2020 has been a year unlike any other. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted our business community, and we continue to work hard to recover.
 
Early in the pandemic, the Temple Chamber of Commerce recognized that we had a vital role in helping our community through the crisis. Our focus has been on providing as many resources as possible to support our region’s business community and serve as an information provider.
 
The strength of the Temple Chamber of Commerce is not any particular program or event, but rather comes from the network we have built over our 113-year history. We are the hub of a vast network that includes local businesses, all levels of government, state and national business associations, local organizations, schools, and more.
 
This strength came to the forefront with the turmoil of 2020. The Temple Chamber was in a position to help many local businesses by serving as a mouthpiece for the information that was coming in quickly from our network. This led to the creation of the Temple Strong initiative, a comprehensive webpage that serves as a one-stop experience for businesses seeking the latest information regarding COVID-19, and a multitude of COVID-19 specific email communications beginning in April 2020.
 
The Temple Chamber of Commerce is a membership-driven organization where businesses pay dues to become members, and those members get plugged into the Chamber network. However, the economic vitality of our community can only be maintained with a positive business climate, so the information that was shared was not limited to only member businesses. We had information coming in from the state, our U.S. Senators and Representatives offices, as well as from County and City officials. Everyone needed help, and the Temple Chamber of Commerce was there to help.
 
With continuing uncertainty and state-mandated closures or occupancy restrictions, the Temple Chamber of Commerce created a space on social media for local businesses to inform a larger audience about their operations and offerings. Two Facebook groups, Temple Strong:  Takeout, Curbside, and Delivery Options and Temple Strong:  Open for Business, were created.
 
The Temple Chamber of Commerce also tapped into our network to provide a morale boost to front-line workers. The U.S. Army Salute Heroes fly over in May 2020 resulted from our outreach to Congressman John Carter and III Corps/Fort Hood. Blackhawk and Chinook Helicopters from 1st Air Cav Brigade/1st Cavalry Division/Fort Hood flew over health care facilities in Temple, Belton, Georgetown, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Harker Heights, Gatesville, Copperas Cove, and Killeen.
 
The Temple Chamber of Commerce refused to be deterred by the setbacks brought forth by the pandemic. The majority of in-person events shifted to a virtual environment. We provided over 20 virtual programs and have reached more than 1,500 participants.
 
The 36th Annual Military Appreciation Luncheon was reimagined into lunch to go and a virtual presentation. This new platform also allowed us to recognize first responders and front-line workers. We safely served 2,000 to-go meals to show appreciation to those who have and continue to give so much. We were also able to shift our annual Spirit of Santa Fe Wine Festival into a two-week trail that celebrated local craft beverages, wines, and homegrown restaurants.

By: Rod Henry, Chamber President

Yep, it is that time of year for the traditional message from the Temple Chamber of Commerce reminding all of the importance of shopping and buying at home.  BUT, this year, the message takes on a little more significance!    

COVID-19 has impacted society … upon our way of life … our schools … businesses … churches … and more.  What use to be … is no longer… at least for right now.  The new norm is still not clearly defined.  But one thing is for certain … the importance of the local businesses serving you yesterday, today and tomorrow.

The local businesses who have pivoted to find a safe and efficient way to provide you with the products, goods and services you are seeking. 

The local businesses who pay taxes for local government services … police, fire, roads/streets, sanitation, and more. 

The local businesses who pay taxes to keep our schools open and functioning … educating tomorrows leaders.

The local businesses who employee our friends, neighbors, family members, and possibly ourselves.

The local businesses who invest in the community we call home.

The local businesses … the same local businesses … we go to without hesitation for the sponsorship, donation, contribution … for our soccer or baseball teams, clubs/organizations, the special event, and more.
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NOW MORE THAN EVER, we ask for you to support the businesses in the greater Temple community!   The businesses we rely on everyday of the year, now rely on us!
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NOW MORE THAN EVER!

November 16, 2020
 
Bell County Judge David Blackburn Statement in re COVID19 in Bell County:
On October 8, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-32 to reopen certain venues to 75% capacity and allow resumption of elective surgeries in certain counties. Counties that reside in Trauma Service Areas (TSAs) with high COVID-19 hospitalizations are excluded from these reopening’s. Per the GA-32, areas with high hospitalizations means any Trauma Service Area that has had seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity exceeds 15 percent, until such time as the Trauma Service Area has seven consecutive days in which the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of total hospital capacity is 15 percent or less.
 
A county within a TSA that has high hospitalizations may still reopen up to 75% if the county meets attestation parameters established under GA-32.
 
According to State DSHS COVID dashboard for yesterday, Trauma Service Area L (which is comprised of 6 counties , Bell, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Milam, Mills) there was a total of 1,282 staffed hospital beds and 310 of those were currently available…meaning we are at about 76% capacity.
 
Under the Governor’s Order relating to reserving hospital bed capacity, this means that , for the region, we are at about 91% of capacity relative to the Governor’s threshold for hospital bed capacity.
 
Discussions with our 3 area hospital system administrators also indicate that our local hospital capacity, while being managed, is seeing signs of stress as it relates to bed capacity and COVID. BSW currently has 46 COVID patients, the highest census of COVID patients since mid-August. While BSW is below the Governor’s 15% threshold number requiring elective surgeries to cease, I am advised that they are currently not scheduling any new elective surgical cases that require a hospital bed for the first part of this week.
 
Seton and Advent are also experiencing much the same as BSW as relates to hospital capacity and COVID patients and are making adjustments to better manage hospital bed capacity in order to stay below the Governor’s 15% threshold.
 
I share all this to simply say that we need to heed the advice and counsel of our health authorities and continue to be vigilant in our COVID health protocols. Maintaining social distancing, wearing our face coverings when we are out and about and can’t maintain social distancing, and washing our hands frequently remain our best line of defense against COVID.
 
These health protocols are also our best line of defense against a return to more stringent health, economic and business measures. I don’t think any of us want a return to some of the measures we saw in the Spring of this year … measures that we are seeing re-imposed in other parts of the country as we speak.
 
As we gather for the upcoming holidays with friends and family, please be careful and safe…for your own good, and for the good of those friends and family that are with you.
 
 
David Blackburn
Bell County Judge