This is a guest blog post by Greater Mankato Growth member, Blethen Berens.
As COVID-19 vaccinations begin to take place in the United States, discussions are emerging about potential vaccination mandates from employers. In light of these discussions and questions, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released guidance for employers on vaccination mandates and the interplay with various workplace anti-discrimination laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
The EEOC guidance on vaccinations indicates that employers can require that their employees be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to certain federal and state anti-discrimination laws. Such vaccinations could be required and administered by the employer, required by the employer but administered by a third party (e.g. pharmacy or health care provider), or offered by an employer on a voluntary basis.
The process of deciding whether or not to establish a mandatory vaccination policy should involve consideration of anti-discrimination laws, non-legal business and practical considerations, and if a policy is established, clear communication with employees is critical.
The City Center Partnership works to promote collaboration and foster investment in the City Center to attract and support the growth of a diverse array of business, customers, visitors and residents to the region. To assist in fulfilling this mission, the City Center Partnership and it’s associated geography (see map below) is a designated Main Street district. The Main Street district designation is part of the City Center Partnership’s national accreditation as a member of the Main Street America program.
The Main Street America program is offering grants to support brick-and-mortar small businesses in designated Main Street districts as they work to adapt to COVID-19 and prepare for the next phases of reopening across the country, while also helping to revitalize and strengthen older and historic commercial corridors. Grants of $5,000 to $10,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis.
In order to be eligible for participation, applicants must meet the following criteria:
The applicant must be located in an Accredited or Affiliate Main Street America community or UrbanMain commercial corridor. This list is available here.
The applicant must be a for-profit business. 501c3 and 501c6 entities are not eligible. The applicant must be a business entity in good standing in the state in which it was formed and the state in which it does business.
The applicant must operate a “brick and mortar” storefront located in an older or historic downtown or neighborhood commercial district.
The applicant must employ less than 20 full time employees.
The applicant must be an owner of the business.
The applicant must be at least age 18 years or older.
Eligible grant expenses include but are not limited to:
Physical improvements to business space to meet relevant reopening requirements implemented because of COVID-19
Equipment to comply with public health and safety guidelines (i.e., touchless payment methods, automatic door open sensors, or disposable menus)
Fees associated with expanding the business to e-commerce sales
Other professional services, such as business plan modifications
Rent, payroll, and other operating expenses
Applications will open at 12pm EST/ 11am CST on Thursday, January 21 and continue to be accepted through Thursday, January 28 at 7:59pm EST/ 6:59pm CST. The application and additional information can be found here: https://www.mainstreet.org/howwecanhelp/brother
Over the last several months, businesses have been impacted by COVID-19 in many ways. Some industries have been impacted more severely than others. Across the board, businesses have had to act and adjust like never before. Joe Paulsen with Pinnacle Business Traction would like to help you with ensuring that your company has the Traction it needs to overcome current and future challenges. The following is part two of a guest blog series where Joe will share tips on how you can gain traction in difficult times.
Do you know what your organization will look like on 12/31/2021? How about 12/31/2023? How about at the end of 2030? Is your vision clear to you and is it clear to all of your employees? Just imagine if every one of your employees could vividly see your vision and are rowing just as hard as you are to get there. How easy would your organization run and how confident would you be in achieving the results that are expected? The Vision Key Component clarifies that question for you and everyone in your organization. You and the rest of your leadership team currently all have a vision for your business, but there are likely differences. We need to consolidate your individual visions to come up with the organization’s collective vision. Once you have a vision of where the organization is heading, it makes the planning process much easier. There are eight questions that need to be answered and agreed upon by your leadership team to have a great vision and plan:
What are your Core Values?
What is your Core Focus?
What is your 10-Year Target?
What is your Marketing Strategy?
What is your 3-Year Picture?
What is your 1-Year Plan?
What are your 90 Day Rocks (objectives)?
What are all other Issues for your organization?
