At the Texas City – La Marque Chamber of Commerce, we’re working to keep our members informed and connected with our community as we learn more about the Coronavirus. We know that you are also experiencing unexpected challenges, and we’re committed to providing as much support as possible. We have both remote and on-site staff, but we are ALL available by phone, text or email. Please utilize us as a means for communicating any information that will benefit your business. Our eblasts are your platform to communicate with the community. We are postponing meetings and events that were scheduled for this month and will update you on future dates. Our priority is the safety of our communities and the prosperity of our businesses. Please refer to our “Resources” tab under “News” tab for available references.

 

NEW! Texas City - La Marque Chamber of Commerce Guidebook to Reopening Your Business:

https://directory.tclmchamber.com/news/details/guidebook-for-reopening-your-business

 

$1.5 Billion in EDA CARES Act Grants Available
The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is now accepting applications for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) supplemental funds (EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance) intended to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. The funding is to help speed communities' economic recovery from the pandemic through implementing economic recovery activities, such as entrepreneurial support programs, infrastructure, and facilities construction to save or create jobs. Funds are available through the 2020 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Notice of Funding Opportunity (FY20 PWEAA NOFO, see page 46). The Gulf Coast Economic Development District will be working to provide technical assistance for applicants.

https://www.eda.gov/coronavirus/

 

State of Texas Announces COVID Relief Fund
The Texas COVID Relief Fund will provide critical funding to nonprofits, school districts, and government organizations serving Texas communities. Funds raised will be distributed through grants focused on the areas of community and economic development, healthcare, and education. Funds will also be used to support local priorities and organizations serving the unmet needs of vulnerable populations and underserved communities.

http://onestarfoundation.org/txcovidfund/

 

NEW! Updates from the Governor's Strike Force to Open Texas including Open Texas Checklists for Businesses:

https://gov.texas.gov/organization/opentexas

 

Texans Coronavirus Information

https://www.texas.gov/covid19/?utm_source=texasgov&utm_medium=menu&utm_campaign=covid-19

 

NEW! Galveston County Expands Testing Capabilities: Read the press release here for more information: https://directory.tclmchamber.com/news/details/latest-updates-from-galveston-county

 

COVID-19 GALVESTON COUNTY COMMUNITY RESOURCES

https://growthzonesitesprod.azureedge.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/1258/2020/04/COVID-19-Community-Resources.pdf

Government Response
The federal government is focused on measures to support the economy, and state and local governments continue to address COVID-19 testing and health care capacity.

https://house.texas.gov/coronavirus/

https://house.texas.gov/_media/pdf/COVID-House-Advisory-TWC-Mass-Claims.pdf

 

City

Your City is working diligently for you, department information can be found online. For official information visit us at www.texascitytx.gov and http://www.ci.la-marque.tx.us/

Small Business Resources

CDC Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fsymptoms.html

 

Texas Health and Human Services
https://www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/tools.aspx

 

CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

 

SBA Small Business and Guidance Loan Resources
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

 

US Chamber Response Tool Kit
https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus-response-toolkit

https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/023595_comm_corona_virus_smallbiz_loan_final.pdf

 

Pandemic Business Checklist
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/pdf/businesschecklist.pdf

 

Better Business Bureau Tips
https://www.bbb.org/council/coronavirus/

 

Here are 7 things you can do right now to support your small-business community:

1. Order Takeout or Delivery
Your favorite restaurants may have had to shut their doors, but many of them still offer takeout or delivery. Not only does that keep the business going, it also provides income for delivery drivers. Services like Grubhub and DoorDash have sent information to customers and drivers to help ensure safe--and in some cases, contact-less--deliveries.

2. Buy Gift Cards
Want to inject some cash into a small business right now? Buy a gift card. Even if you aren't buying anything else because you're stuck at home, you can give your local shops or favorite restaurant a vote of confidence by spending even $25 on a gift card to use later, when life returns to normal.

3. Shop Local Businesses Online
Many local businesses have online stores in addition to their brick-and-mortar locations. Whenever possible, consider giving them your business. The delivery option applies here as well, with grocery stores in many locations offering Shipt.
While I'm a fan of shopping local when you can, keep in mind that as long as you are buying from someone in your community, you're helping to keep people in their jobs.

4. Use Credit or Debit Cards
When you do go shopping, use a credit or debit card instead of cash. Paper money and coins pass through so many hands and carry all types of germs. Limiting the amount of cash you use can help limit the spread of those germs, which is especially important right now

5. Stay Home if You're Sick
Don't put others at risk if you're sick. That seems like common sense, but consider using a delivery service if there's something you really need. Many of the small businesses in your community are working hard to get through this. The last thing they need is for their employees to get sick because a customer went out when they shouldn't have.

6. Be Patient
In many cases, businesses are working at a dramatically reduced capacity. There's a good chance that you'll experience longer waits or encounter out-of-stock items. Trust me, every business is feeling that pain. They want nothing more than to be able to meet your needs. When they can't, extend a little grace and patience, remembering that they're working hard to stay open and serve their community.

7. Say Thank You
When you do go to the grocery store to buy what you need (as opposed to hoarding toilet paper), be sure to say thanks to the employees who are hard at work stocking shelves. It can be easy to forget that many of those employees are working overtime to keep their store clean and full of the food and supplies customers need. A simple thank you can go a long way to spreading a little gratitude and goodwill.