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Florida Activates Emergency Loan Program for Small Businesses

Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - 10:15am

Florida activates emergency loan program for small businesses
Mar 17, 2020, 7:24am EDT

The application period for the recently activated Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program opened Tuesday for companies whose cash flows have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With both local and national governments placing restrictions on gatherings, and even implementing curfews in an effort to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, small businesses across sectors including hospitality, retail, transportation and logistics have experienced steep drops in sales in recent days.
But through May 8, small business owners with two to 100 employees can apply for the short-term interest-free loans of up to $50,000. Up to $50 million has been allocated for the program, according to an announcement from Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"As we mitigate against the spread of COVID-19, the health, safety and well-being of Floridians comes first," DeSantis said. "I understand the harm mitigation strategies will have on small businesses throughout our state. By activating the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, we are providing the opportunity for Florida’s small businesses to receive cash immediately to ensure they can lessen the impacts felt as a result of COVID-19."
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) will administer the loans in partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network and Florida First Capital Finance Corp. The loans are interest-free for up to one year

To qualify, businesses must have been established before March 9 and be able to demonstrate the impact that the coronavirus has had on their cash flows.
Businesses with questions about the program can email disaster@FloridaSBDC.org or call (866) 737-7232.
The DEO is surveying Florida businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus at FloridaDisaster.biz.

Emon Reiser Digital Editor S o u t h F l o r i d a B u s i n e s s J o u r n a l

Visit Florida Industry Update on COVID-19

Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - 9:29am

Dear Partner,

We want you to know that we are thinking about you during this challenging time as you deal with the impact of COVID-19 in both your business and personal life. Florida's tourism industry is resilient, and VISIT FLORIDA is working every day to help keep our industry informed and travelers safe.

VISIT FLORIDA has taken the following steps to ensure the safety of potential visitors, businesses, Florida residents and our staff:

  • Welcome Centers are closed until further notice
  • VISIT FLORIDA co-ops and media have been paused
  • VISIT FLORIDA press trips and events have been paused
  • VISIT FLORIDA team members are being encouraged to telework
  • The VISIT FLORIDA Marketing team is currently working on a responsible recovery plan to get back in market very soon to keep Florida top of mind. As this program is finalized, we will be in touch to share how you may participate.
  • Florida NOW has been activated on VISITFLORIDA.com to provide the latest travel health and safety alerts

Resources for Businesses and Employers:

Business Damage Assessment Survey for COVID-19:

On March 12, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the activation of the Business Damage Assessment survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s local business operations. The survey, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will evaluate businesses affected by COVID-19 and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy so actions to implement appropriate relief programs can begin.

Florida’s residents and visitors should continue to refer to the DOH and CDC for the most up-to-date information and guidance on COVID-19:

Florida Department of Health (DOH)

U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC)

COVID Public Website and Call Center:

Visit the Florida Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 web page for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida.

For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center at (866) 779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

Thank you. We will continue to keep you informed with any new developments from VISIT FLORIDA.

Best regards,

Industry Relations Team

CITY OF DELRAY BEACH COVID-19 UPDATE 3/28/20

Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - 7:57am
The City of Delray Beach released this update on COVID-19 on the Saturday March 28th. Please see below for new guidelines and regulations:
 

Delray Beach Issues Stay At Home Order, Overnight Curfew

Post Date:03/28/2020 4:59 PM

As part of its on going efforts to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the City of Delray Beach has issued a “stay at home” order and overnight curfew, effective Monday, March 30th at 12:01 a.m. The order will remain in effect until Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.  The City’s new order requires that all residents of the City of Delray Beach stay at home and within the entirety of their owned or rented property. 

The City of Delray Beach has issued a “stay at home” order and overnight curfew (effective Monday March 30th at 12:01 a.m. and will remain in effect until Thursday, April 16, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.) .  The City’s new order requires that all residents of the City of Delray Beach stay at home and within the entirety of their owned or rented property. 

