Blog Archives - FAIRFIELD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

FAIRFIELD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

NIHCM - New Videos Countering Vaccine Misinformation from Healthcare Triage

4/30/2021

Journalism Grantee
What You Need to Know
About Vaccines & Vaccine
Safety

At least 20% of adults have consistently said that they would not get vaccinated or would do so only if required, and a lack of accurate information continues to be a concern among those who are not ready to get a COVID-19 vaccination. To address these fears, it's important to emphasize the facts, including how the accelerated timeline for the COVID-19 vaccine does not translate to compromises on safety.

In a new Healthcare Triage YouTube series, funded by NIHCM Foundation, Dr. Aaron Carroll explains the history of vaccines and vaccine development–one of the greatest public health achievements of all time–in six short, consumer-friendly videos covering:

the timeline of COVID-19 vaccine development and the mRNA vaccine approach
the history of anti-vaccine sentiments, vaccine legislation, and societal backlash (Part 1, Part 2)
how vaccines work with the immune system
the history of vaccine development (Part 1, Part 2)

Dr. Carroll is a Professor of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine and the host of the award-winning Healthcare Triage series on YouTube.

NIHCM Foundation proudly supports Healthcare Triage through our journalism grant program.

Fairfield Farmers Market Moves to Central Park on Wednesdays

4/29/2021

Fairfield Farmers Market
Summer Hours and Locations -

Fairfield Farmer's Market opens Saturday, May 1st, 2021 located at Howard Park 8AM to 1PM. All Saturdays May - October 2021.

Fairfield Farmer's Market opens Wednesday, May 5th, 2021 (new location) Southeast corner of Central Park City Square 3PM to 6PM. All Wednesdays May - October 2021.

Fresh, locally grown produce; handmade crafts, clothing and household items; homemade breads and tasty treats; local honey and bee products; free-range/forage eggs of many varieties; micro-greens and SO much more!

Treasury, IRS Provide Guidance on Tax Relief for Deductions for Food or Beverages from Restaurants

4/29/2021

Treasury, IRS Provide Guidance on Tax Relief for Deductions for Food or Beverages from Restaurants

Businesses can temporarily deduct 100% beginning January 1, 2021
IR-2021-79, April 8, 2021

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today issued Notice 2021-25 PDF providing guidance under the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Relief Act of 2020. The Act added a temporary exception to the 50% limit on the amount that businesses may deduct for food or beverages. The temporary exception allows a 100% deduction for food or beverages from restaurants.

Beginning January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022, businesses can claim 100% of their food or beverage expenses paid to restaurants as long as the business owner (or an employee of the business) is present when food or beverages are provided and the expense is not lavish or extravagant under the circumstances.

Where can businesses get food and beverages and claim 100%? Under the temporary provision, restaurants include businesses that prepare and sell food or beverages to retail customers for immediate on-premises and/or off-premises consumption. However, restaurants do not include businesses that primarily sell pre-packaged goods not for immediate consumption, such as grocery stores and convenience stores.
Additionally, an employer may not treat certain employer-operated eating facilities as restaurants, even if these facilities are operated by a third party under contract with the employer.

More information for businesses seeking coronavirus related tax relief can be found at IRS.gov.

Trauma Talk Blog - The Amygdala - When Emotion Takes Over

4/28/2021

The Amygdala - When Emotion Takes Over
Trauma Takes Time to Heal
Allowing yourself the time is the most
substantial part of your healing.

Read Diana's personal message below

May’s Blog Post is about the Amygdala -- which is an almond shaped structure located in the limbic system within the brain.

This area in the brain is key to how Trauma and strong emotions like fear, anxiety, aggression and pleasure are processed. The amygdala also plays an important role in the storage and retrieval of emotional memories.

How does the brain protect itself from traumatic experiences?
How does your brain cope with trauma? If the brain registers an overwhelming trauma, then it can essentially block that memory in a process called dissociation—or detachment from reality. This can be understood as the brain attempting to protect itself.

Message from Diana - Sharing insights about her own trauma

From a personal perspective, I can share that this is one of the ways in which I processed my childhood trauma, which has taken me decades to come to terms with.

Once I finally decided to look inward (and stayed there) instead of having my attention outward, I discovered and really listened to all of the things I had been telling myself about the story of my trauma, and as a result, I now have a good understanding of the conclusions I came to.

These conclusions made sense at the time because I was in a “fight or flight” stance---but now that I feel I am healing my trauma instead of pushing it away, I have a very different perspective. I have come to very different conclusions.

