WRBA joined forces with City of Wheat Ridge, Localworks and Wheat Ridge Chamber of Commerce to bring you Covid-19 Business Toolkit.

This compilation of resources is updated daily. Please access this and learn all of the efforts around city, state and nation-wide to help your business in this time of difficulty.

Visit Coronavirus Business Toolkit page >>

Visit Eat Ridge – listing of all food-related businesses in Wheat Ridge and their information

In response in efforts to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), per advice from Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Colorado Department of Public Health, and other healthcare professionals, there has been many changes put in place, including social distancing to limit contact.

Socially, we are advised to refrain from where 10 or more people are gathered. Older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions are to be extra careful to avoid contact with potential exposure.

What does this mean for our business?

Businesses are advised to operate with extra care, being sensitive to our customers’ needs. We need to be creative in order to keep our customers, our employees, and our families healthy. Here are some tips from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html

While you are a business owner, you are a customer to many local businesses. This is the time to show each other support and help each other get through this unprecedented phenomenon.

Buy Gift Cards… from your local business today so you can return when things are back to normal. This puts money in their pocket today to help cover operating expenses and show your support.

Shop/Order online or via phone…
Many local stores are staying open and some of them are taking your order online for curbside pick-up. Some of the restaurants also offer delivery options. Please contact them directly for each store’s offerings.

Showing your love in Social Media…
Leave positive review on Google, Yelp, Facebook & etc. for our local businesses to let them know you are thinking about them. It won’t cost you anything but a little bit of your time but what an impact you can create to your neighbors!

Please use the Wheat Ridge Business Association Facebook page to communicate and interact with your local business neighbors. Use @WheatRidgeBusinessAssociation to tag us and see how we can stay in touch to encourage and support each other!

The March Biz Mix was cancelled and we will determine the options for April Breakfast Meeting. We will keep you posted on updated information on our website https://www.wheatridgebiz.com/, our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WheatRidgeBusinessAssociation, and on our email newsletter.

Stay Healthy!

Maki DeLaet
President, Wheat Ridge Business Association

Click to view Resources from SCL Lutheran on COVID-19

Xcel Energy response to COVID-19

If you haven’t received it, yet, the 2020 Census mailing should be arriving in your mailbox soon. Census data is used to determine congressional representation, inform distribution of hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade. Business owners rely on census results to make decisions, such as where to open new stores, restaurants, factories, or offices, where to expand operations, where to recruit employees, and which products and services to offer.

Collected data will be aggregated as statistical numbers and your personal information remains confidential. Moreover, they will not call you (you call them), so be sure to read the information provided on this page so you understand all of the ways you can respond safely.

Click HERE to learn more >>

DENVER – Today the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) published emergency rules which temporarily require employers in certain industries to provide a small amount of paid sick leave to employees with flu-like symptoms while awaiting COVID-19 testing.

The emergency rules take effect today for 30 days, or longer if the state of emergency declared by the Governor continues.

“Colorado is acting swiftly to contain the spread of this virus. These steps are important for individuals who work with vulnerable populations like older Coloradans and people with underlying health issues. When workers who might have Coronavirus lack paid sick leave, it poses a great risk to our ability to protect the public,” said Gov. Polis. “People want to do right by their fellow Coloradans and stay home when they are ill. But they shouldn’t be forced between doing what’s best for our community or missing rent. I am asking the entire private sector of Colorado to voluntarily offer paid sick leave pending Coronavirus testing results so that we can collectively do our part to contain the spread of the virus.”

On Tuesday, Governor Polis declared a state of emergency for Colorado in response to COVID-19. Included in the Executive Order were directives for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to 1) engage in emergency rulemaking for temporary paid sick leave and 2) identify additional supports and wage replacement such as access to unemployment insurance.

