COVID-19 Update: Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce
Hot Deals for Hot Meals:
If your restaurant has a take-out or delivery special, we’ll feature it on this site.
If you have a special, please send details to marketing manager Brian Otten at 715-848-5947. Members can also enter deal details via their MIC (Member Information Center).
In an effort to support the restaurants in our community, the Chamber has also assembled a list of those businesses which offer take-out or delivery. For more information, visit WausauChamber.com.
Registered voters may request an absentee ballot for the April 7 election:
By order of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, online registration to vote is extended until March 30, 2020, for the April 7, 2020 Spring Election and Presidential Primary ONLY.
The primary purpose of this extension is to facilitate voting by absentee ballots for those who may no longer wish to or who are unable to vote in person during the absentee voting period on or before Friday, April 3, 2020, or at their polling place on Election Day, April 7, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Registered Wisconsin voters may request an absentee ballot. If you would like to request an absentee ballot, visit MyVote.WI.gov. If you are not registered or your name or address has changed, you will need to register or update your registration before requesting an absentee ballot.
Related to the election: Rib Mountain is in desperate need of poll workers for the April 7 election. These workers will earn $10.45/hour and do not need to be residents of Rib Mountain (must live in Marathon County). Contact Town Clerk Joanne Ruechel for more information.
U.S. Small Business Association resources:
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a variety of resources for businesses and individual. The Chamber has assembled these resources on WausauChamber.com.
The SBA has approved Wisconsin’s request for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to access low-interest federal disaster loans. Under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, businesses may qualify for up to $2 million in loans to cover losses resulting from the pandemic. View more resources specific to the EIDL program on WausauChamber.com.
COVID-19 webinar:
A webinar on Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and managing a mobile workforce will be held at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1. Register for the webinar here.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) has been signed into law. What does this mean for employers and businesses? Attend this complimentary attorney-led briefing to get the facts on what you need to know, including detail on:
•Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
•Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA)
•Emergency Family & Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA)
•Tax credits (DOL & Treasury Guidance)
•Managing a mobile workforce
•Overview of “Safer at Home” Emergency Order
•Best practices for managing a mobile workforce
•Layoffs and other considerations
•Benefits plan considerations
•Q & A session
The presenters for this webinar are Nate Priestaf, Compliance Attorney at Ansay & Associates, C. Douglas Moran, Attorney at CarlsonDash and Christy Lyons, CEO at 4 Point Consulting.
Community Response Fund:
The Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin in partnership with United Way of Marathon County opened the COVID-19 Community Response Fund to address the local needs of nonprofits in our area this past week. Since the opening of the fund, both organizations have been met with a tremendous amount of support, raising over $160,000 within the first week.
The Fund, designed to provide flexible funding for organizations working in our community who are disproportionately impacted during this time, gave out its first grants totaling $51,000 as of March 27, 2020. The following organizations have been supported: Boys & Girls Club of the Wausau Area, Bridge Street Mission, Community Center of Hope, Faith in Action of Marathon County, Hmong American Center, Key to Life Christian Child Care, North Central Community Action Program and Wisconsin Judicare.
Applications will be reviewed for COVID-19 Fund awards bi-weekly. Nonprofit agencies serving Marathon County are encouraged to apply via the Community Foundation’s website. By simply filling out a five-question application, your organization will be considered to receive up to $10,000 based on need.
Childcare Connection pairs providers with those in need:
The Chamber, working closely with business leaders, K16 education leaders, professional day care organizations and youth-serving organizations in the region, has developed a new childcare resource on WausauChamber.com. This resource was built to serve those whose childcare options have been impacted by measures mandated to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). This online tool is intended to serve as the connecting piece between businesses of all types and those who offer childcare services.
Businesses who have employees in need of childcare should refer them to the contacts listed on WausauChamber.com.
For more information about the resource, contact the Chamber’s marketing manager, Brian Otten at 715-848-5947.
With unemployment on the rise, temporary jobs available:Members of the Chamber are encouraged to post available temporary positions to WausauChamber.com through their MIC (Member Information Center) account. Non-members are welcomed to share temporary job openings by contacting the Chamber’s marketing manager, Brian Otten at 715-848-5947.
Those looking for work can view positions on WausauChamber.com.