I no longer believe my trauma was my fault. What has become the greater truth for me during this past year of discovery, is that I was simply afraid to be me - to be my true self.

I never thought anyone could accept or like me for who I was. So, subconsciously I put up veneers in order to hide and protect what I thought was me.

Buried deep in my brain was
Trauma's Silent Narrative repeating the falsehoods that held me back from moving forward.

This realization became clear from all the internal work I did that helped me in every possible way to grasp the truth – that what happened to me could be acknowledged, understood, and healed.

I found a place within myself that opened up -- where I could discern the truth from the trauma and embrace the hope that comes from knowing that trauma can be part of our story but that it does not define us. We can become whole again.

We can accept and love ourselves for who we really are - and who we have always been.

We hope this blog post offers insight and a deeper understanding about how our brains process trauma. As always, thanks for reading, Diana and Jan

Portions of the article we chose for this blog post is below and
click on link for the full article: READ HERE

The Trauma-Brain Response

What is an amygdala hijack?
Different functions are performed by different parts of your brain. To understand amygdala hijack, you need to know about two of these parts.

The amygdala is a collection of cells near the base of the brain. There are two, one in each hemisphere or side of the brain. This is where emotions are given meaning, remembered, and attached to associations and responses to them (emotional memories).

Fight or flight
Early humans were exposed to the constant threat of being killed or injured by wild animals or other tribes. To improve the chances of survival, the fight- or-flight response evolved. It’s an automatic response to physical danger that allows you to react quickly without thinking. This response is triggered by emotions like fear, anxiety, aggression, and anger.

When you feel threatened and afraid, the amygdala automatically activates the fight-or-flight response by sending out signals to release stress hormones that prepare your body to fight or run away.

The amygdala is considered to be part of the brain’s limbic system. It’s key to how you process strong emotions like fear and pleasure.

OUR TRAUMA TALK BLOG SUPPORTS YOU

Our Trauma Talk Blog offers relevant and practical advice, tools, and articles from experts that can help all of us find a new balance -- a place inside that restores well-being, that is nourishing, calm, and compassionate in these trying times and beyond.

Trauma is Real.

But it can be Integrated.

It can be Transformed.

It can become part of our
New Beginning.

Hello and thanks for being here!
I have dedicated my life and my work to understanding trauma, to supporting those who have struggled with its often debilitating effects and to helping everyone – including myself find a way to make peace with our past, to move forward by making meaning out of even our most traumatic experiences.

Let me introduce my good friend, Jan, our dedicated business partner, podcast interview host, writer and editor.
We have been friends for 25 years. We have worked together professionally in business.
And we have worked together as volunteers, in our role as nationally certified mental health educators.

TRAUMA TALK BLOG

OUR CONVERSATIONS

TRAUMA TALK PODCAST

Diana's eBook - FREE!
Making Meaning Out of Trauma

Sign up to receive our Trauma Talk Podcast Series, you will receive Diana's eBook as her gift!

Yes! I want Diana's eBook

Goodwill Offers Google IT Support Professional Class

4/26/2021

Goodwill of the Heartland
Goodwill Offers Google IT Support Professional Class

Goodwill of the Heartland has partnered with Google and Coursera to offer a self-paced 5-course online class where students can learn concrete skills that top employers are hiring for right now. By investing only 10 hours a week, students can earn the IT Support Certificate in less than 6 months.

The IT Support Professional Certificate has highly interactive content, exclusively developed by Google. It helps learners become ready for an entry-level job in IT support in about 6 months. No prior experience is necessary. Currently, there are approximately 340,500 U.S. job openings in IT and a $50,800 average entry-level salary in IT support.

Upon completion, students will receive an IT Support Professional certificate that allows them to directly apply for jobs with Google and over 130 U.S. employers, including Walmart, Best Buy, and Astreya. The program also prepares students for the CompTIA A+ exams, the industry standard certificate for IT. Students can earn dual credentials by completing the course and passing the A+ exams. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
Visit our website at www.certifiedforsuccess.org to request more information. The deadline for registration is Friday, May 14th.

Goodwill of the Heartland is an equal opportunity organization. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for enrollment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status or other protected categories.

To learn more, contact Brent Watkins at (319) 248-4650 or by email: bwatkins@goodwillheartland.org.

COVID Relief Opportunities for Restaurants and Small Businesses

4/20/2021

COVID Relief Opportunities for Restaurants and Small Businesses

NEW - Restaurant Revitalization Fund -

Getting ready for application (within the next two weeks)
Restaurants should visit this website so they can prepare. https://iowasbdc.org/restaurant-revitalization-fund/
The funds will not be through lenders (unlike the PPP)

The PPP Program has been extended through May 31st, 2021.

