IMPORTANT UPDATES
Several updates are listed below. Some of the most important updates include what businesses can open their doors. It is important to remember that these businesses should follow the
guidance coming from the Governor’s Task Force to reopen Texas Businesses
. You can find this information at
https://gov.texas.gov/opentexas
. This information will definitely help you open your doors safely and allow your patrons to get back to spending money with you!
FEDERAL & STATE UPDATES FOR BUSINESS
The
U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of Phase 4 pandemic relief bill in the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act.
This is a $3 trillion bill and includes $200 billion to ensure essential workers receive hazard pay. Employers would be able to apply for grants. This would expand eligibility for the Paycheck Protection Program to include all 501(C) organizations. It also expands the employee retention tax credit created under Phase 3 of the CARES Act and extends the $600/week boost in unemployment insurance until January 2021 that was established under the CARES Act.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and multiple other business organizations, including the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce, are
advocating to Congress to make the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) work better and support Main Street’s re-opening efforts.
We are working with Congress to make sure PPP loan recipients can benefit from annual business deductions. We are part of a coalition effort to extend the PPP eight-week forgiveness period, repeal the 75%/25% spending limitation and extend the June 30
th
date for rehiring workers.
Governor Abbot announced the
second phase of the State of Texas’ ongoing plan to safely and strategically open Texas
while minimizing the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Under Phase 2, restaurants may increase their occupancy to 50% while other services and activities that were closed under Phase 1 may open with restricted occupancy levels and minimum standard health protocols laid out by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Opening dates are listed below.
May 18
th
Open Date
·
Childcare centers
·
Massage and Personal Care Centers
·
Youth Clubs
May 22
nd
Open Date
·
Bars
May 31st Open Date
·
Day Youth Camps
·
Overnight Youth Camps
·
Youth Sports
·
Certain Professional Sports without in-person spectators
The Governor emphasized the continue need to follow social distancing protocols that are currently in place to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and not take Texas back a step. These protocols include staying home if you are at an increased risk, sanitizing your hands, staying 6 feet apart from one another and other protocols.
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
There are many resources for you available through the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce and our network of partners. The US Chamber of Commerce has several helpful guides to help you work through some questions you may continue to have.
They have a list of resources, webinars, research and advocacy for small business. Many of these links we have shared in the past, but it is always a good refresher to know what is available to you 24/7 as a member of the Cedar Park Chamber. To find out more, please click on the links below.
IN CLOSING TODAY
As changes continue all around us, it is important to continue to show kindness to one another. These times can be frustrating for some. The way we have done business, many times with a handshake, isn’t taking place right now. I do not believe the changes are permanent, but I do believe these changes will stay with some for a much longer time. I believe that things continue to change and whether people and businesses want to embrace it or push it away is up to them, but how we respond to those changes is up to us.
Respond to changes (or no changes) with respect. You can respectfully disagree. You can respectfully agree with how businesses are changing or not changing. Show them by telling them thank you. Thank you for the decisions they are making, some of them being hard changes. But understand you may not know the full story, and respect that as well.
Be safe and be kind to one another!
Tony Moline, IOM, PCED
President & CEO
Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce
