Stephens County Development Authority

Additional Stephens County Hospital Updates: With the increase in cases, the hospital wants to remind everyone that testing for COVID-19 is offered at WorkWell Occupational & Immediate Care Clinic, SCHPG Primary Care Clinic, as well as the Stephens County Hospital should you know someone in need of being tested.

Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program Restarts According to an article in The National Observer, yesterday marked the full restart of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. As lenders nationwide prepare to engage with loan applicants, one SBA regional administrator says he’s confident the program’s staggered restart will have an impact. You’re going to see a different flavor when it comes to this [rollout], where it’s going to be microtargeting those small, small, small businesses, said the SBA’s Rob Scott.

MLK Jr Day January 18th.

Quote for the Day "In times of uncertainty, it is crucial for leaders to rally around the why behind their mission." Girish Pancha, CEO of Streamsets

SBA prepares for new round of PPP loans According to this National Observer article, the U.S. Small Business Administration has yet to release a date for when it will start accepting new Paycheck Protection Program loan applications, but it has revealed who gets to go first. The agency plans to accept PPP loan applications only from community financial institutions for "at least the first two days" when the loan portal reopens, according to guidance the agency issued. Such le...nders include community development financial institutions, known as CDFIs, minority depository institutions and other entities that traditionally work with undeserved or underbanked businesses, as well as certain local, government-backed lenders or state development companies. The agency’s goal, it said, is to ensure increased access to the PPP for businesses owned by people of color, veterans, women and those in underserved geographic areas. Lending to those groups was considered by many to be a major gap in the program's first rounds last year. Industry observers expect the SBA to release additional guidance, though much of the groundwork has been laid with the rules already announced, unlike the agency's initial rounds, which critics said were too vague or ambiguous as guidance trickled out over time. The $284 billion in potentially forgivable loans that will become available draws from the $900 billion federal stimulus package passed in December. Other SBA programs and additional measures intended to help cash-strapped or struggling small businesses drew support from the stimulus package as well. See more

Pre-legislative Virtual Gathering Thursday morning, January 7, 2021, at 9 am, Georgia State Representative Chris Erwin and Georgia State Senator-elect Bo Hatchett will be on a Zoom call to share what they see ahead for the 2021 Session and to hear from their constituents. The link to join the meeting is below. Topic: Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Pre-Legislative Meeting Time: Jan 7, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting... https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82411655145 Meeting ID: 824 1165 5145 Passcode: 591337 See more

WorkWell Occupational Medicine & Immediate Care Clinic does have testing capabilities for patients suspected of having COVID-19. Testing is done following an assessment by a medical provider of that clinic. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 and wish to be assessed at WorkWell, please call 706-282-5815.

Bottle Benders Bottle Benders celebrated it’s 50th year in business in 2020! Founders Jean and Ted Chalfant started years ago traveling to Art shows with their 3 daughters to pedal their creations, which at the time, began with Michelob beer bottles turned into beautiful chimes. Since those early days, they have used every type of bottle you can imagine. Their quality chimes now are made from wine bottles. In 2010, the Chalfant family opened Bottle Benders to wholesale. They operate in Stephens County with 3 employees. They make every chime from start to finish- all materials are made in the USA To check out their quality craftsmanship, simply go online to www.thebottlebenders.com .

Remember this day - December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor #mayweneverforget #ADayThatWillLiveInInfamy

Gov. Kemp Extends Public Health Emergency, Renews COVID-19 Restrictions Governor Brian P. Kemp signed Executive Order 11.30.20.01 and Executive Order 11.30.20.02, extending Georgia’s Public Health State of Emergency until January 8, 2021, and extending current COVID-19 restrictions. Executive Order 11.30.20.02 also includes changes that allow nurses and pharmacists to administer the pending COVID-19 vaccine, including in a drive-thru setting, and permits any nurse or pharmacist to observe patients for the requisite 15 minute window after receiving the vaccine.

Please support our local hospital and this yearly fundraiser!!

US Chamber of Commerce Study Says Childcare Situation Due to COVID Is Affecting Employers According to the IndustryWeek article, while most employers feel they are supportive of the childcare needs of their employees, they underestimated the number of workers who would leave the workforce due to COVID-19. The report "Piecing Together Solutions: Employer Childcare Assistance Now and Looking Ahead," shows that, in June of this year, 24% of employers were concerned that some of... their employees would leave the workforce because of the pandemic, but by October, 32% of employers had lost employees. When asked what factors drove employees' decisions to leave the workforce, half cited childcare concerns. Additional key findings from the study include: Due to the impact of the pandemic, many employers are struggling financially to invest in employees' childcare needs. An overwhelming majority of employers feel that they are aware of their employees’ childcare needs. Most employers feel they provide adequate support to employees with young children See more

117-year-old woman set to carry Olympic torch ahead of Tokyo Games According to this article in Running, COVID-19 has had a profound impact on many older adults. One inspiring exception is Kana Tanaka, the world’s oldest person. The 117-year-old woman is set to carry the Olympic torch ahead of the Tokyo Games. Tanaka, who was born in Fukuoka, Japan, was originally scheduled to carry the Olympic flame in the 2020 relay but the Games were postponed due to the pandemic. Her new ...date is May 11, 2021, when she will be 118 years, 129 days old. Tanaka was born before the first modern Olympics in Athens. More than a century later, she is set to carry the torch while being pushed in a wheelchair at her care home in Fukuoka. She was invited to perform the ceremonial role by Olympic sponsor Nippon Life Insurance Co., which wanted her to send a positive message about this time of long-living. See more