A guide and checklist for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
An invitation to today’s webinar that will focus on “Pivoting Your Business to Create Revenue"
Summary of last night’s City Commission meeting
Member news update
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses.
Don’t Miss Our Webinar Today On
Pivoting Your Business to Create Revenue
The Chamber is offering a number of webinars to help you navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, March 31, 4 p.m. – Pivoting Your Business to Create Revenue: Businesses across all industries have been forced to find ways to pivot quickly over the last few weeks. Join us as we explore best practices from several local businesses that have successfully identified customer needs and generated revenue through new offerings.
Speakers:Mark Legget, President, Arthur's Catering; Tim Noelke, Operating Partner, Park Lights
Last night, the Winter Park City Commission held a Special Meeting to further discuss COVID-19 response readiness, establish procedures for public-meeting remote technology and address repealing the Orange Avenue Overlay District. The remotely accessed public meeting successfully linked at times more than 180 participants during the 4 ½-hour meeting, which included City staff and citizens.
COVID-19 Response
All departments are meeting typical work demands with the help of staggered shifts and remote working arrangements. Distress calls are less frequent than usual for the Police Department and Fire & Rescue, and they remain prepared for any potential increase in 911 calls. They said they are particularly well-equipped to respond and safely transport those who are ill due to COVID-19, should they be called to do so.
City management continues to maintain a “no cut-off” policy for all electrical and water utilities’ customers until further notice. Residents and businesses should contact the city if they need assistance with those bills. Mayor Steve Leary has asked City management to continue pursuit and development of microloan opportunities for businesses. The City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a potential funding source. Details of the idea will soon be investigated.
Orange Avenue Overlay Repealed
An ordinance was proposed to rescind and repeal the Overlay District. The Overlay was approved by the previous Commission by a 3-2 vote on March 9, prior to the March 17 Commission election.
Some on the Commission cited dissatisfaction with important fact-finding that had occurred prior to the Overlay’s approval. Further traffic modeling was raised as an open-ended discovery discussion. Other questions they revisited included entitlements to developers and changes of substance, such as density, intensity and land use.
Not all felt the urgent need to bring the Overlay District to a stop. Mayor Leary reminded the group that City staff, a City-appointed Overlay Steering Committee and the Planning & Zoning Board had worked over the past year to investigate these and other important elements of the Overlay prior to its approval.
The repeal of the Overlay was passed by a 4-1 vote with seven amendments. A moratorium on building applications within the Overlay District was discussed, but it failed by a 5-0 vote. Voting in favor of the repeal were Commissioners Cooper, Sheila DeCiccio, Marty Sullivan and Todd Weaver.
The Overlay would have gone into effect April 16. Commissioner DeCiccio was the author of the motion to repeal it. A second reading will take place at the next regular meeting of the Commission, April 13.
Member Business Updates
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Addition Financial
In order to help those facing hardship amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Addition Financial has donated more than $30,000 to local non-profits to support their emergency funds for students and staff, food banks and other areas of need. The credit union’s donations have supported A Gift For Teaching, Foundation for Orange County Public Schools, Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools, Education Foundation of Osceola County, Education Foundation of Lake County, UCF Foundation, Foundation for Seminole State College and Valencia College Foundation. Addition Financial also donated its supply of 4,000 masks to Orlando Health. Click here to learn more.
Axiom Bank
Axiom Bank, N.A., a Maitland-based, leading community bank, is offering support for its commercial and consumer customers who are being financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Axiom has reiterated its commitment to work with commercial customers and provide practical solutions to get them through this difficult period. Current borrowers are encouraged to contact their relationship manager to determine what options are available. Click here for more details.
Cloud 9 Computing Group
Cloud 9 Computing Group takes businesses to the cloud. Our hosting partner, Secure Data Center, is offering COVID-19 relief for businesses with FREE HOSTING for any new cloud servers (remote desktop, etc.) until July 1. We're matching this offer with a FREE CLOUD PLANNING SESSION, so you'll have a game plan done by an IT Company that's migrated thousands of users to the Private Cloud. Email us at freecloud@c9cg.com or call us at 407-268-6810, option 3, if interested.
DigiPro Media, LLC
DigiPro Media, LLC, an industry leader of digital accessibility solutions, announces the Save Florida Business Initiative to benefit businesses in our communities crippled by COVID-19. DigiPro Media created www.SaveFloridaBusiness.com to provide small business owners of Florida a supplementary revenue stream and a valuable resource in the form of Discounted Gift Certificates or Dining Bonds. We leveraged our technology skills to help ease the pain. The site was funded and created by DigiPro staff. DigiPro Media is a small business too. Many of our clients are restaurants and small businesses. The website is the opportunity to help your favorite business and their staff. Your favorite server is hurting, too. Every time you have a meal or drink at home, you can use Tip-A-Server to tip a dollar or two to a local service industry worker through Venmo. No third party "handles" the donation – it goes straight to the employee. Go to www.SaveFloridaBusiness.com now to check it out and to join. To list your business, select “List Business” and fill out the form to promote your business. Click here to learn more.
Protégé Nonprofit Solutions
Looking for a way to help during the COVID-19 crisis? Have you always wanted to start a 501(c)(3) nonprofit but never knew where to go for meaningful advice? Intimidated by difficult nonprofit paperwork applications? Our expert with 22 years of Independent Sector experience working with the White House, United Nations, and even Pope Francis as a global nonprofit expert can help! There has never been a better time to start a charity aimed at helping people, society, animals, or the planet. Start today and call or text us to set up a free 15-minute consultation at 772-486-8280 or email us at Hello@ProtegeNonprofitSolutions.com. We have helped start over 40 nonprofits since 2009 and proudly serve the Winter Park Community as a proud Rollins College Alum.
310 Park South
Pickup and delivery are still available! Check out our menu for Family style specials and offers.
Winter Park Music Academy
Stuck inside? Cabin fever? Activities cancelled? Take music lessons ONLINE with Winter Park Music Academy! Keep extracurricular activities up and have a break while learning music in the comfort of your own living room. As a bonus to our musical community, we're offering all currently enrolled Winter Park Music Academy students FREE virtual bonus classes to help with afternoon boredom! Sign up NOW for access to these FREE bonus classes. We offer lessons on guitar, piano, violin, voice, drums, banjo, bass guitar, ukulele, saxophone and harmonica to students ages 4 and up. As a special offer, mention this post and we'll waive your registration fee and give you the first class FREE ($65 value) when you enroll by Sunday, April 5th. Register Today! Call or text us at 407-622-9588. Email us at info@winterparkmusicacademy.com Request Info at https://www.winterparkmusicacademy.com/request-info/
