HPBA continues to monitor the impacts COVID-19 is having on our industry and our members. We also are trying to supply you with helpful information to help guide you and your business through this time. To that end, here are a few updates that might be of interest.
Webinars and other information
HPBA’s
coronavirus webpage
is a one-stop area to keep you updated on government activities, educational webinars, and general information on COVID-19. We update it frequently and recently reorganized it to reflect the increase in material. This is a resource for you, so you have any thoughts of other material we can include, please
let us know
and we will do our best add it.
Paycheck Protection Program Modifications
On Friday afternoon, the President signed into law legislation that significantly modifies the Paycheck Protection Program. The bill, H.R. 7010, accomplishes two primary objectives. One, it would allow loan funds to be paid over a 24-week period or by December 31, whichever is sooner. The current window is eight weeks, which was not workable for companies that have been closed or only partially open. Second, the legislation lowers the percentage of loan funds that need to be dedicated to payroll from the current 75 percent to 60 percent. Importantly, this is now a cliff threshold for forgiveness, meaning that if 60 percent spent on payroll is not reached none of the loan will be forgiven.
Other notable provisions in the bill include:
- Language allowing any portion of the loan amount not forgiven to be repaid over five years, instead of the current two years, and the interest rate remains at 1 percent.
- Borrowers can use the 24-week period to restore their workforce levels and wages by December 31st, a change from the previous June 30th deadline.
- Businesses that receive a PPP loan can also delay payment of their payroll taxes, which was previously prohibited under the CARES Act.
|
|
EPA Proposes Step 1 Sell-Through Period for Fall 2020
|
|
EPA’s latest
sell-through proposal
was published in the
Federal Register
on Friday, May 22
nd
, starting a 45-day comment period, with written comments due on July 6, 2020. HPBA issued
a statement
in response to the proposal on May 15
th
when it was first made public.
At a June 8 EPA hearing on the new proposal,
Ryan Carroll
(HPBA’s Vice President – Government Affairs) and
John Crouch
(HPBA’s Director – Public Affairs) provided testimony on behalf of the industry.
The proposal is strictly focused on the impact of COVID-19 store closures on sales of Step 1 products. It proposes a short sell-through period, ending on November 30, 2020, and beginning on whatever date the proposal is finalized, which could be months from now. Until the proposal is finalized, it remains illegal to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, or transfer ownership of any Step 1 products in the United States.
It is very important that EPA receive written comments about how the COVID-19 closures have impacted your ability to sell Step 1 product between March 15, 2020 and May 15, 2020. HPBA will be hosting a webinar on June 17
th
to provide guidance and answer questions about how to produce written comments that will make the proper arguments in favor of the sell-through. Watch your email for more details about that webinar. If you have any questions, please contact
Rachel Feinstein
.
|
|
2020 Tom Pugh Government Affairs Academy Postponed Until 2021
|
|
HPBA has made the tough decision to postpone the 2020 Tom Pugh Government Affairs Academy (GAA). With the lingering uncertainty surrounding July travel, staff explored other dates with our Washington D.C.-based host property, and we will be able to reschedule for July 2021. This is always an exciting program, and we look forward to returning to form with a new crop of industry advocates and leaders next summer. If you have any questions, please contact
Ryan Carroll
.
|
|
Biomass Stove Tax Credit Proposed Increase
|
|
HPBA sent
a letter
to Congressional leadership that calls for some changes in the Section 25C tax credit for homeowner energy efficiency improvement in the bipartisan Home Energy Savings Act of 2019. Those changes include: the lifetime limit being cleared and setting a new lifetime limit of $2,400, increase the credit for biomass stoves from $300 to $800, along with other tax credit changes. The legislation requires that eligible products be at least 75 percent efficient per the higher heating value (HHV) of the fuel.
Although most tax credits incentivize the top ten percent of a product category, this change to the biomass stove tax credit would be eligible for at least 40 percent of biomass heaters. The legislation also extends the credit until 2026. This extended period gives manufacturers an efficiency target for future testing if they wish to work towards getting a product to qualify for the tax credit. HPBA and dozens of its members also signed onto
a letter
written by the Alliance to Save Energy letter to Congress calling for similar improvements and increases to Home Energy Savings Act of 2019 for inclusion in future stimulus legislation. Please send any questions to
Rachel Feinstein
.
To read HPBA’s letter, you can view it
here
.
|
|
To kick-off the grilling season, HPBA had a successful launch of its pilot campaign, “Back to Barbecue Day,” where we encouraged consumers to take a pledge and join the first-ever virtual cookout on May 23
rd
. We received over 800 pledges from people eager to get outside to their grills. This effort also picked up momentum through interviews with Yahoo News and WBAL, as well as a syndicated article that ran in 1100 outlets over the past few weeks. A number of retailers and manufacturers promoted “Back to Barbecue Day” with their own social media outreach and promotions. A big thank you to those who were able to share or participate – we may not be able to grill together, but that still won’t stop our love for grilling!
|
|
NFI Website Format Change-Simplified Pricing
|
|
In an effort to simplify the NFI website, we are making several improvements to the site. One of those improvements and most noticeable areas of change is the pricing section.
We are not raising our prices!
Currently there are three price choices when you select items from the website: HPBA Member price (30% discount), NFI or CSIA Certified price (20% discount) and Retail price. Moving forward only the Retail price will be shown, and you will have to enter a code if you are an HPBA Member or NFI/CSIA Certified. Once you enter the Coupon Code during checkout, the price will automatically be adjusted to the same price that it has been.
Where to get codes
- HPBA Members can get their code from the local HPBA Affiliates
- CSIA certified technicians can get their code from CSIA
- NFI Certified Technicians can get their code by emailing [email protected]
These changes will take place in June 15th. Please
contact
us if you have any questions.
|
|
We hope to see you all in Nashville for HPBExpo2021. Be sure to mark your calendars for March 3-6, 2021.
The Expo Committee met virtually on May 27, 2020 to review final 2020 HPBExpo reports and discuss preliminary plans for the 2021 HPBExpo. The committee plans to meet on September 16-17 in Nashville to discuss more detailed plans for the 2021 HPBExpo.
|
|
Exhibit booth sales have begun; if you didn’t have the opportunity to book space at this year’s show for next year, visit our
Apply to Exhibit
page
for contracts. Check out the
floor plan
and see who has already signed up as a
2021 Exhibitor
. Contact
Anita Derouin
with questions or to discuss booth options.
Early bird hotel reservations are now available
here
.
Mark your calendar as registration will open September 10
th
, 2020.
|
|
HPBExpo 2020 Photo Gallery
Follow HPBExpo on social media:
|
|
HPBA recently signed on a new Affinity Partner, NAVIX Consulting. In their words: NAVIX prepares and guides business owners to reach happy and successful exits. Since we first launched the proprietary NAVIX exit planning process in 2009, our national team has helped more than 400 business owners prepare for exit, representing more than $2.5 billion in combined business value. NAVIX is unique because we help navigate both exit planning and execution, getting both the owner and their business ready for exit. Most owners only have one shot at exit success, and we strive to help them reach financial freedom, exit on their own terms, and leave a lasting business legacy. To learn more about NAVIX and all of our other Affinity Partners, please visit our
web listing
.
|
|
|
|
Reminder!
HPBA has a new banking relationship with Bank of America, and our SunTrust accounts are now closed. For wiring information, please contact
Robert Washington
.
NEW PAYMENT ADDRESS:
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association
P.O. Box 412397
Boston, MA 02241-2397
|
|
|
|
Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association
1901 North Moore Street, Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: (703) 522-0086
Fax: (703) 522-0177
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
