The Sandwich Business Group
The Sandwich Business Group is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to facilitate affordable collaborative advertising and marketing projects for businesses located in Sandwich, New Hampshire. Some of our businesses cater to visitors, some to residents, and many to both. Promoting the economic and social vitality of our town is a benefit to everyone who cares about Sandwich. We encourage all Sandwich businesses to join the group and participate in as many projects as they wish.
The next scheduled meeting is on June 1 (8:30 am) via Zoom.
From Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce
Our economy is beginning to take steps to move safely forward toward a brighter tomorrow. The Governor began providing the guidelines to open some industry sectors last week and additional businesses began expanding services today. It's like creating a whole new business plan for many of YOU. On Friday, more updates were announced for allocations and expenditures of the Coronavirus Relief Fund, otherwise known as the CARES Act Flex Funds. Your business may be eligible for these programs/funds/grants. To find out more, click here.
Today, I am very excited to announce that the Lakes Region Chamber is now able to offer a Group 401(k) Plan. This member benefit has been created as a Multiple Employer Aggregation Program (MEAP) endorsed by the Lakes Region Chamber and made available to our chamber member businesses. Do you currently offer a 401(k) plan to your employees? Are you looking for potential cost savings to your business? Curious about flexible design options? Are you looking for new employee benefits that may provide support for talent retention and recruitment? If you would like to learn more about Lakes Region Chamber Member 401(k) Plan Program, e-mail Joanne Haight. Information sessions are being coordinated. Stay tuned!
This Wednesday, May 20th, the Chamber is offering a FREE webinar "Importance of Online Listings" hosted by Windhill Design. Click here to register. We are always listening for ideas for additional education topics that you find helpful. Let us know! Supporting our local business community is our mission. The Lakes Region Chamber is actively promoting all businesses whether essential or non-essential using social media, digital marketing, print and radio. Join together to promote our #TakeOutTuesday, #GiftCardWednesday, #LakesRegionStrong initiatives.
Is your organization interested in participating in our new school to work initiative Visual Bus to Business videos? Our goal is to introduce and provide virtual career exploration to students engaging our talent pipeline to learn about our local businesses and the people who work there.
We know liability is a heavy concern for business as you open your doors and welcome back employees, customers and vendors. We are closely monitoring the proposed "safe harbor" to protect businesses from COVID-19 related liability litigation at both state and federal levels.
Today’s normal may be virtual or six feet apart with a mask, but we are supporting you and we look forward to seeing you soon! Stay well, Karmen Gifford, President, Lakes Region Chamber
Main Street Relief Fund
Coronavirus Relief Fund Payments to NH small businesses
This prequalifying request for information will begin on May 15, 2020 and end two weeks later on May 29, 2020. The short time period will ensure relief is quickly provided to mitigate any further damage to New Hampshire small businesses, keeping doors open and preserving jobs. Every eligible New Hampshire small business desiring to obtain relief must submit the prequalification form with all required information by May 29, 2020, this is a mandatory.
Please download and read:
Our economy is beginning to take steps to move safely forward toward a brighter tomorrow. The Governor began providing the guidelines to open some industry sectors last week and additional businesses began expanding services today. It's like creating a whole new business plan for many of YOU. On Friday, more updates were announced for allocations and expenditures of the Coronavirus Relief Fund, otherwise known as the CARES Act Flex Funds. Your business may be eligible for these programs/funds/grants. To find out more, click here.
Today, I am very excited to announce that the Lakes Region Chamber is now able to offer a Group 401(k) Plan. This member benefit has been created as a Multiple Employer Aggregation Program (MEAP) endorsed by the Lakes Region Chamber and made available to our chamber member businesses. Do you currently offer a 401(k) plan to your employees? Are you looking for potential cost savings to your business? Curious about flexible design options? Are you looking for new employee benefits that may provide support for talent retention and recruitment? If you would like to learn more about Lakes Region Chamber Member 401(k) Plan Program, e-mail Joanne Haight. Information sessions are being coordinated. Stay tuned!
