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States and local governments are responding to the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s revised guidance issued on Thursday.
The CDC announced that people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need wear masks or physically distance themselves in any setting except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including guidance from local businesses and workplaces. 

State has expanded, will keep expanding vaccine eligibility
Pennsylvania expanded coronavirus vaccine eligibility on April 5 and will expand it twice more in the next two weeks. The state is now in Phase 1B of its vaccination program and will move to Phase 1C on April 12 and Phase 2 on April 19. Currently, people eligible in Phase 1A and Phase 1B can be vaccinated. 

State relaxes pandemic restrictions, gathering limits
Gov. Wolf announced earlier this week that the state is relaxing restrictions on restaurants and other businesses and gathering limits it had imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective April 4. The state is permitting restaurants to resume bar service and serve alcohol to patrons who don’t buy food, as well as lifting the curfew for removing alcoholic drinks from tables. Additionally, it is increasing the indoor dining capacity to 75 percent for restaurants that are self-certified, which involves agreeing to strictly comply with all public health safety guidelines and orders, and 50 percent for restaurants that aren’t self-certified. Restaurants still must maintain six feet between diners and require patrons to wear masks. They still are encouraged to offer outdoor dining and curbside takeout. The state also is allowing gyms and entertainment facilities, such as movie theaters, casinos and malls, to operate at 75 percent capacity and increasing occupancy limits to 25 percent of maximum occupancy for indoor events and 50 percent of maximum occupancy for outdoor events, as long as workers and attendees can comply with the six-foot physical distancing requirement

Local hospitality businesses can apply for CHIRP grants starting March 12
Area hospitality businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to apply for grants under the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) as early as March 12. Under the program, the DCED will allocate $145 million to counties based on their populations and the counties will contract with one or more Certified Economic Development Organizations or Community Development Financial Institutions to disburse the money through grants. 

Counties to help hospitality businesses
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has established a program to provide $145 million in aid to hospitality businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP) will allocate the money to counties based on their populations.
Montgomery County plans to make the $9.4 million it will receive from CHIRP available to hospitality businesses through the MontcoStrong 2021 Pennsylvania Hospitality Industry Recovery Program, which will be administered by the Redevelopment Authority of Montgomery County. Chester County is slated to receive $5.9 million under CHIRP and will distribute the money through a grant program administered by the Chester County Economic Development Council, which is still finalizing the details of it. Delaware County anticipates receiving $6.4 million in CHIRP funds, according to Radnor Township

Campaign to support restaurants launched in Bucks County, Chesco, Delco, Montco
The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, Philadelphia-based advertising agency Neff, and Main Line Chamber of Commerce member Today Media/Main Line Today are joining with Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties to launch a two-month campaign to support local restaurants. Hope for Hospitality will run from Feb. 1 through March 31 and will give diners a chance to win a $25 American Express gift card by purchasing a meal from a restaurant in any of the four counties and sharing their experience on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. 

Vaccination pre-registration forms available online
Chester and Delaware county residents can pre-register for the novel coronavirus vaccine by completing a form found on the Chester County Health Department’s COVID-19 web page. Montgomery County residents can pre-register on their county’s website. All three counties are administering the Moderna vaccine. The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday moved people over 65 and from 16-64 with certain medical conditions into Phase 1A of its vaccine roll out, which Chester County pointed out is likely to exacerbate vaccine shortages.

New round of PPP loans available again next week
Community financial institutions will be able to again make loans under the Paycheck Protection Program starting next week, according to the Journal of Accountancy. The Journal said the Small Business Administration has committed “to make at least the first two days of the PPP application window open exclusively to applications from community financial institutions that serve minority- and women-owned businesses.” The PPP received $284.45 billion in additional funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which was signed by President Trump last month. 

Fellow Members of the Main Line Chamber –
A year ago today, we had no idea what we were in for in 2020 despite the global pandemic that was already in its gestation phase. In the past nine months, we have learned much – about ourselves, our families, friends and co-workers.

