I hope this email finds you, your family and your co-workers safe and healthy. The world has completely changed in a very short period of time. COVID-19 has spawned a crisis that is unprecedented in our lifetime. I use the term "crisis" not to cause alarm, but rather, because it is apt. In fact, and quite fitting, the word "crisis" comes from the Greek
krisis
, which means "turning point in a disease."
To navigate this crisis, we must work together and leverage all available resources for the preservation of our businesses and our communities.
I would like to thank John O'Donnell and his team for consistent and constant communication as the COVID-19 crisis broke in the United States. Further, I would like to thank VADA's Don Hall and MADA's Peter Kitzmiller for their advocacy and communication throughout.
From cleaning protocols, to preservation of capital, to labor law compliance, we will be working on many fronts to ensure the safety of our co-workers and communities, as well as our business continuity. OEMs, floorplan providers, vendors, as well as federal, state and local governments will all be part of the solution in navigating this difficult time. Critical programs, policies and information will be coming at us with unrelenting speed. As such, it is more important than ever that we keep communicating with each other - whether it's a new OEM program or a change in state policy, the more communication we can have with each other, the better.
WANADA will be here to assist you every step of the way. Along with VADA, MADA and NADA, we have been providing frequent communications to all our member dealers and suppliers as the crisis, and the government response to it, continues to unfold. At the bottom of this letter, you will find links to WANADA, NADA, and the state associations' COVID-19 information pages, all of which are being updated frequently with the most pertinent information that impacts you.
I have also included some key information about state and federal assistance programs created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with details about key provisions in the
"Phase 3" stimulus bill
that was just passed in the U.S. Senate.
Throughout this crisis, please feel free to reach out to John O'Donnell, his team at WANADA, or myself. I would also recommend you review
the communications that WANADA has sent to members
during this pandemic, which cover relevant government efforts to combat COVID-19 up to this point, and what they mean for your businesses. I can be reached anytime at 703-915-3693, and am glad to assist to you, or your co-workers, in any way I can.
In closing, having graduated from a Jesuit university, I firmly believe in the Jesuit value "Men and Women for Others." Having been part of the WANADA community for decades, I've had the privilege of witnessing the lasting impact all of you have on your communities. In my humble opinion, you have always been "men and women for others," and will continue to be - even more so in these difficult times.
Be well, and be safe,
Kevin Reilly
Chairman
Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association
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IMPORTANT RESOURCES FOR WANADA MEMBERS
Association Resource Libraries for COVID-19 Information
Important Federal and State Initiatives for Affected Businesses
- $367 billion in small business loans to help them meet payroll
- An expansion of unemployment benefits of $600 per week, up to four months
- Direct payments of $1,200 per person for most American adults, plus $500 for most dependent children
