A Message from GMPCC President Sandy Barton

Governor Greg Abbott’s state-wide stay-at-home order has been lifted effective May 1, 2020. While we understand there are still some restrictions in place, and social distancing must still be observed, we are excited to see many of our local businesses re-open as quickly as possible. Governor Abbott has released Texans Helping Texas guidelines for all of us as we work to re-open business and still keep COVID19 from spreading.

As many of our embers in the business community, the Chamber is OPEN for business! While Jax and I continued to work from home during the Stay-at-Home order, we are now back in the office every day from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Feel free to give us a call or drop in to say, Hi! While we will respect social distancing guidelines, we are here and happy to help!

As a reminder, in April the US Chamber announced the Save Our Small Business grant program, which provides grants of $5,000 to small businesses (3-10 employees) in economically distressed areas. The good news is — our Greater Magnolia Parkway community is not considered particularly economically distressed. That said, some of our member businesses may qualify. Find more information on qualification, and grant timelines by CLICKING HERE.

The federal government’s stimulus package, the CARES Act, provides for the Paycheck Protection Program, is beginning to make an impact in our community. A number of our members have reported receiving funds via the PPP which is an SBA loan program providing loans to employers to maintain their workforce, some or all of which might be forgiven. These funds should provide some relief to those businesses significantly impacted by COVID-19. But remember, there are specific guidelines for loan forgiveness — and a business will need to pay back the loan if the funds are not used for keeping employees on the payroll and within a specific timeframe. So please — check with your bank, accountant or CPA for the specifics on accounting for the use of those funds so that you will be able to have those funds forgiven!

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) provides loans to small businesses due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The loans offer up to $2 million in assistance to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills. There is an option to include a request of a $10,000 cash grant, payable shortly after the loan application is received. This program is not intended to permit businesses to “double dip” with the PPP. It is available to all businesses, including non-profits and may be a solution for short-term cash infusion. The application is straightforward and available only via the SBA website, not through your local banker. Visit https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/ to apply for an EIDL program loan.

Here are some updates for Chamber events:

• The May 4th Golf Classic tournament has been postponed to September 14. More information will be coming and all sponsorships and registrations will be honored in September.

• Do to the “stay at home” order being lifted, the Chamber office will re-open on a beginning Monday, May 4. We will continue to evaluate our schedule as needed to respond to need of our community. We will continue to operate to support our members, and can be available by phone or individual appointment. Please contact us at gmpcc@greatermagnoliaparkwaycc.org or call 281-356-1488.

Any updates or changes to our schedule will be communicated via email, on our website, and in social media. We will be respectful of your inbox, and continue to post most information on our social media platforms and on our Chamber homepage. Please pan to visit www.GreaterMagnoliaParkwayCC.org regularly for breaking news and updates for our businesses. We are committed to supporting our members and the community. We ask for everyone’s safety that if you or those close to you are showing signs of illness to remain at home.

Stay tuned to our Chamber website and social media for updates on COVID-19 response programs. Or feel free to call me at the numbers below.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this message please contact us at 281-356-1488 or gmpcc@greatermagnoliaparkwaycc.org.

PLATINUM MEMBERS

GOLD MEMBERS