The Salem County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with several organizations to present the Salem County Small Business Forum on 10/23 at Salem Community College. Presenters and event partners are impressive.

This event is free and open to all, this is not just a Chamber Membership event.

Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you think may benefit from this opportunity. A copy of the printable invitation may be found by clicking HERE.

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Join us for a lively discussion about utilizing and maximizing a CRM for your business!
Presented by The Chamber’s Marketing Committee.

Date & Time: September 20, 2019 from 11:30 – 1:00 pm
Location: Salem Oak Vineyards 60 N. Railroad Ave Pedricktown, NJ 08067

What is my total potential within my current customer base? How can a CRM help me identify and capture new leads, and help my business flow?

Reservations for this event can be made by filling out and returning the slip below with payment, by phone at 856-351-2244 or by emailing Brittany Vanaman at brit@salemcountychamber.com

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD RESERVATION PDF

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Join us for the Business Education Committee’s Annual Leadership Breakfast. Our 2019 Leaders include Keith Campbell, Chair of the Board, Mannington Mills Inc. & Dave Bailey, Jr. Executive Director for Ranch Hope, Inc. SCVTS Culinary Arts students will be preparing and serving a gourmet hot breakfast

Date & Time: September 27, 2019 8:30-10:30am
Location: Salem County Vo-Tech
Cost: $20 Members, $30 “Wish you were a Member”

Reservations must be made by September 20, 2019.
Reservations can be made by mailing in this completed form, by emailing Brittany Vanaman at brit@salemcountychamber.com or calling 856-351-2244.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD RSVP FLIER PDF

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Date & Time: October 17, 2019 at 8am – 10am
Cost: FREE

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Join us for “Friday Morning Leadership” a powerful seminar based on the book, “Monday Morning Leadership” by David Cottrell.

Date & Time: October 25, 2019 from 8:15 – 10:15 am
Location: Salem Community College
Cost: $10

Our adaptation will be taught by Mike Gorman, Ed.D., President of Salem Community College and based on the 8 Leadership Sessions covered as part of the book, including:

• Drivers and Passengers
• Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
• Escape from Management Land
• The “Do Right” Rule
• Hire Tough
• Do Less or Work Faster
• Buckets and Dippers
• Enter the Learning Zone

Friday Morning Leadership offers unique encouragement and direction that will help you become a better manager, employee and person. The session will benefit first-line supervisors and newer managers and be a timely refresher for more seasoned managers too.

It is not necessary to read the book but if you would like to purchase it, contact Maria Fantini, Executive Assistant at Salem Community College at 856-351-2601 or at mfantini@salemcc.edu

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FLIER PDF

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Join us as The Chamber Government Relations and Economic Development Committee presents the annual “Get to Know Your Candidates” with presentations from candidates for:

• NJ State Assembly
• Salem County Clerk
• Salem County Freeholder

Date & Time: October 28, 2019 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Location: Salem Community College, Davidow Auditorium
460 Holllywood ave, Carneys Point, NJ 08069

FREE – The public is welcome and encourage to attend! A free opportunity for networking and meeting the candidates in person.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FLIER PDF

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Hosted by Salem County Historical Society.
Come hang out with local influences, have coffee, and take a tour of the Salem County Historical society’s newly renovated rooms! Get to know the business scene in Salem County and receive a COMPLIMENTARY professional photo Courtesy of Riley Rudd, Chamber Marketing Intern.

Date & Time: November 14, 2019 from 8am – 10am
Location: Salem Historical Society, 79-83 Market St., Salem, NJ
Cost: FREE for Chamber Members, $25.00 for Prospective Members & Guests
RSVP to Brittany via email: brit@salemcountychamber.com or by phone 856-351-2244

FREE professional business “headshots”
Reasons for updating your professional headshot:

• Recent Promotion?
• Started a new business?
• Are your Social Media Pages current with a recent headshot?
• Selling real estate?

There’s never a wrong reason to keep your professional image current, and no easier way to do that than a complimentary headshot!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FLIER PDF

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Date & Time: November 20, 2019 at 5:30 pm
Location: Salem Community College’s DuPont Field House
Cost: $45 per person

Catering by DiPaolo’s Italian Ristorante

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The latest edition of the Chamber newsletter is now ready!  Read it online at https://salemcountychamber.com/chamber-newsletter/

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New business products in place to help businesses

Business Questions? NJBAC Has Answers!
Call “Your Business Helpline” • 1–800–JERSEY–7

Whether you are an entrepreneur, own a business on “Main Street”, are located on a corporate campus, or interested in expanding your products and services through export, we’re here for you.

The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) is a business-first resource that can help you get answers from government agencies, all at no cost and strictly confidential.

Located within the New Jersey Department of State, we are a business advocacy team dedicated to solving problems and maximizing growth opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

Check out our comprehensive Guide to Business Assistance Programs, an invaluable resource to New Jersey businesses interested in taking advantage of the many state programs created to help the Garden State’s business community.

The Guide is a companion to the help businesses can obtain directly from the NJBAC’s business advocates, a team of experts who understand business needs and who stay up-to-date on the latest regulations affecting New Jersey business owners like you.

In addition, our Business Helpline, 1-800-JERSEY-7, is staffed each weekday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with real people ready to answer your questions.

I’ve also included a link to our latest newsletter. If you’re not already a subscriber, I encourage to sign up using the link at the bottom of our latest edition.

The NJBAC is ultimately here to help you and we want to hear from you. Tell us how we can support and assist you and your members. We are on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram and you can reach me directly at 609-633-8301 or Melanie.willoughby@sos.nj.gov.

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UPDATE: DEADLINE TO APPLY IS OCTOBER 21, 2019

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available for Combined Effects of Excessive Rain, Flooding, Hurricanes Florence and Michael Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration for New Jersey

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEWS RELEASE PDF

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced in February that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations located in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties in New Jersey as a result of the combined effects of excessive rain, flooding, hurricanes Florence and Michael from June 14 through Nov. 29, 2018.

“These counties are eligible because they are contiguous to one or more primary counties in Delaware. The Small Business Administration recognizes that disasters do not usually stop at county or state lines. For that reason, counties adjacent to primary counties named in the declaration are included,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East.

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers.

The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations of all sizes and 3.61 percent for small businesses, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at Disasterloan.sba.gov.

Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from Disasterloan.sba.gov. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Oct. 21, 2019.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

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As you are aware, Governor Murphy signed a new minimum wage law.

Here’s what you need to know:

♦  July 1, 2019 minimum wage rate increases to $10/hour

♦  January 1, 2020 minimum wage rate increases again to $11/hour

♦  January 1, 2024 minimum wage rate will be $15/hour

♦  Seasonal businesses and businesses with less than 6 employees will have a longer phase-in time to reach $15/hour by the year 2026.

♦  Agricultural workers’ minimum wage rate will rise to $12.50/hour by 2024, but no higher without review by the NJ Dept of Labor & Workforce, and with legislative approval.

♦  Training wages are allowed for new employees. A sub-minimum wage rate may be paid for the first 120 hours of work, but can not be less than 90% of the current minimum wage.

♦  Tipped wages will increase from $2.13/hour to $5.13/hour. Wage plus tips must equal the current hourly minimum wage rate.

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