The Colorado Health Emergency Leave with Pay Rules (“Colorado HELP” 7 CCR 1103-10) requires up to four days of paid sick for employees being tested for coronavirus COVID-19 in select industries which include: leisure and hospitality; food services; child care; education, including transportation, food service, and related work at educational establishments; home health, if working with elderly, disabled, ill, or otherwise high-risk individuals and; nursing homes and community living facilities.

The requirement is not on top of sick leave an employer already provides and does not cover wage replacement should an employee test positive and require quarantine resulting in lost work time and wages.

Workers are covered regardless of pay rate or method (hourly, weekly, piece rate, etc.); the daily pay during leave is either their established daily rate or, if their pay fluctuates, their average daily pay for the past month.

Today’s emergency rules only speak to paid leave for the four-day period required for testing.

Other wage replacement options, including unemployment insurance, are still under review by the department to determine the specifics for compensation for those who test positive. Under current state law, unemployment insurance benefits are only available to workers who have become unemployed through no fault of their own. The Department is currently reviewing options to expand eligibility under existing rules.

Under Colorado wage and hour law, CDLE’s Division of Labor Standards and Statistics (DLSS) has authority under existing state law to promulgate rules when “[t]he welfare of the state of Colorado demands that workers be protected from conditions of labor that have a pernicious effect on their health and morals, and it is therefore declared … that inadequate wages and unsanitary conditions of labor exert such pernicious effect” (C.R.S. 8-6-101(1)).

FAQs and resource pages for both workers and employers can be found at coloradolaborlaw.gov.

This program is designed to augment your business’ ability to adapt to unplanned business expenses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Please review the eligibility information from this page. If you’d like to apply, download the application, fill it out, save it as the name of your business and email the complete application to Kate Cooke at kcooke@wearelocalworks.org.

Register online Now >>

Community Outreach Committee is working to raise awareness to Feeding the Future program. We collected monetary donations at November and December meetings. WRBA matched $500 of the money raised at these meetings and the grand total of $1,381 was sent to the program. Thank you for your generosity to support the effort to help our children in need.

Feeding the Future Backpack program is run by Community Table (formerly known as Arvada Food Bank) and is providing students, who are on free or reduced lunch program, with food to eat over the weekend during the school year. Our volunteers meet every Thursday morning while school is in session at Stevens Elementary School and bag some food (some carbs, canned veggies, a piece of fruit, energy bars and some snack items). These are sent home with them on Fridays so they have some food to eat over the weekend. We are supporting the children in our neighborhood in need with these basic needs so they are able to focus on learning and growing. We encourage you to attend the next bagging if you can for just 30 minutes of your day to make a great impact in their lives.

Bagging Day Information:

Wheat Ridge Business Association members are invited to help fill bags for students at Stevens Elementary School the first Thursdays and any 5th Thursdays. Please check in at the main office and they will direct you to the cafeteria.

Remaining 2019-20 Dates: Apr. 2, April 30, May 7
Starts at: 8:25 am, Ends at: 9:05 am
Cost: 30 minutes of your time per day
Pre-registration required? No

Location: Stevens Elementary School
Address: 7101 W. 38th Ave, Wheat Ridge 80033

Contact: Cheryl Brungardt 303-425-0230 cherylbrungardt@gmail.com

*If you can’t volunteer, donations may be sent to Wheat Ridge Foundation, For Wheat Ridge Feed the Future.

November 23, 2019

Dear Community Supporter,

Please join us as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Wheat Ridge High School After Prom. This year’s event will take place on Friday, April 24, 2020 from 11PM to 2AM. The purpose of this event is to provide a fun and safe alternative to private parties after the prom that could potentially involve drinking and driving. The success and enthusiasm for this event has grown through the years and financial support from our business community makes it happen. The After Prom is paid for solely by contributions received from parents, businesses, services organization and fundraising.

Your tax deductible donation will be put to work to provide games, entertainment, food, prizes and decorations to transform Wheat Ridge High School into a safe and supervised fun-filled event for our students. All sponsors are recognized for their contributions during the After Prom, on the schools website, on the Wheat Ridge High School After-Prom Facebook site and in the local newspapers.

