Chamber Connection - East Bay Chamber of Commerce

Assistance With Recent Flooding

1/31/2024

Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency is requesting assistance with the weather events affecting our State. Submitting this information will assist the State in determining whether to pursue Federal reimbursement. If impacted by multiple storms, use each one that is applicable.

Welcome | Emergency Management Agency (ri.gov)
December 17 - 19, 2023 - Damage Assessment Form
RIEMA is requesting Business owners who sustained losses and/or damages from the Severe Weather event from December 17 - 19, 2023 to complete an initial damage assessment form. Submitting this information will assist the State in determining whether to pursue Federal reimbursement. Click on the following link to complete the Damage Assessment Form:
Business Form - Click Here
January 9 – 11, 2024 - Damage Assessment Form
RIEMA is requesting Individuals and Business owners who sustained losses and/or damages from the Severe Weather event from January 9 – 11, 2024 to complete an initial damage assessment form. Submitting this information will assist the State in determining whether to pursue Federal reimbursement. Click on the following link to complete the Damage Assessment Form:
Residential (Individuals) Form - Click Here
Business Form - Click Here
January 12 – 14, 2024 - Damage Assessment Form
RIEMA is requesting Individuals and Business owners who sustained losses and/or damages from the Severe Weather event from January 12 – 14, 2024 to complete an initial damage assessment form. Submitting this information will assist the State in determining whether to pursue Federal reimbursement. Click on the following link to complete the Damage Assessment Form:
Residential (Individuals) Form - Click Here
Business Form - Click Here

Disaster Assistance Information Session with Rhode Island Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration

1/29/2024

Watch last week's Disaster Assistance Information Session with Rhode Island Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration below.

(Recorded on January 26, 2024)
Two Disaster Declarations in RI
RI 20130: Road Closure Due to Sudden Bridge Failure
Incident Date: December 11, 2023 and continuing
Type of Loans: Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) only
Working capital disaster loans to meet your operating expenses until full recovery
Counties: Providence, Bristol and Kent in RI; Windham, CT; Bristol, Norfolk, and Worcester in MA
Eligible: Small businesses, non-profit organizations Interest rate: 4% for businesses; 3.25% for non-profits
Application deadline: September 16, 2024

Note: Must show a direct relationship between your financial losses and the incident
Questions?
SBA Customer Service Center (www.SBA.gov/disaster)
(800) 659-2955
[email protected]

Rhode Island Commerce (https://commerceri.com)
(401) 521 - HELP
[email protected]

RI Emergency Management Agency (https://riema.ri.gov)
(401) 946-9996

SBA Offers Economic Assistance to Rhode Island Small Businesses Affected by the Washington Bridge Closure

12/20/2023

SBA Offers Economic Assistance to Rhode Island Small Businesses Affected by the Washington Bridge Closure
The attached release was issued to the media yesterday. To assist us with the widest distribution of this information as possible, please share our release with your contacts as appropriate and post to your social media.

WASHINGTON – Today, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced that Rhode Island small businesses affected by the road closure due sudden bridge failure in Providence County on Dec. 11, 2023, and continuing may apply for low-interest, long-term Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Administrator Guzman made the loans available in response to a letter from Governor Daniel McKee on Dec. 14, 2023, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. The declaration covers Providence County and the adjacent counties of Bristol and Kent in Rhode Island, Windham in Connecticut, and Bristol, Norfolk and Worcester in Massachusetts, and applies to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and private nonprofit organizations. Eligible applicants in the declared area can now apply for low-interest, long-term Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the SBA to cover working capital needs as the community recovers.

Regards,
Mary S. Gipson
Public Affairs Specialist
Field Operations Center - East
U.S. Small Business Administration
Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience
101 Marietta St. NW, Suite 700
Atlanta, GA 30303
Office: 404-331-0333
[email protected]

Updates On I-195 Washington Bridge Closure

12/15/2023

Updates On I-195 Washington Bridge Closure
RIDOT OPENS I-195 WEST BYPASS LANES

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) early this morning opened two bypass lanes for I-195 West traffic from East Providence to Providence. This temporary traffic pattern will allow two lanes of travel westbound and two lanes of travel eastbound – all operating on the eastbound Washington Bridge.
RIDOT will reopen most ramps that had been closed. However, the Gano Street off-ramp (Exit 1D) will remain closed as will the on-ramps to I-195 West from Veterans Memorial Parkway and Taunton Avenue. RIDOT will continue to maintain passage on the westbound bridge for emergency vehicles only.
With the bypass lane open, RIDOT expects it will help alleviate congestion but there will still be delays. Motorists may continue to find one detour route or the other more effective for them. As traffic becomes accustomed to the change with the bypass lanes open, RIDOT expects congestion levels to even out and create more predictable traffic flow and travel times.
RIDOT has posted estimated travel times for each detour route on the Washington Bridge closure page at www.ridot.net/WashingtonBridgeClosure and will update this information continuously.
The following recommended detours and alternate routes may be used:
Local traffic in East Providence: Use the Henderson Bridge and rejoin I-195 West at Gano Street.
Southeast Massachusetts west of Fall River, MA: Take Massachusetts Exit 1 and follow Route 114A to Route 44 West. Follow onto Route 114 (Pawtucket Avenue) or Route 1A (Newport Avenue) to I-95. This is the preferred routes for trucks.
Southeast Massachusetts east of Fall River, MA (including traffic coming from Cape Cod and the New Bedford Area): Take Massachusetts Exit 14B to Route 24 North. Follow to I-495 North to I-95.
The Washington Bridge carries 96,000 vehicles daily.

