July 28, 2020
The Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce champions the growth of business and community through leadership and collaboration.
Marketing in a Recession/Crisis
Question number one that you’re probably having is “should I continue my marketing plans, in this environment.” Consider what the market was when you developed your marketing strategy for this year. Before the end of March, the chances are that your business was doing well, and you had a lot of optimism for this year. That optimism fueled by strong sales most likely lead you to a pretty aggressive marketing strategy. However, as the year has turned out, there is a lot of reason for re-evaluating.
 
Negative Effects of the Pandemic on Employees – Particularly Women and Working Moms
The Coronavirus pandemic has caused adverse effects across all aspects of life, particularly the economy, and women are some of the hardest hit, according to new research conducted by WerkLabs, the insights division of The Mom Project.
 


Active Inclusivity and Diversity as it Relates to Business
In the past weeks, we have witnessed a long-overdue shift toward the need for inclusion and diversity as it relates to our society. We are beginning to witness forward progress towards eliminating or diminishing inequities. There is tangible, essential change, but we still have a lot to do.
 


$8.55 Million in COVID-19 Workplace Safety Grants will help employers protect workers
The State of Michigan has launched the Michigan COVID-19 Safety Grant Program. These grants will provide small businesses matching funds of – up to $10,000 – to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread through safety and health-related equipment purchased and training in response to COVID-19.
 

The Small Business Briefing
The Small Business Briefing airs Mondays and Thursdays at 3pm EDT. Watch to get the latest news from SBAM’s Rob Fowler and Brian Calley, along with special guests!
 
Watch live on Facebook or via Zoom.
Focus on Business
This week we’re focused on getting back to work safely. Sean Egan, the Director of COVID-19 Workplace Safety for the State of Michigan, joins Lisa Ellen Smith and Jeff Dettloff (Providence Consulting) to discuss what is needed to operate your business safely, ensure compliance, and share advice on how to keep the curve flat.
 
“Focus on Business” airs Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on WLAJ, or you can catch the episode here after the show airs.
Small Business Association of Michigan
120 N. Washington Square Suite 1000 | Lansing, MI 48933
(800) 362-5461
CO— Blueprint: Growing an Inclusive Team

Join us this Wednesday, July 29th at 2:00 pm ET for the next installment of our virtual series from CO— , an audience-driven discussion designed specifically for the small business community, hosted in partnership with Chase for Business.

Jeanette Mulvey, Content Director at CO—, will bring together experts and small business owners alike to discuss the best strategies, tools, and ideas for creating an inclusive work environment, both remote and in person.

Jeanette will talk with industry expert Michele Grace, Managing Director, South Division Director at Chase Business Banking, and then will welcome a small business panel including:

  • Daren Bascome, Founder, Proverb
  • Hadley Douglas, Owner, The Urban Grape
  • Tiffany Houser, Founder and CEO, EVOLVE

 
Tips for Your Small Business
Our teams at CO— are working quickly to update and publish new resources and tips every day for small businesses, from effectively managing a team remotely, to mastering social media, to utilizing technology to keep productive at home. Bookmark this page as your go-to resource during this crisis to get the latest stories and this page for full recordings and rundowns of our virtual events.
 
Explore the current cyber landscape
Beyond our work at CO—, the U.S. Chamber is looking for new ways to innovate and share ideas across sectors. Our Cyber Webinar Series does just that, and we're bringing the conversation to Chicago tomorrow, July 28, at 11:00 am ET.Congressmen Mike Quigley and Raja Krishnamoorthi will join a panel of private sector experts to disucss how cybersecurity is driving digital and technological innovation. Join this special opportunity to skill build and share your own fresh ideas.

 
Reopening and Safety Guidelines for Small Business
U.S. Chamber experts have been busy putting together guides and checklists to help you navigate the various loan programs available through the stimulus bill for small businesses. See below for a guide on each and how it can help you:
ICYMI -Previous Weeks Newsletter Information
Give these podcasts from Inc. magazine below a listen and be sure to subscribe!
Book Smart

Learn about the books beloved by prominent entrepreneurs, founders, and notable figures across the spectrum of industry.This week: Fabio Gratton & The Founder's Dilemmas by Noam Wasserman






 DIRECT LINKS :
Inc. Founders Project with Alexa von Tobel

Hear the stories of the entrepreneurs building the future. Listen to the tales of guts, inspiration, and drive behind the people and companies at the forefront of technology.This week: How to be Tenacious, with Blake Hall of ID.me


 DIRECT LINKS :
APPLE |  GOOGLE  |  SPOTIFY  | STITCHER 
What I Know

Get an inside look at the messy, painful, and—every so often—transcendent journey of starting a company. Candid interviews draw out the real grit and true lessons behind innovative companies and remarkable brands.Last week: Sandra Oh Lin: Be a Transparent Leader During Times of Uncertainty