Businesses Response to COVID-19

Our members know that we’re stronger together. We’re proud of the businesses and nonprofits that are stepping up and helping our community navigate this challenging time. Share with us how your business is supporting our community. 

Chamber Members Lending a Helping Hand 

Amgen and Adaptive Biotechnologies Announce Strategic Partnership to Develop a Therapeutic to Prevent or Treat COVID-19

The companies will combine expertise to discover and develop fully human neutralizing antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 to potentially prevent or treat COVID-19. The mutually exclusive collaboration brings together Adaptive’s proprietary immune medicine platform for the identification of virus-neutralizing antibodies with Amgen’s expertise in immunology and novel antibody therapy development.

AT&T Responds to COVID-19 with Resources, Connections

From supporting first responders to helping Khan Academy reach more kids and their employees, AT&T is committed to being there when its customers and colleagues need them most, including waiving late fees and not terminating service as part of the “Keep Americans Connected Pledge.” Read how they’re responding. On April 12, AT&T announced three months of free wireless service for frontline nurses and physicians nationwide. Read more.

Bank of America (BofA) Offers Additional Support to Customers and Small Businesses

BoA has committed $100 million to nonprofits. Locally, the BofA Denver Market donated funds to cover administrative costs to create and manage the Colorado COVID Relief Fund; it contributed $25,000 to Mayor Hancock’s small business micro-grant program; and it deployed $970,000 to nonprofits with immediate needs. BoA was the first to begin executing on the federal Paycheck Protection Program. It is also offering assistance to clients struggling to make payments through its Client Assistance Program. BofA is supporting employees by enhancing benefits, moving to a minimum $20 hourly rate this quarter and has pledged no layoffs in 2020.

Biodesix, Inc., a leading diagnostic company in lung disease based in Boulder, launched the Biodesix WorkSafe™ Program, a customized return-to-work service for employers. The program is designed to help businesses in the United States prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 while resuming business operations.

Boeing to 3D-Print Face Shields for Health Care Workers, Offers Dreamlifter for Pandemic Response

Boeing employees will 3D-print face shields using additive manufacturing machines, as long as those facilities remain in operation consistent with federal, state and local health orders. The company also announced its intent to offer use of the Boeing Dreamlifter to transport critical and urgently needed supplies to health care professionals.

Boettcher Foundation Announces $1 Million COVID Biomedical Research Innovation Fund

The Boettcher Foundation, which has supported biomedical research in Colorado since the 1940s, has established a $1 million innovation fund to fight COVID-19 and potentially curtail future pandemic outbreaks. The foundation also gave $50,000 to the Help Colorado Now, the state’s COVID relief fund.

Bristol Myers Squibb Expands Patient Support Programs to Help Newly Uninsured Patients in the U.S.

Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) announced an expansion of its patient support programs to help eligible unemployed patients in the United States who have lost their health insurance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The expanded program offers access to any branded BMS medicine for free, as well as those prescribed via telehealth services.

Canvas Credit Union Responds to COVID-19

The credit union is offering up to three months of fee-free payment deferrals on existing loans, including mortgages, business/commercial loans and/or lines of credit. It has launched a Helping Hands Loan, providing loans up to $5,000 with no payments required for 90 days. To support the community, Canvas is collecting donations through its Canvas Foundation from members visiting our drive-ups, with donations benefitting area food banks. Staff are also sewing surgical masks for medical professionals.

Children’s Hospital Colorado Seeks Recovered COVID-19 Plasma Donors to Help Future Patients

Children’s Hospital Colorado is among the first health care systems in the country to begin collecting antibody-rich convalescent plasma to combat COVID-19. The program launched in late March when the blood donor center received a request for a critically ill adult patient at a nearby hospital. Children’s Colorado is now making convalescent plasma available to hospitals across the state.

Cigna Responds to COVID-19 Across the Globe and Locally

In Colorado, the Cigna Foundation has supported the Colorado COVID Relief Fund as well as organizations that will help address hunger for youth and seniors in the community and provide technology to seniors to help them combat loneliness and depression.

The CityCraft Foundation and The Same Plate Partner to Support Health Care Workers, Local Restaurants

The two organizations are teaming up to provide meals for hospital workers and support local restaurants, by collecting and distributing monetary donations to local restaurants to prepare takeout orders that then go to local hospitals.

