Roadmap to Recovery

Issue 6.28

July 10, 2020

Message from the President

As we pass the mid-point of the year, I want to thank our members for all they have done and are doing during these challenging times. Throughout the last few months, members have changed their production lines and schedules to meet the demand for much needed supplies. Others have provided the care necessary for people who became ill, while still others have switched up or altered plans and schedules to carry on in a different, ever-changing, environment. We appreciate all of you and admire your vision, drive and ability to navigate these choppy waters.

For our part, the State Chamber team will continue to host webinars, calls, and virtual meetings that focus on our present health care and economic challenges. These headwinds are testing all of us and the need for first-hand, primary source information is critical as you make important and necessary decisions.

On July 21st we will host a virtual conference that will address:

The current state of manufacturing
How our state compares to surrounding states and identify areas we need to improve
How offices may need to be physically modified to offer greater safety for employees and customers, and more.

You can register here to be part of this extraordinary event.

Back to Work Conference Spotlights:

Breakout Session:

ESTABLISHING DELAWARE

AS A REGIONAL LEADER

As we begin to recover, there will be heightened competition among states in the region for economic development projects that expand and create jobs. Delaware must establish regional differentiation if we want to be a leader in business climate.

Ted Abernathy, managing partner at Economic Leadership, LLC, performed a competitive analysis of Delaware with data on job, wage and GDP growth, working age population changes, industries poised for job growth, and more. Learn where the state currently stands and more importantly, areas where Delaware needs to improve in order to compete.

Breakout Session:

OFFICE REDESIGN IN THE

MIDST OF A PANDEMIC

The workplace will look much different than it did earlier this year. Employers will need to think creatively to ensure both employees and customers are in a safe environment.

As an employer, you may be asking the questions, "Should we have a conference room? Is open concept still the way to go? How should cubicles be arranged?"

Chris Buccini, co-president of The Buccini/Pollin Group and Dana Verbosh, associate/project designer at Gensler, will walk us through how to safely replan an office space and highlight trends in commercial real estate both in Delaware and around the globe.

The Need for Uniform

Protective Mask Guidance

In light of growing confusion around the varying guidance on the wearing of protective masks and face coverings, a coalition of national business groups sent a letter asking that the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the National Governors Association work together to develop national standards and guidance (e.g. metrics, triggers, thresholds).

This letter is not asking for a national mandate. Rather, it is urging the creation of uniform guidance to be implemented and enforced at the local and state level. Read the letter >

A Long-Term Roadmap for

Delaware’s Economic Recovery

With Delaware emerging from the coronavirus pandemic, business leaders and policymakers must work together to address many of the long-term challenges and shortfalls that the shutdown exposed in the state.

These include the need to retrain our workforce to meet the needs of a new economy, ensuring we have sites ready for businesses seeking to relocate, increasing access to broadband in Delaware, and enacting short and long-term regulatory relief. Read more >

PPP LOAN APPLICATION

EXTENDED TO AUGUST 8

Additional legislation is expected

Last week, legislation was passed and signed into law extending the deadline to apply for Paycheck Protection Program loans from June 30 to August 8, 2020.

Unfortunately, this change only extended the deadline to apply for a loan, and it did not include an expansion of the program to include all 501(c) nonprofits. That change will likely be made in the more expansive phase four legislation of the CARES Act. The hope is this phase will be passed by the end of July or early August.

Nevertheless, roughly $125 billion in funding remains in the PPP program. If you are still looking for funding, visit the SBA's lender match tool >

If you have received a PPP loan and are seeking guidance on forgiveness, check out this updated guide to loan forgiveness >

#MILLSUMMIT GOES VIRTUAL

August 3-5, 2020

As a part of the local community, we are proud to support this year’s #MILLSUMMIT

conference. The Millennial Summit is the fastest growing leadership and professional

development conference in the country and gathers 1,000+ young professionals, impact

players, rising stars, and innovators of all ages and backgrounds. #MILLSUMMIT inspires

attendees to speak up and get involved with their community, grow professionally, and connect with visionaries who are actively moving the needle.

For the first time ever, the conference will be a virtual networking experience! DSCC Members receive a 10% discount with code: DSCC10PER. Register >