Vicki Deere-Bunnell, MSD Board President, volunteers many hours in the morning, evenings and weekends keeping the flowers watered and maintained. This system will save her along with other MSD volunteers time that can be used to work on other community projects. 

The City of Urbana has also assisted in this local project with the installation of flower baskets on the downtown poles, along with allowing Monument Square District access to water systems on the square to ease their watering process. 
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 To learn more about MSD or what's happening #OnTheSquare, click here!

New for this round of funding, employers can apply for TechCred funding for specific credentials, without specifying employee name on the initial application. This allows companies to apply and receive funding that can be used for new hires and their future pipeline. With this change, companies can confidently hire individuals who may have been displaced due to COVID-19 and know that they can get the credentialing and training they need in a convenient, timely and affordable fashion.
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To see the full list of credentials, please visit https://techcred.ohio.gov/.

Does your workforce need a different credential or training?
Work with them to submit an application customized to fit your needs for TechCred funding review. Employers can request a credential be added to the eligible list.

Submitted Story

The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce and the Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP) have formed the Champaign County Economic Recovery Task Force to help local businesses recover from COVID-19 shutdowns.

The task force is composed of Chamber and CEP board members and other community leaders representing retail stores, restaurants, manufacturing, education, agriculture, banking, and city, village and county government.

In initial meetings the task force created subcommittees to focus on specific initiatives, Chamber Executive Director Sara Neer said. These include Urbana University, Fundraising, Personal Protective Equipment, Marketing, and Training and Support.

The Training and Support subcommittee, Neer said, is planning webinars with guest speakers, who will share industry-specific regulations and best practices for operating in the pandemic. The online sessions will be scheduled for restaurants and food service, retail, manufacturing, beauty and barber shops, and health and fitness.

Task Force objectives include:
· Support local businesses impacted by the pandemic
· Ensure that the local economy rebounds from the pandemic as quickly as possible
· Connect local businesses to government
· Establish a unified voice to advocate in the community’s best interests
· Ensure consumer confidence in local businesses as they reopen “We want people to have confidence that they are safe when they visit and shop or dine at Champaign County businesses,” CEP Director Marcia Bailey said. “Our local businesses are taking every precaution and are looking forward to having their businesses reopened and serving their customers.”

Neer said that the Chamber will conduct a second Support Local apparel fundraiser. In the first, buyers designated businesses to receive a portion of each sale. In the second, money will be raised to support recovery efforts, Neer said.
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In addition, the CEP has conducted a survey to determine the needs of businesses impacted by the pandemic and established, with the help of Champaign County commissioners, the COVID-19 Champaign County Small Business Emergency Grant Fund, which recently presented a total of $54,265.15 to 24 businesses.

When discussing the changes, Gilbert noted that “The company has experienced significant expansion over the last several years.  Providing global oversight to these critical areas of our business ensures that customers receive the highest level of quality and service around the world.”

William Bundy has been promoted to President, Global Manufacturing. His responsibilities include management of all Bundy Baking Solutions pan and equipment manufacturing operations and leadership teams.  William has been with company for over 10 years and most recently served as leader of European operations.

Robert Bundy has been promoted to President, Global Coating Operations. He is responsible for the management of all Bundy Baking Solutions pan refurbishment and coating facilities and their leadership teams. Robert has over 15 years of service with the company serving in various management positions for the pan coating businesses.
Jason Tingley has been promoted to Global Innovation Officer. Jason has been with the company for over 30 years and served as Vice President of American Pan for the last 10 years.  In his new role, Jason will lead multinational teams focused on new product development and process improvements.
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Bundy Baking Solutions, headquartered in Urbana, Ohio, USA, provides baking pans and equipment to the global baking industry with locations worldwide including two facilities in the UK, one in Spain and one in Romania.  The family owned group of companies includes American Pan, Chicago Metallic, DuraShield, Pan Glo, RTB, Shaffer and Synova.

Each flag in this First Responders Honor Field memorial represents a million thank you’s to the healthcare professionals in our community. Each flag is a visible reminder of the selfless, dedicated service to our community each one of these local heroes gives.

From May 23-25, 2020, volunteers and organizers will transform the grassy lawn at Mercy Hospital into a tribute of red, white and blue. The 8 foot tall American flags, paying tribute to our healthcare heroes who have sacrificed, cared for patients and risked their lives to serve our community. This incredible and patriotic event is free and hosted by Walter & Lewis Funeral and Cremation Services. The field of flags is being funded through business sponsors and flag sales. Individuals and businesses can sponsor a flag to honor our healthcare professionals. Funds raised through sponsorships and flag sales will be donated to local health care causes, and put towards additional equipment or services for the community at large, which will be consistent with the Mercy Hospital mission.

With the current COVID-19 restrictions, there will not be a formal program this year. Those who would like to show their appreciation in person are encouraged to drive by the hospital at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 25th, flashing their lights and honking their horns to show support as the hospital shift changes.

For sponsorship forms or more information contact Frank Lewis at 937-653-4227 or visit www.healingfield.org/event/urbanaoh20

While orders for CT sensors continue as usual at The Hall Company, Gentherm Medical in Cincinnati last week had an unusual request when making its usual annual order for a couple thousand temperature controls for cooling systems. The controls are needed next month.


“They say they’re seeing a lot of demand in emergency rooms,” Hall said of the cooling systems found in emergency rooms throughout the country. He described the Gentherm product as a cooling system on wheels with a Hall Company control device that raises and lowers the temperature of blankets used in emergency rooms.


Hall said The Hall Company has heard from many customers as the coronavirus closed the doors of many businesses.


“A lot of customers reached out to us,” he said. “They say we’re essential.”


The company is not only hearing from customers for whom medical devices are made.


Illinois Tool Works (ITW) in Piqua manufactures food processing equipment for commercial kitchens throughout the country. The Hall Company makes replacement parts for that equipment.


“They told us we’re essential to the supply chain,” Hall said. “You don’t think about how connected we all are.”


Asked whether current staffing can handle regular production as well as Gentherm’s order wanted next month, Hall said employees are handling the situation.


“We didn’t take this situation lightly,” he said of the COVID-19 threat. “We are not requiring employees to come in. We asked for volunteers. Most of our staff volunteered.”


Hall said he appreciates employees’ willingness to work, but understands the decision of those choosing to stay home during the pandemic.


“We want to help the U.S. and help the supply chain, but employee safety is our number one priority,” he said. “We’re a family business. Without our employees, we have nothing.”


Employee breaks have been staggered so people are not in one place at the same time. The once-a-day cleaning routine now is done several times a day.


“We’ve redone the layout so we can space out, and some people work from home when possible,” Hall said. “We’ll all be in different rooms talking on the phone. We take temperatures each day and check it again a couple times a day.


“We’re trying to do what’s right for everybody,” he said. “We appreciate our employees and we appreciate the people on the front lines. We’re not on the front lines, but we’re trying to give the people on the front lines the tools they need.”

Click here to read full article on Urbana Daily Citizen.

Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) published its first round of implementation guidance pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).   The guidance addresses critical questions such as:

• How does an employer count its number of employees to determine coverage?
• How can small businesses obtain an exemption?
• How does an employer count hours for part-time employees?
• How does an employer calculate wages employees are entitled to under the FFCRA?

 
The initial WHD guidance is available in three-parts:
 

• Fact Sheet for Employees
• Fact Sheet for Employers
• Questions and Answers​