COVID-19 Business News

April 16, 2020

Dear Jefferson County Business Owner,

This week's newsletter provides current information regarding financial resources as well as important upcoming events. On Friday, we hope you join us for the Nonprofit Roundtable to hear how the COVID-19 crisis is impacting this important segment of our community. On Wednesday April 22nd you are invited to join our Jeffco County Commissioners for a virtual town hall. Please see details below.

Please know, we are here for you. If you have questions please contact us at 303-271-4800 or [email protected]

Nonprofit Roundtable

Eleven leaders from local nonprofit organizations share information on the impact of COVID-19 on their organizations. Hear how they continue to serve their customers while adapting to health concerns and stay-at-home orders. Learn of resources available to help nonprofits weather the current crisis. This moderated roundtable will include a question and answer session.

Friday April 17th

9:00 am- 10:30 am

To attend
https://jeffco.webex.com/jeffco/onstage/g.php? MTID=e64f3071d82c63506039fe853673c0239

Call In 408-418-9388
Access code: 966 821 663

A Conversation on COVID-19 with your Jeffco Commissioners

April 22nd

The Board of County Commissioners will be hosting a virtual telephone town hall on Wednesday, April 22, from 5:45-6:45 p.m. to provide an update about how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting our Jefferson County community, its businesses and those in need. Following the short presentation, community members will have an opportunity to ask questions and engage with the panel.

How to join: At 5:30 p.m., we will randomly call 50,000 residents to take part in the telephone town hall. If you don’t receive a call, you can still participate by calling 855-695-3486. Residents can also sign up to receive a phone call by texting JEFFCO to 833-TXT-LIVE (833-898-5483).

See the COVID-19 web page for latest information from Jefferson County Public Health.

Updates on Economic Injury Disaster Advance Loans (EIDL)

If you are growing frustrated waiting for your EIDL $10,000 advance loan, you are not alone! The SBA program designed to provide immediate relief to small businesses is struggling to keep up with demand. The advance funds are supposed to be available within days of EIDL application to bridge the gap until loan applications can be fully processed. Eligible small businesses with less than 500 employees, nonprofits, sole proprietorships and 501-C19 Veteran's organizations are eligible to apply. There is some speculation that the demand is far exceeding the funds currently allocated for the program and additional funds may be required. Please see this Washington Post article for additional information.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/15/another-sba-program-is-severely-backlogged-running-low-funds/

Remote Work: What’s Working for Your Team?

The recent surge in people working exclusively from home requires new strategies to engage those remote employees. Below are some ideas we’ve heard from other businesses’ teams on what’s working for them. As you uncover new best practices, we’d enjoy reading your tips; for a chance to be published in a future newsletter, please email us here: [email protected]

Communicate, communicate, communicate. When missing out on the regular ways we stay in touch—like impromptu talks at the microwave—we can bridge those gaps through brief email or phone check-ins, even just to see how a coworker is doing. Formal processes can also be shifted, like longer biweekly department meetings being supplanted by shorter daily team check-ins. With new information coming in constantly, teams may choose to do morning check-ins to share information and help one another set the agenda for the day. Pre-scheduled communication is more important than ever.
Consolidate critical information. Finding one storage place for critical information—e.g., a company intranet site—and automating it with push-button notifications to employees’ cell phones and/or emails, can simplify crucial communications. It can also help management teams tailor their message and update everyone in a timely, seamless manner.
Make it fun! During this hard time, there are still opportunities to inject some levity into the workday through the following: for video calls, inviting employees to dress up like they’re going on vacation; holding remote happy hours, some with pets invited; or offering group meditation sessions with relaxing music playing—or simply encouraging employees to take 15 minutes throughout their day to meditate. Some companies hold virtual lunch-and-learns as an optional place for employees to call in and stay in touch with one another. Especially with employees concerned about their productivity, encouraging them to unplug for a little bit throughout the day or on weekends can be a way to remind them to recharge.
Give employees new ways to belong. Could a new task group form in order to look at a back-burnered company goal? Could an employee take a little extra time to complete a free training online so they can be a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in a particular area—and if so, what are they interested in learning more about? What ideas do your employees have for improving your business? Encourage them to share their ideas, and to take ownership over work projects. Asking questions can uncover employee’s interests and topics that are most important to them. And ultimately, helping employees find places to belong at work—to keep adding to their professional skills and identity—can increase productivity.

Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center
Business Services

Business Services offers a wide array of services and resources to help businesses of any size.

