As we go to Phase 1 of the Governor’s reopening plan beginning Saturday, you should know that not all businesses will be allowed to open and those that do open will be required to limit the number of people in the business at one time. You’ll also need to have masks and possible other personal protective equipment for employees.

Here are a few businesses who can help with that need. In talking with Megan at Ace Hardware, she believes her company will have a reliable ongoing source of PPE. Walmart normally stocks some of those items but since the pandemic started their supplies have been limited at times. Donna Labatt a Chamber member representing eastern New Mexico for Vernon Company says she has a dependable source for disposable face masks. Call her at 575-799-3215. Heather Heflin at All Glass tells me they are able to provide clear acrylic shields for use at checkouts, desks or to divide workers in an open office setting. You can call her at (575) 356-0399.

Our businesses need to arm themselves with information on best practices as we begin to reopen. We all want our employees and customers to be safe and feel comfortable as reopening occurs. To do that each business should have a plan for what practices you’ll employ and how you’ll communicate those to your employees.

I’ve attempted to corral a few of the best sources of information for you so that you can begin working on that plan and communicating it to your employees. I wanted to give you both the most detailed links like the CDC as well as shorter well-focused video training videos that might be helpful for your workforce. Here are those links, let me know if you know of others that we might want to pass on.

Coronavirus Employee Training Links

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7wfbzDKPsE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhpRnnEYViM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLVP_3Ni_SI

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf

Best wishes as we prepare to take this next step. Let me know how I can help.

Karl Terry, Executive Director
Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce
100 S. Avenue A
Portales, NM 88130
(575) 356-8541 or (575) 309-7541


Notice of City of Portales Local Small Business
COVID-19 Relief Program

The City of Portales in conjunction with Roosevelt County Community Development Corporation is sponsoring a new Local Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program to assist local businesses which have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are available on the City of Portales’s website at https://www.portalesnm.gov/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item;id=1368
Applications will only be accepted electronically. Completed applications and required documentation must be submitted in full to Covid19Relief@portalesnm.gov no later than 12:00 pm (Noon) Friday, May 22, 2020. Conditional Grant award notifications will be made beginning June 3, 2020.

For City Manager Standefer
Joan Martinez-Terry
City Clerk
City of Portales
100 W. First Street
Portales, NM 88130
Tel. (575) 356-6662
Fax (575) 356-3158