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March 19, 2020
- The COVID-19 Pandemic is an urgent issue that is affecting everyone in our community, our nation and our world. As a result, the City has taken historic and unprecedented actions to protect the health, safety and welfare of our residents this week.
In order to reinforce the urgency of avoiding mass gatherings and social distancing, on March 17, the City ordered all restaurants to close except for drive through, take-out and delivery services until further notice. All bars and nightclubs were ordered to close for the next 30 days.
From closing all government facilities, parks and beaches, to closing bars and restricting restaurants, we know these decisions have significant impacts on businesses, but already, we’ve seen people rising to these challenges by adapting their business models and changing their behavior.
We’ve put together some resources and information that we hope you’ll find helpful, and we’ll continue to support and promote our business community so that we can all get through this together.
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With our “new normal,” the act of sharing a meal in a fun, crowded restaurant isn’t an option. Fortunately, many of our favorite spots are still able to provide carry out, delivery or drive through meals and others are trying to change their business models to accommodate the new restrictions.
Now, more than ever, it’s time to support our local restaurants. Restaurants are open throughout the City.
Check to see if carry out, delivery or drive through services are available. Leave a generous tip, if you can. Purchase a gift card for future use to show your support. The
Boca Chamber
has compiled a list of its member restaurants that provide delivery and carry out. Additionally, you can check out
Downtown Boca
and their list of restaurants or check the City’s website,
Facebook
and
Twitter
listings.
In order to make curbside pickup easier, the City of Boca Raton has temporarily suspended parking meters.
If you would like us to include your restaurant on our website, send us an email at
[email protected].
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NEW: A-Frame Sign Restriction Temporarily Lifted
The City has temporarily suspended restrictions on A-Frame signs for restaurants until further notice.
Let customers know if you are open for delivery, take out or drive through services!
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By working together to eliminate non-essential contact with others, we hope to save lives. The public health message about COVID-19 has been: Act earlier to flatten the curve of spread. Whether maintaining social distancing guidelines, having employees work from home or having to temporarily close, businesses are feeling the impacts. Below are resources for our local businesses to help get through this difficult time.
- The Business Damage Assessment Survey can be taken online.
- Surveys submitted by small businesses can be used to access the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
- Locate Declared Disaster Areas in Florida.
- The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is now accepting applications from businesses suffering economic distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Qualified small business applicants must employee 2 to 100 people. Amounts are up to $50,000 per eligible business and up to $100,000 in special cases – the loans are interest-free for up to one year.
- Apply for funding through the SBA.
- Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU).
- At FAU, the SBDC Team is working to support our businesses to overcome the impact of COVID-19. Florida SBDC mandates that all their consulting services be provided online until further notice. Please use this link to request consulting from the Small Business Development Center at FAU.
- Facebook also announced a $100 million program to help small businesses.
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Job Opportunities
According to
South Florida Business & Wealth, companies like
Amazon and
Publix are quickly hiring to deal with changing business decisions. Check out your local grocery stores and local essential businesses to inquire about additional job openings.
The
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity also provides information on their
Reemployment Assistance Service Center webpage such as temporary wage replacement benefits, job assistance and more.
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Working from Home
Millions of workers will experience remote work for the first time
due to the
spread of COVID-
1
9.
Employees are now tasked with trying to be just as productive without their normal resources and routines. Here are some
key strategies
for working from home to help get your tasks done efficiently (all while staying sane and healthy).
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Additional News
- The Department of Housing & Urban Development will be suspending foreclosures and evictions until the end of April. This applies to single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for the next 60 days.
- Health & Human Services will also suspend foreclosures and evictions.
- NextEra and Florida Power and Light (FPL) are suspending service cut-offs for overdue bills until the end of March.
- City of Boca Raton Water - No water cut offs and no late fees from March 18, 2020 until they reopen.
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201 West Palmetto Park Road
Boca Raton, FL 33432
(561) 393-7700
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