Here’s What We Know About the Washington Bridge Closure:

12/14/2023

Elizabeth M. Tanner
Secretary of Commerce

🚧

Update on the Washington Bridge Closure

from Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner

Here’s What We Know About the Washington Bridge Closure:

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has closed the westbound side of the Washington Bridge due to the finding of a critical failure of some bridge components.

Reconstruction work is being conducted 24/7. Significant progress has been made to get two lanes open on the eastbound side of the bridge, with the goal of opening the bypass for use starting this weekend.

For now, a single lane is open for emergency vehicles only, and detours are in place.

Commerce is in regular communication with state agencies and impacted businesses.

We Want to Hear From Your Businesses:

At Commerce, we've mobilized an emergency response team to deal with businesses impacted by the Washington Bridge closure.

https://commerceri.com/emergency-assistance

We ask that you share the link above AND that your impacted businesses fill out our assistance form so we can understand how the Washington Bridge lane closures are impacting business operations, and respond accordingly.

Next Steps:

We will be in touch with any new information we receive. We will schedule a follow up call with chambers and trade organizations as soon as we have more information to share.

In the meantime, if your businesses have any questions regarding the bridge closure, please encourage them to reach out to us by using our website intake form or by calling (401) 521 - HELP.

For more information from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, including suggested detours, and real time updates, click here.

Rhode Island Commerce | 315 Iron Horse Way Suite 101, Providence RI
(401) 521-9100 | commerceri.com

IT Security Tip : Are My Personal Credentials Already On The Dark Web?...Probably.

12/8/2023

IT Security Tip : Are My Personal Credentials Already On The Dark Web...Probably.

Okay, its homework time! WAIT don’t leave just yet. Do yourself a favor and take 30-seconds and go to http://haveibeenpwned.com/ and put in your personal and business emails. The results will likely shock you, don’t worry I’ll wait.
Scary huh?
I’m no different than anyone else, my credentials have been found and available many times. With more and more of our personal and business life being conducted digitally more people have access to store our situation, some are better stewards than others cough Equifax cough
It was recently revealed that every Fortune 500 company has been hacked. That’s a scary thought but here’s the “good” news.
Hackers are a business just like we are, if the cost to get the data is more than the data is worth than they’ll move on, they have costs to control just like we do.
Small business cybersecurity should be focused for value out of every dollar to make sure your company isn’t low-hanging fruit. Making sure you don’t have easily found credentials is one of the easiest first steps.

Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and hackers are setting their sights on small and medium businesses who are “low hanging fruit.” Don’t be their next victim! To download this free report that reveals the most common ways that hackers get in and how to protect yourself today go to www.packetlogix.com

East Bay Chamber Holds 2023 Job & Career Fair

4/24/2023

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2023

East Bay Chamber Holds 2023 Job & Career Fair
The East Bay Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce their first annual Job & Career Fair for the Community, High School, and College Students on Thursday, May 11th, 4:30 – 6:30pm at the Highlander Charter School, 360 Market Street, Warren, R.I. This is a unique opportunity to meet and connect with over twenty local businesses offering real jobs and careers. From 4:30 – 5:00pm a recent panel of High School & College students will hold an open Q&A session. Followed by an Expo format with Local Businesses offering informational and on the spot interviews. FREE and open to the public. For more information [email protected]
Or call 401-245-0750.

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IRS opens free portal to file information returns; new electronic option can reduce millions of paper Forms 1099 estimated to be filed by businesses in 2023

2/6/2023

IRS opens free portal to file information returns; new electronic option can reduce millions of paper Forms 1099 estimated to be filed by businesses in 2023

IR-2023-14, Jan. 25, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that businesses can now file Form 1099 series information returns using a new online portal, available free from the IRS.

Known as the Information Returns Intake System (IRIS), this free electronic filing service is secure, accurate and requires no special software. Though available to any business of any size, IRIS may be especially helpful to any small business that currently sends their 1099 forms on paper to the IRS.

“The IRS is excited to offer any business, especially small companies, a great new way to electronically file their 1099s for free,” said IRS Acting Commissioner Doug O’Donnell. “This simplifies filing for those issuing 1099s and helps recipients receive information timely. The launch of IRIS can help reduce the millions of paper Forms 1099 we project will be filed in 2023 and demonstrates our commitment to finding useful and innovative ways of reducing paperwork on the business community and others issuing 1099s. This is part of the larger effort underway to make improvements and transform operations at the IRS.”

