You are here

all and Virginia

We have a few updates, reminders and invitations to share with all of you as we head into a new week. First and foremost, we want to remind you of a few resources to lean on as we know this has been a time of significant stress for you and your employees. Feelings of distress and anxiety can take an emotional toll as you are forced to make incredibly difficult decisions each and every day. The CDC stresses the importance of taking care of YOURSELF during this time and following the suggested guidelines below of things you can do to support yourself. Taking care of yourself, your...
Free groceries to be distributed to dedicated staff of Leesburg and Loudoun County area restaurants who are in need during COVID-19 pandemic Leesburg, VA - The Tuskie's Restaurant Group and Sysco Corporation have stepped up to the plate to jointly form the Tuskie's Food Hub to give free groceries to dedicated staff of Leesburg and surrounding Loudoun County restaurants who are in need of personal food supplies during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.    Distribution of food to local area restaurant staff will be conducted through the Tuskie's Food Hub, by...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Original content c/o: Streetsense Both independent restaurants and large corporate chains are facing their own unique challenges in order to emerge from COVID-19 in a strong position. A lot of that depends upon the owners’ future access to capital, as well as the flexibility of their vendors, landlords, and equipment leasing firms. At this point, with so much out of our control, here are a few points that we do have the ability to control: Access to Capital – Create a Plan on How You Will Come Back Financially How much capital will you need, and where will it come from? Think...
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association Starting Thursday, April 2, restaurant employees can apply to receive a check for $500 from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has launched the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to support U.S. restaurant employees financially impacted by the coronavirus crisis. Beginning April 2, restaurant employees can apply online to receive a one-time, $500 check to use toward bills, including housing, transportation,...
Yesterday was a day of announcements, and while in practice it doesn’t actually change much from the previous guidance, it can be a lot to wrap your head around. As always we want to make sure we are providing you with new and helpful information to assist in your business operations, but also to outline opportunities for relief and how to navigate federal support.   Essential Letters for Restaurant Workers As a reminder, across the region restaurants offering takeout and delivery are deemed essential as they act as important sources of food. Click here for letters you can share...
Dear Operator,    As you likely know already, there were several announcements made today by leaders within the region. The impact to restaurant operations is very minimal, but we want to help clarify and give you tools to support your operations and employees.    We also want to address real-time questions that we are hearing from you, Operators, region-wide.   Real-Time Questions From the Day: Hiring Employees Back - Earlier today we sent an email about a mechanism for operators to receive some funding via the RAMW Worker Relief Fund to be able to hire back...

Pages