Response to COVID-19 restrictions; PPP Forgiveness applications; your Chamber at work
The Chamber Advocate
CEO Report on Advocacy, Policy and Business Issues
November 2020 | Issue 5
A letter from our CEO:
Dear Chamber Community,
For the past eight months, we’ve marveled over how well our local businesses have taken the lead when it comes to keeping their employees and customers safe. You’ve adopted protocols such as adhering to mask mandates, reducing capacity to maintain physical distancing, stepping up their sanitation procedures, and more. We’ve seen countless examples of creativity, such as restaurants expanding into outdoor spaces and offering delivery options, gyms offering online fitness classes, retailers putting their products online and offering curbside pickup. Your resiliency is impressive.
Remaining positive, however, is a challenge in light of our state’s newly imposed business restrictions.
We understand the need to slow the spread of COVID-19, and that involves making sacrifices. We understand that large holiday gatherings, for example, create risks. We all need to do everything we can to slow the spread.
That said, we are disappointed that decisions are being made in Olympia by only one branch of our state government. To impose business restrictions that will create such severe economic impacts at such a critical time, without full input from our legislators and without adequate relief, is wrong.
“Hearing the voices of elected officials from both parties, and regular citizens through public testimony, is long overdue.”
Just how severe are the impacts of these new restrictions?
100,000 restaurant workers across our state will potentially lose their jobs due to the restrictions, according to Anthony Anton, Washington Hospitality Association President & CEO. The industry has already been "hanging by a thread" during the pandemic, he says.
The retail industry earns 40% of their sales during the fourth quarter, says Washington Retail Association President and CEO Renée Sunde. The imposed reduction to 25% capacity during the holiday shopping season is not as severe as the restaurant shutdown, she acknowledged, but she pointed out that retail is impacted when restaurants are shuttered.
These are just two industries out of many in our community that will experience severe financial hardships due to these restrictions.
Your Chamber at work
Like many of you, we’ve adapted in 2020 to keep our doors open while experiencing significant impacts to our bottom line. Our Chamber exists to be the catalyst for business growth, the convener for leaders and influencers, and the champion of business and stronger communities. However, our current climate makes this difficult.
How can we best support our members and the local businesses of Puyallup, Sumner and East Pierce County? Here is what we are doing right now:
1) We implore Gov. Inslee to call a virtual special session. House minority leader J.T. Wilcox, Sen. Hans Zeiger, and others have long been calling for such action and this week they’ve stepped up their pleas. We join in this request so that, in the words of Sen. Zeiger, “the representatives of the people can work with (Gov. Inslee) to protect public health AND take strong action to help our small businesses.”
2) If a special session is not convened now, we urge emergency action in the first week of the 2021 legislative session to aid our businesses.
3) We are writing to our local members of U.S. Congress to urge bipartisan effort to agree on a federal aid package, and we encourage you to do the same. We've included contact information for our senators in this email and you'll find it below my signature line.
4) We are working closely with economic development officials at the city and county level to provide new programs to provide aid and to encourage support of local businesses.
5) We’re developing a holiday promotion to support local businesses and charities, so stay tuned for announcements on that front.
We want to hear from you
Now is the time to let your voice be heard. We know you need financial relief, and we are urging our leaders to make that happen. We also encourage you to think creatively about solutions to help you run your business during these challenging times, and keep us informed, because we may be able to help.
Here’s one such example of how our commitment to businesses and connections to state and local leaders can result in small victories:
A local restaurant’s recent efforts to expand their outdoor dining space to meet the new COVID-19 restrictions were met with obstacles. Washington State Liquor & Cannabis Board requirements for consumption within view of staff made this expansion nearly impossible. Making matters worse, the restaurant’s $2,000+ liquor license renewal was due. We informed Rep. Kelly Chambers, who immediately got on the phone to do something about the WSLCB regulations and request extensions on the renewal fees. While we don't yet have an outcome, as this just occurred, you can rest assured that we will put your concerns into the right hands.
Our commitment to you
Whether or not you are a member, we continue to work on your behalf. We understand that paying Chamber membership dues is difficult for many of you at this time. We now offer a monthly installment option for membership dues, which has helped some of our members this year. If you cannot pay your dues, we understand; we would like for you to keep in touch regardless.
Finally, I hope you are as encouraged as I am by recent news in the development of a vaccine. Despite all of our collective efforts to keep our businesses stable, we must acknowledge that our economy won’t be able to fully recover until the pandemic is behind us. While the restrictions are top of mind right now, a small light at the end of the tunnel is a welcome sight.
U.S. Representative Denny Heck, 10th Congressional District, will officially retire from Congress in January and begin his term as our state's Lieutenant Governor. We thank Representative Heck for all of his work toward the betterment of our community and congratulate him on his election victory.
We also congratulate Marilyn Strickland, who won election to our U.S. House of Representatives, taking over Rep. Heck's seat and representing the 10th Congressional District.
Chamber event updates
We have suspended our weekly Wake Up Table Talks due to the new COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings. We hope to resurrect our Wake Ups in January.
Chamber Live Virtual Networking (the first and third Tuesday each month) continues, and we invite you to spend your lunch hour with us. Virtual networking is free, open to members and non-members alike.
The City of Sumner is redirecting some CARES Act funds to help restaurants make it through the latest restrictions. All they need from you is to complete a one-page form and and provide it with a W-9 as soon as possible (no later than TOMORROW at 4 pm) so they can cut your checks next week to meet the Federal spending deadline. This is a straight grant—no strings attached. To learn more and apply, contact Lana Hoover,[email protected], or (253) 299-5781.
Hand sanitizer from City of Puyallup
City of Puyallup has provided us with a pallet of hand sanitizer and we are offering it to local businesses free upon request. Please call the Chamber at (253) 845-6755 between 9:30am-4:00pm Mon-Fri, or email [email protected]if you would like to pick up a container.
SBA PPP loan forgiveness
There appears to be some confusion among borrowers regarding PPP loan forgiveness application deadlines. Some of you may be approaching the end of your 24-week covered period and starting to think about applying for PPP loan forgiveness. The deadline for submitting forgiveness applications is ten months from the end of your covered period, which puts most borrowers into the summer of 2021. If you miss that deadline, then the PPP loan is not forgivable and becomes a real loan that must be repaid with interest over the ensuing 24 months.
The Chamber Advocate keeps our members & business community informed of developments regarding policies and issues pertinent to the business community. Here you'll find political and government affairs news, as well as calls to action for Chamber members to garner support for specific issues.
Please share your newsworthy stories with us as they relate to government affairs and economic development as we may feature them in this newsletter.
Our Chamber exists to be the catalyst for business growth, the convener for leaders and influencers, and the champion of business and stronger communities.
