As Canby residents, workers, parents, children and business owners grapple with the unprecedented changes coming down the pike thanks to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Canby Area Chamber of Commerce is trying to stay ahead of the curve, providing resources that may prove helpful in the days to come.
“Things with the COVID-19 situation are advancing rapidly and the impacts to our business community continue to escalate,” Chamber Director Kyle Lang said in a March 16 email to members. “We continue to have conversations with local officials and to try and provide accurate information that is actionable.”
Greater Portland Inc. has assembled a clearinghouse for business relief program information and other resources that is being continually updated: https://greaterportlandinc.com/covid-business-resources
The SBA is offering information on disaster relief and other loan resources: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
The Oregon Employment Department has information about COVID-related business closures, layoffs and unemployment insurance benefits: https://www.oregon.gov/employ/Pages/COVID-19.aspx
Also through OED, the Work Share Oregon program offers an alternative for employers who are considering a layoff. Instead, an employer reduces the work hours for a group of workers who then can receive partial Unemployment Insurance benefits: https://www.oregon.gov/employ/Unemployment/Pages/Work-Share-Program.aspx
“We appreciate these are trying times, but we know that our community is a strong one and capable of great kindness, great ingenuity and powerful collaboration,” Lang said. “We hope the Chamber of Commerce can be of some small assistance in these efforts.”
The SBA has provided a worksheet for COVID-impacted businesses to complete if they are seeking assistance. After completing the worksheet, the firm needs to locate their local emergency management representative and email their representative.
Finally, affected business owners are urged to reach out to Leah Horner, Regional Solutions Director and Jobs and Economy Policy Adviser for the State of Oregon, to submit testimony about business impacts as a result of any precautionary measures brought on by COVID-19. Her email is leah.horner@state.or.us.
The disbursement of federal aid dollars is dependent on a rational and explicit statement of need based on current conditions, and businesses are being asked to submit testimony to support that effort.
At the request of the Executive Board, the chamber office has been closed to the public, but staff will continue to attend briefings, read through and compile information resources, and make themselves available to members. The chamber can be reached at their regular phone number, 503-266-4600, and through email at chamber@canbyareachamber.org.
Even more COVID-related business resources from the Canby Area Chamber of Commerce available here.
