Member Brief Bytes
This is the place to find the latest and greatest news regarding Chamber happenings, member happenings, community happenings and topics of interest to your business! Look for this e-newsletter to come your way about 2:00 every Wednesday afternoon. Enjoy the read and let us know if there is anything we can share about your business here or on our social media outlets!

The mission of your Chamber of Commerce:
The Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau serves our business members, promotes our local assets, and shapes the future of our community.
Sponsor Spotlight
COVID UPDATE

WRIGHT COUNTY SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF GRANTS

Wright County is taking applications for Small Business Relief Grants aimed at those most recently involved in the Executive Order 20-99. The County has received around $2.7 million and will be taking applications through February 16th. The application portal is available on the County website here:

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Paycheck Protection Program Information/Second Draw

PPP - it's back in the news. Are you in need? Did you apply before?

In general, a First Draw PPP loan is for eligible borrowers who did not receive a PPP loan before the program closed in August 2020.

A Second Draw PPP loan is for certain eligible borrowers that previously received a PPP loan, generally have 300 employees or less, and have suffered a 25% reduction in gross receipts.

Click below for the details and application.

It has now been determined that the forgiven dollars of a PPP will NOT be taxed Federally but the state of MN could impose a tax. Your Buffalo Chamber has signed, as part of the MN Ready Coalition, a letter to be sent to our representatives to have no state tax. Also, another change in the previous language, is that EIDL dollars will no longer effect the forgiveness of PPP dollars.

Be in communication with your accounting/tax service and your lenders for any clarification on these changes. Change seems to be the constant!
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COVID STATS FOR MN/WRIGHT COUNTY:
New Members 2020/21
RIGHT AT HOME
4205 Lancaster Lane N Suite 104
Plymouth, MN 55441
763-231-5720

We all know the importance of companionship as we navigate through this pandemic. Our seniors, whether still living in their home or in senior living, are in need of personal connection now more than ever! Kristin Canny, owner of Right at Home, saw firsthand when volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels, how important it was to keep seniors living in their homes as long as possible.

Kristin is brand new in the business, though it is a well established franchise. Her territory includes I94 to Hwy 55 west of Plymouth to Annandale. Right at Home provides companion care - meaning short increments of time - maybe just a couple of hours - to help a senior with the light housekeeping, meal prep, shopping, transportation to appointments and just being there for emotional support. The goal is to keep senior's living independently in their home with just a little help.

Right at Home hires their own employees, not independent contractors. They provide all the insurance and training and now during COVID all the PPE and training needed for that as well. If you know someone that has a passion for service and wants a flexible schedule, give Kristin a call!

Meet Kristin - in the upper right corner! She was a part of our new member welcome meeting this morning! Welcome to Andy Crone of Fresh Coat Painters of Buffalo (lower left) and Jeremiah Schmid of Jeremiah Schmid Concepts (lower right). We have had 10 new members join the Chamber in 2021! Thank you!
HR & Business Topics
LEADING THRU CHAOS A BIG SUCCESS
Webinar yesterday had 53 attendees

Our first FEEDBACC training of the year was a big success as there were 53 attendees on the webinar yesterday lead by Erik Therwanger of Think Great! Monticello and Delano Chamber members were also part of the group. When the group was asked what their businesses biggest asset was - the people - the teams - were the resounding answer!

Erik spoke of how groups are different than teams. Groups act as individuals, perform in the moment, and have personal objectives whereas teams are a cohesive unit with common objectives that perform for the future.

Good leaders have a goal - they are moving towards the future and they get people to move with them. COVID can cause some of us to become paralyzed. You become that way if you don't have a plan. Leaders have a plan. You can't hope that COVID goes away - you have to lead through it.

If you want to learn more, Erik wrote his 7th book during COVID and has done a lot of prerecorded and live webinars while the training circuit has been slowed due to COVID. Check out his website for all the information. ThinkGreat90.com
Chamber Events - Don't miss this!
IT'S A GO! BE SURE TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Want to sponsor? We could use the help!

Want to volunteer? We could use the help!

Want to have fun? No help needed there - will be a great day! More fliers means more and never seen before kites!

Let us know how you would like to be involved. Share the event with family and friends and have them come enjoy the show and all that Buffalo has to offer!

Thank you again to all of our sponsors! We will high
HOW ABOUT PUTTING TOGETHER A CORNHOLE TEAM FOR THE EVENT?
WCCO COMES TO TOWN
RISE AND SHINE ON THURSDAY MORNING

CHANNEL4/WCCO HERE FOR A "SAVING MAINSTREET" SEGMENT

Be sure to tune in tomorrow at 5:45 a.m. to hear Brady from What's the Scoop and 6:45 a.m. to hear Amy and her brothers from Biggs & Co talk about their businesses and how they navigated during COVID. BJ's was interviewed on Tuesday and will be shown as part of the segment as well! What great publicity for our businesses and community!
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
POLAR PLUNGE for Special Olympics
Saturday, April 24th 1:00
Sturges Park

This is a new date and will be a run in vs jump (we hope the ice is mostly gone by then).

The Buffalo Plunge has a 2021 goal of raising $35,000 and we already have 15 plungers signed up! If you want to be one of them go here: https://www.plungemn.org/events/buffalo/. If you have always wanted to try it, maybe running in is the way to go! This could be your year! A feel good (though cold) experience!

The Polar Plunge is the biggest fundraiser for Special Olympics Minnesota. All funds raised by Plungers help Special Olympics MN provide year-round training and services to over 8,100 athletes in the state. Our local law enforcement drives this event and it gets bigger every year! Let's make 2021 the best!

Did you know:

$2.50 Provides a first place athlete with a gold medal at an SOMN competition.
$5.00 Provides a meal to an athlete at an SOMN competition.
$10 Provides a hearing screening and hearing aids to an SOMN athlete.
$15 Provides a non-invasive dental screening, hygiene education, toothbrush, toothpaste and mouth guard to an SOMN athlete.
$20 Provides physical therapy screening and stretch/exercise coaching to an SOMN athlete.
$30 Puts a child through an 8 week SOMN Young Athletes season.
$45 Sends a coach to SOMN’s Sports Academy training program.
$60 Provides an eye examination and a pair of glasses to 2 SOMN athletes.
$100 Sends a Unified Pair to SOMN’s Athlete Leadership Program (ALPs University).
$250 Implements a Respect Campaign into a school, business or organization.
$300 Provides necessary equipment for an entire Young Athletes season.
$500 Provides funding to start a new Special Olympics Minnesota Delegation.
$1,250 Sends an SOMN athlete to Special Olympics USA Games.
KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW

Quick-link to the recent City of Buffalo public meetings:
'"Respect for ourselves guides our morals. Respect for others guides our manners".
Laurence Sterne
Be sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce
763-682-4902
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