Florida Chamber COVID-19 Membership Update: March 26, 2020

March 26, 2020

A Message from the Florida Chamber: COVID-19 Update

First, the safety and health of our 22 million Floridians is our top priority and I personally appreciate all that our Florida Chamber members are doing to keep communities safe while trying to keep our economy from grinding to a halt. Like any crisis, you’re going to hear criticism levied at our state’s leadership, including at me and the Florida Chamber. We’re on the front lines of this and we’re doing our best to keep you safe and informed. Here’s the latest…Florida now has 1,977 cases (that’s an increase of 510 cases since yesterday) and 23 deaths – an increase of three. We have now tested over 23,000 people which is an increase of more than 15,000 tests in under a week! There are 46 counties with positive cases – which means there has been no spread to new counties in two days. ( See the map here )

Round 3 of coronavirus federal legislation has arrived, and it is substantial. The Federal CARES Act passed in the Senate 96-0 last night and is headed to the House of Representatives as soon as today as this appears to be the next step of many federal actions in the weeks and months ahead. With a $2 trillion dollar price tag, it is almost half the size of the annual federal budget and two times the size of the largest economic stimulus package in U.S. History, the 2009 Recovery Act. (Click here for details.)

Thanks in large part to Florida U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, this relief package includes $377 billion in small business loans (and potentially grants) designed to help them from going under due to economic losses and prevent workers from losing their jobs. (More details below.)

I hope you’ll join us on Monday, March 30 at 2 p.m., when we host Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees on a statewide conference call and status update. Governor DeSantis and General Rivkees will provide the latest details on COVID-19 and what employers need to know. Space is limited, register today .

Remember, our frontline healthcare workers still need N95 masks. I continue to be amazed at Florida Chamber members that have heeded the call to action to donate masks, and more, and encourage you to see all the great things your fellow Florida Chamber members are doing as we all fight the impact of this pandemic together. To donate masks, or if you know a manufacturer who can quickly retool and manufacture masks, please contact Tanya Bechtold at tbechtold@flchamber.com or call her at 850-521-1218.

Please see all the resources, news and information – like how the application process for Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program has changed – in this daily newsletter. Share this with others and ask them to sign-up to receive a copy.

My team and I are in constant contact with business and government leaders and what I’m seeing is nothing short of amazing. If there’s information I’m not providing in this daily email, simply let me know and we’ll make every effort to get you what you need in our collective time of need.

My Best,

Mark Wilson

President and CEO

Initial Unemployment Claims

A record 3.28 million workers applied for unemployment benefits last week as the coronavirus hit the economy. Initial jobless claims increased by 3 million to 3.28 million in the week ended March 21. The weekly level well exceeded the previous record high of 695,000 set in October of 1982.

Florida’s initial unemployment claims hit 74,021. The previous high was 40,403 in January 2009.

Economic Relief

How the $2 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package Helps Small Businesses

The Keeping American Workers Paid and Employed Act would provide $377 billion to help prevent workers from losing their jobs and small businesses from going under due to economic losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Paycheck Protection Program would provide 8 weeks of cash-flow assistance through 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to small employers who maintain their payroll during this emergency. If the employer maintains its payroll, then the portion of the loan used for covered payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent, and utilities would be forgiven, which would help workers to remain employed and affected small businesses and our economy to recover quickly from this crisis. This proposal would be retroactive to February 15, 2020 to help bring workers who may have already been laid off back onto payrolls.

“The unprecedented crisis facing our nation’s small businesses and their employees requires an immediate, bold response,” Chairman Rubio said. “I am confident that we have assembled a bipartisan emergency relief package that will get cash to small businesses, and the Americans they employ, that desperately need it during this pandemic. I appreciate the work that we were able to accomplish in a bipartisan fashion with Ranking Member Cardin, as well as Senators Collins and Shaheen. I look forward to the swift passage of the CARES Act in the Senate, and urge the House to take it up immediately in order to get it to the President for signature.”

DBPR Renewal Reprieve

Governor Ron DeSantis has directed Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Halsey Beshears to issue an emergency order suspending renewal deadlines for all department-issued licenses, permits, registrations, or certificates set to expire in March or April. Late fees will not apply to licenses renewed during this extension period.

If there are requirements that people have to complete continuing education hours to renew their professional licenses, those will also be suspended for 30 days from the existing renewal deadline.

More information on other department matters related to emergency actions, calendar changes for the board and department meetings, and other operational announcements during this state of emergency can be found at myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/emergency .

· Income Tax Filing Deadline Moved to July 15 From April 15

· Payment Due Date for 2019 Tax Payments Delayed for 90 days

· SBA Disaster Assistance Available for Florida Small Businesses

· Trump Signs Off on Coronavirus Aid Bill

Florida SBDC Network Announces Changes to the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Application Process

Due to the widespread impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and small businesses’ need for emergency capital, the application process for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program has changed. Effective immediately, eligible small businesses interested in applying for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program, a short-term loan designed to help business owners bridge the gap between the time of impact and when the business has secured long-term assistance, should apply for the program through one of two ways:

(1) Apply online and upload required supporting documentation or

(2) Download an application , complete it and mail it with the required supporting documentation to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) at: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, C/O Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, 107 E. Madison Street, MSC-160, Tallahassee FL 32399-4120.