Your donation would be sincerely appreciated. We are in need of cash donations, gift cards/certificates, unique experiences, car care services/items, health and beauty services, food for the event, items for future college students or anything a teenager would like.

If you are interested in donating an item or service please contact me at 303-726-1421 or WRHSafterprom2020@gmail.com. The Wheat Ridge High School After Prom/PTSA is a Section 501(c) 3 nonprofit. Tax ID # 84-6047965.
Thank you so much for your consideration and generosity.

Sincerely,

Erin E. Perrin, RN
Parent of 9th Grade Student
Wheat Ridge High School
9505 W 32nd Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

12th Annual Wine & Beer Tasting – Saturday, April 4, 6-9 pm

We will be celebrating at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center
Cost: $30 per person / $55 per couple – includes wine and beer tastings, non-alcoholic beverages, hors d’oeuvres & desserts. Plus there will be both a live and silent auction and a wine pull.

Donations go to Wheat Ridge Optimist Club to support local youth programs.

Black & White attire is encouraged.

Click to View/ Download flyer (PDF) >>

Location: Wheat Ridge Recreation Center
Address: 4005 Kipling Street, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Member: The McDonald Group @ Keller Williams Avenues Realty
Contact: Ron Benson – (720) 879-3927

*** We will not meet in person, but will meet online, starting at 8am. Access information will be posted on this page when available. Please stay tuned. ***

Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Time: 8:00am-9:00am

Speaker: Patrick Goff, City Manager, City of Wheat Ridge

Topic: “State of the City”

Every year the City of Wheat Ridge is our biggest sponsor. The city shows its support through their direct financial support and through the use of its facilities. Mayor Bud Starker and Economic Development Manager Steve Art sit on the WRBA board of directors. They are both valuable members and we appreciate their participation. One of the big reasons that WRBA has been successful is because of the partnership between the two organizations. Thanks City of Wheat Ridge!

President’s Circle Member Spotlight:  Cheryl Garcia, LegalShield & IDShield
2 minutes Spotlight:  Ashley Holland, Localworks and Community Table

Patrick Goff, City Manager, City of Wheat Ridge

Patrick Goff has been with the City of Wheat Ridge since 2002, serving as City Manager for ten years.  Before coming to Wheat Ridge, he held public sector positions in Sheridan, Colorado and Westminster, Colorado.

In 2012 Mr. Goff received the Strategic Leadership and Governance Award from the International City/County Management Association recognizing innovative local government programs and processes. In 2014 the Colorado City and County Management Association selected him as the City Manager of the Year recognizing his leadership skills, inspirational hands-on management style, and dedication and commitment to the employees and community he serves.

Patrick received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado Denver. He received Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of Nebraska.

This event is co-hosted by Wheat Ridge Business Association and Jeffco BRC!

A custom event so we can learn from each other and help each other to grow our business. You are strongly encouraged to attend. Non-members are welcome – this is an open event for everyone.

*******************************

None of us are masters in all that it takes to manage a successful business. Whether your challenge is marketing, sales or cash flow—chances are someone else has experienced and found a workable solution to your individual pain point.

Join us for a structured 90 minute workshop where you will have an opportunity to discuss the most challenging aspects of your business and hear creative and practical ideals and advise from other business that experienced the same challenges. You will also have a chance to share your best tips and tricks for running your small business!

Bring plenty of business cards—lots of time for networking!

Date: Wednesday, April 29, 8-9:30 am
Cost: $20 – Coffee and a light breakfast is included
Location: Jeffco BRC Conference Room
Address: 1667 Cole Blvd., Ste. 400 Lakewood, CO 80401

Download/Print flyer >>

Register NOW >>

*** Please RSVP for this meeting before 5pm on Thursday, May 7 . No Walk-ins Please ***

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Time: 7:00am-9:30am
Location: Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St., Wheat Ridge, CO
Cost: $15 for WRBA Members and their guests, $18 for Non-members

Speaker: Pamela Starr – Grow with Google Trainer
Topic: Reach Customers Online with Google ( View/download flyer >> )

President’s Circle Member Spotlight: Lowery Burnett, Fountainhead Commercial

Please RSVP today as this event will sell out! As soon as we reach full capacity, the registration will close even if it’s before the deadline.

