LOCAL, STATE & FEDERAL LAW CHANGES INFORMATION NEWS SCHOOL REOPENINGS
Prevent the spread at your business Industry Specific Strategies Business Support
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE LOCAL Recovery LoaNS
Like you, we are continuing to monitor the developments about Coronavirus (COVID-19). The highest priority of any business is to protect the health and safety of employees and customers. As the region’s advocate for business and the community, it is our goal to keep you informed by providing resources to help keep your employees safe and healthy. We encourage everyone to understand the facts about COVID-19 to make informed decisions.
The need for us to collectively work together to remain strong and supportive of one another continues. It is encouraging to see the Fox Cities moving forward. While we may not be back to our normal just yet, our next chapter is on the horizon. We will rebuild together. We are #strongertogether. We are #FoxCitiesStrong
Thank you to We Energies, Bergstrom Automotive, Thrivent, Kimberly-Clark and Community First Credit Union for supporting this initiative and to Goodwill NCW, Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Appleton International Airport, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Wisconsin, Fox Valley Technical College and United Way Fox Cities for participating in this shared mission as we climb out of these difficult times.
Chamber Office Update
After two months exclusively working remotely, our office has reopened. Limited capacity will be allowed in our facility and precautions are in place for the health of our employees and visitors. Many of our employees will continue to work remotely with some being available in the office each day. We are continuing to follow guidelines recommended by the CDC and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). As time allows, we truly look forward to seeing you all in person soon.
What do you need to know?
- We ask that visitors enter through our main entrance.
- We will be limiting the number of guests in our building to five people at a time.
- All in-person meetings will be conducted virtually or by phone.
- Our Chamber team will continue to work remotely and serve you, our members, in the best way possible.
- Please reach out to the Chamber team via phone or email. General inquiries can be sent to info@foxcitieschamber.com or by calling (920) 734-7101.
Mask up, Fox Cities
In an effort to remind the community about mask wearing, please consider using this poster within your business to encourage customers and employees to wear a mask. Mask wearing helps to protect our community and keep our economy open and strong.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
TAKE THE PLEDGE:
The Fox Cities Chamber is proud to be a Be Safe Wisconsin partner. Led by ThedaCare, Be Safe Wisconsin is a broad and ongoing group of like-minded organizations and individuals dedicated to amplifying the importance of a sustained commitment to safe behaviors in the evolving fight against COVID-19.
Be Safe Wisconsin will serve as a voice of unity and as a valuable resource to area residents as we all seek to navigate this ongoing journey together.
Right now, Be Safe Wisconsin asks residents to:
- Continue adhering to Governor Evers’ Safer at Home Order as long as it is in place.
- Once the Safer at Home Order is lifted at the appropriate time, continue staying home as much as possible and practicing good hygiene, including hand washing and sanitizing.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces, including mobile devices.
- Remain at least 6 feet apart from others and wear a mask or face covering if you must absolutely go out.
- Take the Be Safe pledge on BeSafeWisconsin.org, sign up for updates, access local resources and share helpful information.
Learn more at BeSafeWisconsin.org
PRACTICE HEALTHY HABITS:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
COVID-19 Symptoms & Testing Guidelines from CDC
We also encourage you to communicate with your employees and customers about actions you are taking to be proactive during this time.
HANG POSTERS ENCOURAGING:
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLEANING, SANITIZING AND DISINFECTING:
- CLEANING removes dirt and most germs. Use soap and water. A third party certified green cleaner is preferred. In conference or meeting rooms, cleaning is the focus.
- SANITIZING reduces germs to safe levels, for example in food service environments. Food code regulations have specific requirements for sanitizers in the cafeteria and kitchen.
- DISINFECTING kills most germs, depending on the type of chemical, and only when used as directed on the label.
LOOK UP RESOURCES SPECIFIC TO YOUR INDUSTRY:
Consult websites for your industry associations. The CDC has information for:
INFORMATION:
Be informed through credible sources.
We are working daily to find the best ways to help our members navigate through the uncharted waters of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keep ourselves informed.
On the following pages, we have compiled selected information and websites where you can find more information on COVID-19 and additional resources to help your organization.