Now that your vision and plan is written and agreed upon, we need to make sure that it is shared by everyone in your organization. It will be critical that everyone can see where you are going and that they want to be a part of that journey. We will talk more about this next week when we introduce you to the People Key Component.
Joe Paulsen and Pinnacle Business Traction’s passion is to Enrich the Lives of Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders in the Mankato area. He has been implementing EOS since 2016 and has helped entrepreneurial organizations get everything they want from their organizations. Please reach out to him if you are wanting more information or assistance: joe@pbtraction.com (Meet Joe)
GMG is offering the best-selling book Traction – Get a Grip on Your Business to members wanting to learn more about the Entrepreneurial Operating System. Please email jsprague@greatermankato.com to schedule a time to pick-up your free copy at the GMG office.
Governor Walz announced today that the dial will turn forward on current COVID-19 restrictions effective January 11, 2021. Major changes include the reopening of restaurants and bars, indoor events and entertainment, movie theaters, youth sports, and gyms restrictions being loosened. Walz also announced that business relief checks will be sent in the next week. Full details can be found in Executive Order 21-01 or Minnesota’s Stay Safe Plan.
Over the last several months, businesses have been impacted by COVID-19 in many ways. Some industries have been impacted more severely than others. Across the board, businesses have had to act and adjust like never before. With new operations often being implemented quickly, out of necessity, there could be the opportunity to reflect on whether these changes will be implemented more long term as industry demands and consumer preferences continue to evolve. This might be the perfect time to look back to see if your business is in need of a strategic analysis to ensure that your company has the Traction it needs to overcome current and future challenges. Joe Paulsen with Pinnacle Business Traction would like to help you with that. The following is part one of a six part guest blog series where Joe will share tips on how you can gain traction in difficult times.
When the world seemingly “shut down” this past March, my initial concern was for all of my clients. Would their customers continue to buy from them? Would their employees still be able to come to work? Would their cash hold out until things got back to “normal”?
As I contacted them to help them with their issues, I was relieved that most simply attacked the COVID related issues as just another issue that they needed to solve for their organization. They all made the necessary adjustments, and nobody scrapped their annual plans that we had set 1-2 quarters earlier. Fast forward to the end of 2020 and I am pleased to see that the majority of my clients have had a successful year. This group has reported a 2020 revenue decrease of about 2% over 2019, however their average profits increased 35% in 2020!
These basics are all included in the Six Key Components™ of the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®) and surviving a crisis like we are all experiencing, it has become clear to me why these are so essential. For the next five weeks, I will dive deeper into the critical EOS Key Components with the hopes that there will be tips/ideas that all GMG members will pick up to help your businesses accomplish all of your goals, no matter what challenges are ahead of us.
Joe Paulsen and Pinnacle Business Traction’s passion is to Enrich the Lives of Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders in the Mankato area. He has been implementing EOS since 2016 and has helped entrepreneurial organizations get everything they want from their organizations. Please reach out to him if you are wanting more information or assistance: joe@pbtraction.com
GMG is offering the best-selling book Traction – Get a Grip on Your Business to members wanting to learn more about the Entrepreneurial Operating System. Please email jsprague@greatermankato.com to schedule a time to pick-up your free copy at the GMG office.
With the recent passage of the federal COVID-19 Business Relief package, businesses may have questions as it pertains to the legislation’s impact to their existing PPP Loan, whether they could get a PPP Loan now, or what other programs were funded as a result of the relief package.
Below are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and responses from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and additional insight from Tyler Petzel of Abdo Eick & Meyers (AEM).
Congressional leaders have reached a deal on a bipartisan economic stimulus package, which was passed by both chambers late on December 21, 2020. Comments by President Trump expressing concern with the omnibus spending bill the relief package was attached to and asking for increased stimulus payments for individuals raise questions on the status of the bill.
