. This is a chance for the women of our community to gather and share ideas and network. For more information here:
REGISTRATION and ZOOM INSTRUCTIONS
May 19 – Colerain Chamber of Commerce Board Meeting – As a reminder to our board of directors, we have moved our board meeting schedule to Tuesday May 19 at 7 am. Going forward we will be meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. This is not an open meeting but rather a planning session for all appointed board members. If you have a topic or business matter that needs our attention, please contact David Denny, Chairman at
[email protected]
or Dave Moravec at
[email protected]
Chamber of Commerce Golf League
– Another reminder to those that are interested in the Colerain Chamber of Commerce golf league, we will have delayed the season start to June 3
rd due to COVID-19 restrictions. If you have not yet signed up or would like to do so, please reach out to Dave Moravec at 309-838-1947 or
[email protected]. We will begin the season with 2 weeks of position play with social distancing guidelines strictly enforced. For more information visit
Chamber Golf Details
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We have another new chamber member as a result of a connection through Cincinnati Benefit Solutions, thanks Scott, David, and Drew!
Please welcome Jeff Bernhardt Plumbing
which is located at 6000 Gaines Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 45247. They can be contacted via phone at (513) 923-2335 for pricing, hours and directions.
Career.place
, one of our newest chamber members, is offering their career.place software for free! Every organization needs the ability to screen employment candidates remotely for the safety of their team and the health of their business, and that is what they specialize in. No resumes, no wasted time, and no bias. Visit their website,
w
ww.career.place
for more information or reach out to Melissa Dobbins at (917) 693.1445 or via email at
m
[email protected]
As a reminder,
Artis Senior Living Of Bridgetown
wanted to pass along this online webinar opportunity for those dealing with aging parents or loved ones challenged with Alzheimer's. Alzheimer’s Disease 2020: An Update On Diagnosis, Treatment, Research Advances And Strategies For Healthy Brain Aging May 13, 2020 at Noon ET - Presented by Brent P. Forester, MD, MSc. Included will be a Pizza Lunch Giveaway! 50 attendees will be chosen at random to receive a free pizza to be delivered during the webinar! Entry is optional.
Register
.
Side By Side Ministry
wanted to share their Facebook location. See the wonderful work that they are doing in our community and
LIKE
them.
Green Space…of a different sort…
Strategic HR inc
., a proud SOCA Member Benefit Provider, is here to ensure that businesses - small and large - have the resources they need to find immediate HR answers and insight from reputable sources. Through their Virtual HR Solutions, business owners and HR team members can get access to customized HR support and indispensable help for their HR needs, all while saving time and money.
We invite you us Monday, May 11, to learn how strategic HR inc.'s solutions can provide the valuable HR support that you need during these uncertain and trying times. For more information you can
REGISTER HERE
A huge THANK YOU goes out to
Brynne Tillman
for her incredible presentation about the use of LinkedIn for networking your business. We had a wonderful turnout and I appreciate all that took the time to hear the presentation live. For those that missed it, you can listen to the
Webinar Recording
.
Troy Emery Federal Credit Union has put together the following list of resources for internal use at their credit union. This comes as an FYI and not necessarily audited by the Colerain Chamber of Commerce for various vendors in the market; under the current circumstances, supplies may be unreliable and spotty. Also,
please be mindful of purchasing
anti-virulent cleaners that have claims to kill SARS-Cov2.
Polymershapes (Cincinnati/Sharonville Distribution Facility)
Bulk hand sanitizer:
Nitrile gloves & protective masks:
Cleaning supplies (wipes, paper products):
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Thank You to Our Sustaining Sponsors
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President Level Sustaining Sponsor
Rumpke Waste & Recycling
Team Level Sustaining Sponsors
Cincinnati Mine Machinery
Kroger
Duke Energy
Mercy Health
Miami Valley Gaming
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