Value-Added Producer Grants – VAPG’s are a 50/50 grant and match awards for Ag Commodity Producers (Virtual applications due April 29th and paper application due May 4th)
Click here for more information: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/value-added-producer-grants

EIDL LOAN deadline has been extended until Dec 31st, 2021. Note this is a low interest loan.

EIDL Advanced – EIDL applications will receive an email to apply to the Targeted EIDL Advanced. This list is from those who applied first round. No New applications are being accepted at this time for Targeted EIDL Advanced. Here is the link to FAQs: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2021-02/Targeted%20EIDL%20FAQ_Final-508_0.pdf

Please visit the U.S. Small Business Administration COVID-19 Relief Options for additional information.

Information provided by America's SBDC Iowa and Indian Hills Community College

For more information please contact the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce at 641-472-2111 or Info@FairfieldIowa.com

FAA Membership Exhibit Awards

4/19/2021

Fairfield Art Association
Art Awards at FAA Celebration Event

The Fairfield Art Association's Membership Exhibit Celebration of Art & Artists was held Sunday April 18 in the Main Gallery at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. Two founding members were present, both Don Kremer and Mark Shafer were recognized for their vision in1966 to create the FAA and help make a strong vibrant artistic lifestyle in our community and state. Other founders that have remained members for 55 years but not present are Robert Glocke, Gary & Nan Cameron, and Larry & Janet Nash.

Announcements made include an update on the summer Art Installation for downtown that was postponed from last year with a slight name change to "2020 in 2021 - A Better View". 14 participants have signed up to create art works, and there are 6 spots remaining. (contact suzan1252@aol.com if interested for details)

The Traveling Art Exhibit created last year from 24 selected art works of the Membership Show, is in it's second year traveling the state of Iowa. It has been able to open at every gallery location during Covid, and continues on to the Des Monies area until the end of December this year.

Board Members of the FAA were introduced and include: Makenzie Champ - President, Deb Doyle Treasurer, David Kraemer, John Preston, Eileen Hawthorne, Kella Tschopp, Holly McDow, Jan Bork, Werner Elmker, Matt Johnson and Alexis Clements new member. One position is currently open and Suzan Kessel remains Volunteer Director. Wyndi Rutledge staffs the Studio Sales Gallery and art studio which is open M- F from Noon - 4:30 PM.

Juror of the Membership Exhibit was Alexis Clements, a photographer and member of the visual arts department at Indian Hills Community College. Originally from Missouri, she began her career in Denver, Co. before moving to Fairfield. Alexis' photographic projects culminate into books that investigate the relationship where words and images converge, where memories become mythologies, and how environments contribute to personal narratives, Alexis has exhibited her photobooks in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Athens, Greece.

Four outstanding entries were selected for cash awards by Clements, followed by a critique of all the art works. The award winners are: Jessica Kirby for an oil painting " Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Rorned", Bonnie Hendericks for a watercolor "Water in Watercolor", John Preston a watercolor on wood panel "Calm of the Cold White Light of Night", and Brett Hendericks for "My Town". Werner Elmker video taped the presentation that will be available for viewing online.
There is still time to see the exhibit on display in the Main Gallery at the FACC through the end of April, during facility business hours 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Friday. A new exhibit by Pella artist Andrea Van Wyk will be installed by the first weekend in May.

Photos of winning art works below -

Bonnie Hendericks

Jessica Kirby

John Preston

Brett Hendericks

Watch the Iowa Business Council Zoom - Economic Dashboard for Iowa

4/9/2021

The Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Iowa Business Council hosted a Zoom Learning Series on Wednesday, April 7th. Joe Murphy, Executive Director of the Iowa Business Council provided an economic dashboard review of Iowa’s standing compared to the rest of the country.

This is an opportunity for local community leaders and the general public to learn about Iowa’s challenges and opportunities, as well as learn about the state’s economy as we emerge from the pandemic.

The Iowa Business Council (IBC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose 22 members are the chief decision makers of the state's largest employers. Since its establishment in 1985, the Council has worked to elevate Iowa's economy through global thought leadership, research, and advocacy. Ultimately, the Iowa Business Council's mission is to serve as a catalyst for economic vitality.

Why the Pandemic Could Make Us Happier People

4/7/2021

Why the Pandemic Could Make Us Happier People
A new narrative of happiness is emerging

Who and what will we make time for?
How will we realign ourselves with one another?
What should our new lives look like?

