“Thank you for doing the five-star program. We haven’t gone out to eat since March and knowing we had choices by looking at the Five Star ad in the paper made us feel safe visiting a favorite restaurant once again.” The person on the phone recently didn’t identify themselves and they didn’t need to. Their message was nothing new to Chamber staff. Many residents have called and emailed their gratitude for this joint program between Mesa County Public Health and the Chamber since the program began in late summer.
With the number of cases rising in Mesa County, there has never been a better time for businesses to apply for the designation. You don’t have to be a Chamber member. You don’t have to be a restaurant. You don’t have to fear “failing” an inspection by county health department officials. The benefits include positive publicity for your business and the ability to market your safety practices to cautious consumers. As Dr. Jeff Kuhr, Executive Director of Mesa County Public Health noted during the program’s rollout, “So many businesses are doing such a great job to protect their customers, we want to highlight their great work as well as provide a resource for residents to know the places that are implementing these safety measures as intended, and taking every precaution to protect our community,
The process is simple and easy.
Simply fill out form the on the Mesa County Health Department website, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfP2bWxVUpitNhLsK_lAhBeDKkhCQQAoluDlSv91H3CsQBuzA/viewform
To get started. Health Department officials will follow up and visit your facility. If you have a minimum number of points needed you will receive the designation immediately. If you don’t, inspectors will provide advice on how to improve your health care practices and will revisit your facility at a future time. Chamber members who have completed the process have indicated that the practical advice provided during the visit by officials has been helpful.
Once the Five Star designation has been received businesses can expect to be revisited to ensure that best practices are still in place for customer and employee safety. With the rollback of Mesa County to Safer at Home there is an even more compelling reason to become certified noted Chamber CEO Diane Schwenke. “State recognition of the program is also rewarding Five Star businesses with additional freedoms that were allowed under our previous variance. This is a huge incentive for businesses to do the right thing and complete the designation process.”