Support for Small Businesses

January 21, 2021

Five-Star Certification Program update
Issues Regarding Mandatory Vaccinations Manufacturing Partnership
COVID-19 alert notifications

Jeffco Five-Star Certification Program Update

Jefferson County is now opening Five-Star Certification applications to all restaurants (with or without drive-throughs), personal services, and gyms and fitness centers. Get program details and apply to be pre-certified at www.jeffco.us/five-star.

With the success of phase one implementation with some restaurants, Jefferson County is now contacting and sending inspectors to personal service, gyms, and fitness center businesses that have indicated interest for certification and participation in the program.

Given the early elevation to Level Orange by Gov. Polis of all counties that were in Level Red, CDPHE has stated certified businesses will not be able to take advantage of the Five-Star program and operate at one level above the county’s current level on the dial (Level Yellow at this time) until Jefferson County’s dashboard numbers have met the Level Orange requirements for seven continuous days. At this time, Jefferson County has not yet met those requirements. Because of that, we are currently pre-certifying businesses. At such time as the county meets the Level Orange metrics for seven continuous days, these pre-certified businesses will be issued a permit to operate under Level Yellow restrictions.

Mandating a Covid-19 Vaccination in the Workplace

An employer's ability to require their employees to get vaccinated depends on a multitude of factors. Qualification Standards may allow a business to prevent an employee from entering a worksite if it can be proven that the individual will pose a risk of infection to others and reasonable accommodations to negate the threat can't be met. Other factors such as a disability or religious belief must be handled on a case by case basis. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has outlined some of the applicable laws to follow when such situations arise. Please refer to Section K: Vaccinations What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws

The Society for Human Resources Management states that employees may determine that the employer has failed to provide a safe and healthy work environment, which is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This is due to "Direct Threat" status the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has determined that COVID-19 has.

Centers for Disease Control outlines the following steps when preparing your employees for vaccination:

Encourage Open Communication Among All Staff
Explain Staff Options for Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine
Provide Key Messages About Vaccine Effectiveness and Safety
Distribute COVID-19 Vaccination Resources
Educate Staff About Post-Vaccination Symptoms and Policies

Jefferson County Manufacturing Sector Partnership

Are you a manufacturer challenged with finding talent, supply chain, or other obstacles? ,

Do you have ideas about how to strengthen the manufacturing industry in our area?

Would you like to connect with leaders in the manufacturing industry?

As we move into 2021 the Manufacturing Sector Partnership will be convening industry leaders to look at what challenges the industry is facing and how to move forward. This meeting will be an opportunity for leaders with Engineering Intensive Manufacturing firms to come together in the spirit of collaboration. The Manufacturing Sector Partnership will identify issues that the industry as a whole is facing and then develop industry-led solutions. To support this effort, the Partnership will leverage resources from public partners including workforce development, economic development, chambers of commerce, high Schools and community colleges to support their solutions.

How you can get involved

The Manufacturing Sector Partnership is a public/private collaboration to support the needs of local manufacturers. We need your leadership and expertise to strengthen our manufacturing opportunities in the Denver Metro area. Join us at our January 2021 meeting. Please RSVP through the Survey Monkey link below. Please contact Mike Aman (contact info below) if you have any questions.

Meeting Details

Date - January 28th
Time - 9:00am
Location - Virtual (WebEx)

RSVP through this link

Mike Aman l Business Services Supervisor
720-201-0742
[email protected]

Sign up for Jefferson County COVID-19 Alerts

Sign up for Jeffco COVID-19 Alerts to get the latest updates on vaccines, testing sites, changes to Jeffco’s dial status and more.

Here’s how you sign up:

Go to the NotifyMe section on this website: https://www.jeffco.us/list.aspx
Scroll to “Alert Center” and look for “Jeffco COVID-19 Alerts”
Click the envelope icon to receive email alerts AND/OR click the phone icon to receive text alerts
Follow system prompts to complete your registration

Have questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine?

There are many questions about vaccine availability and when community members will be vaccinated. The best place to get the most up-to-date information is on the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website. Jeffco residents can also find information directly from the county here.

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

Jefferson County Business & Workforce Workshops: https://www.jeffco.us/calendar.aspx?CID=28

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://covid19.colorado.gov/

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

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://edgewaterco.com/planning

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/

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.