Mediaboss Marketing

By Janice MacKay May 1, 2020 1:16pm

The Stratford Perth Centre for Business has launched The Digital Accelerator, by Starter Company Plus.

30 grants totaling $45,000 will be distributed to local entrepreneurs within Stratford and Perth County.

The new program will help small businesses in the City of Stratford, the Town of St Marys and Perth County to create a digital revenue stream that will allow them to navigate the new reality of doing business.

Starter Company Plus will deliver 4 weeks of virtual programing starting May 19 providing entrepreneurs with funding, coaching and peer mentorship to support the use of online, digital, and social marketing tools.

The program will assist with the cost of developing a digital strategy including website builds, digital advertising and email marketing. Business advisors will work one-on-one with the participants to design new business models and outline steps needed to deliver their products and services digitally. Areas of focus will include use of templated websites such as Shopify and Squarespace, email marketing integrations, delivery, e-commerce, cyber security, digital systems, and finding new opportunities in existing skills, products, and services.

Holly Mortimer, Business Advisor stated, By end of the program each participant will have received funds to support their pivot, and long-term mentorship and collaboration opportunities and access to our programming for as long as they need it.

Joani Gerber, CEO of investStratford stated The program delivers the kind of support and training that is desperately needed at this time. It assists and trains business owners overwhelmed with the need to pivot their revenue streams and helps them leverage their grant for greater revenue and business growth.

Applications are open now and available at http://www.stratfordperthbusiness.ca until May 12

Excerpt from:
Perth County businesses offered help to cope with COVID-19 - BlackburnNews.com

See the latest coronavirus updates in Idaho as we work together to separate facts from fear.

BOISE, Idaho (Scroll down for the latest news updates.)

Idaho's number of deaths and cases of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continue to climb amid a worldwide pandemic.

Saturday, May 2

5:11 p.m. - Idaho surpasses 1,900 confirmed cases

Idaho's battle against COVID-19 continues to show a flattening of the curve of infection as only 17 confirmed cases were announced on Saturday evening. There are now 1,908 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. 1,287 of those cases have recovered and only 200 people were hospitalized.

No new deaths were reported on Saturday, with the statewide total staying at 64.

For testing, Idaho has now tested 29,651 people so far.

Friday, May 1

6:20 p.m. - Another death in Ada County, more than 1,200 have recovered

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare released the state's latest official numbers on the coronavirus in the Gem State. There are now 1,888 confirmed cases. The state counts 2,035 confirmed or probable cases, including 20 new confirmed or probable cases today. Another COVID-19 death was reported in Ada County; which brings the statewide total to 64 deaths. 1,215 people are presumed to have recovered.

5:10 p.m. -- Northwest Nazarene University making plans to reopen campus in the fall

In a statement shared with the campus community, NNU President Joel Pearsall stated: "Our plans are still being developed, but here's what we know for sure: We plan to return to campus for the fall semester."

Pearsall's full statement is posted here.

4:45 p.m. -- Boise GreenBike to relaunch May 4, offer free rides

Boise GreenBike will relaunch the bike share program on Monday, May 4, after a brief suspension because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The bikes were removed from the streets in March and taken to the shop. Every bike was cleaned, given a tune-up, and made ready for service. The system will relaunch with two weeks of free rides for everyone and certain restrictions on use.

As our city and state start to reopen for business we want to be able to provide a healthy and safe transportation alternative, said Boise GreenBike Director Dave Fotsch. We work hard to keep the bikes clean and disinfected, but were asking our riders to do their part as well.

Boise GreenBike will offer unlimited one-hour free rides for two weeks, running through midnight, Monday, May 18.

4:15 p.m. -- Nampa to open all park restrooms, some youth activities on May 4

Nampa Parks and Recreation will be opening park restrooms, some organized youth activities and day camps as of May 4. Beginning Monday, restrooms in city parks will be open during daylight hours and cleaned twice daily.

The City Parks and Recreation Department will also allow youth sport organizations to practice at city park facilities. At this time, games will not be allowed. Park picnic shelters are not reservable for public functions at this time.

Limited youth activities and day camps will be offered that accommodate suggested health guidelines such as physical distancing and diligent hygiene. The Nampa Recreation Center will remain closed to the general public until Stage 2 of Idaho's reopening plan.

Playgrounds at city parks remain closed. City leaders are discussing guidelines and timeline around reopening playgrounds and hope to have an announcement soon.

4:00 p.m. -- College of Idaho to resume in-person classes in the fall

The private liberal arts college, located in Caldwell, will also open on-campus living areas for Fall Semester 2020.

