The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce

Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce Launches ReStart Grant Program for Small Businesses in New Castle

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First Round Application Deadline Saturday, October 10th at Midnight

Chappaqua, NY, October 5, 2020 — New Castle ReStart, (www.newcastlrestart.com) a grant initiative facilitated by the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, has been launched to provide need-based relief for New Castle’s small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The primary objective is to help small businesses whose primary owners reside or work in the community with their rebuilding and reopening efforts, as well as to subsidize additional costs incurred to purchase new equipment and integrate the processes required to implement state-mandated safety protocols.

Eligibility for the grant includes:

  • Businesses with a physical storefront located within the physical boundaries of the Town of New Castle
  • Businesses that have not been deemed essential per Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.6 will also be eligible to apply.

The application deadline for the first round will be Saturday, October 10 at midnight.  Donations and applications will continue to be accepted for the next rounds of funding. The amount to be disbursed and the number of grants provided will depend on generous donations from community members, along with any funds raised through activities that support this endeavor. Donations are tax-deductible and will provide direct assistance to those most in need.

The ReStart initiative was created and is directed by Chamber president, Dawn Dankner-Rosen and Chamber Vice President, Rand Manasse. Key to the launch are ReStart Committee members: Randi Childs, local photographer, who donated the  $11,000 she raised through her successful #TheFrontPorch photo project; Kristen Browde, who donated her legal expertise and all of the legal services needed to create this grant program; Chamber Treasurer Ted Holmes, who enacted all of the filings needed to create the grant program; Cynthia Schames, who created the ReStart website and Stephanie Steinberg, who designed the logo. 

This community-wide committee was formed with the support of the New Castle Town Board. ReStart Committee members to date include Town Supervisor Ivy Pool, Town Board member Lauren Levin, Dawn Dankner-Rosen, Rand Manasse, Ted Holmes, Kristen Browde, Randi Childs, Cynthia Schames, Dawn Greenberg, Debbie Grisham, Shauna Levy and  Wendy Nolan. We are still seeking additional members, community support and participation. Please contact ddr@ddrpr.com with your intent.

ReStart applications for small businesses in need are now available online at https://www.newcastlerestart.com/apply. All applicants will need to show proof of financial need, report whether assistance has been received from other sources, including loans, grants and unemployment insurance and state their anticipated uses for any grant money received.  Please go to newcastlerestart@chappaquamillwood.org.

News is Courtesy of the Chappaqua Millwood Chamber of Commerce.

Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce Compiling List of Merchant Response to COVID-19

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By Grace Bennett

With the Governor’s order to close area restaurants in effect, restaurants and other shops and service professionals impacted are looking for ideas and help on how to best ride out this period.

  Here in New Castle, those impacted found immediate support with an offer by the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce “to maintain and continuously update a list of new offers and services created by local merchants and businesses to help move our community forward; to make our lives here at this time just a little bit easier and less complicated and to bring us all together in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.”

“This is a uniquely uncertain time for all of us; one where we can find comfort, assurance and security in knowing that we are all in this as one community and able to come closer (albeit six feet apart!) to your friends, family and neighbors,” explained Dawn Danker-Rosen, president of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce. “Every little bit of help and every act of kindness and compassion can make a difference for each of us individually to look ahead and see light and to find some sense of normalcy in this new and chaotic world.”

Rosen indicated that a list of the ways local merchants and businesses are here to help can be found at http://www.chappaquamillwood.org and that it will be regularly updated and distributed by email as well.

Grace Bennett is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Inside Press, now in its 17th year.

Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce: Supporting Area Commerce

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The Town of New Castle is comprised of a highly intelligent mix of creative, exciting and enterprising minds and individuals, families and partnerships with thriving businesses of all sizes and in all categories who are members of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber supports this ever evolving business community, and aims to help them prosper.

Many Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber members have built and grown their businesses through effective networking, productive collaborations and professional skill-building with businesspeople residing or doing business in the Town of New Castle (Chappaqua-Millwood), as well as neighboring towns in Westchester County. The potential is here for anyone–and opportunities abound through active participation and membership in the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber’s mission is to foster the success of any business that aims to serve Town of New Castle residents. To fulfill this mission, the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber creates programs and initiatives that inform and educate, as well as support and facilitate connections within the town and the community.

Chamber members report that the skills, exposure and contacts gained through membership in the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber have helped them start and expand new business ventures that may not have otherwise happened.

Among the many benefits of membership, the Chamber provides a host of member services which  build businesses including: a full listing and description of a member business (including its logo) on the Chamber website; member-to-member discounts, educational programs and seminars, key networking events; special business-community activities, events and parties; and business-town advocacy efforts.

The Chamber makes it a priority to promote greater awareness and enthusiasm for anyone who does business here; intensive efforts on behalf of any member business includes online, written and word-of-mouth communications between a member business and the community, as well as your business and the town government via social media, traditional media, grass roots marketing and special events.

In New Castle, active Chamber leadership and board are here to help. chappaquamillwood.org

Courtesy of the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce

Promise of Spring

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I’m thrilled to be into a fourth year of publishing Inside Armonk Magazine, and to add finishing touches to an early spring edition while basking in an unseasonably warm late February day. Please enjoy this edition chock full of “strong starts” snapshots into North Castle living with a special spotlight on the North Castle Public Library…and on many area libraries in fact. I often wondered how our libraries are faring in this increasingly digital world, so was delighted to read that they continue to engage us with ever evolving and innovative programming. Please enjoy the issue, and the always welcome promise of spring!  In sweet anticipation of it, I joined many area merchants for an enjoyable evening of networking hosted by two Castle Chambers, per below!  — Grace

A Two-Chamber Affair at The Seafood Grille

Members of both the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce and the Armonk Chamber of Commerce met in February to network and enjoy tastings recently at Armonk’s exciting newcomer, The Seafood Grille. Everyone enjoyed ocean delicacies ranging from sesame crusted tuna and Japanese sea scallop to Maine lobster and buratta salad and crunchy halibut tacos. Pictured (L-R): Neal Schwartz, president, Armonk Chamber; owner Michael Mazzella and his wife Taeko; Dawn Dankner Rosen, President, Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber; and Michael Weinberg, Chappaqua Chamber member.
Armonk Chamber’s Stacy Wilder (right) and Susan Goldstein.