IMPORTANT UPDATES
The situation continues to change on an almost daily basis. One of the most important things you can do is continue to educate yourself. Go to trusted websites and browse them while you are drinking coffee in the morning or while you are eating your lunch.
One of the things we continue to get calls about are the, “I heard from xyz.” If you hear something, follow-up and check to make sure it is accurate. Like I just said, things change quickly, but look it up on a trusted website. I’ve heard some wild stories during this crisis that were not even close to being true. Update yourself daily on what is going on!
STATE UPDATES FOR BUSINESS
Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order yesterday that implemented Essential Services and Activities Protocols for the entire State of Texas. These protocols direct Texans to “minimize non-essential gatherings and in-person contact” with others who are not in the same household. The order renews and amends his previous March 19
th
order enforcing federal social distancing guidelines.
The newest order included closing schools and instructing Texans to avoid eating or drinking at bars and restaurants. There are exceptions for essential activities and services. But the schools will remain temporarily closed to in-person classroom attendance through May 4
th
. To view a list of the Governor’s “Essential Services” as defined in the order, please
CLICK HERE
.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY UPDATES
Williamson County officially hit 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 yesterday. An article in the Austin American Statesman yesterday reported that Williamson County will likely not see its peak until “sometime between April 26 and May 15, according to the county’s epidemiologist.”
CITY OF CEDAR PARK UPDATES
The City of Cedar Park continues to update its website. There is a message to the Cedar Park business community from Mayor Corbin Van Arsdale we have in our newsletter this morning. Please be sure to take a moment to watch this message from our Mayor.
Of the county’s 50 confirmed cases, eight of them are in Cedar Park. They come from six separate households and are quarantining at home in accordance with the CDC Guidelines.
LEANDER ISD
At a Special Called Meeting of the Leander ISD School Board, the Board approved changes to remote working, grading policies and more as a response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. According to a press release from LISD, “learning will continue even as our buildings remain closed…”
The Board approved second-semester grades for the 2019-2020 school year to not be calculated for student’s GPA or class rank. The Board also granted Superintendent Dr. Bruce Gearing the “authority to readjust policy… to require all LISD staff to be available for work April 6, even though most employees will do so in a remote capacity.” For the complete press release, please
CLICK HERE
.
COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) EMERGENCY LOANS
The US Chamber of Commerce has published a Small Business Guide and Checklist. Inside this guide is helpful information on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses.
The guide goes through the questions you are asking yourself – Am I eligible? What will lenders be looking for? How much can I borrow? Will this loan be forgiven? What’s next? I encourage everybody who is even thinking about going through this process to read through this guide. To download the guide,
CLICK HERE
.
IN CLOSING
DON’T FORGET
to sign up for
Congressman Carter and Deputy District Director David Elizondo’s Small Business Teleconference
today at 3:20pm. To sign up, please
CLICK HERE
.
DON’T
FORGET we have scheduled another
VIRTUAL Power Networking Breakfast
for this Friday. For more information, please
CLICK HERE
.
Please don’t forget to take our 3-minute COVID-19 LOCAL Business Survey.
CLICK HERE
!
You can forward this newsletter to anybody you think would find value in this. They can sign up for the daily newsletter as well on our website. Please know we are here to help you. We are YOUR business advocate. Stay safe and let us know how we can help!
Tony Moline, IOM, PCED
President & CEO
Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce
