MARCH 24, 2020

COVID19: What You Need to Know Now

#TogetherMilfordI am writing this on a blue-sky morning, on one of the first days of spring. In anordinary year, that would be a touchstone for all of us. Time to plan gardens, tothink about summer trips. But this is not an ordinary year. We are all at a placewhere we are feeling our way, day by day.

Every day, we hear a new story about how people are helping neighbors, lookingafter each other. Caring. We talk about how we can continue to be useful andeven put a smile on our neighbors' faces as we look after each other. We will stayconnected with you today, tomorrow, weeks from now. We are not going away.

Although it is anything but "business as usual" in Milford, the Chamber isdedicated to providing you - our business community - with our services andsupport during this pandemic.

The Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce will continue to share newinformation, resources, and other tools for businesses and their employees.

Let us know in your comments and messages what more we can do for you. Andremember: Every time we hear from you, it keeps us going.

Let’s all be part of a community looking out for each other. We are#TogetherMilford

Yours,Pam StaneskiExecutive Director of the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce

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Coronavirus: An Employer's GuideIf you feel uncertain about addressing thecoronavirus, don't feel bad, you have lots ofcompany.

However, don't let your discomfort prevent you fromacting. A plan, subject to updating—and trust us, itwill need updating—is better than no plan at all, orattempting to fill a blank slate on the fly.

In fact, for most employers it's fair to say, "you'vebeen here before." Go back a decade or more, thinkSARS, swine flu, H1N1, even Superstorm Sandy,among others. All have elements present againtoday. And the business strategies that enabledsurvival then, should put you in good shape to getpast coronavirus 2020.

Don't misjudge the potential severity of today'scrisis, but don't discount your capacity to assess,plan, and survive.

Here is a high-level perspective on elements of

CT DOL: Unemployment Due toCoronavirus

recommended strategies to develop, update andflesh out as necessary. Guidance for Businesses and

Employers

COVID19 Milford Update for BusinessThe Department ofEconomic & CommunityDevelopment (DECD) isconducting a survey tobetter understand theeconomic impact on localbusinesses.The completion of this form is very time-sensitive. If I could have the formreturned by this afternoon that would begreat. The file can be sent to meconfidentially by emailat jnash@milfordct.gov. You may want toshare with clients and constituents.

Economic Injury Worksheet

SBA To Provide SmallBusinesses Impacted by

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Up to $2 Million inDisaster Assistance Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interestfederal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as aresult of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor,SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and ResponseSupplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic InjuryDisaster Loan declaration.

For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov(link sends e-mail)

Most basic business coverage companies seem to be denied their claim do to "natural" or "act ofgod" argument. I contacted the State Department of Insurance and they said that if a companybelieves their insurance coverage does indeed cover this loss of business, they should file a claimwith the Insurance department.

Coronavirus and Business Interruption Insurance – FAQs

COVID19 Update for Restaurants

Restaurants that are OPEN forcurbside takeout

CT Restaurant AssociationFacebook Page

Restaurants: Encourage your team andrestaurants in the Milford area to join theConnecticut Restaurant AssociationFacebook group – as a ton of valuableinformation will be shared in this space asupdates and developments continue toroll out.

Click Here for Further Information fromCT Restaurant Association, includingthe recent letter to Governor Lamont onbehalf of CT Restaurants.

Milford Restaurants that are Open for Take-Out

COVID19 Business Resource Center

The SBA is offering low interestloans to small businesses effected

by the Corona virus epidemic. If anyof your members are effected, they

should call 1-800-659-2955 for further

information.

Effective Immediately: DRS ExtendsFiling Deadline for Certain Annual

State Business Tax Returns

For the full press release click here.

Northeast Governors FromConnecticut, New York, New JerseyAnnounce Collective Measures to

Combat Spread of COVID-19

Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut,Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of NewYork, and Governor Phil Murphy of

New Jersey today (March 16)announced a regional approach to

combatting the novel coronavirus – or

DECD Defers Loan Payments onSmall Business Express

The Lamont Administration and theDepartment of Economic and

Community Development (DECD) arebeing proactive to ensure support for

businesses and their employeesfinancially hit by the pandemic. For

those with loans from the Small

COVID-19 – throughout the tri-statearea.

Read the full press release here

Business Express Program:

DECD will defer Small BusinessExpress loan payments for the nextthree months to allow employers to

focus on their payrolls.

COVID19: Tips for SmallBusinesses

As Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID19) spreads, it createsconcerns in all our communities both inrelation to staying healthy and safe, butalso in terms of how local businessesmay be impacted. We have assembleda list of tips and resources to assistyou.

Read More Here.

Environmental Cleaning andDisinfection Recommendations– Workplaces

This guidance providesrecommendations on the cleaning anddisinfection of rooms or areas of thosewith suspected or with confirmedCOVID-19 have visited. It is aimed atlimiting the survival of novelcoronavirus in key environments.These recommendations will beupdated if additional informationbecomes available.

For the full guide click here

Coronavirus Tool-Kit

Crisis Management:Pandemic