Chamber carries on despite pandemic

The Shafter Chamber of Commerce has been busy at work, even as the majority of city businesses were at a virtual standstill for the past couple of months.

The organization has been a go-to source of information when it comes to the status of eating establishments in town, as well as resources available to local businesses and individuals.

At a recent meeting, after a lengthy discussion, the Chamber decided not to cancel the popular Fireworks Extravaganza, instead opting to postpone it until Saturday, Sept. 5, which coincides with Labor Day weekend. This decision was made in part because of the inability to hold the show at their usual location at the Shafter High Football Stadium. With the Kern High School District imposing a freeze on any events taking place on any of their facilities, the chamber would have had to find an alternate venue to have the event.

According to Rachel Zermeno of the chamber, "The future of the event was really in the hands of the guidelines put forth by the state and the county. We are following their direction and plan on holding a great show in September."

In other action, the chamber have been advising local businesses adversely affected by the Covid-19 crisis. They have given the businesses information on different programs available to them for short term and long term solutions to help them keep their businesses afloat.

One such recommendation was the Kern Recovers program, a forgivable loan for nonessential businesses that had significant restrictions placed on their operations, including restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions, dentists and optometrists.

The chamber suggests affected businesses apply for the program at Mission Bank in Shafter.