Comcast Increases Access to and Speeds of Internet Essentials to Support Americans Through Coronavirus Pandemic 

Comcast is adjusting its Internet Essentials program to help families during this crisis. They’ll provided 60 days of complimentary Internet Essentials service to low-income families who live in a Comcast service area. And, they’re increasing Internet speeds for the Internet Essentials service from 15/2 Mbps to 25/3 Mbps for all new and existing customers. 

Comcast Responds to COVID-19

Comcast has signed the “Keep Americans Connected Pledge” and is also offering eligible new customers 60 days of Internet Essentials service, an internet adoption program for low-income households, without charge. And it is providing Xfinity video customers access to free education resources. The company has also committed $500 million to support our employees where operations have been closed or impacted.

Danone North American Hikes Pay for Production Workers

Danone North America has hiked the pay of thousands of its food processing workers around the country and added new leave options. The Broomfield-based business has added a 15% premium for all hours worked that will be paid in addition to the food production workers’ normal wage.

Delta Dental of Colorado and Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation Respond to COVID-19

Delta Dental of Colorado and Delta Dental of Colorado Foundation announced on May 15 they have collectively committed $30 million in the form of billing and premium credits, loans, relief funds and grants to customers, oral health care providers and local community organizations.

They also have a variety of resources, including a guide to determine if you are experiencing a dental emergency and how to seek care. The Foundation has likewise donated $100,000 to the Colorado COVID Relief Fund, is distributing oral health care products and is supporting employees through an employee relief fund.

Denver Emergency Food Network Delivers Free, Prepared Meals

The organization, formed in response to the COVID-19 crisis, provides meals to homebound families and elderly individuals in need with the help of partners like Serendipity Catering and restaurants – and have grown to serving 3,000 meals a day.

Denver Water’s Response to Coronavirus

Denver Water has suspended all water shut-offs due to delinquent payments to ensure all customers have access to this vital resource. The utility is also attempting to limit water outages to emergencies only, and routine street projects that require temporary outages for more than one residence will be put on hold.

DISH, CenturyLink Take Steps to Ease Burdens on Telecommunications during Coronavirus Outbreaks  

DISH Network has announced it is providing its entire portfolio of 600 Mhz spectrum to T-Mobile customers at no cost for the next 60 days. CenturyLink, which is based in Louisiana but has major Colorado operations, has suspended its data cap on internet usage for customers. 

El Pomar Foundation Announces $1 Million Colorado Assistance Fund to Support Communities Affected by COVID-19  

El Pomar Foundation announced today the establishment of the Colorado Assistance Fund (CAF). CAF is a $1 million fund offering immediate aid to nonprofit organizations supporting Colorado communities, organizations and individuals affected by the recent outbreak of COVID-19. 

FirstBank Helps Make4Covid Get More PPE to Hospital Workers

FirstBank is supplying $50,000 to Make4Covid, a movement driven by medical professionals, engineers and entrepreneurs, who are using 3-D printing technology to create protective gear and medical equipment for hospitals battling the virus. FirstBank is also allowing customers, upon request, to defer up to three months of payments on residential mortgage loans, home equity installment loans and consumer installment loans. Read more about FirstBank’s COVID-19 response.

HealthONE Announces Grants to Aid in COVID-19 Relief Efforts, Offers Support for Staff

HealthONE’s HCA Healthcare Foundation has providing more than $1 million in grants to local community organizations to aid in COVID-19 relief efforts, including Mile High United Way and Food Bank of the Rockies. Its clinical experts have participated in numerous virtual forums. HealthONE has supported its front line with hotel stays, scrub laundering and donated meals.  And a “Pandemic Pay” program was created for those who could not be redeployed in other roles.

Health Links, a program within the Center for Health, Work & Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health, launched a webinar series in response to the pandemic. The webinars feature the latest COVID-19 information and guidance for employers and individuals in our communities presented by University of Colorado Anschutz expert faculty and alumni.

Kroger Shares Blueprint for Reopening Business

Kroger has developed and launched a new platform – KrogerBlueprint.com – to share what the grocer has learned to help businesses begin to reopen safely and in sync with their respective state plans. These are actionable recommendations for retailers, restaurants and food service companies, manufacturers, logistics and distribution centers and other industries to consider as they start crafting plans for safe work environments while the COVID-19 risk persists.

JPMorgan Chase Makes $50 Million Philanthropic Investment to Help Address Immediate and Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19

JPMorgan Chase has committed $50 million to address immediate public health and long-term economic challenges globally. An initial $15 million commitment will support communities and people hit hardest by this public health crisis. The remaining $35 million will be deployed over time to help the most vulnerable communities and people recover and have an opportunity to benefit from future economic growth.

