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April 4, 2020
On Premises Workplace Infection Control Practices Impacting Employees
1. May Restaurants require employees to provide notes from healthcare providers confirming they can return to work?
A: Generally, even If employers do not require disclosure of medical information, they can require notes confirming employees can return to work without violating the ADA because the request would not be disability related. As a practical matter, however, public health authorities have warned that doctors and other health care professionals may be too busy during and immediately after a pandemic outbreak to...
April 3, 2020
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is evaluating mechanisms of support for local small businesses. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority is asking for businesses affected by coronavirus to fill out this short survey. They hope to use this information to understand the challenges facing the business community and what resources are needed.
Fairfax County has also set up a website dedicated to businesses - it has been recently updated with new loan and grant information and with a guide to the federal CARES Act.
April 3, 2020
We made it through another week together. During these uncertain times please take a moment to appreciate the wins you made happen this week, no matter how big or small, it is all significant.
As we head into the weekend, we want to share some important updates that will help set you up for a productive and informed weekend and week.
Payroll Protection Program (PPP) Update
The Treasury released an Interim Final Rule about PPP. This guidance is meant to be effective without advance notice and public comment, and it is being issued to allow for immediate...
April 3, 2020
Mayor Bowser held a press conference this morning reiterating that everyone has a role to play in flattening the curve and commended the people working in essential roles who support the well being of DC and our region. This includes our incredible restaurant and foodservice industry.
The DC Council is introducing additional Emergency Legislation during Tuesday’s session. We are working with the Council to ensure shortfalls from the initial legislation are addressed and that our industry’s needs are adequately supported. The Mayor did note that the overall relief that is...
April 3, 2020
Montgomery County, MD:
We previously shared that the Montgomery County Council recently created a $20M Public Health Emergency Grant Program, which enables the County Executive to provide grant funding to small businesses with 100 or less employees and nonprofits. We are still awaiting information on when applications will be made available. Montgomery County recommends emailing peter.fosselman@montgomerycountymd.gov with the subject line PHEG to be added to their mailing list to be notified real time when the application is open.
Prince George’s County,...
April 3, 2020
To help navigate the challenges of COVID-19 the James Beard Foundation has been hosting industry support webinars to help provide resources for the hospitality community and to better stay connected throughout difficult times by sharing advice on a range of topics from business and unemployment insurance to marketing in the time of COVID-19 to mental health resources.
You can find recordings of last week’s webinars here.
Next week’s topics and speakers include:
Monday, April 6: Retail Leases and Tenant Rights
Cindy McLoughlin (JBF Trustee) and Richard...
April 3, 2020
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association
Association adds ServSuccess courses to its free offerings to support restaurant employees and help them return to the industry with advanced skills.
Homebound restaurant employees have the opportunity to use this time to upskill – for free – thanks to the National Restaurant Association ServSafe and ServSuccess programs as well as American Hotel & Lodging Foundation.
The ServSuccess online learning suites provide training on the skills and knowledge the industry identifies as essential...
April 3, 2020
Original content c/o: Streetsense
Place-based organizations focused on economic development such as Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have long played an integral role in enhancing delivery of public services and providing other innovative, market-informed tools and services to local businesses within their defined service area boundaries. Now more than ever these organizations are engaged in problem-solving and tackling unprecedented business environment challenges, alongside municipalities and private sector collaborators across the country.
BIDs are also thinking outside the box for...
April 3, 2020
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association
Your access to coronavirus relief will require documentation, the key to any successful business continuity/financial recovery plan.
Keeping records is probably the last thing you’re thinking about while you try to figure out ways to keep your doors — or at least your drive-thru window — open during the coronavirus crisis. But documents and records may be the things that help you most in securing loans and grant money to tide you over until the crisis passes.
Now is the time to gather documents and start tracking...
April 2, 2020
In this morning’s message, we mentioned creating an anchoring message as we enter into the Congressional Phase IV of relief. If you have not done so already, please email coronavirus@ramw.org to provide feedback as to what you think should be included in the Phase IV relief outside of what we already know. For more information on what we are already working on, click here.
We have received a few requests from our restaurant community for access to masks and gloves. At this time local health authorities are not requiring full time use of masks and gloves, however we do...
April 2, 2020
Washington, DC – Clyde’s Restaurant Group and Founding Farmers announce today the launch of Food it Forward VA, an initiative to support the hard-hit restaurant industry and provide quality food to vulnerable populations, first responders, and frontline health care workers in Northern Virginia.
Through Food It Forward VA, the public can purchase delivery meals packaged by local restaurants. Meals will be distributed to Northern Virginia frontline health care workers, first responders, and to those in need by community partners like LINK Against Hunger, Cornerstones, and the Embry...
April 2, 2020
Processing for both ServSafe Food Safety Manager and Alcohol Manager print exams has been halted as of March 20 due to the Illinois Shelter-in-Place order (ServSafe’s headquarters state). The Shelter-in-Place order is in effect until April 3 and if lifted, ServSafe will be able to resume grading print exams on April 6. In-person classes at RAMW will resume to our posted schedule at the time the DC Stay-at-Home Order is lifted.
To help keep you and your employees safe, ServSafe is offering the online Food Handler, COVID-19 Takeout and COVID-19 Delivery courses, for free at...
April 2, 2020
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association
As Covid-19 rages on, telemedicine is a viable treatment option, while access to discounted prescriptions is always a great benefit.
The National Restaurant Association is offering two programs to help members and their employees stay healthy and safe.
