June 2021 Newsletter | Floyd County Chamber of Commerce

This newsletter covers the following topics

Join Us For Our Chamber’s June Business After Hours Social
Support Our Nonprofit Members Participating in Give Local NRV
Save the Date For Chamber’s Rubber Duck Race/Call For Volunteers
Floyd Visitor Center Open Seven Days A Week Again
Welcome New Chamber Members
Chamber Scholarship Awards
Congratulations To Resa Mattson
Virginia’s Return To Earn Grant Program

Join Us For Our Chamber’s June Business After Hours Social
Our chamber’s June Business After Hours Social will be hosted by chamber members, The Floyd Center for the Arts and Finn Graphics, on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, 5:30-7pm. Come mix and mingle with fellow business community members, enjoy appetizers and a cash bar, view three new art exhibits, and tour the new Appalachian Center for Photography. Finn Graphics, also located on the art center’s campus, will host a fun photo booth and print photos on the spot. Guests are eligible for door prize drawings. The Floyd Center for the Arts is just a few minutes from the stoplight in Floyd on Route 8 at 220 Parkway Lane South. For food preparation arrangements, please RSVP by calling 540-745-4407, emailing info@FloydChamber.org, or via the chamber’s Facebook event page. The event is free and open to Floyd Chamber members and others from the Floyd business community.

“The Gift of Art: 26 Years an Art Center”, in the Hayloft Gallery, displays the work of artists, makers, and teachers that have supported the Floyd Center for the Arts over the past twenty-six years, The work of 39 artists is featured in the exhibition.

“Confessions”, by Maggie Schallmo, in the Falcon Gallery is, according to the artist, “…a collection of art in a variety of media that when in the same room tell an incredible story.”

“The Floyd County High School Art Show”, in the Breezeway Gallery, features 2D and 3D work by students of Floyd County High School Art teachers Kimberly Ingram and Aven Tanner. For this exhibit the students were asked to produce artwork related to the Covid-19 pandemic. “The project was very successful in pulling out a variety of student emotions.” Ms. Ingram said, “Many enjoyed their time at home and being able to spend more time with their families. A few students expressed more emotional thoughts of body image, cancelled events, Covid issues, hard-working nurses and worldly issues.”

The Appalachian Center for Photography is located on the art center’s campus next to the Floyd Center for the Arts’ main building, will showcase photography exhibitions from both internationally and regionally known photographers. The Center includes a photographic gallery, camera gallery, walk-in sized camera obscura, and library & media room.

Support Our Nonprofit Members Participating in Give Local NRV Wednesday, June 23rd
Give Local NRV is tomorrow, Wednesday, June 23^rd. You can support Floyd Chamber nonprofit members that are participating in Give Local NRV (you can donate now up to 11:59pm on June 23rd so that your donation is included in the Give Local totals.)

The participating Floyd Chamber member nonprofits and their Give Local web pages are:

Save the Date For Our Chamber’s Rubber Duck Race/Call For Volunteers
Our chamber’s Rubber Duck Race is back for 2021! This admission-free, family-friendly event will be held August 28^th, 12-2pm at chamber member, On The Water In Floyd. This event follows the annual Little River Cleanup Day in the morning at the same site. We will again offer BBQ hamburger and hot dog meals. Tickets, each representing a numbered duck, can be purchased to win one of three cash prizes for the first three ducks or a prize for the “Running On Floyd Time” duck that comes in last. No need to be present to win. This event is a fundraiser for the Floyd Visitor Center’s operating expenses.

We expect to have tickets for sale at the Visitor Center/chamber office, online and via your chamber board members, all by the first week of July.

Your chamber very much welcomes help with duck ticket sales, food booth, and literally getting our numbered ducks in a row for the duck drop. If you would like to volunteer, please call 540-745-4407 or email info@floydchamber.org.

Floyd Visitor Center Open Seven Days A Week Again
Our visitor center is now open Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am-3pm as of two weeks ago. The Visitor Center participates in a federal job training program that supplements staffing paid for by your chamber. This program has been able to resume regular operations after a hiatus due to the pandemic and currently provides up to 60 hours of staffing. The Visitor Center’s mission is to compile and provide information to visitors and residents that connects them with Floyd events, activities, and resources that they are seeking. We also provide business support.

