During this unprecedented time in history, this informational newsletter is made possible by your valuable membership. Membership matters!
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We have all been busy this past week working to adjust to this “new normal.” That takes a lot of time, a lot of energy, and a lot of financial resources. Finding masks, cleaning products, dealing with scheduling, and just keeping staff socially distant takes time and energy that used to be devoted to meeting your customer’s needs.
And while we’ve been focused on adapting, adjusting, and working through our challenges, we can’t lose focus of some other important issues that we’ve been working on at the BIA.
Metro Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer’s Budget Address: If you’ve listened to the news today, you know that Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer delivered his budget address yesterday afternoon for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2020. The Mayor proposed a “continuation budget” which keeps funding levels at the same levels from the previous year. The city faces a shortfall of nearly $115 million and will have to make more deep cuts in services – potentially even those services that impact the building and development industry – to be able to operate. The Mayor also urged citizens to contact their US Senator and member of Congress so larger cities can have more flexibility in spending the federal dollars they receive. We will be reviewing this document and keeping your informed on any impact it has on the building and development community. You can watch the Mayor’s Budget Address
here.
Metro Tree Canopy Ordinance: Yesterday evening Metro Council passed the proposed tree canopy ordinance. BIA members including Mindel Scott, Sabak Wilson & Lingo, Land Design and Development, Jim Mims, Gresham Smith, Bardenwerper Talbott and Roberts, Mike Jones of Signature Green, and many, many others spent countless hours on this ordinance over the past year. The ordinance is not perfect, but it appears that it is achievable – and that was the goal. We will continue to monitor implementation and will be ready to propose improvements if needed.
EIDL & PPP: Yesterday afternoon I finally heard back from the Small Business Administration with some limited answers to my questions on the EIDL.
They will
not allow me to inquire on your behalf about the status of your application. You should send your status request with their reference number to
FOCECOMMCOVID-19@sba.gov. I recommend you contact them repeatedly if you have not received any response from them yet.
Yesterday, the House passed the $484 billion coronavirus relief package, the Senate passed on Tuesday. The legislation renews funding for two key small-business loan programs that ran out of money under the CARES Act by providing $320 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and $60 billion for the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. President Trump is holding a signing ceremony for the bill today.
The SBA stopped accepting applications for the EIDL on April 15 when their funds were exhausted.
If you were in the process of applying for a EIDL loan and have an application number that begins with the No. 3, you do not need to reapply for a loan.
The Small Business Administration reports it is continuing to process applications that were in the pipeline when funding ran out, and will reopen its application portal and accept new applications once it receives new appropriations.
If there is an additional appropriation, they will then reopen the application portal. Please click on the following link for information on reapplying:
here
It was clarified that the advance from the EIDL is for $1,000 per employee to a maximum of $10,000.
Many of you have received the disbursement for the PPP. If you have not received your disbursement and you were approved contact your bank for more information on the status of your application.
BIA Board of Directors Meeting: As you know, your Board of Directors is required to meet to conduct business related to the Association. Next Wednesday BIA will host our first virtual Board meeting. We will be discussing membership, the health of the organization, future operations, events, and member services. Any necessary updates and information will be provided to the membership after the meeting.
We’ll continue to update you as we receive more information. If you have specific concerns or requests, please do not hesitate to email or call me.
Be safe,
J
uva
Juva Barber
BIA of Greater Louisville
502 458 0032 - mobile
All past emails, signage, letters, and other useful templates may be found on the BIA website:
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Date: April 23, 2020
To: NAHB Delegates
NAHB Directors
NAHB Committee Members
NAHB Council Trustees
State and Local Executive Officers
From: Dean Mon, 2020 NAHB Chairman of the Board
RE: Spring Leadership Meeting (June 16-20) Logistics Update
I hope this communication finds you all healthy. I know this has been a challenging time for all and I applaud our members for their continued efforts to provide shelter for all Americans and support the broader economy.
As I have shared previously, NAHB continues to operate effectively in spite of the uncertainty before us all. The overall safety of our members, state and local executive officers and the NAHB staff team guide all of our operating decisions.
As many of you are aware, Washington, DC and the surrounding states have limited operations to essential businesses only and have implemented stay orders for residents. These orders were recently expanded to stay in place until at least May 15, 2020. With uncertainty as to when these orders will be lifted, the likelihood for a slow return to regular business operations, and in consideration of the safety of our Federation, the NAHB Senior Officers are transitioning the 2020 NAHB Spring Leadership Meeting to a virtual meeting session rather than in person.
At this time, the NAHB staff team is revising the meeting schedule and implementing the underlying technology necessary to support the work to be conducted as part of these sessions. We are committed to using the existing meeting dates to support the various sessions which comprise the Spring Leadership Meeting. However, please be aware that the date and time for individual meetings will change to allow for the smooth operation of the meeting sessions. Complete details regarding individual meeting times and dates will be made available when registration opens on Monday, May 18, 2020.
