GNO, INC Update – 5/18/2020

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 18, 2020 Update

News

• GNOpivot Marketplace – Today, Greater New Orleans, Inc. launched the GNOpivot Marketplace, a free online platform for regional businesses that provide high-demand products and services for the coronavirus outbreak and post-pandemic recovery.  GNOpivot Marketplace is the region’s destination to explore and buy products for the “New Normal” economy.  GNOpivot Marketplace will ensure that companies can provide their workers and customers with the right level of protection during Phase 1 of reopening and beyond.

Greater New Orleans, Inc. has created this platform, at no cost for participants, in response to an expressed need for new items in the community upon reopening.  Each seller maintains their own listings and transactions with customers.  The GNOpivot Marketplace is inviting any company that has adjusted its products or services to this “new normal” economy to join and list their offering on the GNOpivot Marketplace by going to gnopivot.org.

• Louisiana Fire Marshal Phase 1 Guidance – Detailed Phase 1 guidance by industry is now available on the opensafely.la.gov website.  The website includes information for a number of businesses, including professional office settings, fitness centers, places of worship and restaurants.
• Entergy Louisiana Bill Relief – Today, Entergy Louisiana announced new flexible payment options for customers who are having difficulty paying their utility bills due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Customers will be worked with on a case by case basis to develop a plan tailored to their needs.  Flexible payment options will be available for residential customers in addition to commercial and small industrial customers.  To access bill relief options, customers are asked to log on to their myAccount or call 1-800-368-3749.
• Economic Impact Payments Helpline – The IRS announced today that they will add 3,500 telephone representatives to answer questions about Economic Impact Payments.  Those who have questions about their payment are encouraged to first visit the Economic Impact Payment Information Center.  Those who wish to check the status of their payment are asked to first visit the Get My Payment tool.

Information

• Louisiana Reopening – Friday, Louisiana formally began Phase 1 of reopening.  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

–          Malls

–          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 remain closed)

You can register to receive updates on state guidance from opensafely.la.gov.  The website is being updated to provide the option to download information specific to your business type without registering on the site.  Registration is not used for tracking purposes – it only provides a business with automated notifications as guidance is updated

• Parish Reopening Plans – In response to Governor Edward’s announcement 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. John the Baptist Parish

–          St. Tammany Parish

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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