March 30, 2020
The Shakopee Chamber Of Commerce Is OPEN For Business
We are working from home and can be reached via email or cell phone.

Angie Whitcomb, President & CEO
Cell: 612-210-3090

Tim Zunker, VP of Marketing
Cell: 320-493-8605

Ashley Grotewold, Main Street Director
Cell: 605-682-9068

Cristy Chadderdon, Billing & Operations Manager
Cell: 612-245-1183
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As a reminder, many local businesses are open during this time. Please support Shakopee's economy by supporting Shakopee's businesses.
Shakopee Area Resources For COVID-19

The Shakopee Chamber and Visitors Bureau has compiled a list of helpful resources for business and personal issues related to COVID-19. You can find this list on our website, www.shakopee.org . We will update as information becomes available.

If you have any additions, please contact us at  [email protected] .
Small Business Webinar With Congresswoman Angie Craig TOMORROW (Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 PM)


Tomorrow night, Rep. Craig's office will host a free webinar for small business owners who are working through the impacts of COVID-19. Rep. Craig will be on the webinar and discuss the options available to small business owners through the CARES Act passed into law last Friday. She will be joined by Brian McDonald of the Minnesota Office of the Small Business Administration, and the conversation will be moderated by Maureen Scallen-Failor of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Paycheck Protection Program

On March 27, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This bill will  provides significant support to businesses . The signature piece of the new law is the “Paycheck Protection Program” which will provide $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid COVID-19 and economic downturn.

This new program provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses who maintain their payroll during this emergency. Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward. Additional details, including the list of lenders offering loans under the program, will be available in the coming weeks as the law in implemented. In the meantime, our friends at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have prepared an  easy-to-understand checklist  to guide businesses and self-employed individuals through this new program as they prepare to file for a loan.
Who Is Hiring Right Now?

While many businesses have been ordered to temporarily close in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19, some Minnesota businesses are not only staying open – they are also hiring large numbers of workers and even offering hiring incentives. Not only can you earn a paycheck in these industries, but these jobs can help serve Minnesotans and save lives.

Overall, more than 3,650 new job openings were posted recently on the state’s online job bank. Similar to an ordinary week, jobs in the health care industry accounted for 23% of all new jobs posted, with hospitals and nursing homes having the largest demand for workers.

In addition to health care operations, many other businesses providing essential goods and services are hiring. Among them are grocery stores, pharmacies, transportation and delivery services, banks, child care and food production, which must continue to operate even under the Stay at Home order. You can search for open positions in Minnesota on  CareerForceMN.com .
Allina Health Is Caring For Caregivers

As Minnesotans face the challenges of COVID-19, the role of front line caregivers has never been more crucial. We need to keep our medical care providers in their roles, doing what they do best. This is why the foundations of Allina Health are joining together in an effort to support the needs of all their caregivers at this important time.

Their new Caring for Caregivers fund will provide immediate support for their employees who experience financial challenges during this crisis. With your support, the Caring for Caregivers Fund will help cover mortgage or rent expenses, car payments, child care and utility expenses, and other financial hardships that may arise as their team members give their full attention to caring for those who are seriously ill.

Amazon Supports Shakopee Schools During COVID-19 Closure

One day after Governor Tim Walz issued a statewide school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon reached out to Shakopee Public Schools to offer help.
  
“Amazon asked how they could help us during this crisis, and responded with an immediate and very generous $10,000 donation,” said Monika Summer, Teaching and Learning Supervisor. “We were able to purchase basic personal care items and learning resources to support families experiencing homelessness. We’re now able to provide families with food, personal care items, and resources that support distance learning. “ 
 
Community Partnerships Manager Jenny Ames says Amazon’s generosity means a great deal to the school district. “The partnership between Shakopee Public Schools and Amazon continues to grow. They have been responsive and generous, not only with their donations, but in providing authentic learning for our students and teachers through industry tours and other experiences. We are very grateful for their support.”
 
Amazon’s donation will also be used to strengthen STEM education in the district’s elementary schools.