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Governor orders all restaurants and bars to offer delivery & take-out only services
Dear Members,As we continue to get updated information relative to the COVID-19 virus, we will share it with you regularly. This is a rapidly evolving situation and it is important that business leaders get up to the date information so that they can make real-time decisions about their businesses and how to adapt to the new recommendations coming from the Department of Health experts. First and foremost, people should remain at home whenever possible to avoid contracting and spreading the disease. That means all businesses who have the means for their employees to work remotely need to encourage them to do so. Meetings should be switched to video and conference calls. Groups larger than 25 people are discouraged. Modern day technologies make these feasible options; however, if your business is having difficulty making this transition, please reach out to the Chamber and we will see if we can help connect you with the resources you need. We have many talented small businesses who may be able to assist you during this transition period.You will see in the enclosed press release that the Governor is ordering all restaurants and bars to offer delivery and take-out only services. This will certainly have an adverse impact to the restaurant industry, but this is a necessary step to ensure the containment of this virus. We are asking that you support this industry when possible thru ordering take out and also gift certificates that can be used at a later date when we return to a state of normalcy. There will be more information about how you can do that forthcoming.Additional information about the closing of some State Departments and the availability for small business to get assistance from the Small Business Administration were also announced.We need to work together and be leaders in the community during this public health emergency. I urge all of your cooperation during these difficult times and look forward to getting through this together. For additional resources related to the Department of Health, the Commerce Corporation of Rhode Island, the Small Business Administration and the Department of Labor and Training, please check out our blog at NewportChamber.com.Thank you for all that you do for the community.Sincerely,Erin Donovan-BoyleRhode Island State Government Press ReleasesRestaurants and Bars to Offer Delivery and Take-Out Only, Gatherings Limited to 25 People
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH today announced that, effective tomorrow and continuing through March 30th, there will be no on-premise food consumption for restaurants, bars, coffee shops, or other food establishments in Rhode Island. Establishments with a food license can continue to conduct pick-up, drive-thru and delivery only. The Governor and Dr. Alexander-Scott also directed all Rhode Islanders not to host or attend gatherings of 25 people or more.State Services, Public Meetings Moving to Online and Phone Only; Rhode Islanders Encouraged to Avoid DMV
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH today announced that customer-facing services at the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Labor and Training (DLT), and HealthSource RI will be moving to online and telephone-only services until further notice. This includes all new applications, renewals, or changes in benefits. Individuals who need to drop off paper applications will be able to do so without speaking with a customer service representative. Read more here.On-going helpful resources:Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce Support Small Business Challenge - Email Kate@newportchamber.com with your business adjustments during the COVID-19 breakout. Help us help you during these difficult times!National CDC website- Up to date info on progression nation wide.https://health.ri.gov/ State of RI Dept. of HealthU.S. Travel Association-a guide for communicating healthy travel habits to your guests, talking points & general factsU.S. Chamber of Commerce-strategies to protect your workforce from the Coronavirus while ensuring continuity of operations.https://www.rihospitality.org/ RI Hospitality AssociationState Government Press Releases - updated regularly
The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.To request a disaster declaration, the SBA asks that we collect information that shows that businesses have suffered a substantial economic injury as a result of the disaster, the COVID-19 pandemic. We are seeking businesses willing to fill out a survey and share with us how their business has been impacted. The survey is online here.
Survey request from Commerce RI:Commerce RI is collecting information from impacted businesses to use in Rhode Island’s application for an SBA disaster declaration. This disaster declaration will unlock SBA tools including economic impact disaster loans. (click on the Commerce RI logo above for the PDF)The 2020 Census is here!
While you are home for the foreseeable future please fill out the RI 2020 Census. The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. That funding shapes many different aspects of every community, no matter the size, no matter the location. Read more here.The Greater Newport Chamber offices at Innovate Newport will be closed for the next two weeks with full staff working remotely and available to our Members via email and phone. We encourage all businesses who are able to work remotely to do the same.Erin Donovan - BoyleExecutive DirectorKate GrottebergEvents, Development & Program DirectorJo-anne GortonExecutive CoordinatorRebecca ChaceMarketing & Social Media CoordinatorLori BurkeMembership AssociateAshley MedeirosRegional Economic Development Consultant Connect Greater NewportAshley.medeiros@connectgreaternewport.comTodd LaChanceCommunity Manager, Innovate Newportcommunitymanager@innovatenewport.org
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