GNO, INC Update – 5/13/2020

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.

May 13, 2020 Update

News

• Paycheck Protection Program “Good-Faith” Guidance – The Small Business Administration today posted updated guidance on the good-faith certification required for Paycheck Protection Program loans.  The SBA has determined that borrowers with loans of less than $2 million will be considered to have made the required certification “in good faith.”  Providing this safe harbor is aimed at helping smaller businesses working to retain and rehire their employees.  Given the large number of PPP loans, the SBA says this approach will enable them to conserve their finite audit resources on larger loans.   To read more, please click here.
• Jefferson Parish “Back to Business Plan” – The Jefferson Parish “Back to Business Plan,” developed by JEDCO and Jefferson Parish, is a comprehensive strategic plan to safely and effectively reopen the Jefferson Parish Economy.  The plan has been updated, and is available here.
• Louisiana State Parks Reopen – Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announced today that 18 of Louisiana’s 21 state parks will reopen beginning May 15, in addition to 18 of Louisiana’s historical sites.  In Greater New Orleans, Bayou Segnette State Park will remain closed.  Reservations for Louisiana residents will be taken for campsites, cabins, large capacity lodges, meeting rooms, and group camps at the state’s parks and historic facilities.  All bookings for out of state residents will be prohibited during Phase 1. Louisiana residents who book three nights at a state park, will receive a fourth night free.
• Stimulus Payments for SSI Beneficiaries – The Social Security Administration announced that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients who did not file a 2019 and 2018 return and who do not have a representative payee should expect to receive their electronic payment from the IRS by today via direct deposit or to their Direct Express card.  The IRS will begin mailing paper checks on May 15 to SSI recipients who receive their monthly SSI payment by paper check.

Information

• Parish Reopening Plans – In response to Governor Edward’s announcement Monday to reopen Louisiana (Phase 1), parishes in Greater New Orleans have begun to announce parish-specific guidelines.  Parishes have largely followed the guidance outlined by the Governor (see below), but do have the discretion to enact stricter guidelines.  Below are the available announcements made by each parish in Greater New Orleans:
  • Jefferson Parish
  • Orleans Parish
  • Plaquemines Parish
  • St. Bernard Parish
  • St. Charles Parish
  • St. Tammany Parish
• State Reopening Plan – Monday, Governor John Bel Edwards announced that Louisiana will begin to move into Phase 1 of reopening the economy starting on May 15^th.  Phase 1 is expected to last a minimum of 21 days before moving into Phase 2. Under Phase 1, the following types of businesses may now be open, with limitations (25% occupancy, sanitation, spacing for physical distancing):
  • Churches
  • Solo and non-contact sports
  • Barbers and salons
  • Museums, zoos, aquariums (no tactile exhibits)
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • In malls, only stores with exterior entrances
  • Restaurants, coffee shops and cafes
  • Bars and breweries with LDH food permit – takeout, delivery and dine-in seating only
  • Theaters
  • Casinos and Video Poker
  • Racetracks (not open to spectators)
  • Offices
  • (Massage establishments, spas, tattoo parlors, and all other places of public amusement from 52 JBE 2020 remain closed)

Other Information:

• Monday’s 11 page PDF presentation (Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana–LDH) may be viewed & downloaded here
• Business leaders should register at OpenSafely.la.gov to receive guidance applicable to them, as well as updates from the State Fire Marshal’s office and the Louisiana Department of Health

Resources

Are you looking for:

• Work? – If you want a job in a sector that is surging right now, new openings are on WorkNOLA.com.
• Employees?
• A database of local talent looking for new job opportunities, including quick employment history and skills summary, is on theWorkNOLA Workforce Directory.
• GNOmatch provides custom connections between companies with lay-offs, and those hiring for transferable skills.
• Online Training? – A catalogue of opportunities for online training from the region’s higher education partners and private training providers can be found here.
• COVID-19 Customers/Purchasers? – If you have pivoted your business to make a new, coronavirus-related product, register on GNOpivot.
• COVID-19 Supplies/Services? – If you are looking for PPE, sanitizer, food providers, and other related products and services, search the GNOpivot Resource Tool.

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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