I am sure you will appreciate that "going virtual" was a difficult decision. The NAHB Senior Officers value the opportunity to meet in person and address the leadership needs of the Federation. Unfortunately, the current environment does not make that possible. I appreciate your flexibility and your continued support of our efforts to host the 2020 Spring Leadership Meeting virtually.
Wishing you all the best of health. I will see you via webcast in June!
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Mayor Fischer Presents Continuation Budget and Renews Call for Flexible Federal Relief
April 23, 2020
Because of a massive economic downturn caused by the impact of COVID-19 virus in the city, Louisville Metro Government (LMG) is projecting a $46 million revenue decline for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, and another shortfall of $69 million during the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.
Mayor Greg Fischer shared those projections during his 10th annual budget address to Metro Council today, where he also asked for a moment of silence to honor the 77 people who’ve died of COVID-19 in the city, and shared his appreciation for all the hospital workers, first responders and others helping battle the virus – as well as residents working to help slow its spread.
“Thank you to all who have accepted the need for social distancing. For staying home. For staying six feet apart. For wearing face coverings. For washing your hands.”
In explaining the projected revenue shortfalls for FY21 and FY22, Mayor Fischer noted that the critical services that Louisvillians rely on – police, fire, 911, EMS, public health, sanitation, roads and sidewalks, parks, libraries, community centers – are funded by the taxes that businesses and their employees pay:
About 47 percent of the city budget comes from payroll taxes. When businesses cut jobs, as COVID-19 has forced many to do, the number of people earning a paycheck goes down, and city revenue goes down with it.
About 11 percent of the budget comes from taxes that businesses pay on profits. When the economy is bad and businesses see less profit, that lowers city revenue.
The city also gets about 10 percent of its revenue from service fees associated with EMS, the Louisville Water Company and the Louisville Zoo, among many other sources.
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Navigable Waters Protection Rule – Definition of “Waters of the United States”
Officially goes into effect on June 22, 20202
The Final Rule that changes the level of waters/wetlands that are regulated by the USACE was published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2020.
Based on a publication date, this officially goes into effect on June 22, 2020. Of course, as we discussed before, there is the potential that a law suit could result in the Rule being stayed by the courts, so we’ll need to track this carefully and see where things stand as we approach that June 22 date. We’ll be reading through the specific language over the next few days/weeks, but the main impact of the change is that Ephemeral streams and the wetlands associated with them would no longer be regulated.
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DMLO
Yesterday (4.23.20) DMLO hosted a webinar on the Tax Aspects of the CARES Act. Thank you to Mike Cook and Meredith Hughes. If you have any questions please contact Mike or Meredith directly:
You may view the PowerPoint from yesterday's (4.23.20) presentation below:
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Trump Set to Sign Bill with Nearly $500B More in Virus Aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump will be holding a signing ceremony Friday for a bill providing a nearly $500 billion infusion of coronavirus spending, rushing new relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of
a pandemic
that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and
one in six U.S. jobs
.
The measure
passed Congress almost unanimously
Thursday, but the lopsided tally belies a potentially bumpier path ahead as battle lines are being formed for much more ambitious future legislation that may prove far more difficult to maneuver through Congress.
The bipartisan measure passed as lawmakers gathered in Washington as a group for the first time since March 27, adopting stricter social distancing rules while seeking to prove they can do their work despite the COVID-19 crisis.
Click here to continue reading.
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When Your Employees Return: The New “Business as Usual”
Webinar Series presented by Frost Brown Todd, LLC
It’s time to consider what will be the new “normal” when employees return to work and as companies return to “business as usual.” Without question, the COVID-19 crisis has changed the American workplace. What measures are your company preparing to put in place to protect your employees, customers and your bottom line when business reopens? What is your plan for gradually returning to employees to the workplace? What health and safety precautions will be taken?
Have you thought about some of the new and difficult challenges that will come with this new workplace?
Early this week, Frost Brown Todd held a webinar to discuss these questions and more in its first "After COVID" Webinar Series.
To view the first in this series click
here.
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Mail Delivery to the BIA Office. It has come to our attention that recently some mail has been "returned to sender" we apologize for any inconvenience. If you have had something returned to you please resend to our office. We are acceptng all mail and parcels.
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BIA Scheduled Events:
- May Member Networking Event U of L Baseball Game - Cancelled
- Jeptha Creed Member/Guest Mixer - Postponed
- BICF Day of Service - Rescheduled | April 2021
- BIA Day at the Downs - Rescheduled | New Date, Wednesday, September 2, 2020
- Tour of New Homes - Cancelled
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Thank you to our 2020 BIA Annual Sponsors:
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Fireplace Distributors
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Louisville Spray Foam
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Sam Kinnaird's Flooring
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Transitions Lift and Elevator
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As a reminder, our office will remain closed and staff will be working remotely until further notice. We will continue to assess the situation and follow recommendations from the CDC, the Governor’s office, the Kentucky Department of Health, as well as the Mayor’s office and Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness.
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If you aren't already, please make sure you are following our social media platforms below:
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Building Industry of Greater Louisville | (502) 429-6000
1000 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy. Louisville, KY 40223 | www.bialouisville.com
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