PA Chamber blasts Gov. Wolf’s new pandemic mitigation efforts
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President Gene Barr said Gov. Tom Wolf didn’t consult the business community before ordering new novel coronavirus pandemic mitigation measures yesterday. Rather than impose new orders, Barr said, the state should more effectively enforce the ones in place, for example by providing employers with support to enforce mask-wearing mandates. 

Trade groups ask Congress to reverse IRS treatment of expenses paid by PPP loans
Several hundred trade associations have sent a letter to House and Senate leaders asking them to pass legislation to reverse the Internal Revenue Service’s treatment of expenses paid by funds borrowed under the Paycheck Protection Program, according to the Journal of Accountancy. Loans made under the PPP can be forgiven if they are used for certain business expenses, but the IRS has ruled that businesses can’t deduct expenses that otherwise would be deductible if paying the expenses results in forgiveness of a PPP loan. 

Interpreting PA’s order to telework and more aggressive mask stance

Companies that had brought some employees back but are able to operate remotely are among those being pressured to use telework under Pennsylvania’s newest coronavirus restrictions order. It is not clear, however, that there will be enforcement action for companies that do not comply.

More COVID-19 relief money available for Delco nonprofits
Delaware County nonprofits that have suffered economic loss due to COVID-19 have until Friday to apply for grants of up to $49,500 from the Delco Strong Round 3: Nonprofit Fund. To be eligible, a nonprofit must have at least one location in Delaware County that provides services to county communities and/or residents and have annual revenue of $15 million or less. It also must not have received grants in either of the first two rounds of the Delco Strong program.

Chamber to distribute PPE, masks
The Main Line Chamber of Commerce will be distributing kits of personal protective equipment to small business in Montgomery County and masks for businesses in Chester County. The kits available to Montgomery County businesses include face masks, face shields, sanitizer, a thermometer, #MaskUpMontco window clings and documents that provide COVID-19 information and guidance. The county bought the kits with funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and is making them available to businesses. The chamber also will be distributing masks and signs and other items promoting Chester County’s “Simple Ask: Wear a Mask” public health campaign to businesses in Chester County.

A statement from the President and CEO of the Main Line Chamber
“As new coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania continue to match high rates last attained in May, it’s vitally important that our region rally around the idea that the expectation and legal requirement for individuals to wear a mask in public is a responsibility that is part of living in a society in which many things that we do affect others. This is no more an assault on individual rights than requiring co-workers not to smoke in an office environment. Gov. Wolf’s rollback of restaurant occupancy requirements, part of a broader set of ramped-up restrictions, is devastating to a segment of our Chamber’s membership. While we lacked this information at the start of the pandemic, we now know that mask wearing significantly helps prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Applications now being accepted for state’s COVID-19 small business aid program
Small businesses whose operations have been affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic can begin applying for the $225 million in grants that will be given out under the state’s COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance Program. To qualify, businesses must have 25 or fewer full-time employees and annual revenue of $1 million or less. The grants will range from $5,000 to $50,000 and be awarded in multiple rounds. Applications, which are being accepted for 10 days starting on June 30, will be prioritized and applicants will be selected for funding based on the program’s criteria, not on a first-come, first-served basis. Businesses must apply through a Community Development Financial Institution in their county.

Southeast counties going green, but restrictions remain
Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties on Friday moved into the green phase of the state of Pennsylvania’s classification system for reopening in the wake of COVID-19 shut-down orders. Delaware County offers a list of the work and social restrictions that remain in place during the green phase. Restaurants, bars and entertainment venues, including casinos, theaters and shopping malls, can operate at 50 percent capacity. So can hair salons, and barbershops, although they can only accept patrons by appointment. Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities, and personal care services such as gyms and spas, also can operate at 50 percent capacity, preferably by appointment. Construction activity can return to full capacity with continued implementation of safety protocols. Gatherings of more than 250 people are prohibited, and people are required to wear masks when entering businesses.

Safety equipment kits for businesses available from MLCC
The Main Line Chamber of Commerce is distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits as part its role as a member of the Chester County Recovery Task Force. The $10 kits include 100 masks, 100 pairs of gloves and a half gallon of hand sanitizer and will be available for pickup on June 16 from 9-5 at the Chamber offices in Wayne. Although any business or nonprofit member of the chamber with fewer than 100 employees is eligible, preference is given to Chester County businesses for this set of kits.

