October 20, 2020
The Ferndale Area Chamber of Commerce champions the growth of business and community through leadership and collaboration.
It’s Time for your Flu Shot
I urge you not to forget that now is the time to protect yourself and get a flu shot. The Oakland County Health Division is now offering flu shots at the following locations:
  • North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac
  • South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield
Appointments are required and can be made online or by contacting Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533.

“Safe for School” hotline to assist families attending school
We recently announced a partnership with Beaumont Health that provides a telephone screening hotline for parents and guardians to pre-screen and identify potential illness for their school-age children.

The Oakland County COVID-19 Public Health Toolkit for K-12 Schools offers local, state and federal recommendations to reduce COVID-19 transmission. General COVID-19 resources are found at www.oakgov.com/covid or by contacting Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com. Nurse on Call is available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 a.m.- noon on Saturday. For up-to-date public health information, follow publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter.

Oakland County Manufacturing Day Goes Virtual as 700 Students Explore Career Opportunities Online with Hi-Tech Companies
Seven hundred students from 16 Oakland County school districts and four Oakland Schools Technical Campuses recently got a virtual look at what a future in a high-tech career might look like during Oakland County Manufacturing Day.

This was the county’s sixth year in National Manufacturing Day, which showcases in-demand, technology-driven engineering, industrial manufacturing and skilled trades career opportunities available to young adults. Oakland County, Oakland County Michigan Works! and Oakland Schools collaborated to organize the virtual event.
This year’s hosts were:
  • 3-Dimensional Services Group
  • Atlas Copco
  • Brose
  • Encore Automation
  • Hirotec
  • Hi-Tech Mold & Engineering
  • Prefix
  • Wenzel America
Select company videos shown during the event can be seen on the Oakland County Michigan Work! website at www.OaklandCountyMIWorks.com.

Service center staffs are available by virtual appointment to work one-on-one with job seekers to build their resumes, prepare for job interviews and help address other needs. To schedule a virtual meeting, call 248-858-5520 and select the office nearest to you. The service centers are hosting several virtual workshops for job seekers. A schedule is found at www.OaklandCountyMIWorks.com.

Halloween Safety
Halloween is just around the corner and many communities are preparing for the arrival of ghosts and goblins. Please check in your community if trick or treating will be permitted this year and if it’s still on, here are a few reminders to keep everyone safe:
  • Wear a mask/cloth face covering when social distancing is not possible.
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from those who are not your household members, especially while talking, eating, drinking and singing.
  • Consider leaving individual bags of candy on the doorstep to limit contact with other people.
  • Distribute candy on a disinfected table positioned between you and trick-or-treaters.
  • Consider handing out candy in an open space (ex., on your driveway) where social distancing is easier.
  • Don’t hand out candy if you are sick.
  • Use duct tape to mark 6-foot lines in front of your home and leading to driveway/front door.
For a complete list of tips for a safe Halloween, review the Halloween Safety guidelines from the Oakland County Health Division and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).


For the latest information, please refer to our website at oakgov.com and click on the COVID-19 button on the home page.
What's Happening in Washington
Now THIS is something to celebrate...
Something to Celebrate: Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day

Did you know that October 21st is National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day? Observed annually on the third Wednesday of October, National Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce Day celebrates the invaluable work being done by chambers of commerce nationwide to strengthen the economy, business community, and local enterprises of all sizes.

Looking to thank your local Chamber of Commerce for all that they do to help businesses thrive? We've got you covered. Click here to view and download a social media graphic that you can share with your networks using the hashtag #ChamberProud.
A New Must-Read from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Returning to Work and the Childcare Dilemma

Earlier this week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation released its new report—titled Piecing Together Solutions: Returning to Work and the Childcare Dilemma—outlining how childcare challenges are affecting working parents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some key takeaways:

  • 50% of parents who have not yet returned to the workforce cite childcare as a reason; 
  • 26% of working parents are paying for a childcare arrangement that they are not currently using; 
  • 57% of parents who have not yet returned to work (22% of all parents) are unlikely or unsure whether they will return if their school district adopts online learning.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Announces 2020 Dream Big Awards Winners

Each year, the U.S. Chamber partners with Chase for Business® to recognize and celebrate small businesses around the country who are achieving success, creating opportunity, and inspiring others through the Dream Big Awards.

Yesterday—selected from a record number of over 700 applicants and 24 finalists—this year's 2020 Dream Big Awards winners were announced. In addition to naming Jam Hops Gymnastics Factory from Ham Lake, Minnesota as the Dream Big Small Business of the Year, Business Achievement Awards were given in seven categories:

  • NEW! Community Support and Leadership Award
  • Emerging Business Achievement Award
  • Green/Sustainable Business Achievement Award
  • Minority-Owned Business Achievement Award
  • Veteran-Owned Business Achievement Award
  • Woman-Owned Business Achievement Award
  • Young Entrepreneur Award

Click here to view the full list of award winners.
Let's Get Spooky: 5 Tips for Creating a Safe and Fun Halloween

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Halloween is likely to look different as situations and guidelines vary by region and by state. To help state and city health departments prepare for both a safe and fun Halloween, the National Confectioners Association has consolidated five considerations through their Always a Treat initiative for businesses that may be planning or adapting the celebrations in your local community to ensure adherence of CDC guidelines.

Halloween can be as safe as it is spooky by:

  • Wearing a mask

  • Placing treats outside before the arrival of trick-or-treaters to avoid direct contact

  • Avoiding consumption of any loosely packaged or open treats
Click here for additional Halloween resources from the National Confectioners Association. 
Can you pencil us in? 
Summit 2020: Future in Focus
Hosted by: the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform (ILR)

When: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. ET

What:  virtual event convening the top legal minds, business and industry leaders, government officials, and the media to explore pressing legal topics and their impact on the global business community. 

Who:  Featured speakers will include U.S. Chamber ILR president Harold Kim, CNN senior political commentator, University of Chicago Institute of Politics director, and former senior advisor to President Barack Obama (2009-2011) David Axelrod, NBC News political analyst and TIME former columnist Michael Murphy, and many more.

Sign Me Up!  Click here to learn more and to register now.
Preserving the Past Fortifying the Future
Hosted by: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

When: Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. ET

What:  Featuring preservationists, economists, businesses, and regional success stories, this virtual program will provide a deep dive into the lesser-known advantages of revitalizing and repurposing historic spaces.

Who:  Featured speakers will include U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation president Carolyn Cawley, National Trust for Historic Preservation chief preservation officer Katherine Malone-France, Wausau River District executive director Blake Opal-Wahoske, and many more.

Sign Me Up!  Click here to learn more and to register now.