Charlottesville Chamber to distribute reopening toolkits

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday announced that its COVID-19 economic recovery initiative Project Rebound will distribute 500 reopening toolkits to local businesses starting Monday, June 22.

The Project Rebound toolkits include branded items that communicate standards such as complying with occupancy limits, wearing face masks and practicing social distancing. Each kit includes a reopening checklist, an entrance sign with protocols, 20 face masks, five antimicrobial pens, a Project Rebound window cling and a voucher for free hand sanitizer from Cville BioHub.

The toolkits will be distributed from June 22 through June 26 at U.Va. Research Park, Studio IX and The Tax Ladies.

“Our business community is determined to reopen safely,” Chamber President and CEO Elizabeth Cromwell said in a statement. “We’ve heard repeatedly and across all industry sectors that businesses want consistent safety guidelines throughout the community, to help businesses and customers confidently follow appropriate guidelines.”

Kits are available for businesses with “public-facing operations,” such as restaurants, retail stores and personal care services. The toolkits are intended for use by minority-owned businesses and small businesses with 20 or fewer employees. Other businesses will be able to receive one of the 1,000 available rebranding kits, which includes a Project Rebound window cling, entrance sign and reopening checklist.

“It’s on the honor system,” Cromwell said in a statement. “We hope local businesses will help us prioritize these supplies for those who need them most.”

The project, hosted by the Chamber and economic offices at the University of Virginia, Albemarle County and the city of Charlottesville, was announced in late April, with the goal to bring together local businesses to discuss challenges of COVID-19’s economic impact and to prepare solutions.

More than 300 business and community leaders from industries including hospitality and tourism, information technology, financial, defense and nonprofit organizations, participated in virtual brainstorming sessions on how to help local businesses.

Volunteers will assemble kits on Thursday, June 18, at CitySpace in Charlottesville.The kits were funded by the Albemarle County Economic Development Office, New York City-based financial analytics company S&P Global Inc. (which has a Charlottesville location) and the city of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development.

“We understand the importance of private and public sector collaboration when addressing critical issues and supporting the community in which we live and work,” Gregory Gartland, chief product officer at S&P Global Market Intelligence and head of S&P Global’s Charlottesville office, said in a statement. “With S&P Global’s strong ties to Charlottesville, we look forward to seeing the community reopen and thrive once again.”

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