In a letter to the C of I community, co-Presidents Doug Brigham and Jim Everett stated "based on our ongoing consultation with the local healthcare community, our senior administration and trustees, we feel that as long as people adhere to appropriate guidelines, the systems in place can safely handle the cases we experience here in southwest Idaho."

The college is appointing task forces to work directly on the changes required to be ready to open campus for the fall.

"Our plan is to share more specific details with our extended Yote family by the end of May," the Co-Presidents stated in their letter.

The College of Idaho was the first higher education institution in the state to announce its plan to shift exclusively to online classes for the remainder of the spring semester back on March 13th.

The College of Idaho has a web page for all of its COVID-19 communication throughout the pandemic.

3:30 p.m. -- Eagle mayor discusses how city will address staged reopening

Mayor Jason Pierce writes, "first of all, we want to make sure that Eagle residents and businesses can start to feel normal in their community again while feeling safe. Here in Eagle, education is going to be our primary approach. We encourage everyone to follow the path that the governor has laid out, but we do not have the resources to shut down businesses that open before the governor's timeline. First and foremost, we want to make sure that all Eagle businesses are being safe and smart about their reopening plans so that the people who have been laid off or had to close up shop can get back to working and earning a living."

Pierce is urging Eagle business owners to research and establish health and safety plans to protect themselves, their staff, and customers. He also advises business owners to make sure they don't jeopardize their business by breaking any rules they agreed to when accepting federal aid money.

The Eagle City Council has appointed a Business and Workforce Recovery Task Force comprised of members of the local business community.

2:20 p.m. -- Roaring Springs, Wahooz to open this summer

No date has been set for the opening. The management team for the Roaring Springs water park and Wahooz Family Fun Zone has been working to develop a comprehensive plan, which includes wellness checks for guests and employees, social distancing measures, increased cleaning and sanitation and more. Chief marketing officer Tiffany Quillici says officials at Central District Health, Idaho Health & Welfare and the Meridian mayor's office have expressed their approval.

An announcement about opening day will come by mid-May, Quillici said.

1:45 p.m. -- Boise School District announces graduation plans for Class of 2020

Boise School District announced graduation plans for the class of 2020 in an effort to make sure students and families do not miss out on this important milestone.

Graduation/celebrations planned for May:

Graduation caps and gowns will be distributed on Thursday, May 14 and Friday, May 15. Schools will also be distributing diploma covers, and diplomas themselves will be mailed home. High schools will be communicating specifics about this grab and go distribution process. Social distancing guidelines will be followed.

Boise School District is partnering with Idaho Press to produce a virtual graduation celebration. Graduate profiles, speeches and a printed keepsake graduation program with graduate profiles for each high school graduate will be featured/provided.

Socially Distanced "Turn the Tassel/Walk the Stage":

Every high school will celebrate their seniors in person at the school during the last week of school (May 18 through May 22) -- there will be a staggered schedule to minimize the numbers of students at any one time

Students and parents will arrive and remain in their car

As they come up to the "first station," the student's name will be called and he/she will "turn the tassel" while still in their car -- staff/faculty will be outside to celebrate the graduates.

Student and family will get out of car and "walk the stage" -- a set-up where the student will be in cap and gown and can take pictures in front of the school's backdrop

Parent survey regarding in-person late July Graduation/Celebration:

High schools will be sending parents a survey about the possibility of holding in-rson graduations/celebrations the week of July 20th, contingent upon meeting health recommendations from the CDC.

1:27 p.m. -- New emergency grants announced for Idaho childcare businesses

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has announced a new Idaho Child Care Emergency Grant to get childcare business owners the funds they need to reopen.

"As we begin the staged reopening of Idaho and our residents return to their places of work, I want to make sure they have consistent care for their children," Governor Little said. "These grants not only help working parents in Idaho, they also help the owners of these small businesses."

The application period runs Friday through June 30, and the application is available here.

The grants can be awarded to any fulltime childcare operation that is licensed or ICCP certified, as long as they are open and operating during the months for which funding is requested. The grant money can be used for staff wages or hazard pay, cleaning and janitorial expenses; other materials; and general business operations like rent or utilities.

1:08 p.m. -- University of Idaho gets grant to test COVID-19 in breast milk

The University of Idaho is teaming up with the University of Rochester in New York for a national study testing whether coronavirus can be transmitted through breast milk.

The two schools received $315,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to carry out the project. Health officials hope the study will help them better advise breastfeeding mothers who test positive for COVID-19.