Information about layoff assistance and layoff aversion programs are available, please contact Jill Howard at [email protected] or call 303-271-4768.

If your business is currently hiring, we can assist with job postings, marketing to job seekers and virtual job fairs. Contact the Business Services team at [email protected] or call 303-271-4800.

Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center website:
https://www.jeffco.us/Business-Workforce-Center

Additional Resources

General Unemployment Insurance Information Related to Coronavirus
Up-to-date information for employers, employees and FAQ’s about Colorado Unemployment Insurance programs and other resources.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/information-and-resources-coronavirus

Colorado Unemployment Insurance Employer Services website
Information about layoffs, labor laws, incentives and tax credits, audits, posting jobs on Connecting Colorado and more.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/businesses-employers

Work Share Program
Alternative to laying off employees and unemployment insurance if an employee is still able to work part-time.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/layoffassistance

Businesses Responding to Job Separation
How and why it’s important to respond to the Unemployment Insurance employee job separation notices.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/node/20121

Unemployment Insurance Guide for Employers
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/Employer_Guide.pdf

Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Learn what it means for employers.
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/families_first_coronavirus_response_act.pdf

U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance for the workplace.
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20200309

Jefferson County Small Business Resource Center
Non-profit organization supporting small businesses in the community including business plan development, brand and marketing material assistance, financing sources and more.
https://www.jeffcobrc.org/

Small Business Guidance & Resources
Information about Economic Injury Disaster Loan Programs, Guidance for Businesses and Employers, SBA Products and Resources, Government Contracting and Local Assistance.
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

SBA Disaster Loan Assistance
Federal Disaster Loans for Businesses, Private Nonprofits, Homeowners and Renters.
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation
Jeffco EDC is an advocate for the county’s business community and is dedicated to building economic prosperity in the community. Current resources for businesses are included on the website.
https://jeffcoedc.org/

Clear Creek Economic Development Corporation
The CCEDC works to create and offer programs for Clear Creek County businesses. Information about emergency working capital loan program is on the website.
http://www.clearcreekedc.org/our-programs

Arvada Economic Development Association
Arvada Economic Development Association has community, government, and civic partnerships which allow AEDA to provide your business with the latest business information and resources.
https://arvadaeconomicdevelopment.org/

City of Edgewater
The City's economic development programs are designed to bolster the economic health and opportunity within Edgewater and the surrounding area for residents and businesses alike.
https://www.edgewaterco.com/index.asp?SEC=E2A42395-4AC3-449F-B502-65FEF8800E38&Type=B_BASIC

Golden Community & Economic Development Division
The City of Golden Community & Economic Development Division provides a network of resources to support existing and growing businesses including grant opportunities.
https://www.cityofgolden.net/work/economic-development/

Lakewood Economic Development Division
The Economic Development Division of the City of Lakewood provides services to businesses, including business attraction, expansion, entrepreneurialism, marketing, communications and resources.
https://www.lakewood.org/Government/Departments/Economic-Development

Littleton Economic Development Department
The Economic Development Department of the City of Littleton focuses on business development, retention and attraction by providing business resources for companies operating in or planning to locate within the city.
https://www.littletongov.org/city-services/city-departments/economic-development

Westminster Economic Development Department
The City of Westminster Economic Development Division provides resources to existing and growing businesses.
https://www.westminstereconomicdevelopment.org/

Wheat Ridge Economic Development Division
The City of Wheat Ridge Economic Development Division is dedicated to both the businesses and citizens of Wheat Ridge by providing an array of resources for the community.
https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/269/Economic-Development

Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade
OEDIT has a hotline for small business owners to call with questions at (303) 860-5881 or email [email protected]
https://choosecolorado.com/

Workshops
https://workforce.jeffco.us/workforce_public/

Chambers of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce associations promote and protect the interests of the business community in a local community, and offer valuable resources and education to businesses

West Metro Chamber
https://www.westmetrochamber.org/

Arvada Chamber
https://www.arvadachamber.org/

Conifer Chamber
https://www.goconifer.com/

Evergreen Chamber
https://www.evergreenchamber.org/

Golden Chamber
https://goldenchamber.org/

Littleton Chamber
http://littletonbusinesschamber.org/

Westminster Chamber
https://www.westminsterchamber.biz/

Wheat Ridge Chamber
http://www.wheatridgechamber.org/

Wheat Ridge Business Association
https://www.wheatridgebiz.com/

Jefferson County Business & Workforce Center serving Jefferson, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties is an equal opportunity program; auxiliary services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.