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HBA of Southeastern Michigan

Education & Information For You While At Home

For many HBA of Southeastern Michigan members and staff, we are settling into a routine, doing our part while working from our “safe houses” as the war against COVID-19 is fought.

It certainly is a good time to get caught up on paperwork, finances and taxes, perhaps.

As I mentioned in my Monday Morning email yesterday, it may also be a terrific time to work with your clients to get projects planned, selections made and materials ordered.

Additionally, it may also be a terrific time to take advantage of some online learning for both you and your staff – especially if you are able to keep some of them employed as part of your strategy and/or application for the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) as part of the CARES Act.

 

EDUCATION & INFORMATION FOR YOU WHILE AT HOME

HBA of Southeastern Michigan has been working with local HBAs around Michigan to put together an ongoing series of educational and informational Zoom video conferences to help HBA members.

This began last week with a 2-hour session regarding the FFCR and CARES Acts. In case you missed it or you want to watch it again, you can access a recording and other resources at:

https://www.builders.org/covid-19-resources/ffcr-and-cares-act-webinar-resources/

Additionally, there will be weekly sessions designed to cover both “technical” aspects of construction (i.e. safety, framing, etc.) as well as the “business” aspects (i.e. sales, marketing, job cost accounting, etc.).

Below are two sessions that are scheduled for this week (please note the Sales & Marketing session requires registering beforehand):

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COVID-19 Recommended Best Practices for Construction Worksites

Wednesday April 8, 2020   

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Participants will develop a “communicable disease best practices plan.”

Instructor: Randy Boss, Certified Risk Architect of Ottawa Kent, Safety Chair of ABC West Michigan

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/118309263

Meeting ID: 118 309 263

One tap mobile

+19292056099,,118309263# US (New York)

Dial by your location

+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 118 309 263

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Sales & Marketing in a Time of Uncertainty

Thursday April 9, 2020 

10-10:30am

It is all over the news – COVID-19, a pandemic. For companies and employees trying to continue moving forward with work, we are in challenging times. Yet, so much of what we do today is done on the computer and online. Can we mitigate the damage by focusing on what we can do online?

Let’s talk about sales and marketing during COVID-19. This free 30-minute webinar focuses on all the positive things you can do right now to grow your business, even during this uncertain time.

Presenters:

Please register beforehand at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ENjGkPhbQoWheb0JYAieIA

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REMINDER: COMPLETE YOUR US CENSUS – TODAY!

Simply put: your response matters. From health clinics to fire departments, schools, even roads and highways. The census shapes many different aspects of our communities. Not to mention, census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year. The results even determine how many seats Michigan will get in Congress.

Mandated by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2: The U.S. has counted its population every 10 years since 1790. However, historically, getting people to fill out the census has been a problem – mostly because people didn’t make the time and the process of filling out the pages of questions was never really that fun.

Not anymore. First, be honest, you do have the time and second, the 2020 US Census can be completed in just a few minutes, online.

I am strongly encouraging you to also reach out to your employees and even to your temporarily furloughed staff, subcontractors and even current and past customers to complete the census.

Do it for you. Do it for us. Do it for Michigan!

 

USEFUL HINTS FROM DTE

DTE is encouraging customers to cut expenses further with some simple, no-cost steps for quick reductions in energy usage that can help lower energy bills. Steps include:

  • Shut off unnecessary lighting.Double-check that all unused lights are turned off and make any adjustments to timers if necessary.
  • Close unoccupied areas. By closing off rooms, floors or entire wings that are vacant or not being used, you’ll be able to reduce lighting and HVAC usage, lowering your bills even further.
  • Turn off non-critical electronics and other equipment.Make sure any non-critical electronics are turned off for now, especially computers and monitors, printers, coffee makers or warmers, radios, and internal signage or TV screens. If your business uses any commercial grade kitchen equipment, such as stoves or ovens, make sure items like burners, fryers and warmers are shut off.

For additional information please visit:

https://empoweringmichigan.com/tips-and-resources-for-businesses-coping-with-coronavirus-crisis/

 

Michael Stoskopf, CEO