"The question is whether the novel coronavirus is in mothers' milk, and whether it can infect infants," said Shelley McGuire, who directs the U of I Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences. "We just don't have a study yet that can provide a reliable answer. I really hope the virus isn't in milk, but hope doesn't make for good science."

Women who want to volunteer to be part of the project can find more information here.

12:25 p.m. -- Meridian City Hall, some other city facilities to reopen Monday

Meridian city officials have outlined a phased reopening plan, which includes screening for those entering city buildings. Public meetings will continue to be held online "to prevent group congregation."

10:45 a.m. -- Eagle Saturday Market opening day postponed

Due to COVID-19 the Eagle Saturday Market will not be opening on May 2, 2020. While we have been looking forward to the 2020 market season, the health and safety of our community is at the forefront of our mind's day in and day out. When the market reopens, it will look different. Efforts are being taking to implement social distancing guidelines for city employees, vendors and the community to follow. You can order from vendors online.

9:35 a.m. -- Boise will not open the city's municipal pools this summer

Leaders from the City of Boise and the Boise Parks and Recreation Department have made the tough decision to keep all six outdoor pools closed in 2020.

Uncertainty surrounding the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), public safety, and cost evaluations based on a shortened season all factored into the decision.

The health and safety of our residents is important and this was a very tough call, said Boise Parks and Recreation Director Doug Holloway.

More:
Live coronavirus updates: 64 deaths and 1,908 confirmed cases; nearly 30,000 people tested - KTVB.com

Every day we engage with the some of the worlds leading social entrepreneurs and innovators through the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship community.

The community includes approximately 400 social entrepreneurs and innovators, operating in 190 countries, who have impacted the lives of 622 million people and counting by distributing loans and services, mitigating CO2, improving access to education and energy and driving social inclusion for people with disabilities, the homeless and refugees.

And now, in the COVID-19 pandemic, this community is responding in incredible ways, specifically to the needs of those who governments or the market are unable to account for: the excluded, marginalised and vulnerable populations.

However, the work has been seriously hindered due to the lack of adequate technical support, financial resources and access to partnerships during the crisis.

When we share the unique challenges these social innovators face, the most common question in response is, How can I help them?

Here are five ways to help the World Economic Forum social innovator community, right now and in turn, help the worlds most vulnerable get through the pandemic.

Human Nature is a for-profit business with three social goals: strengthening the Filipino economy, creating a new middle class from the poor and caring for the environment.

Human Nature has produced a truly Filipino brand by formulating and marketing personal and homecare products made with local and natural raw materials and free from harmful chemicals. To support farmers, the company works with community cooperatives and provides training, equipment and a market for high-value crops such as citronella, lemongrass, virgin coconut oil and coco nectar.

2. Improve access to water.

Water For People is a global non-profit working in nine countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia to develop sustainable water and sanitation services. COVID-19 has highlighted the need for easy access to water and sanitation services more than ever before, and yet more than half of the world does not have access to safe sanitation services.

Access to soap and water for handwashing is even more important in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Image: WHO

3. Keep children reading and learning.

COVID-19 has created a global education crisis. More than 1.3 billion children and youth have been impacted by school closures. Distance learning is the best chance children and youth have to mitigate learning losses during this pandemic.

Worldreader uses low-cost technology, such as e-readers and mobile phones, to offer more than 42,000 digital books from over 400 publishers in 43 languages including Kiswahili, Hausa, Afrikaans and English contributing to local heritage and identity. Donate here.

Worldreader uses low-cost technology to provide books to children who need them.

Image: Worldreader

However, millions of children in low-income communities may not have the technological resources to access e-books. This where First Book can play a key role. A non-profit social enterprise, First Book uses market forces to address the systemic barriers to quality education for children in need. First Book provides access to new books and resources for kids who need them most, helping fuel a love of reading and learning. Every $3 donated = one new book (including the cost of shipping) to a child in need. Support them here.

4. Watch football to help the homeless.

Homeless World Cup, a social sports organization established specifically to tackle homelessness and poverty through football and street soccer worldwide, has lifted 1.2 million people out of homelessness and established 74 partner organizations around the globe.

During the pandemic, their work has become even more instrumental as homeless people are one of the groups at greatest risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19. Help Homeless World Cup by donating, fundraising and shopping, and tune in to the virtual Homeless World Cup on 5 July.