This Wednesday, May 20th, the Chamber is offering a FREE webinar "Importance of Online Listings" hosted by Windhill Design. Click here to register. We are always listening for ideas for additional education topics that you find helpful. Let us know! Supporting our local business community is our mission. The Lakes Region Chamber is actively promoting all businesses whether essential or non-essential using social media, digital marketing, print and radio. Join together to promote our #TakeOutTuesday, #GiftCardWednesday, #LakesRegionStrong initiatives.
Is your organization interested in participating in our new school to work initiative Visual Bus to Business videos? Our goal is to introduce and provide virtual career exploration to students engaging our talent pipeline to learn about our local businesses and the people who work there.
We know liability is a heavy concern for business as you open your doors and welcome back employees, customers and vendors. We are closely monitoring the proposed "safe harbor" to protect businesses from COVID-19 related liability litigation at both state and federal levels.
Today’s normal may be virtual or six feet apart with a mask, but we are supporting you and we look forward to seeing you soon! Stay well, Karmen Gifford, President, Lakes Region Chamber
Main Street Relief Fund
Coronavirus Relief Fund Payments to NH small businesses
This prequalifying request for information will begin on May 15, 2020 and end two weeks later on May 29, 2020. The short time period will ensure relief is quickly provided to mitigate any further damage to New Hampshire small businesses, keeping doors open and preserving jobs. Every eligible New Hampshire small business desiring to obtain relief must submit the prequalification form with all required information by May 29, 2020, this is a mandatory.
Please download and read:
| 20200515-small-business-relief-fund.pdf |
Governor Sununu announced his Stay at Home 2.0 Order on May 1 which supersedes his executive order #17 on March 26th which was in effect until May 4th. It reflects the recommendations of his Reopening Task Force. That Task Force has had a series of meetings over the past couple of weeks that included presentations from a number of industry groups. The result of their current deliberations is documented in a series of plans for various economic sectors and includes guidelines for employers, employees, customers, etc. The Stay at Home Order 2.0 is effective until May 31st. Besides the "essential services" identified in the original order, this revision opens up a few more sectors.
The current order notes that the state is taking a phased approach supported by facts, science and data. I would imagine that near the end of May, the guidelines that are now in effect will either be extended or loosened into a new "phase." However, the potential exists that the state would revert back to a more restrictive phase if supported by fact, science and data. There is no timeline or specifics for what will be included in each subsequent phase. The old line of "it depends" certainly holds true right now.
The link to get to the information is https://www.nheconomy.com/reopeningtaskforce. This is a specific tab on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) website.
Each of you should review this documentation to see what applies to you especially in the near future. If you aren't open now, could you consider opening under these restrictions? I would also encourage you to look at the minutes and presentations of the recent meetings. What jumps out at me is the consensus reached by what appears to be a diverse task force membership. The task force seems to be keenly aware of the impact restrictions will have if carried through the summer and their approach is very comprehensive in scope. I am sure that behind the more public image of the task force is a group of state BEA employees that is working diligently to develop recommended guidelines and solicit input from industry and the public.
The current order notes that the state is taking a phased approach supported by facts, science and data. I would imagine that near the end of May, the guidelines that are now in effect will either be extended or loosened into a new "phase." However, the potential exists that the state would revert back to a more restrictive phase if supported by fact, science and data. There is no timeline or specifics for what will be included in each subsequent phase. The old line of "it depends" certainly holds true right now.
The link to get to the information is https://www.nheconomy.com/reopeningtaskforce. This is a specific tab on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) website.
Each of you should review this documentation to see what applies to you especially in the near future. If you aren't open now, could you consider opening under these restrictions? I would also encourage you to look at the minutes and presentations of the recent meetings. What jumps out at me is the consensus reached by what appears to be a diverse task force membership. The task force seems to be keenly aware of the impact restrictions will have if carried through the summer and their approach is very comprehensive in scope. I am sure that behind the more public image of the task force is a group of state BEA employees that is working diligently to develop recommended guidelines and solicit input from industry and the public.
