Update on Local, State and Federal Actions - March 20 - Your Chamber - WINTER HAVEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Update on Local, State and Federal Actions - March 20 - Your Chamber

3/20/2020

So in my house we have watched Frozen 2 pretty much every day since it has come out. Life of a toddler Mom. There is a quote in that movie that has resonated with me this week. Olaf the snowman says in a moment of crisis, "We're calling this controlling what you can when things feel out of control." In this case, controlling is trying to provide each of you with as much information as I can (without overloading, I hope) to make us prepared for our future. It is becoming clearer each day that this will affect each of us in some way. At the Chamber we are not just thinking about how to help you today, but how to help you in the long term. Hopefully this information can help.

Business Assistance:
As we are reaching out to our members call-by-call, email-by-email this week, I wanted to re-share some information we are getting questions about:

There are currently two programs that I urge businesses being affected by this crisis to consider and determine eligibility. These are the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan COVID-19 and the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Assistance Program. You can also review this slide deck that summarizes these programs very well. If possible, begin to document losses suffered from this crisis. The Florida SBDC at University of South Florida is facilitating the application process for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, for all small businesses in the Tampa Bay region. You must apply by May 8. Click here for info on how to apply with the SBDC.

If you have to make the hard decision to layoff any staff, our local CareerSource Polk office can help them navigate available resources. See this blog post for details.

Local & State Update:

City Hall Annex located at 551 3rd St. NW will close to the public Monday, March 23 until further notice. Departments working out of the facility including Utility Customer Service and Human Resources will continue to operate and provide services to citizens. Read more here.

Polk County Public Schools released the instructional continuity plan to ensure student learning continues during closure

The United Way of Central Florida and The GiveWell Community Foundation have started a United Community Relief Fund to support local nonprofit organizations serving most vulnerable to the economic and health-related impacts triggered by a community crisis. Learn more here.

Winter Haven Hospital President Steve Nierman issued this statement to the community

Both WInter Haven Hospital and AdventHealth facilities have adjusted their visitation policies.

There is also an urgent need for blood donors. Please consider donating.

Governor DeSantis issued two new executive orders this afternoon:

Restaurants must now close their dining rooms. They can remain open for takeout, curbside pick-up or delivery. He also will allow restaurants to sell alcohol under certain conditions. Gyms and fitness facilities are ordered to be closed. We are thankful to the City of Winter Haven for quickly agreeing to the Chamber's and Main Street Winter Haven's request to designate parking spaces in our downtown for takeout/curbside pick-up. We are updating our restaurant resources page on our website to reflect these new changes but please be patient. If you are a restaurant with your own parking lot or in a strip center, please consider doing the same or get in touch with your landlord to do the same.

All health care organizations must cease elective surgeries that are medically unnecessary, non-urgent, non-emergency procedure or surgery that, if delayed, does not put the patient's immediate health at risk or cause worsening of a life-threaening condition. Read the full executive order here.
To read the entire update from Governor DeSantis today, click here.

Federal Updates:

The income tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15

The implementation of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed early in this week is going through implementation and execution discussions and I will keep you posted.

The Senate Republicans have come to an agreement on the "Phase 3 Individual Payment" bill but will be in negotiations with the Democrats over the weekend and hope to have a bill to pass the Senate on Monday. I outlined that bill in an email earlier in the week, but one important addition for small business is a proposal buy Senator Marco Rubio that would prevent workers from losing their jobs and small businesses from going under due to economic losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. It includes a provision that small businesses with less than 500 employees could apply for loans immediately available through an SBA-certified lender to help cover costs associated with monthly payroll; mortgage, rent, and utility payments and as long as the business maintained existing payroll during a specified time they could have the loan forgiven. Read a summary of the bill here.

I would also like to take a moment to thank your Chamber's Board of Directors and the rest of your Chamber team - Amanda Jo, Jennifer, Karen, Rachel and Shelley - for rallying to action this week to ensure we are anticipating your needs. They are truly rock stars working on your behalf every minute of every day.

All my best -
Katie Worthington Decker
Your Chamber President

0 Comments

Blog

Update on Local, State and Federal Actions - March 20 - Your Chamber

Leave a Reply.

Upcoming Events

Our Sponsors