5. Text people to ensure their mental health and wellbeing.

Among many global health, economic and societal disruptions, the coronavirus has forced millions to physically isolate. Combine that with extensive news coverage on the pandemic and the unknown future, and it's no surprise anxiety is on the rise.

Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7 text hotline for people in crisis. The service is powered by volunteer crisis counsellors who work remotely, anywhere with a computer and secure internet connection. Crisis counsellors answer texts from people in crisis, calming them with active listening, collaborative problem solving and safety planning. Learn more about how to volunteer as a crisis counsellor, and read this expert guide on how to manage mental health and wellbeing.

Innovative social entrepreneurs are addressing the worlds most serious challenges ranging from illiteracy to girls education and disaster relief. To achieve maximum impact and start to address root causes, they need greater visibility, credibility, access to finance, favourable policy decisions, and in some cases a better understanding of global affairs.

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is supporting more than 350 late-stage social entrepreneurs. By providing an unparalleled global platform, the Foundations goal is to highlight and expand innovative models of social innovation. It helps strengthen and grow the field of social enterprise by showcasing best-in-class examples, models for replication and cutting-edge research on social innovation.

Our global network of experts, partner institutions, and World Economic Forum constituents and business members are invited to nominate outstanding social entrepreneurs. Get in touch to become a member or partner of the World Economic Forum.

Social innovators, disruptors in the service of others, are in need of your support more than ever before. For more information or to help our social innovator community, get in touch with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship.

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with our Terms of Use.

Written by

Pavitra Raja, Community Specialist, Social Entrepreneurs - Europe and the Americas, World Economic Forum

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

Read more:
5 ways to help during the coronavirus pandemic - World Economic Forum

MANILA, Philippines Only 104 of 1,632 local government units (LGUs) met the April 30 deadline for full payout of the P5,000 to P8,000 emergency cash subsidy for low-income families under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), meant to cushion the economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

This was according to Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista, citing a tally made on Wednesday.

Irene Dumlao, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) social marketing service officer-in-charge, said that of the 104 LGUs that completed the payout, only 10 were able to do a 100 percent liquidation of the SAP funds they had received from the DSWD and distributed to eligible families in their jurisdictions.

The 10 LGUs, Dumlao said, submitted liquidation data which included disbursement report, SAC (Social Amelioration Card) forms encoded in the Excel matrix we provided.

She identified the 10 LGUs as Adams, Ilocos Norte in Region 1; Pandi and San Miguel both in Bulacan in Region 3; Casiguran, Sorsogon; and San Vicente, Camarines Norte in the Bicol Region; Jordan, Guimaras; Buenavista, Guimaras; and EB Magalona, Negros Occidental in Region 6; and Sulop and Taragona both in Davao del Sur in Region 11.

Bautista earlier said he had decided to allow partial liquidation to facilitate the process of validation and prevent undue delays in the release of the second tranche of the emergency cash subsidy funds for this month.

He stressed the DSWD is standing pat on its position against releasing funds for the second tranche until liquidation of funds distributed in the first tranche is completed.

He said he had allowed partial liquidation, or the submission of early liquidation reports by LGUs, so that the DSWD can start necessary validation. Validation checks, he pointed out, will take no more than 15 days.

Bautista said that as of April 29, the DSWD has distributed P80.8 billion of the SAP funds to 1,515 LGUs.

Overall, more than P50 billion from DSWD had been distributed among 9.4 million SAP beneficiaries in the first tranche, he said in Filipino.

Senior citizen rights advocate Romulo Macalintal said the government should consider clustering or grouping contiguous barangays in big or heavily populated LGUs to smoothen the distribution of SAP.

Barangays with small number of beneficiaries could be merged or grouped with other barangays which have not yet reached the maximum number of beneficiaries they could serve at a given time. Distribution of funds shall be properly scheduled per clustered barangay and should be with full adherence to health protocols versus COVID-19, Macalintal said.

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima said the Duterte administration should stop blaming pasaways or stubborn people who violate quarantine rules for its decision to extend the lockdown.

Dont use the people as your punching bag for your frustrations because of your blunders. Maybe youve forgotten that were going through this Calvary because of you, De Lima said in a statement written in Filipino.

You were the ones who brought in the Chinese Communist Party virus. You didnt act quickly. You belittled and joked about it. And now were all reeling from the COVID-19 and youre now violating human rights, she said.

You paint an image of unruly, disobedient and lawless citizens to justify your lust for martial law the reason some of our ECQ enforcers get the wrong message and see the situation more as a peace-and-order crisis than as a serious health concern, De Lima said.

