During Monday’s Government House weekly press briefing, Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. announced that, beginning March 8, some COVID-19 restrictions are being adjusted in an effort to support the local business community. Beginning next week, beaches can remain open until 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and taxis can transport more than the 50 percent capacity limit if all the passengers are part of the same family or group. In addition, restaurants can now seat up to 75 percent of their approved seating capacity, and they can seat more than six people at the same table if they are all in the same party. Masking requirements and social distancing remain in effect. Read more.

Tourism partners in Chile at TurismoCuatro Magazine Chile look forward to forming a relationship with the USVI and sharing information for their readers in upcoming issues. Check out their latest issue from March 2021 here.

Click the graphic to the right to expand, or click here to view the PDF about available Association Health Plans. Business owners should contact Omar Andres Haedo directly at 305-905-7094 for more information about plan options.

A growing number of hotel properties in the Caribbean have experienced beach erosion in recent years. In addition to the environmental impact which beach erosion can have, the economic consequences can be significant. CHTA is working with The Nature Conservancy to help better understand the coastal and economic impacts of beach erosion, how reef and mangrove restoration and management might ameliorate the situation, and what mechanisms might be developed to help mitigate erosion’s economic impact on tourism investments. All information shared in this survey will be treated as confidential and will not be shared publicly. The information will be used for the development of a business case to inform the design of an innovative financing mechanism to reduce coastal erosion, as part of The Nature Conservancy conservation efforts. Responses will not be shown individually but aggregated, and open-ended responses will be anonymous. Permission will be requested for credit before publishing any business case results. All responses should be received by March 16. Click here to begin the survey.

Click here to view VI Small Business Development Center resources for March 2021.

My Brother's Workshop will soon introduce new programs for its trainees! New programs include heavy equipment and MBW Productions. Click here to learn more about the programs, and here to watch a video about the new programs.

Learn the traditional art of chair caning at the Kenneth “Duke” Richards Memorial Caning Workshop at the St. Thomas Historical Trust! There are just a few more openings for caning classes beginning March 6 at the St. Thomas Historical Trust Museum at 32 Raadets Gade. Classes are offered on two consecutive Saturdays starting at 9 a.m. or two consecutive Sundays starting at 8 a.m. Classes learn the seven steps needed to cane a chair, how to prepare the cane and how to preserve caned chairs. The cost of the class is only $125 for over ten hours of instruction, and cane a stool that the student gets to keep. For more information, email execdirector@stthomashistoricaltrust.org.