In This Issue
- Masks Required in the D.C. Area as Region Begins to Re-Open
- Va., Md. Motor Vehicle Offices Expanding In-Person Operations
- Md. MVA Hosting Customer Connect Training Sessions Next Week
- Financial Support Available for Small Businesses in Ffx., Anne Arundel
- Important Resources on PPP Extension, Paid Leave Tax Credits
- In Memoriam: Bes Zourdos
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All re-opened businesses will be subject to capacity limits as outlined in the state’s
phase two guidelines
; most will be limited to 50 percent of their lowest published capacity, while certain services like fitness centers will be able to re-open at 30 percent capacity. Telework will continue to be recommended where at all possible. Much of the commonwealth, outside of Northern Virginia and Richmond, entered stage two last week.
The phase two rules do not mark a major shift for auto retailers in Northern Virginia, which were already allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity, while encouraging social distancing through visible signage and floor spacing. Please review the
phase two guidelines for brick and mortar retailers
, beginning on page 17, for the requirements under phase two. Masks remain mandatory, and these rules remain enforceable by the Virginia Department of Health, which has the power to shutter non-compliant businesses.
Under phase two, auto repair facilities, which are defined as "essential services," will be asked follow the state's phase two recommendations, but only as
best practices
, with less exposure to state enforcement (outside of the mask requirement). That said, we strongly recommend that
all
our Virginia members do everything they can to adhere to all safety guidelines as if they were mandated, particularly in retailers like auto dealerships that offer both essential and non-essential services.
In Maryland, every county except Montgomery and Prince George’s, plus Baltimore city, have entered the state’s version of “stage two” under the
Roadmap to Recovery
plan.
Maryland’s “phase two” executive order
is more stringent than Virginia’s version, as some services like indoor dining and fitness center use remain closed, but it does allow for many indoor retailers to operate at 50 percent of their normal patron capacity, while adhering to social distancing best-practices published
by the state
.
Read More
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The Virginia DMV, and the Maryland MVA, have now opened several service centers across the region for in-person services on an appointment-only basis.
The Maryland MVA
resumed in-person services
on Monday at 17 branches in 15 counties, plus Baltimore City. The MVA is also accepting in-person drop-offs of tag and title processing work at
all
branches throughout the state
, including those that remain closed to the public. Tag and title personnel can drop off work between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please read the MVA Bulletin regarding tag and title processing
at this link
.
Some of the branches that are re-opened to the public include those in Gaithersburg, White Oak, Largo, Columbia, Glen Burnie, Waldorf, and Loveville. To register for an appointment,
please click here
. VEIP stations remain closed, but customers can continue using any of the seven self-serve inspection stations
located around the state
.
The Virginia DMV, which had opened a handful of Northern Virginia branches on May 29, has now officially resumed in-person operations at 24 centers, including locations in Arlington, Franconia, Tysons Corner, Leesburg, and Manassas. Please
click here
for a full list of open branches; you may register for a required appointment
at this link
. Many Virginia DMV services can be conducted online, and we encourage you to continue taking advantage of the
online services portal whenever
possible.
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Please note that the same subject matter will be covered on both days, so it's only necessary to register for one date or the other. The state is also offering a shorter training session for
driving school managers
on June 15.
The Customer Connect platform will modernize and streamline the state government's customer-facing IT systems. We encourage you to have your tag and title agents, and anyone else who might use the system when it launches on July 6, register for either of the available training sessions. According to the MVA, the session will walk tag and title agents through the new system, and cover the ways that it differs from the current procedure.
The original sessions had been scheduled for early April, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact Katie Kuehn at the Maryland Department of Transportation (
kkuehn@mdot.maryland.gov
) with any questions related to the training session or the rollout of the platform.
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Two more counties in our region have begun accepting applications for grant funds, targeted towards small businesses making their way through the COVID-19 crisis.
Anne Arundel County is also offering up to $10,000 in grant funding for county-based small businesses that need to buy personal protective equipment for employees.
Please click here
to learn more about the process, and for more information on qualifying expenses. You can apply for the program
at this link
.
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We anticipate that the Treasury Department will, at some point, update their
FAQ page on the program
. You can view a full list of relevant PPP documents and guidance on the SBA's website
at this link
. Please note that June 30 remains the deadline for applying for a PPP loan. As of May 30, more than
$510 billion in SBA 7(a) Loans
had been approved through the program, but tens of billions of dollars remain available.
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WANADA is sad to report the passing of Bes Zourdos, the widow of longtime WANADA member dealer Peter Zourdos. Ms. Zourdos passed away this past weekend at the age of 96.
According to an obituary published in
The Washington Post
earlier this week, Ms. Zourdos was a talented violinist, who often performed with her late brother George, who was an accomplished piano player. She also previously served as the president of the local chapter of the Daughters of Penelope, a philanthropic group focused on the well-being of women and children, with more than 400 chapters across North America, Europe, and Australia.
The family has not published any information regarding a memorial service at this time. However, those wishing to donate in Ms. Zourdos’ honor can give a contribution to St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Bethesda,
by visiting this link
. You may also sign the family guestbook on the
Pumphrey Funeral Home
website.
On behalf of Ms. Zourdos’ children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and all those who knew her, WANADA extends its condolences.
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