A BIG shout out to the Senior Services for all the work that they are doing to keep our at-risk citizens safe!!!!
A note from the Economic Development Director:
With the holiday now past, I continue to hear from many of you understandably struggling to make sense of the various emergency funding opportunities from the state and federal government. If you have received any funding please let me know so we may have a reality marker on how long it takes. We continue to provide links to resources and information collected on our COVID-19 business resource information page: www.southbury-ct.org/business-covid19.
COMING SOON: A survey from the EDC will be coming out shortly to gauge how COVID-19 has impacted our Southbury business community. This will be important to our road to recovery.
If you have questions, or need to discuss anything related to your business, do not hesitate to call me at (203) 262-0683 or (203) 586-9782 or e-mail: EcoDevDirector@southbury-ct.gov.
For updates on social media, follow us on: www.facebook.com/SouthburyEDC/
Sign up for all business e-mails and alerts at: https://www.southbury-ct.org/bizlist
A list of restaurants offering pick-up or delivery, and all of the other food options in Southbury is kept up-to-date on the town website: https://southbury-ct.org/restaurants-covid19
New Business Updates
Upcoming:
4-15-2020 Wednesday @ 12:00 Noon Conversation with Congressman Himes - COVID19 and the CARES ACT / Congressman Himes will be join by Julio Casiano, Deputy District Director for the Connecticut District Office of the U.S. SBA. Mr. Casiano will be able to give you updates on the current status of SBA loans and answer questions on the application.
Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: tmadden@stamfordct.gov.
Register HERE.
4-16-2020 Thursday @ 1:00 PM WEB-call on employment resources and programs for employees and employers. Speakers: Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board and the CT Department of Labor. Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. Register HERE.
New:
4-14-2020 Governor Lamont press briefing on Coronavirus. Click HERE.
4-14-2020 Helping Connecticut Manufacturers Retool Operations to Meet Medical Supply Needs For more information go to: www.ctcovidresponse.org.
4-13-2020 Webinar Replay: COVID-19 Business Resources with CT-SBDC. Click HERE.
4-13-2020 Governor Lamont Press Release ~ Multi-State Council formed to Get People Back to Work and Restore the Economy [MA, CT, NY, NJ, RI, PA, and DE] Link: PRESS RELEASE.
4-13-2020 Governor Lamont press briefing on Coronavirus. Click HERE.
4-9-2020 Governor Lamont with DECD, Banking and Insurance Depts., and the SBA Teleconference on Covid-19 Relief Programs for Small Businesses. Click HERE.
4-9-2020 HEDCO, Inc. has partnered with the State of Connecticut, the CT Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) and the CT Minority Business Initiative to provide financial relief to minority-owned and women-owned small businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. More information is HERE.
RESOURCES
GUIDE: CT-SBDC COVID-19 Emergency Business Resource Guide: Click HERE.
ALL previous COVID-19 Southbury business information and resources may be found at: https://www.southbury-ct.org/business-covid19.
ON THE LITTLE SIDE:
Economic Development Articles by Southbury EDD, Kevin Bielmeier: Click HERE.
A message from Michael Ganem Director of Parks & Recreation:
Protect Yourself and Others from COVID-19 When Visiting Parks and Recreational Facilities
Staying physically active is one of the best ways to keep your mind and body healthy. In many areas, people can visit parks, trails, and open spaces as a way to relieve stress, get some fresh air and vitamin D, stay active, and safely connect with others.
Know Before You Go: While these facilities and areas can offer health benefits, it is important that you follow the steps below to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Do:
- Visit parks that are close to your home
- Prepare before you visit
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others (“social distancing”) and take other steps to prevent COVID-19
Do Not:
- Visit parks if you are sick or were recently exposed to COVID-19
- Visit crowded parks
- Use playgrounds
- Participate in organized activities or sports.
Guidance form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Running Essential Errand: Grocery Shopping, Take-Out, Banking, Getting Gas, and Doctor Visits.
As communities across the United States take steps to slow the spread of COVID-19 by limiting close contact, people are facing new challenges and questions about how to meet basic household needs, such as buying groceries and medicine, and completing banking activities. The following information provides advice about how to meet these household needs in a safe and healthy manner.
Find additional information for people who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Shopping for food and other household essentials
Stay home if sick.
Order online or use curbside pickup.
- Order food and other items online for home delivery or curbside pickup (if possible).
- Only visit the grocery store, or other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need to. This will limit your potential exposure to others and the virus that causes COVID-19.
Protect yourself while shopping.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and in lines.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
- When you do have to visit in person, go during hours when fewer people will be there (for example, early morning or late night).
- If you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk. If they do, try to shop during those hours. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
- Disinfect the shopping cart, use disinfecting wipes if available.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.
Use hand sanitizer when you leave the store. Wash your hands when you get home.
- After leaving the store, use hand sanitizer. When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- At home, follow food safety guidelines: clean, separate, cook and chill. There is no evidence that food or food packaging has been linked to getting sick from COVID-19.
Accepting deliveries and takeout orders
Limit in-person contact if possible.
- Pay online or on the phone when you order (if possible).
- Accept deliveries without in-person contact whenever possible. Ask for deliveries to be left in a safe spot outside your house (such as your front porch or lobby), with no person-to-person interaction. Otherwise, stay at least 6 feet away from the delivery person.
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after accepting deliveries or collecting mail.
- After receiving your delivery or bringing home your takeout food, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- After collecting mail from a post office or home mailbox, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Banking
Bank online whenever possible.
- If you must visit the bank, use the drive-through ATM if one is available. Clean the ATM keyboard with a disinfecting wipe before you use it.
- When you are done, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.
Getting gasoline
Use gloves or disinfecting wipes on handles or buttons before you touch them.
- Use gloves or disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them (if available).
- After fueling, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.
Going to the doctor or getting medicine
Talk to your doctor online, by phone or e-mail.
- Use telemedicine, if available, or communicate with your doctor or nurse by phone or e-mail.
- Talk to your doctor about rescheduling procedures that are not urgently needed.
If you must visit in-person, protect yourself and others.
- If you think you have COVID-19, let the office know and follow guidance.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Use disinfecting wipes on frequently touched surfaces such as handles, knobs, touchpads (if available).
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others while inside and in lines.
- When paying, use touchless payment methods if possible. If you cannot use touchless payment, sanitize your hands after paying with card, cash, or check. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.
Limit in-person visits to the pharmacy.
- Plan to order and pick up all your prescriptions at the same time.
- If possible, call prescription orders in ahead of time. Use drive-thru windows, curbside services (wait in your car until the prescription is ready), mail-order, or other delivery services. Do the same for pet medicine.
- Check with your doctor and pharmacist to see if you can get a larger supply of your medicines so you do not have to visit the pharmacy as often.