What Does it Mean to Be Happy?
Nurturing Ourselves and our Relationships during Time of Plague
This month’s article looks in detail at how being isolated can open doors to self-exploration and a deeper understanding of how to make conscious choices for healthier outcomes.

Hello,
We think it’s fair to say that this past year has been a time of unprecedented change, of sickness and social disruption, economic hardship and political tumult.
Most of us have felt the lack of family and social connection, especially acute for those with loved ones in hospitals and nursing homes who could not be visited.

There has been so much loss and pain for so many during this pandemic that in some ways how we relate to other people has fundamentally changed.
On the other hand, through radical transformation strengths can also emerge.

For our April blog, Jan and I decided to explore how people are finding meaning and mission in their lives and even an enhanced sense of wellbeing and happiness, often while working from home.

Our article from Psychology Today holds out the hope that we might discover silver linings in this time of disease and dislocation: Why this Pandemic Might Make Us Happier People.

This discussion has also helped us recognize a shift in our own priorities and preferences about who we choose to communicate and interact with. Who and what will we make time for? How will we realign ourselves with one another? What should our new lives look like?

Maybe we can find a new sense of meaning and connection in our isolation.

And, if we look deep into our hearts, we might also find love that unites and nurtures us all.

Enjoy! Diana and Jan

Why the Pandemic Could Make Us Happier People

Americans are considered to be a generally happy people, both among themselves and by foreigners, but the story of happiness in this country is in fact not an especially pretty one.

In conjunction with our achievement- and money-oriented society that is often the source of what Alain de Botton called “status anxiety,” the belief that we are a chosen people and a shining example to others around the world to follow have set too high of a bar of happiness for most individuals to actually realize.

Self-doubt, insecurity, and uncertainty have been tightly woven into the narrative of happiness, a major source of frustration for those seeking to be happier people.

The coronavirus pandemic is a terrible thing, of course, but it has presented us with a singular opportunity to rewrite the story of happiness. Our priorities have realigned, in the process laying a foundation for a happier future, both individually and collectively.

We have become less acquisitional and consumptive, a very good thing given the detrimental role that the endless pursuit of stuff has played in our lives.

We’re more appreciative and grateful for what we have and less concerned for what we desire.

OUR BLOG SUPPORTS YOU

Our Trauma Talk Blog offers relevant and practical advice, tools,

and articles from experts that can help all of us find a new balance -- a place inside that restores well-being, that is nourishing, calm, and compassionate in these trying times.

Trauma is Real.

But it can be Integrated.

It can be Transformed.

It can become part of our
New Beginning.

He holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota and is the author of many books. Larry can be reached at lsamuel19@yahoo.com

About the Author

Lawrence R. Samuel, Ph.D., is the founder of AmeriCulture, a Miami-and New York City-based consultancy dedicated to translating the emerging cultural landscape into opportunities.

Hello and thanks for being here!
I have dedicated my life and my work to understanding trauma, to supporting those who have struggled with its often debilitating effects and to helping everyone – including myself find a way to make peace with our past, to move forward by making meaning out of even our most traumatic experiences.

Let me introduce my good friend, Jan, our dedicated business partner, podcast interview host, writer and editor. We have been friends for 25 years. We have worked together professionally in business.
And we have worked together as volunteers, in our role as nationally certified mental health educators.

Trauma Talk Blog

Our Conversations

Trauma Talk Podcast

Diana's eBook - FREE!
Making Meaning out of Trauma

Sign up to receive our Podcast, Blog and Seminar info and receive Diana's eBook as her gift!

Yes! I want the eBook

Please stay safe and healthy!
Diana and Jan

Highlights from E-News for Small Business Issue 2021-05

4/5/2021

IRS provides guidance for employers claiming the Employee Retention Credit for first two quarters of 2021

The Internal Revenue Service issued guidance for employers claiming the Employee Retention Credit under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) modified by the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 (Relief Act).

To review these changes, see Notice 2021-23.

Additional coronavirus relief information for businesses is available on IRS.gov.

Free workshop helps small business owners understand and meet tax obligations

The Small Business Virtual Tax Workshop helps educate small business owners about their taxes. It’s free and available online 24/7.

The updated chapters contain direct links to more specific topics within each lesson, like chapters in a book. Viewers can choose the lessons that apply to their small business. They can also pause and bookmark lessons so they can review information later.

IRS urges employers to take advantage of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit

Giving someone a work opportunity may translate into a business tax credit for you and greater stability for a family. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain targeted groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment.