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March 24, 2020
We have heard from several of you that some DC Unemployment Insurance applications your employees are submitting are being denied because they are selecting that they are “not actively looking for jobs”. We have talked to the DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) about this and they have acknowledged there is a glitch that is being fixed. The form is currently being updated.
When employees file, they should be putting “COVID-19” as the reasoning. If denied, employees should file an appeal. We will have further information on how to do this shortly...
March 24, 2020
WASHINGTON – Monday, March 23, 2020, US Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza announced changes to help borrowers still paying back SBA loans from previous disasters. By making this change, deferments through December 31, 2020, are now automatic. The changes mean borrowers of home and business disaster loans do not have to contact SBA to request deferment.
“The SBA is looking at every option and taking every action to cut red tape to make it easier for small businesses to stay in business. Automatically deferring existing SBA disaster loans through...
March 24, 2020
The Alexandria/Arlington Emergency Layoff Aversion Assistance Program will award 11 grants to local small businesses who require financial assistance in order to retain their workforce during the COVID-19 emergency.
How the Program Works
Participating businesses or non-profit organizations with employees located in Alexandria City and Arlington County that has 250 or fewer employees.
Fill out and submit the Emergency Layoff Aversion Assistance Program application at https://workforcecouncil.arlingtonva.us/covid19/
Application requests shall not exceed $7,500. Smaller requests are...
March 23, 2020
ATTENTION DC RESIDENTS: You can now enroll in private health insurance even though open enrollment is over. As part of DC Health Link's response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, they are offering a special enrollment period to allow those who are uninsured to enroll in private health insurance now. You can also apply for Medicaid at any time.
ENROLL NOW
Find out more about how DC Health Link and our health insurance plans are making sure you can get the care you need for COVID-19.
March 23, 2020
Montgomery County Executive Elrich Supports Governor’s Executive Order to Prevent Further Spread of COVID-19; Pledges to Help Impacted Small Businesses and Residents
MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2020 - Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is announcing his full support of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s order closing all nonessential business, organizations and facilities in the state of Maryland to slow the spread of COVID-19. Elrich said this is the responsible action to take to ensure residents’ safety during this unprecedented pandemic.
“I want to be...
March 23, 2020
Dear Restaurant Community,
As we start off what will likely be another busy week, we want to provide you with helpful updates on the local and national level that will impact your operations, employees and customers.
The Senate and House are currently working on Phase 3 of the COVID-19 Congressional response. This will include relief for businesses, and we will send updates as we have more clarity on what will be included in the legislation. Our partners at the National Restaurant Association are aggressively advocating on our behalf to ensure the unique needs of...
March 23, 2020
Landover, MD – Keany Produce & Gourmet has donated over $100,000 worth of fresh produce during the COVID-19 lockdown. Since Friday, March 13, 2020 through Friday, March 20, 2020, Keany has donated fresh produce to various food banks, food halls, and charities to support their efforts of supplying community members with access to fresh food. Keany has deployed their own fleet of trucks to distribute these donations across the DC-metro region.
“While the effects of COVID-19 are certainly impacting our business, we want to do everything we can to support our surrounding...
March 23, 2020
c/o NBC Washington
All public schools in Virginia will remain closed through the academic year and all restaurants must end dine-in service, the governor announced Monday as officials try to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Restaurants can continue carryout, delivery and drive-thru service.
All recreational and entertainment businesses are closed. All non-essential stores are limited to having only 10 patrons at a time.
Theaters, gyms and bowling alleys must close, Gov. Ralph Northam said. Grocery stores and health services can remain open but must “adhere to social...
March 23, 2020
MARYLAND: An executive order has been enacted by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, which closes all non-essential businesses, organizations, and facilities in Maryland effective today (Monday, March 23, 2020) at 5:00pm. Restaurants providing take out and delivery are considered essential businesses.
This is NOT a shelter-in-place directive at this point.
RESOURCES
Maryland's Guidance on Essential/Nonessential Businesses (PDF)
Order of the Governor of the State of Maryland, Number 20-03-23-01, dated March 23, 2020, Amending and Restating the Order of March 19, 2020,...
March 22, 2020
Montgomery County Department of Transportation Updates Parking Restriction Status During the COVID-19 Health Crisis
Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will continue to enforce most parking rules and regulations during the COVID-19 health crisis, with some exceptions. Residents should follow normal legal practices when parking. Restricted area parking violations, disabled parking violations and safety-related violations will be strictly enforced to prioritize public safety.
One modification is parking meter enforcement that has been relaxed in areas where...
March 21, 2020
The grant application process will begin on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
March 21, 2020
Dear Restaurant Community,
I know you spent much of this week taking care of your businesses and employees. All of us at RAMW hope you also take a minute to take care of yourselves as you get through this weekend in this current state.
In our continued efforts to get relief for operators, we are joining a social media campaign early next week, created by our friends and warriors at the NYC Hospitality Alliance, called #RESTAURANTRESCUEPLAN.
We will document on social media the number of employees who work at restaurants, bars and clubs in the region that have...
March 21, 2020
Grants and loans for eligible small businesses to cover employee wages, operating expenses and loan repayment. This will be administered by the Mayor’s office who will also determine funding availability and guidelines. Click here for more information.
Sales tax relief: Returns may be filed up to 90 days late without penalty, provided taxes are paid by the end of the tax year, September 30, 2020.
Restaurants are granted the ability to provide wine, beer and spirits in closed containers with food deliveries and pickups. A minimum of one item of prepared food...
March 20, 2020
So far, Congress has received more than 170,000 calls and emails urging relief for restaurants ASAP! And, there's still time to take action!
If you have not taken action yet, we need your help to ensure relief for restaurants and our employees is properly addressed in the current legislative package!
CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION
Economic forecasts indicate restaurants and the foodservice industry could sustain $225 billion in losses and eliminate 5-7 million jobs over the next three months. By taking action, you can tell your personalized story about how this has negatively...
March 20, 2020
Dear RAMW Community,
As promised here is some end of day news as we head into the weekend.
As a reminder please visit https://www.ramw.org/blog for up to date information on all things COVID-19. We have recently posted a helpful FAQ section that answers the most frequently asked questions we have received and that will likely help you.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced this afternoon that restaurants will be closed for on-premise service until April 27th. She is advising people to stay indoors, but has NOT issued a shelter in place mandate. Take-out and delivery...
March 20, 2020
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association
Comprehensive guide, updated daily, houses all state ordinances in one place so operators can quickly understand how to comply with the rules and share resources.
As restaurants deal with a patchwork of mandates directing the way they operate during the coronavirus pandemic, the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe Compliance Team has created a COVID-19 Resources by State document to help operators navigate and comply with the directives and mandates coming in from across the country.
The Association is...
March 20, 2020
Friday, March 20, 2020 - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she has extended the District of Columbia Government’s modified operating status until April 27, including the adjusted DC Government operating posture and distance learning at the District’s public schools.
DC Government will operate under an agency-specific telework schedule, continuing to deliver essential services and keep critical systems and services operating. Some government operations will be performed fully remotely, while other services will continue to be performed at public buildings, but...
March 20, 2020
Starting Monday March 23rd, Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken will launch a new initiative: Comfort for the Crisis, delivering food each day to those on the front lines supporting the public during the COVID-19 crisis and others who have been most impacted. Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken’s food truck will take daily deliveries of food to area hospitals and Hook Hall Helps (an initiative to support furloughed restaurant and hospitality staff). For every $500 raised, Astro will donate an additional $100 of food. Every dollar counts, so please consider...
March 20, 2020
We know that everyone is anxiously awaiting guidelines and timelines on local relief and grants across the region. We want to share important updates on what we know NOW and what has been discussed in regard to potential timing of local relief efforts as we head into the weekend.
To start I want to remind everyone that you can apply for SBA loans today in DC, MD, and VA.
In DC, we were informed that guidelines on grant applications for local relief will likely be posted by the Mayor this evening.
The application process will start as early as...
March 20, 2020
See below for answers to frequently asked questions. If you don't see an answer to your question, email us at info@ramw.org.
How do I apply for SBA Relief?
Small businesses in DC, Maryland, and Virginia are now able to apply for relief through the Small Business Administration.
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible. SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up...
March 20, 2020
Updated – The US Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
Any such Economic Injury...
March 20, 2020
As you are aware, Sales & Use Tax payments are due on March 20th. Under § 58.1-617 the Tax Commissioner may for good cause grant a business an extension for up to thirty days. For this period, no interest or penalty would be charged, assessed or collected by reason of the granting of any such extension. In the event the Commissioner grants an extension beyond thirty days, there may be interest on the tax.
If you are interested in taking this route, you are able to request an extension by using the Virginia Online Services site here.
March 19, 2020
As much as we have been sending information around about what is happening locally across the region, it is critically important to be aware of what is happening on the national level, as a majority of funding for relief and stimulus will come at the federal level. The action taken on the Hill impacts us locally, so we must be engaged.
We have two important Congressional updates, and one involves you taking action TODAY.
First, we need you to ACT NOW to ensure Congress provides adequate relief to the restaurant and small business industry! This is the "Call to...
March 19, 2020
The DC Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board adopted an emergency rulemaking prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption starting Thursday, March 19th at 4pm. You cannot serve alcoholic beverages to people while they wait for their food order. This is in effect through the duration of either or both the Mayor’s Public Emergency and Public Health Emergency.
Please note for delivery and takeout of alcoholic beverages: they must be provided in sealed container and a beer with a lime in the top does not count as a seal. Establishments...
March 18, 2020
A helpful guide for suspending/closing your restaurant under challenging and difficult circumstances
Let staff take any food that cannot be frozen/saved.
Remove all trash from the building/Cancel Dumpster Pickups.
Take pourers off and tightly wrap open bottle tops of liquor in saran.
Leave all exhaust fans running - In the unlikely event of a gas leak or pilot goes out during the closing, the fans will help to exhaust any hazardous gas from the building.
Turn off any autopayment processes.
Cancel any scheduled deliveries. Examples would include:
Broadline Distributer...
