It’s been a week like no other, and we're here to look out for Minnesota’s restaurants, lodging and resort and campground businesses and their workers. We’ll continue to track the issues through the weekend. Remember to check all our media channels on alerts for new posts: bookmark our
webpage
, watch your email inbox, connect and like
Hospitality Minnesota Facebook page
and follow our
Twitter
.
Here’s are highlights of what we learned:
- No shelter-in-place order yet, though it is not out of question in the coming days or weeks.
- No final list available yet of what businesses will be designated as “essential” should a “shelter-in-place” order come.
- 36,000 applications for Unemployment Insurance were filed by hospitality workers this week.
CEO Liz Rammer pens OpEd for Star Tribune
“Minnesota’s hospitality industry faces a crisis of a kind it has never seen before. The economic impact of COVID-19 and temporary closures is an existential threat to many small and medium-sized hospitality businesses.”
[Read more]
Federal Income Tax filing deadline moved to July 15
The Department of Treasury has moved the filing deadline for federal income tax from April 15 to July 15.
[Read more]
MNSure to Open Special Enrollment Period
Minnesota Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) Renewal Extension
Effective March 17, “Certified Food Protection Managers with State of Minnesota certificates expiring between March 17, 2020 and April 30, 2020, will be granted a six-month grace period to complete their four (4) contact hours of approved continuing education. Renewal applications remain due within six months of the expiration date of the state certificate.”
[Read more]
Liquor Questions
Alcohol To-Go
We’ve reached out to the Governor and Legislative leaders, including the House and Senate Commerce Committee chairs, to inquire about allowing restaurants and bars to temporarily sell to-go alcohol. Other states are allowing it, and momentum is growing here as thousands of people have signed a
petition
in support. On Friday, Governor Walz indicated he’s considering it, but has not acted.
Currently, the
Department of Public Safety
’s website states: “As a reminder, establishments must have an off-sale license to sell alcohol that is allowed off the premises.”
Returning Liquor Inventory
The
Department
has, however, relaxed rules around allowing businesses to return inventory.
“COVID-19 & Liquor Return Policy for Establishments
The evolving response to COVID-19 has created unusual circumstances in the liquor industry. The cancelation of many events and required bar closings have created a commercial reason to allow wholesale distributors to pick up on-sale retail alcoholic beverage product, issue the on-sale accounts a credit, and resell the product to off-premise (off-sale) accounts, which are still allowed to operate their businesses. Please consider this approval to cover all needed product returns from affected businesses until the restrictions placed upon them is removed.”
Beware of Liquor Thieves
One Minneapolis bar owner reported a break-in and liquor theft. Take precautions so that your business is not the target for such a crime.
Food Donations
This week we’ve seen restaurants donating their food – to their employees, to their community and to organized efforts to feed those made more vulnerable by the Coronavirus. Refer to the Minnesota Department of Health’s
Food Donation Guide
for more information.
Second Harvest Heartland
has an organized effort. If you have food to donate, go to
www.mealconnect.org
and quickly set up an account. It should take less than 5 minutes. From there you can enter in whatever food is available to donate, and Second Harvest will coordinate pickup.
Business Interruption Insurance Advice
We’ve been getting questions about whether businesses can expect this event to be covered by business interruption insurance. Every business policy is different, and you should contact your broker to clarify the terms of your policy. If you are covered, file a BI claim to get it on record in case there is Federal Government assistance down line. Be sure to keep receipts and log what you would have paid employees, and other pertinent records. More to come.
Small Businesses Meet on Teleconference with President Trump
The National Restaurant Association and its affiliates were part of a small business teleconference today with President Trump to discuss COVID-19 relief efforts. We will post the recording of the call when we receive the link.
Add Your Restaurants to Consumer Maps
Support Local
– list your business if you’re selling gift cards now for use later
Sources of Support for Workers
Energy Assistance Program
– EPA helps pay heating costs for income-qualified households. Note: Heat cannot be cut off between October 15 and April 15. If you receive a disconnection notice, contact the utility immediately to negotiate a revised payment plan
TAKE ACTION ON RELIEF EFFORTS
Tell your elected officials that this industry supports 300,000 jobs in Minnesota and we need this help to survive and ensure that we can continue to support these jobs.
Contact the
Governor
and your state and
federal legislators
and tell them we need urgent action on economic relief for hospitality businesses and their workers.
Click here
for additional information on state priorities.
You can also participate in the National Restaurant Association’s Action Alert today by
clicking here
and the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s Action Alert by
clicking here
.
Sincerely,
Liz Rammer
President and CEO
