Business News

Business finds silver lining during pandemic

City Lights Café in Sylva has been closed for two months since the governor’s stay at home orders have been in effect. They opened back up this past weekend for takeout and patio dining only and discovered several benefits for the business and their customers since the pandemic started.

“When we closed the café back in March, it took us a week to shut everything down, and it resulted in a lot of food losses,” explained City Lights owner, Bernadette Peters. “We donated a lot of it, but the business took a big hit.

Restaurants are mandated by the North Carolina Health Department to quarantine employees who have contracted Covid-19 and co-workers whom they have had 10 minutes or more of close contact. For City Lights, that would be their entire staff, resulting in another shut-down. Contactless online ordering seems to be a great way to reduce the chances of that happening.

As the café has implemented contactless ordering, they have begun to realize the benefits of their “new normal” for both the business and for their customers. As an environmentally conscious business, City Lights realized that they are conserving water since they are not washing dishes from guests, and that their minimal and compostable to-go packaging still helps them achieve their goals.

The City Lights crew has also recognized faster service times since customers can take their time perusing the menu and ordering online without feeling pressure about other guests waiting to order behind them. Customers don’t wait in lines anymore, and they can schedule their “pick-up” time, as well as get a notification that their order is ready when they are downtown shopping.

“We also have a means to track inventory in the system better,” says Peters. We haven’t had to tell customers that we don’t have a particular item because when it is out, it is no longer available on the menu online. Aside from adapting to the changes, everyone seems to feel happy and safe when they order from us.”

City Lights is still dealing with ingredient supply chain challenges, but they are slowly adding more items to their menu each day to

get back up to speed. Peters indicated that customers have been patient while they anticipate enjoying all of their café favorites again.

Reopening series for businesses

The Small Business Center at Southwestern Community College is offering a series of webinars to help local businesses reopen during the COVID19 Pandemic.

The next webinars will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. June 17 and June 18. The June 17 class will cover “Connecting with Customers as You Reopen” and the June 19 course will cover “Managing Finances During Reopening & Beyond.”

To register, visit www.ncsbc.net.

Macon offers small business loans

Reopening Macon Fund small business loans are designed to be flexible and rapid sources of lowinterest loan capital to help local Macon businesses meet needs and navigate the COVID-19 crisis.

Repayment is expected either from more permanent funding sources (like SBA Disaster Loans) or from the future cash flow of the business. The Fund is a collaborative effort between the Macon County Economic Development Commission, Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, Highlands Chamber of Commerce, SCC Small Business Center, WCU SBTDC and Mountain Bizworks.

Apply at www.mountainbizworks.org/reopeningmaconfund.

Health care deadline approaches

Workers laid-off due to COVID-19 face impending deadlines to qualify for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance. Many workers who were laid-off or had their hours reduced by their employers also lost their health insurance. These workers now face a deadline to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. People in this situation have 60 days from the day they lost insurance to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. For many people laid off in March, that deadline is fast approaching.

Free in-person assistance is available to help you understand what options are available: ACA, Medicaid, COBRA. Certified Application Counselors available to help in the seven western counties of NC. Call 800.627.1548 to speak to a Certified Application Counselor near you.

The Mountain Projects, Inc., CAC Program is generously supported by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.

HCC hosts virtual agribusiness classes

Program, 10 – 11 a.m. through June 30. The speaker for the series is Smithson Mills of Blue Ridge Food Ventures.

Marketing Your Product and Your Brand, Tuesday, June 23 — Catching eyeballs and making sales, this session covers essential elements for successfully marketing your products and creating customer loyalty. Topics will include online presence, vending options, and guerilla marketing at point of sale.

Food Businesses and COVID-19-Short and Long Term Changes to How Food is Sourced and Used, Tuesday, June 30. This webinar will discuss changes to value added production and marketing in the wake of COVID 19. Regional case studies will be shared describing strategies for resilient marketing and production plans.

Registration is strongly encouraged. Visit SBC.Haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 for additional information or to register.

Maggie Valley hiring technicians

The Town of Maggie Valley is currently accepting applications for the full-time position of Public Works Technician / Senior Public Works Technician.

Minimum qualifications for Public Works Technician include a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid driver’s license and at least two to three years of experience operating construction/maintenance equipment. Hiring Range DOQ/E. Salary range for position is $26,103-$41,113.

Minimum qualifications for Senior Public Works Technician include a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid driver’s license and at least four to five years of experience operating construction/maintenance equipment. Hiring Range DOQ/E. Salary range for position is $30,218-$47,592.

Applications can be obtained in person at Maggie Valley Town Hall at 3987 Soco Road Maggie Valley or electronically at maggievalleync.gov. Qualified candidates should submit a resume and town application to Nathan Clark, Town Manager at nclark@maggievalleync.gov or by mail to Maggie Valley Town Hall 3987 Soco Road Maggie Valley, NC 28751. Position is open until filled; the first review of applicants will be June 19.

UCB recognized for customer satisfaction

United Community Bank has been recognized for having the highest customer satisfaction score in the Southeast by J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study, an award they’ve won six out of the past seven years.

In regards to the recognition, Chairman and CEO Lynn Harton said, “We are truly honored and humbled to be recognized by J.D. Power for having the highest customer satisfaction rankings among banks in this region. We consistently strive to make good things happen for our customers, and that commitment has been even more evident during the last six weeks. Earning this recognition for so many years is an extraordinary achievement and every one of our team members should be proud of having their passion recognized by the people that matter — our customers.”

Expanded business counseling offered

The Haywood Community College Small Business Center has announced an expansion in business services by offering free expanded counseling services to Haywood County small business owners affected by the COVID-19 health crisis.

In coordination with the NC Small Business Center Network and Haywood County business resource partners, the HCC SBC will launch the Reboot, Recover, Rebuild for Small Business. The program will offer expanded counseling opportunities in a wealth of categories uniquely suited for small businesses in Haywood County who have been affected by the economic effects of COVID19.

The program was created to address such concerns and opportunities by providing consulting services in the form of CPA, legal, marketing, branding, stability and general business support. Applicants will also have access to professional content experts, one-on-one remote counsel and 100 percent confidentiality.

Visit SBC.Haywood.edu, email kmgould@haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 for additional program information.