The “stay at home” order does not require residents to confine themselves to the interior of their homes. Residents may make use of all exterior portions of their homes such as patios, porches, yards, and driveways. Residents may also leave their homes to travel to supermarkets and to other essential businesses and workplaces, medical facilities, as well as to walk their dogs and to exercise.  All non-essential travel, including, without limitation, travel on scooters, motorcycles, automobiles, or use of public transit is prohibited subject only to the exceptions listed below.   

The details of the new “stay at home” order are listed below:

  • Residents and visitors may engage in travel to seek goods and services from essential retail and commercial businesses as defined in City of Delray Beach Resolution 75-20 (listed below) as may be amended or extended.

  • Residents and visitors may engage in travel and similar activities to obtain assistance from law enforcement, fire-rescue, or other emergency services. 

  • Residents and visitors may travel to and from their homes to care for or support a family member.

  • Residents and visitors in the City may continue to travel to and perform work for and in support of essential retail and commercial businesses authorized to be open to the public in accordance with City Resolution 75-20, and to any local government, State government, or the Federal government. 

  • In areas not otherwise closed by a separate Emergency or Executive Order, residents may engage in outdoor activity and recreation with immediate family members that live in the same household, caretakers, or household members while staying six (6) feet apart from another person or group of people.

  • Residents and visitors may travel to and from places of worship.

  • All first responders, gang and crisis intervention workers, public health workers, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, law enforcement personnel and related contractors, persons working for emergency service providers, and government employees performing work in the course and scope of their employment are categorically exempt from this Order.

  • The details of the new overnight curfew order are listed below:

  • Effective March 30, 2020 at 12:01 a.m., a general curfew is hereby established throughout the City of Delray Beach. The curfew will be in effect daily from 12:01 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. and shall include but not be limited to the prohibition of pedestrian and vehicular movement, standing, and parking.  

  • The following exceptions shall apply within the City of Delray Beach: Provision of essential state, county, and City of Delray Beach emergency services such as fire-rescue, police, and hospital services, related government services, including the transportation of patients thereto:

  • Utility emergency repairs
  • Emergency calls by physicians
  • Food delivery and third-party food delivery services
  • Walking of dogs within 250 feet of the owner’s residence
  • Travel to and from work by employees of Essential Retail and Commercial Businesses as defined in Resolution 75-20

 

Other provisions of the City’s new order include the following health protection initiatives.

A person in a public space shall:

  • Practice social distancing by staying six (6) feet away whenever practicable from another person, excluding immediate family members, caretakers or, household members.

  • Cover all coughs and sneezes with their elbow or tissue.

  • Not shake hands.

  • Not enter any public place if the person exhibits any flu or COVID-19 like symptoms and/or has a fever over 99.9 degrees Fahrenheit unless that person is traveling to or from a hospital, doctor’s office, urgent care, walk-in clinic, or pharmacy.

  • If a person is exhibiting flu or COVID-19 like symptoms or has a fever over 99.9 degrees Fahrenheit and is seeking medical treatment, the person shall first contact their medical provider by phone before appearing at the medical provider’s office.

  • If a person is exhibiting flu or COVID-19 like symptoms or has a fever over 99.9 degrees Fahrenheit and requires a prescription or a refill thereof and the pharmacy has a delivery service, that person shall utilize the delivery service to receive their medication.

  • All public and private gatherings of any number of people occurring outside a residence are prohibited except for gatherings between family members, caretakers, or household members provided such gathering does not exceed ten (10) people or as may be provided for in Resolution 75-20.

 

Essential Businesses Remaining Open, Per Delray Beach Resolution 75-20: 

  • Healthcare providers, including, but not limited to, hospitals, doctors' and dentists' offices, urgent care centers, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, physical therapists, mental health professionals, psychiatrists, therapists, and pharmacies

  • Grocery stores, farmers' markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks and convenience stores

  • Food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and fishing

  • Businesses that provide food, shelter, social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals

  • Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services

  • Automobile dealerships

  • Gas stations and auto-supply, auto-repair, and related facilities

  • Banks and related financial institutions

  • Hardware stores

  • Contractors and other tradesmen, appliance repair personnel, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and other structures

