Federal PPP Funding Increase 4/22

Dear Operator, 

Congress has reached a deal for what we have been referring to as Phase 3.5 of federal relief. The Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that provides a $484 billion relief package that includes $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), $60 billion will be set aside for smaller lending facilities, including "community financial institutions, small insured depository institutions and credit unions with assets less than $10 billion." There will also be $10 billion for grants under the Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, $50 billion for disaster recovery loans and $2.1 billion for additional salaries and expenses for the Small Business Administration.

The House is expected to vote on Thursday. This was a bipartisan effort, so the President will likely sign this into law quickly. We will notify you when we have more information about how this will impact the application process for those who were not granted the loan during the first round. At this time, it is likely the process will be up to the individual banks 

The additional funding to PPP is just a starting point, as we will continue to push Congress to fix the program to ensure it works for restaurants in our Phase IV campaign.  Congress will be back in session May 2nd, which is when they will begin consideration of Phase IV.  If you haven’t, TAKE ONE MINUTE TO EMAIL CONGRESS, do so now by clicking here to make your voice heard. 

Recognizing many of you were left behind during the first round, many lenders have the online application up and ready to go for the next round of funding.  Please be in touch with your lenders to best position you to secure PPP funding.  Be prepared and make your calls today.  

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Restaurants

We’ve heard from many of you who are seeking suppliers for PPE items such as masks and gloves, as well as cleaning supplies like disinfectant and hand sanitizer.  In response, we collected information from local purveyors in our community to provide you with information and contacts to assist you in purchasing these items. 

Acme Paper and Supply Co.:

Face Masks: Stocking face masks now and with inventory that should, depending on demand, carry through the first week of May. They are working with manufacturers to get case size and price down as the weeks move forward. They encourage restaurants within close proximity to consider splitting a case, if possible, to lower cost.  RAMW can assist in this coordination.  Acme cannot break cases for face masks as they are medically sealed products (cases of approx. 2,000 but will vary week-to-week). 

Gloves, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer are in stock. Click here for details on supplies. 

Contact: info@acmepaper.com

TriMark Adams-Burch:

Face Masks: 3-ply face masks are in stock in packs of 10/cs. and 50/cs., and splitting cases is not possible. Customers can pre-pay for advanced orders and TriMark will set stock aside.  Gloves and a wide variety of RTU and concentrates are in stock in terms of disinfectant and sanitizers. Customers do not need a pre-existing account. New customers can order and pre-pay via credit card. Contact: Monet Footman, 301-276-2000

Saval Foodservice: 

Face masks: They have them on order and expect to have stock around 4/30 and we will share details then. Gloves, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer available and in stock. New accounts need to fill out a quick application to be able to order. Contact: Michael Koslofsky. Regional Manager, Mobile: 202-420-1240

The Ministry Coffee + Wine

Face masks: 3-ply face masks are in stock. They come in sealed bags of 10. Priced at face-value of $15 per set of 10. Contact: Elisa Bennaton, elisa@theministrydc.com

FoodPRO

Gloves, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer are in stock. New accounts fill out a quick application. Contact: Tom Enright, tenright@foodprocorp.com or 301-270-2593.

The Grill/Knead HD:

Fellow restaurateurs at Knead HD have supplies available through The Grill, located at The Wharf, and also for delivery. Face masks: Available for online order as 5/pack for $4.99. Gloves are for sale in boxes of 100 and they have sanitizing spray, hand sanitizer and other products also available. Click here for details. 

Additionally, some restaurants are working with companies offering Coronavirus deep cleaning and disinfecting services. Local pest control company PMSI has a food-grade, EPA approved fogging system that is labeled for schools, hospitals, day cares, residential homes, food handling areas, processing plants, and commercial offices.  Click here to learn more. 

Nelbud offers Coronavirus Disinfection service including surface deep-cleaning, fogging, and hot-water pressure washing. Click here for more information.

On-Demand Webinar: COVID-19: Impact on the Hospitality and Retail Industry

Our partners at USI Insurance Services shared a free on-demand webinar which provides critical and timely insight including actions that can be taken today to minimize the impact of the pandemic on an organization and their employees. 

This 30-minute on demand webinar covers important information including:

• Issues created by COVID-19 that could affect the hospitality, retail or related business
• Solutions to help manage these issues
• CARES Act and what it means for a business and their employees
• Insurance market update and impact on your business
• Managing the renewal strategy
• USI client resources 

Click here to watch this webinar on demand.

In closing, as we mentioned on Monday, we are working on a blueprint for guidelines and protocol for the reopening of businesses in this region, which we will share with all of you as we include your input in what we are providing to regional leaders.  DC, MD, and VA health officials are working on a coordinated effort to ensure that our region is taking next steps based on a protocol that considers several gradual phases of reopening guidelines. Health officials will lead this plan, but regional leaders are looking to the business community to give input on impact.  If you have not done so already,  please take this important survey which is critical to our next steps as an industry. We will share more of how this phased reopening will impact you and our industry as we approach these guidelines. 

Be safe and be kind. 

Kathy