Broadband Committee and NHEC
Don Sutton writes: As I mentioned in my last update, the lack of broadband access was brought up during the meeting with Congressman Pappas and Senator Bradley. Leo Dwyer is on the board of the NHEC and has been pushing the board to be more supportive of broadband solutions using NHEC assets (poles). A petition was crafted to make broadband part of the overall NHEC mission. However, the board has voted to not recommend the petition which will be a part of the upcoming election. Dick Knox of the Sandwich Broadband committee put together the attached talking paper which describes the rationale for the suggested by-law change. Most of Sandwich is served by NHEC and the upcoming vote (later this month) will be critical in the goal of attaining better broadband capability for the town. So please review and more importantly, vote in the upcoming election.
Don Sutton writes: As I mentioned in my last update, the lack of broadband access was brought up during the meeting with Congressman Pappas and Senator Bradley. Leo Dwyer is on the board of the NHEC and has been pushing the board to be more supportive of broadband solutions using NHEC assets (poles). A petition was crafted to make broadband part of the overall NHEC mission. However, the board has voted to not recommend the petition which will be a part of the upcoming election. Dick Knox of the Sandwich Broadband committee put together the attached talking paper which describes the rationale for the suggested by-law change. Most of Sandwich is served by NHEC and the upcoming vote (later this month) will be critical in the goal of attaining better broadband capability for the town. So please review and more importantly, vote in the upcoming election.
| ballot_initiative_backgrounder_051420.pdf |
One of the things that got passed in the last Federal Bill (the 2 Trillion one) was the Payroll Protection Program. The purpose of the program is to help small businesses pay their employees over a 2.5 month period. Essentially you get a loan from the bank that can be turned into a grant. The best advice is to get info on the program at this link ( https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program ) and then contact your bank if interested.
This pdf which you can download below came from WEDCO who got it from the US Chamber of Commerce. So much information is coming out everyday. Please look at the website for some info but keep checking out other sources.
We have asked what the SBG can do for you, but also think about ways the SBG can help the community at large.
This pdf which you can download below came from WEDCO who got it from the US Chamber of Commerce. So much information is coming out everyday. Please look at the website for some info but keep checking out other sources.
We have asked what the SBG can do for you, but also think about ways the SBG can help the community at large.
| u.s._chamber_of_commerce_covid-19_ppp_small_business_guide.pdf |
Do you need masks for your business?
Businesses in need of disposable masks may submit a form to request masks from the State of New Hampshire.
A letter from SBG's president, Don Sutton, regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and how it affects our members.
"We request your assistance in finding out what your challenges are and what we as individuals and as a group can do to help all of us to get through this difficult situation."
"We request your assistance in finding out what your challenges are and what we as individuals and as a group can do to help all of us to get through this difficult situation."
| letterfromsbgpresident.pdf |
SBG's new president, Don Sutton, explains his vision for the organization.
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SBG's Mission is to:
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The annual meeting of the Sandwich Business Group was held January 12 at the Corner House with about 25 members in attendance. Many thanks to Lexi Townsend and the Corner House for a delicious buffet. Officers for 2020 will be: Don Sutton – President, Jon Greenawalt – Vice President, Mary-Ann Schmidt – Treasurer, Vicky Galkina – Secretary
Thank you, Don Brown! After more than a decade of leading the Sandwich Business Group with diplomacy, intelligence and good humor, Don Brown has stepped down as President. He will be missed. (And we hope he won't wander off too far...) SBG owes him a huge debt of gratitude. And thanks to Adam Nudd-Homeyer for his contributions to the group. Thanks to Jon Greenawalt for stepping up as Interim President while the group found a new President and for all the ways he supports Sandwich Business Group. |
Dick Seery and Jon Greenawalt at the SBG Annual Meeting
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