Dear Wisconsin Lumber Dealers & Suppliers:
As you have likely heard this morning, Governor Tony Evers is preparing to issue an Executive Order requiring all non-essential businesses to close effective Tuesday, March 24, 2020. The Order will be known as "Safer at Home".
NLA has been in close contact with its various partners around the state including the Wisconsin Builders Association and others in an effort to fight for LBM dealers & suppliers (and their contractors) to be considered "essential businesses".
As of 12:00pm today, an official order has not been released and therefore official details are not yet available.
As soon as the order is released, NLA and will communicate with members as quickly as possible to help disseminate the order and what it means for your business.
All indications are that the order will be released later this evening or tomorrow morning and once released will give official guidance as to who is/is not "essential". Additionally, NLA, the National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association and our partner organizations throughout the industry are working diligently to encourage the Governor to follow suit with the orders issued by other states such as Ohio and California which follow the guidelines set forth by the Federal Government and the Department of Homeland Security. These states have included language in their order(s) to include LBM dealers, suppliers and contractors as "essential businesses" thus giving the owner the choice to close or remain open.
You will note on page 6 of the DHS Guidance - under Food & Agriculture - that "workers who support the manufacture and distribution of forest products, including, but not limited to timber, paper, and other wood products" are deemed "essential" by the Department of Homeland Security & the Federal Government.
Stay Tuned to NLA's email correspondence and our COVID-19
Resource Page on our website for further news and information.
Stay Safe!