With yellow phase to begin locally next Friday, Governor outlines details of green
Gov. Wolf provided additional guidance on the opening process as he expects Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties and Philadelphia to move by June 5 to the yellow phase of the state’s three-phase system for classifying counties in the wake of a stay-at-home order that will end on that date.

Liability protections for opening businesses becomes source of debate
Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre, said in a conference call this week that he wants liability protections for businesses that follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when they are allowed to reopen. Nationally, ABC reports, many businesses are seeking to have Congress grant them similar protections in the next round of stimulus legislation. 

The Main Line Chamber of Commerce works to facilitate relationships amongst our members and within the community. As we support each other through this Coronavirus pandemic, we will strive to keep our members informed of the progress of each other as well as the work of Chamber.  Below is a list of our member restaurants that are still serving the community through curbside service, take out, delivery, revised menus and revised hours.  Providing them with some business while maintaining social distancing will be greatly appreciated by these job-creating businesses. Please tell them how you heard about them.

Chester County establishes $5 million coronavirus response fund for small businesses
The Chester County commissioners have set up a $5 million fund for the Main Street Preservation grant program, which will provide grants of up to $25,000 to small businesses and agricultural enterprises in the county that were unable to take advantage of federal and state coronavirus response programs. To be eligible, businesses and enterprises must be based in and physically located in Chester County, have been active in 2019 or earlier, and have annual revenue of no more than $500,000. Grant applications must be submitted between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Monday, May 11. 

Federal Reserve expands Main Street Lending Program
The Federal Reserve is expanding the scope and eligibility requirements of its Main Street Lending Program. The Fed has created a third loan option with increased risk sharing by lenders for borrowers with greater leverage; lowered the minimum size for loans under two options to $500,000 from $1 million; and increased the size of businesses eligible for the loans to 15,000 employees or $5 billion in annual revenue. The program will be funded by the Treasury Department with $75 billion from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The Fed plans to announce a start date for the program soon.

Pennsylvania’s reopening plan: Chart and Q&A
The Harrisburg Patriot-News provides detailed coverage of Gov. Tom Wolf’s statement about how he plans to start reopening the state’s businesses and easing stay-at-home orders, beginning on May 8. In addition to a chart outlining the plan, the PennLive website provides a detailed set of questions and answers interpreting how the plan will work.

Senate passes $484 billion bill to help small businesses and fund hospitals and testing
The Senate on Tuesday afternoon passed a $484 billion package to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program and a small business emergency grant and loan program, as well as provide funding to hospitals and a new coronavirus testing program. The House is expected to approve the measure Thursday. President Trump has said he would sign the measure into law. The legislation would provide $310 billion to the PPP, $60 billion to the small business program, $75 billion to hospitals and $25 billion to the testing program. More information about the bill can be found in a Washington Post story.

IRS to start making Economic Impact Payments this month
The Internal Revenue Service is slated to begin distributing economic impact payments authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) this month. USA Today reports that the first set of $1,200 payments to individuals, and $2,400 for joint taxpayers, are on track to go out next week and that the first few sets of checks will be prioritized toward people who have low incomes and/or get Social Security payments. The IRS says most people won’t need to do anything to receive the payments. The payment phases out at $75,000 income for singles and $150,000 for couples.

Congresswoman Houlahan shares basis of federal funding amount at Chamber event
Congresswoman Chrissy Holahan, during a Live Virtual Main Line Chamber of Commerce Covid-19 Recovery Resources Event Tuesday, said the justification for nearly $350 billion in loans available through the Payroll Protection Program assumed that 90 percent of all eligible businesses would apply. This indicates that fears of the money running out quickly could be largely unfounded. A video of her interview, including questions from participants, can be found on our Recovery Resources page.

U.S. Chamber shares highlights of bi-partisan coronavirus stimulus bill
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is blogging live on the details of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The bipartisan bill negotiated in the Senate includes $350 billion in loans for small businesses, delayed payroll tax payments to boost business liquidity and $500 billion in federally backed loans and loan guarantees for midsize ad large businesses.