Dublin Chamber of Commerce helping local businesses in lockdown

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of Inge Houston has been providing support and vital information to local businesses dealing with the COVID-19 crisis.

During a virtual Community Conversation hosted by the City of Dublin yesterday Ms Houston highlighted the numerous queries that the Chamber has received from both essential and non-essential businesses. A list of online resources has been compiled which can assist local businesses as they rally to cope during the crisis. The Chamber welcomes new members and just announced that San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission ACE Corridor Express as their newest member.

The Business Community Conversation was chaired by Dublin Mayor David Haubert and City Manager, Linda Smith. Representatives from the business sector included Economic Development Director Hazel Wetherford, Dublin Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, Inge Houston, Noah Brod with the Small Business Administration (SBA San Francisco Office), and Ron Barrett with the Alameda County Small Business Development Center.

Noah Brod provided a comprehensive presentation of Coronavirus Relief Options for businesses available from SBA including the Paycheck Protection Plan and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

"I found this discussion extremely useful" said local businesswoman Sawsan Wolski, owner of The Frame Company in Dublin "and I could immediately action some of the suggestions given."

The City of Dublin has published a Business Resource Guide for Dublin businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Police Chief Garrett Holmes was also present to report on the response to the current shelter-in-place order and indicated that although there had been a slight increase in calls relating to domestic incidents there had generally been good compliance by the public and businesses. Dublin Police Services remain accessible to the public although restrictions have been set in place at the lobby of the new Police Services Complex in order to facilitate social distancing.

The Business discussion was the third in a series of Community Conversations hosted by the City on Thursday which also included a Public Health Update and a Dublin Unified School District Update.

Further information about the the updates can be found on the City of Dublin website.

Members of the public could register to attend the conversations and also post questions to the speakers. Dr Dave Marken, DUSD Superintendent, indicated that the school district was built on relationships and the current focus was "to educate but show some grace and compassion." Ms Megan Rouse, DUSD Board Vice President, also commended the efforts shown by teachers to shift to online learning tools and remain connected to their students.

The COVID-19 Virtual Community Conversation started off the talks for the day with Dublin Mayor David Haubert, City Manager Linda Smith, Chief of Police Garrett Holmes, and representatives from the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency and Stanford/Valley Care. During the discussion the Alameda County Dashboard was mentioned which indicated 14 positive cases in Dublin which did not include those testing positive in Santa Rita jail. However it was made clear that the City level data had limitations given that testing for COVID-19 was still not community wide and equitably available.

It was noted that a COVID-19 mobile testing station is operating in the Standford Health/ ValleyCare Medical Center parking lot (555 W Las Positas Blvd., Pleasanton). Anyone with a physician's order can be tested. (Call 650-736-5211 for an appointment).