Reach Customers Online with Google

Learn how customers find your business online and how to promote your
business using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Smart Campaigns in
Google Ads.

In this workshop we’ll discuss best practices for:

• Improving your website’s visibility in Google’s organic search results, on all devices
• Creating a free Google My Business listing
• Advertising your business on Google

Led by Pamela Starr, one of Google’s professional national trainers, this is a can’t miss workshop for every small business owner.

Pamela Starr – Grow with Google Trainer

Pamela Starr is a leading authority on building customer loyalty and a professional speaker for Google’s Grow with Google program. A sought-after keynote speaker, Pamela also consults for brands and elite performers. She helps them achieve more measurable and profitable results from their digital and offline communication programs. For all her clients, she delivers real-world tools and strategies that drive stellar results.

Pamela is known to many in the business community for her prior role as corporate Director of Product Training for North America at Constant Contact. In that position, she directed the training activities that showed thousands of small businesses and non-profit organizations how to improve their digital media marketing efforts.

Pamela has dedicated her entire career to helping businesses and top performers grow. She has trained, coached and delivered keynote presentations to more than 80,000 professionals at more than 500 events. In addition, she has logged more than 30 hours of live national television appearances.

Pamela has a bachelor’s degree in Advertising from the Florida State University and completed graduate-level studies in Communication at the University of Central Florida.

You can connect with Pamela on her website: www.PamelaStarrOnline.com or through Twitter: @PamelaStarrFL.

*** Please RSVP for this meeting before 5pm on Thursday, June 4 . No Walk-ins Please ***

Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Time: 7:00am-9:30am
Location: Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, 4005 Kipling St., Wheat Ridge, CO
Cost: $15 for WRBA Members and their guests, $18 for Non-members

Speaker: Brigitte Ades
Topic: Brigitte’s 3 Keys to Success in Gratitude Marketing

You will learn how to:

• Ensure success by avoiding becoming too comfortable
• Practice the art of daily forgiveness
• Take just 15 minutes a day to “send” gratitude to others

President’s Circle Member Spotlight: Sue Ball, Sue Ball-State Farm Insurance
2 minutes spotlight: Ron Benson, The McDonald Group – Keller Williams Avenues Realty

WRBA Annual Meeting

Brigitte Ades, Appreciation Specialist, AM Cards

Brigitte is currently a partner in AM Cards. Her title is Appreciation Specialist, speaker and trainer. She has 22 years’ experience in the network marketing industry and 25 years as a salon/spa owner in Denver and Chicago.

Tuesday, August 18, 9 am to noon

Your team will visit businesses in a selected area of Wheat Ridge and ask:

– How is business?
– What do you like about doing business in the area?
– What improvements are needed in the area?

… and then turn in your results.

We do the rest.

Download/Print flyer >>

To sign-up for for information
email Steve Art at sart@ci.wheatridge.co.us or call (303) 235-2806

This is a great way to strengthen the business community of Wheat Ridge
… and get a bit of exercise

*Survey results will be revealed at the Annual Business Awards Appreciation Breakfast on September 23

Date: Tuesday, August 18, 9 am – noon
Location: Meet in the Council Chambers at City Hall
Address: 7500 W. 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Jefferson County Business Lobby (JCBL) is a partnership of area Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations in Jefferson County, Colorado. We work together in order to create a larger representation of our local business community. JCBL works with a lobbyist to focus on business-related issues so we can learn any changes that impact our business and act upon them as needed.

We receive periodical updates from JCBL if there are any legislative issues that pertains to our business. You can also receive updates by signing up to their email list from THIS LINK. All members are strongly encouraged to sign up TODAY.

Please click HERE to see past updates >>