Business Update for those Facing the Impact of COVID-19
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
The City of Miami Beach is committed to working with our community businesses and stakeholders to keep everyone informed as this situation continues to unfold. Please find below the latest information on mandates/guidelines as well as businesses resources.

LATEST UPDATES

As Florida continues to experience rising numbers of coronavirus cases, the City of Miami Beach — together with Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami — is mandating a closure of non-essential businesses on March 18, 2020 until further notice.  Click here to read the revised Declaration of Emergency Measures effective March 18, 2020.

A brief summary of the city’s measures include:

Effective Wednesday, March 18, 2020 the following businesses shall be closed to the public until further notice:

  • All movie theaters, bowling alleys, arcades and live performance venues.
  • All gymnasiums and fitness centers, EXCEPT for gymnasiums or fitness centers which are located within hotels or residential multi-family buildings.
  • All restaurants, bars, nightclubs, dance halls, halls for hire (including restaurants, bars, nightclubs, banquet halls, ballrooms, or similar establishments operating within hotels), private clubs and similar businesses shall be required to CLOSE for on-premises service of customers until further notice. However, such establishments may operate their kitchens for the purpose of providing delivery, drive-through, pick-up or take-out services only, from 5 a.m. until midnight each day.

Please note that the Governor of the State of Florida issued an Executive Order today, setting state-wide minimum standards with respect to the operation of bars, nightclubs and restaurants, effective at 5 p.m. today. A link to the Governor’s Executive Order is included here . Notwithstanding the Governor’s Order, City’s establishments must also fully comply with the measures issued by the City of Miami Beach, commencing at 12:01 a.m on March 18, 2020. 

  • All other businesses citywide must close at 10 p.m. daily and may reopen at 5 a.m. the following day.
  • However, the following businesses are excluded from this mandate: pharmacies, grocery stores, convenience stores, private offices, banks, hotels, hospitals, medical service providers, medical supply stores, hardware stores, gasoline service stations and automotive supply/repair centers.
  • Any gathering of 10 or more people on any portion of the beach citywide is prohibited and will be dispersed. This measure is consistent with the direction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • A 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. curfew shall be in effect in the city’s entertainment district each day. Please note this does not include business employees going to or from work.
  • Lummus park, all city parks and recreation buildings and indoor facilities, and the beaches between 5 and 15 streets are closed.
  • City owned parking garages and surface lots citywide will only be open to residents with proof of residency and access card holders.

Any violation of the aforementioned emergency measures would subject the individual or business entity to criminal penalties.

RESOURCES

Emergency Business Damage Assessment Survey
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the activation of the Business Damage Assessment Survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s local business operations. The survey, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will evaluate businesses affected by COVID-19 and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy so actions to implement appropriate relief programs can begin.

The Business Damage Assessment Survey can be taken online here . Results from this survey will be shared with state agencies and local partners. Completing this survey could help unlock State and Federal funding. For inquiries or assistance with the survey, businesses can contact Emergency Support Function 18 at ESF18@em.myflorida.com .

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Guidance
The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans here .

State of Florida Emergency Bridge Loan Program
The State of Florida Emergency Bridge Loan Program has been activated. The application period begins today, March 17 and will run through May 8, 2020. The program will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury from COVID-19. Qualified applicants must be a for-profit, privately held small business that maintains a place of business in the state of Florida, must be established prior to March 9, 2020 and must employ 2 to 100 employees.

This loan program will provide up to $50,000 per eligible small business. Loans of up to $100,000 may be made in special cases as warranted by the need of the eligible small business. Complete details on this program and how to apply are available here .

Resilience in a Box
To give businesses a better chance at survival post-disaster, the U.S. Chamber Foundation offers a free toolkit called Resilience in a Box, in partnership with The UPS Foundation. This collection of resources educates business leaders on disaster preparedness and helps put them on a path to resilience. Read more on the Good360 blog .

Mom and Pop Small Business Grants
For more information on small business grant opportunities available through County Commissioner Eileen Higgins or Commissioner Sally Heyman's offices, click here .

BUSINESS PREPAREDNESS TOOLS

WEBINAR: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Information & Resources
Scheduled: Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

The Florida SBDC at FIU, in association with Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center, are hosting a webinar to provide key information and resources that small business owners need to know to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes Federal/State resources, best practices to continue operations and generate revenue, and information to protect customers, employees and yourself from the virus. For more information, click here .
 
WEBINAR: SBA South Florida Economic Injury Disaster Loan
Scheduled: Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then again, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The South Florida District of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development will host two webinars to help small businesses navigate the economic recovery process from the effects of COVID-19. Both webinars will cover how to apply, where to get help applying for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and answer questions. For more information, click here .

Business Pandemic Planning Checklist
To assist with the potential financial impact on your business, please visit the following link for information to help maintain the continuity of your operations:  Business Pandemic Planning Checklist.
 
Short Time Compensation Program (Florida Department of Economic Opportunity)
The Short Time Compensation Program is a voluntary employer program designed to help employers maintain their staff by reducing the weekly working hours during temporary slowdowns instead of temporarily laying off employees. If an employer establishes a Short Time Compensation Plan and an employee meets the qualifications to file a re-employment assistance claim in the state of Florida, the employee will receive a partial re-employment check to supplement their reduced paycheck.

EMPLOYEES & EMPLOYERS: For more information on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Short Time Compensation Program please click here . 

EMPLOYERS: To apply for the Short Time Compensation Program (required for employees to submit a re-employment claim), please click here .

It is important to keep your business and employees safe and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We encourage you to monitor the city’s page on coronavirus for the latest information, as the situation is rapidly changing
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