TAHLEQUAH AREA CHAMBER

Advancing Business | Connecting Community | Securing Our Future

Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce | TahlequahStrong.com

As of Friday, June 5, 2020, the city of Tahlequah is in the 3rd and final phase of the reopening of the Tahlequah economy.
Click here: Executive Order No. 2020-3 to view the City of Tahlequah 3 phased reopening guidelines.

The Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present

the 2020 Board of Director candidate slate to the Membership

We are late in conducting the new director elections due to the pandemic, as the slate is typically published to the membership before April 1. Members have the right of petition regarding the presented director slate:

Right of Petition: Additional Director candidates can be formally nominated by a petition bearing the genuine signature of at least twenty-five (25) Chamber members in good standing. Such petition shall be filed with the nominating committee within ten (10) days after the Nominating Committee’s publication. The Nominating Committee is the final authority as to the authenticity of the petition(s).
Determination: If no petition is filed within the designated period, all nominations shall be closed and the Nominating Committee’s slate of candidates shall be declared elected by the Board of Directors at their regular June board meeting and the newly elected Directors will take office July 1.

If an authenticated petition presents additional candidates, the names of all candidates shall be arranged on a ballot in alphabetical order. The Board of Directors will be instructed to vote for the number of candidates required to fill expiring terms; ballots with more nominees marked than necessary will be discarded.
Nominees are:
Josh Hutchins (1 year term)
Loyal Plumb (1 year term)
Lisa Pinnick (3 year term)
Denisse Ramos (3 year term)
Josh Winn (3 year term)
Amanda Lamberson (3 year term)

Thank you for your continued support of your local chamber. If you have any questions, please contact the Governance Chair, Anna Knight, at aknight@cherokee.org.

Complete the 2020 Census

The Census is a survey taken every 10 years to get an overall look at communities all across the United States and how to better serve them. The census is used by lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others to help determine funding, congressional representation, and more. Oklahoma stands to lose up to $1,675 per person per year, for the next 10 years in federal support for programs that use Census data such as healthcare, parks and roads, education and more. When everyone counts, everyone wins. So, #OKLetsCount!

The 2020 Census is now live! Click here to begin the questionnaire

Business Relief and Financial Resources

Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Oklahoma Business Relief Program

NOTICE: PHASE 1 OBRP APPLICATION CLOSED

PHASE 2: Additional Funds Available Soon – OBRP application will re-open. The OBRP program will be funded with an additional $50 million for a Phase 2. The Oklahoma DeparCommerce will open these funds up for applications at a later date. Sign up for the New Pioneer newsletter to stay informed.

Developed to help local businesses across the state overcome the economic challenges of COVID-19, the Oklahoma Business Relief Program (OBRP) offers vital funding for businesses that have suffered revenue loss due to the pandemic. Governor Kevin Stitt has designated $50 million in Federal CARES Act funds for the program.
Starting June 26, Oklahoma businesses can request to apply for OBRP through participating financial institutions. The financial institutions will evaluate applications based on the program rules and determine if the business is eligible. Approved applications will be submitted by the financial institution to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and funds will be provided to the business through the financial institution. During the first phase of applications, at least 20% of the program funds will be designated for minority-owned businesses.
For more information about the timeline, application process, grant details and program eligibility, click the (OBRP) graphic below.

U.S Small Business Administration

Paycheck Protection Program

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, posted a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act of 2020, signed into law by President Trump on June 5, 2020. In addition to revising the full forgiveness application, SBA also published a new EZ version of the forgiveness application that applies to borrowers that:

Are self-employed and have no employees; OR
Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees; OR
Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to COVID-19, and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%.

View the EZ Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness Application
View the Revised Full Application PPP Forgiveness Application

Tour Tahlequah

"For a day or a stay, just get away to Tahlequah." For vacation packages and suggestions visit TourTahlequah.com or call 918-456-3742.

Fireworks on Lake Tenkiller - July 4th, 2020 - Start Time at Dusk (9:10 p.m.)
Fireworks show will be at the south end (the dam area) and will be shot from the lagoon location at Tenkiller State Park.

Other locations for great visibility: The Corps Overlook (on the SW side of the Dam), inside Tenkiller State Park, Pine Cove area and by Strayhorn Island, Strayhorn Landing Public Area and Big Daddy's Right on the "Dam" Highway.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many local businesses are altering how they provide customer service and are quickly changing business procedures. We are sharing a regularly updated list of the status and special operations of restaurants and businesses during this time of crisis.

Health Updates

Business Resources