SPRING 2020: Help for Small Businesses
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A Message from Your Board President

The past several weeks have been challenging for business, to say the least. Covid-19 has forever changed the World. With change comes new challenges, but also new opportunity for our business community to think outside the box, stand together, and show our strength.
    Lost Sierra Chamber of Commerce wants you to know that we are working behind the scenes to find resources that may help your business during and after the crisis passes. Furthermore, we want you to reach out to us if you think there is something your Chamber could or should be doing at this time to help you. If you are able to provide services, and have different hours or special restrictions, please let us know. Also, if you have resource information you would like us to pass on to our business community, do send it on. We will try to communicate information in a more timely manner going forward. Remember, many people working together, and not just a handful of individuals carrying all of the weight, will overcome the adversity of the current moment. 
    And, finally, while our offices remain closed to the public, we do have amazing Wi-Fi, free to the public, outside the building on the corner of Highways 89 and 70. We even set out a couple patio chairs. According to Mara Howes of TIGER 21 and John Vaccaro of Pro Core Technologies, both from New York, “It’s the best Wi-Fi!” The couple has been conducting business every day for the last few weeks since being stranded here in Plumas County and forced to “shelter in place.” Many thanks to our amazing internet service, donated by Plumas-Sierra Telecommunication.
    Though this newsletter is lengthy, it has a lot of good content. Please take a few minutes to scan through it when you have a chance.
    Thank you in advance for your patience during this unprecedented time. Stay safe and healthy. We look forward to serving you under a “new norm” one day!

- Donna M. Mills

A Bright Spot in a Gloomy Situation

Donna Mills

I didn't want to make you wait until the end of this newsletter to read this. If you have been frustrated about our current state of affairs, here is something to cheer you up.
    Susan DeLano of the Brewing Lair right here is Blairsden is taking the bull by the horns, and has created an opportunity for us all to reach out to those in our community most in need...in spite of "social distancing!" 

    Prior to COVID-19 families in our community needed help putting food on their tables. Now, more than ever, these families need assistance.
    With your support and through the "YES WE CAN!" program, delicious and nutritious food will be prepared and delivered weekly to Plumas County's Community Assisted Nutrition (CAN) programs. Meals are available at CAN to anyone who walks through their doors. Every Thursday, we'll deliver meals to Portola's CAN and Fridays to Quincy's CAN.   
    For more information on how to support the Yes We Can! program and read Susan's story, please visit https://www.patreon.com/yeswecan. 

Help for Small Business

Attention Small Businesses Impacted by #COVID19: The USCC Foundation has teamed up with Vistaprint on a new SaveSmallBusiness grant fund. Every dollar counts. Learn more about how this $5,000 grant program can help meet short-term business needs at https://savesmallbusiness.com/

Small Business Loan Forgiveness
There is also a $349B Paycheck Protection Program that provides federal government loan forgiveness (under Small Business Administration (SBA) Section 7(a) loans) for small businesses to pay up to eight weeks of utility bills (including electric, telephone, and internet), mortgage interest and rent, and payroll costs, among other uses. Information on the Paycheck Protection Program can be found at: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program-ppp.
 

COVID-19 Anti-body Test Brings Hope to Californians

According to a recent article written by Caitlin Conrad last week for KSBW, Channel 8 out of Monterey, CA, researchers are using an anti-body test from the company Premier Biotech that can tell within minutes if a person has developed antibodies to COVID-19. The test uses a simple finger prick to draw blood. Victor Davis Hanson, a senior fellow with Stanford's Hoover Institute, said the testing could help as we start the recovery process. He does not advocate lifting social distancing rules at this time, but said testing could help get some people back to work.
    Conrad and those in the medical community theorize that many Californians have already been exposed to the virus, and possibly as far back as October 2019. These people may already have developed anti-bodies to COVID-19, preventing them from becoming sick [again] with the virus.
    "It is going to allow us to get back to normal much more quickly because there will be many more people than we think that have anti-bodies," he said.
    With positive results in recovered folks, more nurses and caregivers could get back on the front lines of the pandemic, as well as small business owners who keep our economy going.
    Unfortunately, according to a press release from CNN just released Wednesday, April 15, State health leaders still see no immediate relief for millions of Americans locked down to try to slow the spread of the COVID-19. States and cities across the country plan to keep non-essential businesses and schools closed for weeks more at the very least as they build up resources to handle thousands more COVID-19 cases.

Event Cancellations and Postponements in Plumas County

With so much uncertainty about when restrictions will be lifted, many if not all, social events in Plumas County and beyond have been cancelled or at least postponed until at least the Fall of 2020. When and if things change, LSCC will inform you of upcoming events and how the “new normal” will affect those events in order to keep you and the public safe.

Local Events Thru July 2020

  • Friends of the NRA Banquet & Auction (May): POSTPONED until November 2020 (at this time)
  • Grizzly Scramble Golf Tournament (June): POSTPONED until further notice
  • Graeagle Independence Day Fun Run (July): CANCELLED
  • Graeagle Fireworks (July): CANCELLED
  • Gold Discovery Days (July): CANCELLED
  • Portola Concert Series (July): ON HOLD until further notice

COVID-19 Crisis Resources

Important information below is provided by our friends at PSREC:

Plumas County Crisis and Emergency Services
  • Plumas Crisis and Intervention (530) 283-5515
  • Portola Family Resource Center (530) 832-1827
  • Plumas County Community Development Commission – 530-283-2466
  • Eastern Plumas County Assistance Network Food Bank – 530-832-4570
  • Salvation Army – Portola – 530-832-1827
  • Community Assistance Network – 530-283-0262

Sierra County
  • Sierra County Family Resource Center (530) 993-1110

Important Updates from State & County Officials

Shane Starr from Doug LaMalfa's Office sent this on...
For Immediate Release – April 15, 2020   Contact: Savannah Glasgow – (202) 525-8538
Gabriel Hydrick, Plumas County Administrator sent this on...


 
Chamber Information - SPRING 2020: Help for Small Businesses