The program includes numerous stimulus efforts aimed at businesses, including major expansions of both the Paycheck Protection Program and the Employee Retention Tax Credit, and consumers, including $600 payments to all qualifying individuals and dependents. Here’s what we know regarding these, and other elements of the bill (note that this is not an exhaustive summary of the 5593 page long document, but rather highlights of key elements most relevant to businesses and individuals in our area):
Note: Blog has been updated 12/22/2020 after Congressional approval of the bill.
This is a guest blog post by Greater Mankato Growth member, Christian Family Solutions.
Christmas lights are shining in the streets, holiday music is on the radio, and there are joyous celebration ads on television. It appears that everyone is happy this time of the year.
Perhaps you are feeling happiness and hope; maybe you are feeling sadness and disappointment. Perhaps you are feeling both. It is critical to take time to slow down, pause, and identify and acknowledge whatever you are feeling without pressuring yourself or feeling guilty if you are not feeling a certain way. Every feeling, whether pleasant or not, has a cause and purpose. Suppressing or ignoring them does not allow them to guide your behavior or influence your decisions.
Today, Governor Walz announced changes to current dial-back restrictions through Executive Order 20-103.
Effective Friday, December 18, 2020 at 11:59 pm, through Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 11:59 pm, the Governor has extended the provisions of Executive Order 20-99, with some modifications published in executive order 20-103. The order calls for the following changes or extension of measures related to businesses, educational institutions and social gatherings:
Social Gatheringswill be limited to a maximum of 10 people (two households) while indoors with masks worn at-all-times. Indoor gatherings are discouraged. Outdoor social gatherings are limited to three families and 15 people outside.
Indoor entertainment, restaurants, bars and establishments will remain closed through January 11, 2021.
Outdoor entertainment will be allowed at 25% capacity, up to 100 people at a time. If food and drink are served, people must be seated.
Gyms and fitness studios will re-open at 25% capacity with no group fitness classes, pool activity or use of showers. Masks must be worn at-all-times with social distancing of 12 feet at gyms.
Youth sports will resume practices on January 4.
Elementary schools (K-5) can conditionally open to in-person learning starting on January 18, 2021. It is the Governor’s goal to get back to in-person learning and the state will purchase PPE for schools, teachers, etc.
Outdoor dining allowed at 50% capacity, up to 100 people, seated only, only 4 per party/table. 50% of the walls must remain open for airflow. Food trucks fine but people must sit down to eat.
The Minnesota legislature has passed a business assistance package in response to COVID-19 impacts which includes approximately $217 million to the General Fund in FY21 and about $25 million in FY22. Its provisions include three business relief components:
This is a guest blog post written by Ashley Hanley of Greater Mankato Growth member business, Radio Mankato.
Radio Mankato is proud to help our local restaurants during these challenging times.
That is why we have launched the Restaurant Rally. The Rally takes place every Tuesday in December from 9-10 a.m. with Lisa Kaye and Crew on Minnesota, which can be found on your radio dial at 93.1 FM.
All commercials and music will be paused during this time. Restaurant and business owners are encouraged to call the station during that time, free of charge, to let our listeners know of services, deals and ordering information.
This is the first time in Radio Mankato’s history that we have paused live music and commercials. However, we as a station felt this is one small way we could help give back to our local businesses and help rally together.
The phone number to call is: 507-625-9393.
Any local business is encouraged to participate.
Thank you to sponsors Prime Source Funding, Drummer’s Garden Center and Floral, and United Prairie Bank.
Greater Mankato Growth has partnered with the Minnesota Ready Coalition lead by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce to call on Governor Tim Walz to provide immediate support to those businesses and their employees most impacted by the issuance ofExecutive Order 20-99. Greater Mankato Growth joined 90 partner chambers and associations across the state in sending theGovernor a letterthis weekregarding the urgency in supporting these businesses/organizations. Our organization continues to follow and educate members on proposed relief plans and take action to support local businesses through a variety of initiatives.Read More
