We’re approximately one month in to taking Coronavirus seriously as a society. As more and more states and localities issue stay-at-home orders to keep us safe and healthy, businesses are shuttering, and unemployment is skyrocketing. Although protecting the U.S. from even graver and more rampant cases is priority number one, cities are also trying to…
The St. Petersburg City Council is set to resume regular Council meetings virtually, via Zoom, beginning April 16. On the agenda for the Council’s first meeting back will be the first reading of three ordinances related to Covid-19 emergency relief funding. Through the ordinances, Mayor Rick Kriseman’s administration seeks to mobilize three tax increment financing…
On Thursday, April 2, 2020, Becker and the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce presented an interactive live webinar on Small Business Disaster Resources and COVID-19. Moderated by Jennifer Bales Drake, Shareholder and Vice Chair of Public, Private Partnerships (P3) practice group, Becker, the live webinar featured panelists: Victoria Guerrero, U.S. Small Business Administration. Mike DiNapoli,…
Today, the City of St. Petersburg announced the creation of the Fighting Chance Fund. This emergency grant will be available to St. Pete residents who own and independently operate small businesses which have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 orders. The fund is expected to provide critical support to about 1,000 restaurant, bar, retail, and service-based…
Program Provides Immediate Relief with Deferment Option One day after City Commissioners participated in an intergovernmental agency board decision approving a $1 million emergency disaster relief package for local businesses, the City of Tallahassee is launching a program to help further ease the financial burden that businesses and individuals may be experiencing as a result of…
KEEP THE MORNING ROUTINE. Keep your normal morning routine just like you are planning on going to your office, including wearing what you would normally wear. There are many conveniences of working from home but keeping your normal routine and dressing for the occasion will help you stay mentally focused on your tasks for the…
Government acting alone cannot solve the COVID-19 pandemic. Cities have amazingly smart, creative, resourceful, kind, and caring residents who are willing and able to help. Local governments must encourage and challenge our residents to unleash their many talents to help their community cope in these difficult times. We will only get through this crisis when…
The Clearwater Planning and Development Department and other city departments are staffed and operating, but the public may not go beyond the lobbies of those buildings. But myclearwater.com — the website where residents can pay fines, apply for and pay for various licenses and permits including business tax receipt, tree removal licenses, and view city records,…
Local officials say they’re already preparing for small business recovery after shutdowns to slow the coronavirus outbreak. Economic development and elected officials shared plans to help repair the local economy during a news conference Thursday morning. In addition to other efforts, Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson announced the city would be dedicating an economic development staff…
City officials expect to release an aid package next week that could include direct payments to small Jacksonville businesses struggling from the impact of COVID-19. Mayor Lenny Curry said March 26 in a virtual news conference that there’s “a very high possibility” the plan will include direct financial assistance. Curry did not provide details or the…
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for Pinellas businesses impacted by COVID-19 https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program-ppp The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) from the federally funded U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. You can…
The Community Caring Center of Palm Beach County merged April 1 with a larger nonprofit geared to feeding hungry people from Boynton Beach. The CCC was about to start a fundraising program last September to build a 5,000-square-foot commercial kitchen in east Boynton Beach. That’s when City Commissioner Ty Penserga contacted one of the center’s…