  • Mailing and shipping services, including post office boxes

  • Private colleges, trade schools, and technical colleges, but only as needed to facilitate online or distance learning

  • Laundromats, dry cleaners, and laundry service providers 

  • Restaurants and other facilities that prepare and serve food, may continue to do so on the condition that the food is provided to members of the public on a pick-up and takeaway basis only

  • Businesses that supply office products needed for people to work from home

  • Businesses that supply other essential businesses with the support or supplies necessary to operate, and which do not interact with the general public

  • Businesses that ship or deliver groceries, food, goods, or services directly to residences

  • Airlines, taxis, and other private transportation providers providing transportation services via automobile, truck, bus, or train

  • Home-based care for seniors, adults, or children

  • Assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and adult day care centers, and senior residential facilities

  • Professional services, such as legal or accounting services, when necessary to assist in compliance with legally mandated activities

  • Landscape and pool care businesses, including residential landscape and pool care services

  • Childcare facilities

  • Businesses operating at any airport, seaport, or other government facility, including parks and government offices;

  • Pet Supply stores

  • Logistics providers, including warehouses, trucking, consolidators, fumigators, and handlers

  • Telecommunications providers, including sales of computer or telecommunications devices and the provision of home telecommunications

  • Provision of propane or natural gas

  • Office space and administrative support necessary to perform any of the above- listed activities

  • Open construction sites, irrespective of the type of building

  • Architectural, engineering, or land surveying services

  • Factories, manufacturing facilities, bottling plants, or other industrial uses

  • Waste management services, including collection and disposal of waste

  • Any business that is interacting with customers solely through electronic or telephonic means, and delivering products via mailing, shipping, or delivery services

  • Private and municipal marinas and boat launches, docking, fueling, marine supply and other marina services

  • Mortuaries, funeral homes, and cemeteries

  • Hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments and temporary vacation rentals.  However, restaurants, bars, and fitness centers in hotels, motels, and other lodging establishments remain closed or restricted

  • Veterinarians and pet boarding facilities

 

The following city properties are closed to the public:

  • City Hall
  • All beaches, and beach parking
  • All Delray Beach parks and playgrounds
  • Delray Beach Public Library
  • All City of Delray Beach Museums
  • Pompey Park Community Center
  • 505 Teen Center
  • Delray Beach Community Center
  • Veterans Park Community Center
  • Hobbit Skate Park
  • Catherine Strong Community Center
  • Delray Beach Tennis Center
  • Delray Beach Municipal Golf Course
  • Lakeview Golf Course
  • Delray Swim and Tennis Center

Find more information about this update from the city here.

 

UPDATE: THE RAY Construction

Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - 10:49am

We would like to take this opportunity to address the 4 A.M. start time on January 03, 2020. The reasons for the early morning concrete pours are to minimize traffic congestion during the day and to allow sufficient time for not only the concrete pours, but the finishing required after the pours. Additionally, we wanted to mitigate our impact to the adjacent restaurants. We recognize that it was louder than anticipated and it caused a disruption to you, the residents. We apologize.

Going forward we have adjusted our schedule for the remaining extended pours to 6 am, Prior to each extended pour, we will send out notices at least three days in advance to advise you of the extended hours.

The next extended pour is scheduled for Wednesday, January 15, 2020 6 AM to 8 PM.

We would like to extend our appreciation for your patience. We understand the inconveniences to you during this construction process and we will do our best to minimize the impact of the project for you, your family and your property.

If you have any concerns or questions that you would like addressed, please contact us at RayConstructionInfo@mosscm.com and we will be glad to help in any way possible.

Delray Beach Ice Cream Challenge Recap

Thursday, January 9, 2020 - 5:30pm

This fun summer program was created to develop both awareness for a subset of shops (everything ICE CREAM) in the Downtown Delray Beach area, while encouraging guests to try something new and explore Downtown Delray Beach. The campaign was launched both in-store and on Facebook.  The organic engagement that evolved from this program was really fun to see, even a local Youtuber got involved! 

We hope you enjoy our recap of this sweet summer campaign:)