Volume 5 — Wednesday, July 8, 2020
President's Message
To our Valued Chamber Members and followers! 
 
Last week I had the opportunity to meet many of our business owners during my walk about in downtown Sonora. I wanted to personally deliver the message that the City of Sonora has instructed the Sonora Chamber to postpone 2nd Saturday and our Coffill Park Music series until September. My news was met with complete understanding and, when asked, the vast majority of the merchants said that business is good. It was very encouraging to hear that not only are our local businesses surviving this pandemic but they're doing okay and are optimistic. 
 
In the coming weeks you'll be receiving your membership invoices from the Chamber. Your membership fees help to support our many programs and events, as well this new Sonora Chamber Connect e-newsletter! 
 
As always, our mission is to promote and support community, business and tourism through marketing, promotion, and events, in order to make the greater Sonora Area an amazing place to live, work and play
Stay safe and be well,

Katie Dunn
Sonora Chamber President

Thank You to Our Gold Sponsors
Innovation & Business Assistance
Cole Przybyla
Director
Innovation & Business Assistance  
Tuolumne County
NEW WEBINAR SERIES: TUOLUMNE TALKS BUSINESS

Tuolumne talks Business is a show dedicated to engaging businesses through sharing growth strategies, pertinent available resources, innovative data use and adaptation plans to strengthen our local economy. The show will be recorded and available via live webinar, podcast,  Instagram  and email newsletter.

If businesses are interested in asking questions during the show, we recommend joining via Webinar Registration link  HERE  .

Tuolumne talks Business will occur weekly on Thursday mornings at 9:00AM and are scheduled for 30 minutes or less.

Shows will include topics/features such as Opportunity Investment Zones, California Competes Tax Credit, the creator of Hack my Business Podcast, small business data experts for integration into business models, experts on digital tools to start a business and county leaders in business, county government and organizations.

You can find the podcast version of Tuolumne talks Business on Apple iTunes and all podcast download locations starting the week of July 6, 2020 (First webinar was July 2nd).

Tuolumne talks Business blogs will be hosted on the soon to come Innovation and Business Assistance website,  www.selecttuolumne.com

If you have a recommendation, idea or would like more information on Tuolumne talks Business, please contact Cole Przybyla at 209-288-4030 or  [email protected]
Has Your Business Taken the Healthy Pledge?
The Tuolumne County Healthy Pledge is a voluntary program for Tuolumne County businesses to commit to clean and healthy standards for their guests and employees to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As a priority recovery initiative, this free program is being led by the Visit Tuolumne County team.

Sign Up for Your Free Directory Listing
Please add your FREE listing to a new online business directory. All Tuolumne County businesses are encouraged and welcome to post!

This is also a great tool to help jump start our local economy.
Add all your business information today at:

Thank You to Our Bronze Sponsors
An Appeal For Your Cooperation
Turu VanderWiel
Chief of Police
As our community opens back up, there is more opportunity for transmitting the COVID-19 virus. We are working closely with county health officials, and there is great concern about the current rate of spread within our community.

I understand that everyone has their own opinion. Still, I am asking everyone to respect the state guidelines and the orders of the local Health Officer. These directives are in place to help slow the spread of this disease. Most importantly, we should be mindful of the overall welfare of our community and the health concerns of our families, friends, and neighbors.

As a community, I believe it is all of our responsibility to do everything we can to get through this pandemic as smoothly as possible. We started off setting the standard by keeping our numbers down, and we have come too far to regress.

Although many activities are now permitted, it doesn't mean that they are risk-free. I encourage everyone to wear face coverings when inside publicly accessed buildings or anytime you are within close proximity to others. Avoid large gatherings, sanitize surfaces, wash your hands regularly, and practice social distancing.

Also, to respond to recent questions regarding the enforcement of the Governor's guidance on face coverings, I see law enforcement's position now as I did when the original Executive Order was issued.

We will do our part to educate and to encourage compliance through nontraditional enforcement methods to the extent possible, as I don't believe this should be a criminal enforcement matter. The City of Sonora still has an ordinance in place that provides an administrative, non-criminal option for regulating compliance when needed.

Our community's freedom to thrive, along with the ability of schools and community organizations to return to a state of normalcy, relies heavily on us as a community to work together as a team. Thank you for doing your part!

Welcome New Chamber Member
We welcome our newest member to the chamber, Fittin' Pretty, on Washington Street. Shanna Huber opened the shop last October and has created a comfortable, welcoming space for personalized bra fittings.
Fittin' Pretty's inventory also includes lingerie, loungewear, day wear, and other beautifully curated accesories and specialty items.

Shanna welcomes you to stop by and see what is new or just say hi.  "Get ready to feel beautiful."

Address: 54 S. Washington Street, Sonora, CA 95370
Store Hours: Tuesday - Saturday — 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Phone:  1-209-532-6149



Latest info from Valley Sierra SBDC
Howard White
Valley Sierra SBDC
The SBA Coronavirus Disaster Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will help small businesses pay their employees for approximately 2 months plus some money for rent/mortgage or utilities, and if done correctly, can be fully forgiven by the SBA. PPP ended on Tuesday 6/30, but less than 24 hours later, both the US Senate and House approved a 5-week extension until August 8th. $129 Billion unused dollars are available - so once President Trump signs the extension into law as expected in the next day or two, businesses who missed the prior two windows will be able to apply again - contact your bank to apply. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is also still open for new applicants - apply here:   https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/  .

Please contact Howard at  [email protected]  or the SBDC Ceter at (209) 422-6416 if you have questions or would like more information about these two programs. 
  
SBDC will be hosting a FREE Business Start-up Workshop zoom webinar on Tuesday July 14th, at 9am for anyone considering opening a business in Tuolumne County in the next 3-9 months. For more info or to sign up, please click here:   https://ucmsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/13214
 
Enjoy Our Farmer's Markets
Twain Harte Mountain Air Market runs each Thursday through September 3 rd

Thursdays
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Eproson Park


Peaceful Valley Farmers Market runs through the
summer and into t he fall

Fridays
4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

14888 Peaceful Valley Road
Sonora, California, 95370

The Sonora Farmer's Market will run through the end of October, 2020. 

Saturdays
7:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Cross-streets of
Theall and Stewart

Tuolumne County Needs Volunteer Contact Tracers
Michelle Jachetta, MPA
Health Program Supervisor, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator | Public Information Officer
Tuolumne County Public Health Department
Tuolumne County is actively looking for volunteers to work as Contact Tracers. Contact tracers work to identify people who have an infectious disease and the people they come in contact with before diagnosis.

The job of a tracer typically involves interviewing persons with Covid-19 to identify everyone they had close contact with during the period they may have been infectious. Tracers notify contacts of their potential exposure, refer them for testing, and stay in communication to monitor signs and symptoms of Covid-19. They then will connect contacts with services they might need.

Please enroll in California Disaster Healthcare Volunteers , using the following process:
 
  1. Click Here
  2. Click “Add Organizations”
  3. Click the little arrow next to “County Organizations”
  4. Click on Tuolumne County
  5. Click the “Select” button on the bottom right
  6. Continue to complete the registration
Thank You to Our Community Sponsors
Sonora Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 3084
Sonora, CA 95370
​209-694-4008