Kaiser Permanente Shares Approach to COVID-19

Kaiser Permanente is removing barriers to COVID-19 care by eliminating out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 testing, diagnosis and treatment, including hospital stays. It is also supporting the community by providing $1 million to increase capacity for preventing and treating cases of COVID-19 within the nation’s homeless population in a collaboration with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council.

Mile High United Way Announces $1 Million in Rapid Response Funding

MHUW will grant $1 million in Rapid Response Funding to organizations across the Denver-Boulder metro area to support critical, basic needs services in the areas of food security, housing, rent/utility assistance, health services and support for seniors. Fifty community-based organizations have received $785,000. The remaining $215,000 will be distributed to child care providers in our community.

Mortenson Responds to COVID-19, Tracks Impact

Mortenson employees are taking steps to increase physical distancing, reduce worker concentrations, expand on-site health and safety services and work with trade partners to adjust workflows as necessary. They’ve also built triage tents for COVID-19 patients.

Norwich University Extends Complimentary Online Courses for Chamber Investors

Norwich University has extended its offer of complimentary online courses on business topics of data analytics, project management, leadership and corporate compliance. Each course is conducted asynchronously and can be accomplished at any time. One free course offered per person with the discount code partner1; however, use code profdev35 for 35% off a second course or code profdev50 for 50% off two or more courses.

PCL Helping Employers Get Back to Work Safely

PCL Construction has partnered with Camillion, Microsoft, WZMH and Quasar Loring Stephenson Parkin Architects to develop a smart screening and testing pod, called a Citizen Care Community Pod, that can be quickly and easily deployed to areas where testing for Covid-19 is needed, such as at entrances to hospitals, office buildings, schools and other places.

SANITYzer for All was launched by two friends, James Browder and Nicolas Wilson, who first met at college at Sam Houston State University in Texas. They both relocated to Denver. Earlier this year, Browder and Wilson, both military veterans, left their energy company jobs to take a gamble and start their hand sanitizer company. Since then, the company has expanded to offer cleaners, toilet paper and PPE. They also are dedicated to the community, so they’ve donated or offered their products at extreme discounts to a variety of organizations, including teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, veterans organizations, animal shelters and their favorite sport, rugby.

Uber Eats Waives Delivery Fee for Over 100K Independent Restaurants to Help Lessen Impact of Virus 

Uber Eats says it’s waiving its delivery fee for more than 100,000 independent restaurants across the United States and Canada in an effort to support local businesses that have been limited to deliveries and pick-up orders due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

United Health Foundation Grants $500,000 to Support Behavioral Health for Coloradans

The United Health Foundation has donated $500,000 to the Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN) to help it meet behavioral health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will support behavioral health clinician staffing, outreach to vulnerable patients and expanded access to telehealth platforms. The effort is part of UnitedHealth Group’s initial $70 million commitment to fight COVID-19 and support impacted communities.

UnitedHealth Group Provides Testing, Resources, Support During Pandemic 

UnitedHealth Group has taken several steps to respond to COVID-19, including developing and testing a new self-administered COVID-19 swab protocol, which is now FDA-approved; opening free access to the company’s mental health mobile app and 24/7 emotional support phone lines; and providing more than $60 million in support to those affected by COVID-19.

The VF Foundation Contributes $1.5 Million to Support COVID-19 Relief Efforts

The VF Foundation, the private grantmaking organization funded by VF Corporation, announced it will contribute an initial $1.5 million to support local communities around the world. As part of this contribution, The VF Foundation is partnering with VF Corporation to initiate a two-for-one community match campaign, up to an additional $500,000.

Wells Fargo Donates $6.25 Million to Aid in Coronavirus Outbreak 

TheWells Fargo Foundation today announced up to $6.25 million in donations to support domestic and global response to COVID-19 and to aid public health relief efforts. The money will be donated to national and international groups in addition to providing local support. 

Western Union Launches Worldwide Coronavirus Relief Drive 

Western Union, a leader in cross-border, cross-currency money movement and payments, and the Western Union Foundation announced a $1 million global matching challenge to help fight COVID-19 (coronavirus) and for relief in China and other affected countries. The combined Western Union and Western Union Foundation match will be up to $500,000.  

Xcel Energy Stops Power, Gas Shutoffs during COVID-19 Epidemic  

Xcel Energy won’t shut off power or gas to its 3.15 million residential customers for unpaid bills for the foreseeable, a move meant ensure people have the power and gas they need through the COVID-19 epidemic.