IMPORTANT UPDATES
Late last week, the U.S. Chamber and MetLife released the monthly
Small Business Coronavirus Impact Poll
which surveys how small businesses nationwide are adapting their operations in the wake of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic. Here is a look at the numbers:
·
27% of small businesses have shortened their hours
·
26% of small businesses have asked customers for support or started a crowdfunding campaign
·
19% of small businesses have adjusted employee salaries or hours
·
19% of small businesses have applied for a working capital loan (nearly a five-fold increase from last month)
For a complete look at the numbers, please
CLICK HERE
.
FEDERAL & STATE UPDATES FOR BUSINESS
As a result of the CARES Act, the
Federal Reserve created the Main Street Lending Program to provide $600 billion in financing
for small and medium-sized businesses. Loans start at $500,000. Please
CLICK HERE
to learn how to apply for one of the program’s three new lending facilities.
As businesses begin to reopen across the state, there is still a
level of uncertainty around legal liabilities
, including safe workplace requirements, health privacy concerns, and more. The U.S. Chamber has provided some
guidance
and advice on this matter. The Texas Association of Business has also compiled
reopening heath recommendations
from health officials on their COVID-19 (Coronavirus) webpage.
The Governor announced that the
Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance to provide financial support to Texas’ network of food banks.
If approved, this funding will provide nearly $70 million for Texas’ network of 21 food banks and will allow food banks to work with their supply chain networks to shore up supplies and provide more nutritional support to those in need.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY
Williamson County announced they
will no longer send out press releases with the latest COVID-19 statistics
but will still send out a press release with each new COVID-19 related death. With that, the county announced the 13
th
COVID-19 related death on Saturday. The resident was a male in his 90s.
LEANDER ISD
Leander ISD sent out their weekly update on Friday. Inside
Message #25
there are messages from the LISD Board of Trustees, information on AP Exams and Off-Campus PE Applications to name a few. For more information about any of these, please
CLICK HERE
.
IN CLOSING TODAY
As we enter our 9
th
week of dealing with COVID-19 locally, it is always a good reminder to stop and think about others. Other businesses. Other families. Other residents who are dealing with similar situations. The people you know and care for may be going through a particularly rough time. Be sure to ask people how they are doing. I say this once a week, but don’t just ask to ask. Ask specific questions. Follow up with them. You know your friends and family better than most, if something feels off then ask them more questions.
Some people put on a brave face while dealing with a lot in their lives. Remember that we don’t always know what is going on in somebody else’s life. It could be business-related. It could be personal. But sometimes it just takes a caring question to make that person feel a little better.
Be safe and be kind to one another!
Tony Moline, IOM, PCED
President & CEO
Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce
