GNO, Inc. Coronavirus Update – 3/30

Regional Stakeholders,

During a crisis, timely, accurate, and actionable information is important.  In order to help you get this information, GNO, Inc. is sending out regular updates.  Please see below, and feel free to forward.

March 30, 2020 Update

News

• Paycheck Protection Plan Information – Today, Greater New Orleans, Inc. held a webinar on the Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loan plan, an important part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. GNO, Inc. and partners vigorously supported the Payroll Protection Program in Washington over previous weeks.
  • If you would like a summary of the Paycheck Protection Program, you can access it here
  • If you would like the Paycheck Protection Program PowerPoint, you can access it here
  • A recording of the GNO, Inc. webinar will be posted by Wednesday
• Governor’s Press Conference  – Governor John Bel Edwards announced today that Louisiana’s stay-at-home order will be extended through April 30.  Further, 200 members of the U.S. Navy will be used to help staff the New Orleans Convention Center, which is expected to be operating as a “step down” facility for less ill patients.
• Drive-Thru Testing Reduced – The City of New Orleans announced today that the parking lot at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre will no longer serve as a drive-thru testing site, due to declining demand.  Instead, the site will be consolidated with the testing site at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena parking lot. Testing will be offered in the parking lot at the Lakefront Arena from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will be capped at 500 tests per day.

Information

• Info for Higher Education Students – GNO, Inc. has created a resource, focused on on-line learning and best practices, that highlights the programs of our colleges and universities during the coronavirus shutdown.
• Fraud Alert – The SBA has issued a fraud alert, specifically clarifying that “the SBA does not initiate contact on either 7a or disaster loans or grants.  If you are proactively contacted by someone claiming to be from the SBA, suspect fraud.”  You can see the alerthere, and can report any suspected fraud to OIG’s Hotline at 800-767-0385 or online at, https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-inspector-general/office-inspector-general-hotline.

Tips

• Looking for Customers? – If you have pivoted your business to make a new, coronavirus-related product, register onGNOpivot.
• Looking for Employees? – A database of local talent looking for new job opportunities, including quick employment history and skills summary, is on the WorkNOLA Workforce Directory.
• Looking for Work? – New opportunities are on WorkNOLA.com.

As always, general information is on the GNO, Inc. Coronavirus Business Resource Page.

Please feel free to contact me[email protected] or VP Policy Ileana Ledet at[email protected] with any questions or suggestions.

Take care,

Michael

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