Filers can use the platform to create, upload, edit and view information and download completed copies of 1099-series forms for distribution and verification.
With IRIS, businesses can e-file both small and large volumes of 1099-series forms by either keying in the information or uploading a file with the use of a downloadable template.
Currently, IRIS accepts Forms 1099 only for tax year 2022 and later.

The IRS encourages any business, especially those that now file on paper, to switch to e-filing through the platform and share in its benefits.

These benefits include:
·        E-file security standards keep information safe and protected.
·        The portal is an accurate filing method that automatically detects filing errors and provides alerts for missing information.
·        Filers can submit automatic extensions and make corrections to information returns filed through the platform.
·        The IRS acknowledges receipt of the return in as early as 48 hours.
·        The platform keeps issuer information from year to year, and prior years filed through this platform, providing convenience to 1099 filers.
·        E-filing eliminates trips to the post office and can reduce office expenses for paper, postage and storage space.

Enrollment for the IRIS filing platform is now open. Filers should begin the enrollment process immediately.

The Filing Information Returns Electronically (FIRE) system will remain available for bulk filing Form 1099 series and the other information returns through at least the 2023 filing season.
For more information about IRIS visit www.irs.gov/iris.
Additional resources·        Publication 5717, IRIS Taxpayer Portal User Guide.
·        General Instructions for Certain Information Returns (Forms 1096, 1097, 1098, 1099, 3921, 3922, 5498 and W-2G), provides general information, instructions and requirements for 1099-series forms and other select information returns.
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Calendar Listings Events at Mount Hope Farm January / February 2023

1/9/2023

For Immediate Release
Contact: Katie Blais Community Programming and Events Manager Mount Hope Farm Tel: 401-245-1745 Email: [email protected]
** Calendar Listings ** Events at Mount Hope Farm January / February 2023

Recurring - Saturdays, 10 am to 12:30 Join us at our ongoing Farmers Market in our historic Barn with vendors of produce, baked goods, fish, cocktails and ethnic foods, along with artisans and more. Attend 10 markets through end of March and enter our Winter Warrior program to win a selection of market products.

Daily Throughout January, 8 am to 6 pm The StoryWalk at Mount Hope Farm features the gorgeous children's book The Night Gardener this month. If the StoryWalk concept is new to you, think of it as a great family outing where you enjoy nature and get a bit of exercise while stopping at stations that feature pages from a book perfect for young readers.

Saturday, January 21, 10 am to 12:30 pm Recycle your old electronics when Indie Cycle visits the Farmers Market at Mount Hope Farm. Accepting computers, TVs, monitors, printers, small household appliances, air conditioners, and much more. (Note: fee required for some items.) Details: https://indiecycle.blogspot.com/ Sunday, January 22 and Sunday, February 19, 10 to 11 am Warm up on winter Sunday mornings with gentle vinyasa flow and guided breath yoga in our cozy Barn. All levels are welcome. Sessions led by certified instructor Valerie Griffiths. Farm Members: $12 per session. Nonmembers: $15 per session.

Thursday, January 26, 6 to 7:30 pm The creative and knowledgeable staff of Bristol’s Thistle & Posy join us in the Barn with instruction on how to Build a Succulent Terrarium. All materials provided, so attendees leave with a very special plant arrangement to brighten up winter days. Two Gals Cocktails will have a cash bar and complimentary empanadas from The Perfect Empanada. Farm Members: $65. Nonmembers: $75. Details/registration: mounthopefarm.org/upcoming-events Saturday, January 28, 2 to 5 pm Two local physicians – Michael Fine, MD, and Edward Iannuccilli, MD – speak about expanding their medical careers to become published authors in a conversation entitled Doctoring Words. They share their stories of expanding their horizons to become published authors of memoirs, fiction and nonfiction, and offer tips on how you, too, can write your story and get it in print. Moderated by Dante Bellini, Jr., the director of the award-winning film Ken Burns: Here & There. Farm Members: $15. Nonmembers: $20.

Monday, February 13, 6 to 8:30 pm Our classes in making a perfect charcuterie board are always sellouts and this session – Gal-entines Day DIY – not only teaches how to make a creative board (presented by The Perfect Parcel) but also includes the basics of hand lettering (presented by Perfectly Personalized). All materials provided. Cash bar by Two Gals Cocktails. Tickets: $120.

Tuesday, February 14, 6 to 7:30 pm Our Valentine’s Day Date Night program offers couples a fun new way to celebrate the holiday. Crystal from The Perfect Parcel leads a lively session on making a creative – and delicious – Valentine’s Day themed charcuterie board. All materials provided. Cash bar by Two Gals Cocktails. Tickets: $85. Details/registration: mounthopefarm.org/upcoming-events About Mount Hope Farm: Mount Hope Farm is a 127-acre national historic site located in Bristol, Rhode Island. The property is privately owned and governed by The Mount Hope Trust in Bristol and is on the national register of historic placed since 1976. The Farm is a non-profit whose mission is to preserve and protect the integrity of its natural assets and its historical structures.

2022 Chamber 101: Maximize Your Chamber Membership

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