A House panel, meanwhile, has proposed a recalibration in the implementation of the governments P200-billion SAP.

The Defeat COVID-19 Committee (DCC)s social amelioration cluster has sought changes in rules and procedures of SAP to be able to reach more beneficiaries in the implementation of the second phase of the program this month.

Panel chair and Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez presented the proposal to the DCC and DSWDs Bautista at a virtual hearing on the implementation of measures to address the crisis.

Gomez said the DSWD should set a uniform P5,000 cash subsidy for qualified families in the National Capital Region and provinces, as compared with the unequal distribution of P8,000 per family in NCR and P5,000 to P6,500 in provinces depending on minimum wage set per region.

This way, the lawmaker stressed that the second phase of SAP will reach over 20 million families as compared with the 18 million families targeted by the program under Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Law).

There is enough money for 20 million families and we can also simplify the process, stressed Gomez, also chair of the House committee on disaster management.

The cluster suggested to the DSWD to continue direct distribution of the cash aid among four million beneficiaries of the governments Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), just like in the first phase of SAP.

For the other 16 million poor families not covered by 4Ps, Gomez said the barangays will be required to come up with lists of families living below the 85th income percentile in their respective constituencies to be collated by the local and provincial governments and then submitted to DSWD.

She said their computation showed that around 16 million families are below the threshold.

She said the DSWD may then distribute the cash aid to families in the list, requiring only the ID of the head of the family, signed receipt and photo of recipient.

At the same hearing, Bautista reported to lawmakers that a total of 10,135,634 families have already received cash aid under the SAP.

This represents only about 55 percent of the 18 million target beneficiaries of the program, which was intended to provide financial assistance to poor families while the ECQ is in effect.

The DSWD chief further bared that over P53.8 billion of the P100-billion budget for the first phase of SAP had been distributed to beneficiaries.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases had originally required LGUs to complete the distribution of the first phase of SAP by April 30, but extended the deadline by a week due to challenges in populous localities.

Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it is nearing completion of its two programs aimed at providing financial aid to affected workers Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and COVID-19 Adjustment Measure Program (CAMP).

DOLE revealed to lawmakers at the same hearing that over P993 million or 87 percent of the P1.146-billion fund for TUPAD had been distributed among 313,700 beneficiaries.

On the other hand, P2.6 billion of the P3.25 billion or 80 percent of CAMP funds had been delivered to 522,855 beneficiaries. - Edu Punay, Paolo Romero

Follow this link:
Only 104 of 1,632 LGUs have completed SAP payout - Philstar.com

With messaging use on the rise during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Facebook now appears to be looking for more ways to prompt direct engagement between users.

Along with a new 'DM Me' sticker for Instagram Stories, which would enable users to message a Story creator with a tap on the sticker, Facebook is also working on a 'Hit Me Up' sticker for Facebook Stories, which would provide the same functionality, just with a different look (and on a different app, of course).

As you can see in this example, shared by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong, the new 'hit Me Up' sticker would enable Facebook Stories users to prompt a quick DM response via the sticker, which could help to facilitate more intimate engagement, which, as noted, would align with the rising use of Stories and messaging, particularly during the lockdowns.

Indeed, according to Facebook,messaging activity across both WhatsApp and Messenger has increased some 50% on normal levels over the last few months. Without the capacity to connect in real life, people are looking to direct connection options to stay in touch, and a new prompt within Stories to further facilitate such engagement could be a good way to generate increased conversation, and give people more ways to stay connected while apart.

That's likely the main impetus here - seeing the increases in messaging, it may well be that more people are looking to have more message interactions, but they need to know who else might be interested in the same. By adding a simple prompt within your story, highlighting that you're interested in chatting, it could spark new message interactions, and help to relieve some of the loneliness of the social isolation period.

But of course, it could also lead to problems. As we noted on the Instagram 'DM Me' option, while people might want to get more private messages in response to their Stories, it could also open the door to more unsolicited attachments and the like, which has become a problematic element, particularly for younger users. Users would, however, still be able to limit who sees their Stories, and block unwanted responders, but broadening your call for more messages could be problematic in some cases.

Still, it makes sense, and the numbers would suggest it could be a good option.

Given the current focus on direct engagement tools, it seems likely that we'll see these options roll out sooner, rather than later. And from a brand and marketing perspective, that could also mean that you'll soon have another CTA prompt to help advance connection with potential clients.

Follow this link:
Facebook's Testing a 'Hit Me Up' Sticker to Prompt Message Interaction from Stories - Social Media Today