May 6, 2020
Dear MNLGA Members:
Thank you to the many key contacts who completed the membership survey, which is focused on COVID-19. The survey closes at 5:00 this afternoon. I plan to have results to share with you next week.
New Information Today
:
We received some positive news from Governor today! Positive, but cautious, a good sign that Maryland may slowly be "opening up." Keep on practicing your COVID-19 precautions. I am sure there will be come level of precautions taken for months to come.
Thank you to those key contacts who completed the recent COVID-19 survey that I sent. I'm hoping to share results with you this week; if not, look for a summary early next week.
EIDL – Economic Injury Disaster Loans:
You know these loans have been made available to agricultural producers. The SBA has just released specific on the details behind the loan. Time is of the essence. If you are considering participation in the program, please
review this SBA-prepared document
. Grants of up to $10,000 are available, as well as loans of up to $2M.
Apply online here
.
Resources for Retail
:
One of my NLAE peers has shared this comprehensive
list of resources
from the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH). This link contains a list of resources, including BMPs for social distancing, online ordering platforms, marketing, and creative ideas for reaching out to consumers.
Webinars Offered
:
Return of the Economist: COVID-19 Economic Update featuring Anirban Basu – May 11
th
10:00 – 11:00
(If you’ve never heard Dr. Basu speak, I encourage you to attend this complimentary webinar. He is truly engaging, very well spoken, and informative.)
COVID-19 has rocked what had appeared to be a nearly invincible economy; one associated with substantial job growth, multi-decade lows in unemployment, sturdy compensation increases, robust retail sales, low inflation, and strong financial market performance. Underneath that strong performance, however, was a set of fragilities that have been exposed by the pandemic. This webinar speaks to our current economic circumstances, how difficult things are likely to become over the foreseeable future, and the contours of the brisk recovery to come thereafter.
Register Here (no fee)
Anirban Basu, Speaker - Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., an economic and policy consulting firm in Baltimore. Anirban serves as the chief economist to Associated Builders and Contractors and as chief economic adviser to the Construction Financial Management Association. In 2007 and then again in 2016, Mr. Basu was selected by the Daily Record newspaper as one of Maryland’s 50 most influential people. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010.
Remember to utilize the COVID-19 resources page on the
MNLGA website
. It includes resources to help connect with consumers, explanations and access to state and federal recovery, employment, and relief efforts, and more.
Please keep me in the loop and let me know how the MNLGA can help you.
Vanessa A. Finney
Executive Director, MNLGA
410-823-8684