Through its new partner, Healthiest You, the Association is making a telemedicine option available to its members. The service is $7/month per employee. There are no co-pays, and all family members can use the service.
The National Restaurant Association is offering members access to...
April 2, 2020
Washington, DC – Clyde’s Restaurant Group and Founding Farmers announce today the launch of Food it Forward MD, an initiative to support the hard-hit restaurant industry and provide quality food to vulnerable populations, first responders, and frontline health care workers in Montgomery & Howard counties.
Through Food It Forward MD, the public can purchase delivery meals packaged by local restaurants. Meals will be distributed to Maryland frontline health care workers, first responders, and to those in need by community partners like Bethesda Cares,...
April 2, 2020
To provide financial relief to customers impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19), the ABC Board has determined to extend select payment deadlines and expirations including the following:
Annual License Payments | Extended from March 31, 2020 to June 1, 2020.
Alcohol License Expirations | Any alcohol licenses, including ABC Manager Licenses that expire March 16 - May 31, 2020 are now valid through June 1, 2020.
Fines | Any fines due between March 16 - May 31, 2020 are now due June 1, 2020
Q1 Statements | Extended from April 30, 2020 to June 1, 2020.
April 2, 2020
Yesterday, the Montgomery County Council passed legislation that provides $20 million in grants for businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Small businesses with 100 employees or fewer will now be able to apply to earn checks of up to $75,000 from the county’s new “Public Health Emergency Grant Program.” An amendment is being introduced to reserve a quarter of the funding pool for restaurants and retailers. Grant funding must be used for employee wages and benefits, taxes, debt, rent or other operating losses during the public health emergency. We will share...
April 2, 2020
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors is looking at establishing a Continuity Loan Fund which would aid small businesses facing economic injury and that are at-risk of closing. While this idea is still taking shape, it could provide capital to existing, viable small businesses and serve as a secondary loan to a SBA loan, or other lines of credit. The goal is to assist small businesses with fewer than fifty employees. This will likely be brought before the Board at the April 14th Board Meeting. We will keep you updated as this develops.
April 2, 2020
Currently the PPP loan is for an 8-week period sometime between Feb 15 and June 30. This means the latest the loan origination date can be is May 5th, which makes the loan period May 5th-June 30th. It is important to note that the loan application date and origination date do not have to be the same, and you are able to apply starting April 3rd with an origination date as late as May 5th.
Understanding that there is a very clear end date to this loan, we are looking at opportunities for relief in Phase 4 of Congressional legislation that either extends PPP or provides support in meaningful...
April 2, 2020
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association
Here’s what you need to do to take advantage of loans available through the coronavirus relief bill.
The coronavirus relief package known as the CARES Act signed into law March 27 by President Trump will make low-cost loans available to you to help get you through the economic hardship caused by the pandemic.
Check with your accountant or tax advisor to see which of the loan programs provides greater benefits and lower risks to your business.
The two loan programs are Small Business Administration’s existing Economic...
April 2, 2020
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association
As Covid-19 rages on, telemedicine is a viable treatment option, while access to discounted prescriptions is always a great benefit.
The National Restaurant Association is offering two programs to help members and their employees stay healthy and safe.
Through its new partner, Healthiest You, the Association is making a telemedicine option available to its members. The service is $7/month per employee. There are no co-pays, and all family members can use the service.
Those interested in participating in the telemedicine option can...
April 2, 2020
Today we need your input as we continue our local and national advocacy efforts for relief for our industry. We know the relief outlined in the CARES Act does not go far enough to support restaurants, and that implementation is flawed when applied to our unique industry. It is important to note that while drafting Phase III (CARES Act), Congress always knew there would be a Phase IV of relief, so some relief measures and issues were punted to Phase IV. They also neglected to consider how long a business may be disrupted to reflect timelines and look backs that are relevant as it...
April 1, 2020
As we come to the end of the day, we want to share updates from around the region in the form of relief and clarity. But first, we want to acknowledge that we are fully aware that there are some serious flaws in the relief programs outlined by the CARES Act. We are working daily with state partners around the country and our national partners to collect those concerns and create a coordinated ask as we go into phase IV of relief. Our intention is to ensure issues are addressed, corrected and reflected as this package is being refined. In the meantime, we want to offer...
April 1, 2020
Original content c/o: Streetsense
During a time when the majority of the globe’s citizens are staying home, destination marketers find themselves wondering how to forge on with their day-to-day operations sans visitors. Despite near-empty hotels and airports, never have we collectively experienced a greater need for destination marketers to seize their natural leadership potential and gather their community to come together for the benefit of the common good. In the wake of these unprecedented times, we’re sharing three crucial best practices for all destination marketers.
Don...
April 1, 2020
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association
If you need to close down operations until the coronavirus runs its course, do it safely so you’re ready to open for business when that happy day arrives.
As of April 1, some 270 million people — three fourths of the entire U.S. population — are living their lives under some form of COVID-19 stay-at-home order. That means, among other things, that dining in restaurants has been put on hold.
With millions of people living under some kind of COVID-19 stay-at-home order now, many restaurants are facing the...
March 31, 2020
Dear Operator,
As we close out another busy day, we want to address some questions we have received from all of you and share helpful new guidance on the Federal relief front.
Applying for loans through SBA
We have received NEW GUIDANCE today from the Small Business Administration that you ARE able to apply for both a PPP loan and an EIDL, however they cannot be used for the same purpose. For example, you cannot use an EIDL loan to cover payroll during the same time period your PPP loan covers payroll. The different loan applications should identify...