VISIT FLORIDA Launches COVID-19 Dashboard

To better understand and measure the impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s tourism industry, VISIT FLORIDA has created a data dashboard to track key economic indicators and trends, including hotel demand, vacation rental bookings, airline capacity and web traffic relating to vacation planning. The dashboard will be constantly updated with the latest information and insight into the impact of COVID-19. For more information and to view the data dashboard, click here .

Take the Business Damage Assessment Survey

Businesses impacted by COVID-19 are encouraged to participate in the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s business damage assessment survey . Gathering data on the impact caused by COVID-19 now will help ensure that Florida communities can recover as quickly as possible.

Reemployment Assistance

Governor DeSantis has reminded Floridians that if their employment has been negatively impacted because of mitigation efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, they may be eligible to receive Reemployment Assistance. Click here for more information.

Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released guidance to help state and local jurisdictions and the private sector identify and manage their essential workforce while responding to COVID-19. As the Nation comes together to slow the spread of COVID-19, the President issued updated Coronavirus Guidance for America. This guidance states that:

“If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.”

Learn more here .

Florida Businesses Responding

Jaguars Owner Commits $1 Million to Northeast Florida

Jaguars’ owner Shad Khan has committed $1 million in support of Northeast Florida’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, the franchise announced Tuesday. Khan’s donation is designed to provide essential support to local organizations focused on the immediate health and well-being of First Coast residents. Click here to learn more.

AT&T Helps With Distance Learning and Employee Appreciation

AT&T unveiled a $10 million Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund to give parents, students and teachers tools they need for at-home learning, and to provide resources to maintain meaningful connections for those isolated from family and friends. AT&T pledged to not disconnect residential or small business customers who do not pay their bill for internet, home phone service, or broadband for the next 60 days; will not charge late payment fees if they are due to economic hardship related to the coronavirus pandemic; and pledged to keep its network of public WiFi hotspots open “for any American who needs them.” Click here to learn more. For more on AT&T’s latest updates, click here . Also, gives 20% bonus to frontline employees. To show our appreciation for our frontline employees, effective March 25 and until further notice, we’ll pay a 20% bonus above the regular hourly base rate of pay to bargained-for employees for all time worked in the office or at home. We appreciate our employees’ commitment to being there for our customers and each other.

Bacardi Is Now Producing Hand Sanitizer

Bacardi, the world’s largest premium rum producer announced they will be producing hand sanitizer during the outbreak of the coronavirus and during a time of high demand for hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer will be produced with at least 70 percent alcohol, following the World Health Organization’s recommendations.

Bank of America Commits $100 Million

Bank of America is extending additional support for consumer and small business clients experiencing hardship from the impact of the coronavirus, including the ability to defer mortgage payments. Bank of America mortgage and home equity customers can request to defer their payments while the virus crisis rages and payments would then be added to the end of their loan. Bank of America is also committing $100 million to support local communities in need. The funds will help increase medical response capacity, address food insecurity, increase access to learning as a result of school closures, and provide support to the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Boehringer-Ingelheim Donates $1 Million

Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) is making every effort to protect employees’ health and safety. BI has made a number of donations totaling more than $1 million (USD) to support the fight against the epidemic in China including: A donation to the China Red Cross Foundation to purchase medical protective materials for hospitals in Wuhan and other cities in Hubei. The headquarters of BI also purchased 100,000 protective masks from Germany, which are donated to provide protection for medical staff in hospitals where the patients with the new pneumonia are treated. BI has also donated medicines to help treat patients with new pneumonia in Wuhan.

Share Your Story : Businesses of all sizes and sectors are stepping up to address this crisis. Share your company’s story by emailing Christi McCray at cristimccray@flchamber.com .

Top Stories

· US jobless claims hit 3.3 million, quadruple previous record

· What you need to know today about the virus outbreak

· Senate unanimously passes massive coronavirus aid plan

COVID-19: Number of Cases in Florida

Data Source: Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 Dashboard

White House: Florida Is a Major Disaster Area

Yesterday, President Donald Trump approved Governor Ron DeSantis’s request to declare Florida a major disaster area. This opens the door to more federal assistance.

More here .

Coronavirus, stress and Florida schools. Everyone’s trying to cope.

Coronavirus has shut down all Florida schools and many businesses are closed or working from home. Here is a complete rundown of how people are dealing with the impact of COVID-19.

Doctors: Stay Here, Snowbirds

This time of year, temporary Florida residents from northern states would be moving back to their home states. Medical experts are recommending them to stay in Florida until the passing of the coronavirus.

More here .

Florida the American Epicenter?

Concerns are mounting about the spread of the coronavirus in the United States, and some experts are saying Florida could be the American epicenter of the disease.

More here .

GOP Senators Flag Error in Relief Package

After Republicans, Democrats and the White House agreed to a $2T spending package bringing relief to American businesses, GOP Senators found an error in the legislation that could encourage layoffs instead of securing employment for America’s workers. More here .

Rural America and the Coronavirus

Social distancing and working from home are dominating the American landscape, but in rural America, residents are worried about when the coronavirus reaches their communities. More here .

Complete Coverage of COVID-19

From jobless claims to today’s news on the outbreak, here is everything you’d need to know. More here .

Countries Reporting Confirmed Cases: 160

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Central African Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gaza, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tahiti, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, U.K., U.S., Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, Vatican City, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

SOURCE: Hill+Knowlton

Florida Chamber of Commerce www.FloridaChamber.com/Coronavirus