Wednesday, April 15

Virtual Meeting

Kim Klingler, Executive Director of the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization, will provide an update on the Columbia Pike form based codes

Virtual Meeting

Exclusive to LeadShare members, for more information email [email protected]

11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Hosted by AED BizLaunch and the Chamber

Free Webinar

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

To help serve our local business community, the Chamber compiled a list of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lenders, drawing information from Chamber member lenders that are administering PPP loans. The PPP was created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help businesses cover payroll and other expenses while they’re affected by COVID-19. If you have questions about the loan program, please see the Chamber’s coronavirus resources page for more information, including PPP resources by the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Join us to hear from the Arlington School Board candidates on Tuesday, April 28 from 2:30-4:00 p.m. through a virtual webinar. Hear from the six candidates, competing for two open seats, as they share their positions. The Chamber’s Education & Workforce Development Committee will discuss a range of topics with the School Board candidates, including workforce preparedness and the role that the business community plays in Arlington Public Schools.

The participating candidates will be Cristina Diaz-Torres, Steven Krieger, Sandy Munnell, David Priddy, Terron Sims, and Symone Walker.

The Chamber is proud to partner with Arlington Community Assistance Network Donating to Organizations (Arlington CAN-DO) to provide needed revenue to our restaurant and retail businesses, and to give the community a platform to be able to support these businesses. Businesses can register their organization on the site to sell their gift cards and individuals can browse the sight to purchase a gift cards to support local businesses. The website provides an easy way for Arlington businesses to sell gift cards and for Arlingtonians to support their favorite local businesses during this time. To register as a business, complete the form on the website or send an email to [email protected] with the name and email address of the primary contact person, the business name, and the link to the exact spot on the business’s website where gift cards are sold.

Take advantage of this great opportunity and register your business today or browse the site and select a business to support! 

The Virginia 30 Day Fund is providing forgivable loans of up to $3,000 for Virginia-based small businesses. The forgivable loan is intended to provide immediate financial assistance to meet payroll, preserve healthcare coverage for employees,and save jobs while you await recently approved federal funding.

Virginia businesses that qualify for assistance are:

The Arlington Chamber is a part of the newly formed Northern Virginia Back to Work Leadership Task Force, which is comprised of regional organizations, higher education, and other chambers of commerce. The Chamber has been actively working with the area Chambers and partners of this group to advocate for new workforce and education funding and policies. Recently, the Task Force wrote a letter to Governor Northam outlining immediate actions his administration can take to start the economic recovery through investment in training and education.

The Chamber is working with local and state government leaders to help support businesses during, and after, the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to the Arlington County Board, the Chamber commended the Board’s efforts to serve the Arlington community during this crisis and requested that the Board allocate more funds to Arlington Economic Development’s proposed grants for small businesses, defer tax payments, and extend deadlines for permits and plans. The Chamber also came together with four additional chambers of commerce in a letter to Governor Northam to propose an amendment that public bodies may hold electronic meetings during COVID-19 on all continuing operations.

To provide comfort to those working tirelessly to keep the community safe, Zoup! is offering a free cup of soup for every frontline responder or medical worker every Monday in April.

If you are a Chamber member and have any stories to share of your business supporting the local community during this difficult time, please tag the Chamber on social media and use the #Biz4Good, also contact Morgan Mentzer, Communications Coordinator, for consideration to be included in a future e-newsletter.

By Janet Kopenhaver, Embracing Arlington Arts

In January, Embracing Arlington Arts posted a blog about the economic importance of arts and culture in Arlington and proving that a healthy and vibrant arts scene positively impacts the County’s bottom line. A logical continuation of that discussion is how can our County’s private sector companies partner with arts organizations to ensure this success? Of course, the first response is to sponsor and/or donate, but there are several other ways to help these arts organizations grow and thrive.