COVID-19 INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES PREVENT THE SPREAD AT YOUR BUSINESS
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:
5-18-2020 - Under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created by the CARES Act, loans may be forgiven if borrowers use the proceeds to maintain their payrolls and pay other specified expenses. View the U.S. Chamber's Guide to PPP Loan Forgiveness which helps borrowers understand the process by which their loan forgiveness amount will be calculated and the overall approach of the loan forgiveness process.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES
OUTAGAMIE COUNTY LOAN WINNEBAGO COUNTY LOAN
NEWS:
- 3/12/2020 - Gov. Evers Declares Public Health Emergency Due to COVID-19
- 3/17/2020 - Ascension Wisconsin Update
- 3/17/2020 - ThedaCare Update
- 3/17/2020 - Gov. Evers Department of Public Health Services Order - Prohibiting Mass Gatherings of 10 People or More
- 3/17/2020 - WEDC working to secure federal small business disaster loans for Wisconsin (WEDC)
- 3/17/2020 - Governor Evers Restricts Gatherings of 10+ but Exempts Offices, Manufacturing Facilities (WMC)
- 3/17/2020 - U.S. House of Representatives Legislation Passed in Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Legislative Fiscal Bureau)
- 3/18/2020 - WEDC Announces Targeted Grants to Small Businesses Suffering Losses Due to Coronavirus Emergency (WEDC)
- 3/18/2020 - WEDC Offering $5 Million Grants for Small Businesses (Biz Times Milwaukee)
- 3/18/2020 - Facebook Announce $100 Million Program For Small Businesses Impact by Coronavirus (CNBC)
- 3/18/2020 - Evers Orders Restrictions on Child Care Facilities to Slow COVID-19 Spread (Biz Times Milwaukee)
- 3/19/2020 - ThedaCare cancelling all non- urgent procedures
- 3/19/2020 - Ascension Wisconsin - Northeast Region COVID-19 Update
- 3/19/2020 - Tony Evers restricts child care center capacity as state COVID-19 cases top 100 (Wisconsin State Journal)
- 3/19/2020 - Wisconsin manufacturers increase production to keep up with coronavirus demand (Wisconsin Public Radio - NPR)
- 3/19/2020 - See who'd be eligible for coronavirus checks under Senate GOP plan (NBC News)
- 3/20/2020 - IRS extends tax filing deadline to July 15 as coronavirus spreads, Mnuchin says (CNBC)
- 3/20/2020 - WEDC releases guide for small businesses and the community organizations that serve them (WEDC)
- 3/20/2020 - U.S. Department of the Treasury, IRS and the U.S. Department of Labor announce plan to implement Coronavirus-related leave for workers and tax credits for small and midsize businesses to swiftly recover the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave (U.S. Department of Labor)
- 3/24/2020 - Gov. Evers Directs DHS to Issue Safer at Home Order (Office of the Governor | State of Wisconsin)
- 3/24/2020 - U.S. Department Of Labor Publishes Guidance Explaining Paid Sick Leave And Expanded Family and Medical Leave Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (U.S. Department of Labor)
- 3/25/2020 - The Senate just passed a $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package. Here's what's in it. (vox.com)
- 4/3/2020 - WMC Releases COVID-19 Employer Toolkit (WMC)
- 4/9/2020 - Wisconsin Businesses Call on Gov. Evers for a Plan to Restart the Economy (WMC)
- 4/13/2020 - U.S. Chamber Launches New "Path Forward" Program to Lead National Conversation on How America Can Return to Work (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
- 4/15/2020 - U.S. Chamber of Commerce Launches Nationwide "Save Small Business" Initiative (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
- 4/16/2020 - Gov. Evers Directs DHS to Extend Wisconsin's Safer at Home Order (Office of the Governor | State of Wisconsin)
- 4/20/2020 - Tony Evers unveils criteria for eventually reopening Wisconsin businesses (madison.com)
- 4/22/2020 - 35% of Wisconsin Businesses Surveyed Felt They Could Not Be Viable After Three Months Of Current Circumstances (New North)
- 4/27/2020 - Gov. Evers Announces Expanded Opportunities for Certain Nonessential Businesses (Office of the Governor | State of Wisconsin)
- 4/28/2020 - Gov. Evers Directs DNR to Reopen Several State Parks and Forests with Special Conditions (Office of the Governor | State of Wisconsin)
- 5/8/2020 - Gov. Evers Announces Grant Program for Ethnically Diverse Micro-Businesses (Office of the Governor | State of Wisconsin)
- 5/11/2020 - Gov. Evers Announces Another Turn of the Dial for Wisconsin Businesses (Office of the Governor | State of Wisconsin)
- 5/13/2020 - Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down 'Safer at Home' Order (Wisconsin Public Radio)
- 5/15/2020 - Outagamie Recinds Safer-At-Home Order
- 5/15/2020 - City of Menasha Lifts Safer at Home Order and Issues COVID-19 Recommendations
- 5/18/2020 - Gov. Evers Announces $75 Million We're All In Grant Program and Initiative to Spur Wisconsin's Economic Recovery, Promote Safe Business Practices (Office of the Governor | State of Wisconsin)
- 5/18/2020 - PPP loan forgiveness applications now available (biztimes.com)
- 6/1/2020 - Applications to open June 15 for $75 million We're All In Small Business Grants (WEDC)
- 7/8/2020 - Outagamie to Require Protective Masks (Outagamie County news release)
- 7/8/2020 - Outagamie County announces mask mandate for its facilities (wbay.com)
- 7/30/2020 - Gov. Evers Issues Executive Order Declaring Public Health Emergency and Requiring Face Coverings Statewide (Office of the Governor | State of Wisconsin)
LOCAL, STATE & FEDERAL LAW CHANGES:
7-30-2020 - Gov. Tony Evers today declared a Public Health Emergency and issued an Emergency Order requiring individuals to wear face coverings when indoors and not in a private residence, with some exceptions as clarified and defined in the order.
Read Executive Order #82 declaring a public health emergency | Read Emergency Order #1 Requiring Face Coverings Statewide | FAQs
VIEW ALL RECENT LAW CHANGES ESSENTIAL VS. NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES
SCHOOL DISTRICT REOPENING PLANS
Back to school is right around the corner for our Fox Cities area students and our school districts are doing their best to create safe and healthy learning environments in response to the pandemic. Responding to COVID-19 in schools is a monumental undertaking.
FULL REOPENING PLANS & RESOURCES REOPENING QUICK GLANCE
BUSINESS STRATEGIES:
Our employees and their families need to be safe. They also need jobs. How we as a community respond impacts both.
Your employees may not be elderly, have a chronic underlying condition (lung or heart disease or diabetes), or have a compromised immune system. But they may be the caregiver for someone who does.
Following these strategies ensures your employees, customers and business partners that you are acting in their best interest.
Review Suggested Strategies Industry specific Guidelines
We strongly encourage our members to stay informed about COVID-19 by reviewing the links provided above. Thank you for doing your part to ensure the health and safety of our community. Please contact our team at the Chamber with any questions at info@foxcitieschamber.com or (920) 734-7101.