Welcome New Chamber Members
Please join us in welcoming the following new Floyd Chamber members:

Golden Foot Flower Farm
“We are a woman owned cut-flower farm in the rolling hills of Floyd, Virginia. Our farm is 15 minutes from downtown Floyd, allowing us to showcase the freshest blooms straight from the field each week. You can find us at the Floyd Farmers Market each Saturday with buckets of seasonal bouquets. Our flowers are also at the Floyd EcoVillage farm store and at a few local vendors throughout the year! We also offer a vibrant Flower CSA, perfect for the avid flower lover!”
696 Woods Gap Road | Floyd, VA 24091 | (229)366-2668 | website

Lewis Gale Physicians- Floyd Primary Care
“LewisGale Regional Health System is committed to serving the people and the communities of Southwest Virginia. We care about your health and well-being and take an active role in caring for the communities we serve.”
249 Franklin Pike | Floyd, VA 24091 | (540)745-5060 | website

Omnibuild Contractors
“Omnibuild, is a general contractor and construction company based in Floyd, Virginia. We are specialized in building energy-efficient homes as well as commercial projects and renovations. Our team of over thirty includes designers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other skilled tradesmen. Omnibuild also employs an administrative team, providing customers real-time support throughout the building process. In addition to building homes we also support developing business by offering repairs, renovations as well as full service commercial construction. We are committed to helping your business thrive and grow. Omnibuild has the skills to support your enterprise, whether you manage a commercial manufacturing company, a school, a retail shop, or an industrial park.”
4251 Floyd Highway | Floyd, VA 24091 | (540)745-2599 | website

US Health Advisors – Kevin Galecki
“Health Insurance Advisor with US Health Advisors, which is a United Healthcare Company. Help individuals and small businesses with assessing all their health coverage options. Licensed in 27 States.”
1117 Elamsville Rd. | Stuart, VA 24171 | 407-795-2652 | Facebook Page

Chamber Scholarship Awards
Our chamber awarded two $500 scholarships this year to two Floyd County High School graduates. Caileigh Chaffin received the scholarship for a four year college/university student. She will attend Radford University this fall, majoring in Early Childhood Education/Early Childhood Special Education. Mitchell C. Cox received the scholarship for a community college/trade school student. Mitchell will attend New River Community College as a student in the Electrical Engineering Program.

Congratulations To Resa Mattson
Congratulations to Resa Mattson, our chamber’s Administrative Assistant, who has graduated from New River Community College with an Associate Degree in General Studies. After a gap year, Resa plans to attend Radford University majoring in Business with a minor in Theater. Resa started working at our chamber as a participant in the paid student intern program back in her senior year at Floyd County High School. In addition to working at the chamber, Resa is also the program coordinator at The June Bug Center.

Virginia’s Return To Earn Grant Program
The Commonwealth of Virginia is investing $3 million to pilot the Return to Earn Grant Program, which will match payments from eligible small businesses to provide new hires with up to $1,000 to support their transition back into the workforce. While many companies are offering hiring bonuses, the Return to Earn Grant Program will serve businesses with less than 100 employees that may not have the resources to provide this financial support. The initial launch of this program will be funded through Virginia’s federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) set aside and additional recovery funds may be allocated based on demand.

This initiative will match up to $500 that a qualifying small business pays directly to a new employee hired after May 31, 2021, either as a lump sum or in installments to offset the ongoing costs of child care, transportation, or other barriers to re-employment. Funds will only be reimbursed to businesses for new hires in positions that pay at least $15 per hour and that qualify as W-2 employment, either full- or part-time. To help address workforce shortages in child care, qualifying child care businesses may qualify for up to $500 per new hire without the match requirement.

On June 1, the Commonwealth also reopened its Virginia Career Works Centers for in-person services to ensure that Virginians making the transition back to the workforce have access to the resources they need to find high-quality jobs. Jobseekers can continue to access resources virtually through the Virginia Career Works Referral Portal.

For additional information on requirements and to apply for Return to Earn grant funding, small businesses should contact their local workforce development board. Answers to frequently asked questions about the program can be found here.