December 23, 2020

Updates from Adams Morgan

Click Here to see previous updates in our newsletter archive

For the latest from the DC government, refer to: https://coronavirus.dc.gov

Last-Minute Shopping?

Did you wait too late to buy holiday presents?

It's not too late to shop in the neighborhood, and we've assembled a Adams Morgan Holiday Gift Guide to help get you started. If you can't make it to the stores at all, we've got you covered with a list of direct links to over 60 Adams Morgan businesses' online gift card pages where you can find everything from fine dining to beauty treatments to vintage clothing, and so much more.

Don't forget about those who need a little extra help this year. In addition to shopping ideas, our holiday gift guide has a long list of neighborhood nonprofits that could use your help. Click here and scroll down to the "for the giver" section to read about these great programs and then click the link to donate.

Join us in spreading some Adams Morgan holiday cheer.

After the year we've been through we all need a little extra holiday spirit, so this year we're stepping up our holiday game. In addition to decorating the kiosk at Columbia Rd. and Adams Mill Rd. again, we've decorated streetlights around the neighborhood and constructed an interactive, Instagramable holiday display in BB&T Bank Plaza. The display will be in place until January 4.

Mayor Bowser Announces New COVID-19 Restrictions

The following changes start Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020 at 10 p.m. and last through 5 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021:

• Restaurants may not have indoor dining. Outdoor dining and carry out/delivery may continue. ( see the RAMW Update below for more details about dining restrictions )
• Museums must close (staff and contractors may enter for minimum business operations).
• Non-essential businesses are required to telework, except for the in-person staff needed to support minimum business operations.
• Libraries must close but patrons may pick up and drop off materials.
• The Department of Parks and Recreation may only issue permits for individual fitness activities.

Bridge Fund Applications for Restaurants, Retail, and Entertainment Now Open

Applications opened for the Restaurant Bridge Fund opened on December 7. The fund aims to provide competitive grants to eligible restaurant and food services establishments that have experienced significant economic distress due to the COVID-19 public health emergency and made plans to respond and adapt to these challenging circumstances. The application will be open for three (3) weeks, and closes on Monday, December 28, 2020 at 5:00 PM/ET.

Click here for additional information .

Retail Bridge Fund applications opened on Monday December 14, Entertainment Bridge Fund applications opened on December 21.

The Retail Bridge Fund aims to provide competitive grants to eligible retail establishments that have experienced significant economic distress due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Local brick-and-mortar retail establishments, such as bookstores, clothing stores, salons, massage establishments, fitness studios, art galleries, and dry cleaners are eligible to apply. The funds will support general operational expenses (rent/mortgage expense, payroll, insurance, and/or utilities), as well as operating expenses related to COVID-19.

Click here for additional information and to apply.

To determine which Bridge Fund program your business may be eligible for, click here .

Robust Retail Grant Applications Open

DSLBD has opened applications for their 2021 Robust Retail Grant . The deadline to apply is January 28, 2021 at 2 pm . The purpose of the grant is to support existing DC-based retail businesses maintaining operations and viability during the current small business crisis.

How will grants be awarded, and for how much?

DSLBD intends to award up to $7,500 per business to 106 businesses from the total $800,000 in available funding for Fiscal Year 2021. This grant will be operated as a reimbursement grant, awarded via lottery, to DC retail businesses that have met all eligibility requirements by the final deadline.

Update from RAMW

from Kathy Hollinger, president, RAMW

Let’s begin with some VERY good news on the Federal Relief front!  A silver lining in this challenging week is that Congress has reached a bipartisan deal. This is a bright spot as we head into the Holidays and are faced with many operational hindrances. A huge thank you to our partners at the National Restaurant Association who took an aggressive, strategic approach to ensure our industry received a second round of relief in 2020. The final text of the bill is finally out and it includes a new round of PPP, $600 stimulus checks, an additional $300 for UI, and more.

Below is a quick summary of what's included thanks to Matt Hetrick at the Harmony Group.

PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP)

• Who Qualifies : If your business has experienced a quarter this year with a sales drop of 25%+ vs last year, you will likely qualify for another loan from the PPP program.
• What You Get: Businesses with NAICS codes starting with 72 (i.e. restaurants, bars, etc.) will be at a multiple of 3.5x 2019 average monthly payroll. Other businesses will be at 2.5x average monthly payroll.
• When You Can Apply: Applications will likely be accepted in January, which means now is the time to get your ducks in a row and speak to your accountant, bank, lender and attorney.
• How The Money Can Be Spent: These funds can be spent on more types of expenses than the first PPP loans. Operating expenses and suppliers can be paid from these loans, as well as payroll, rent, utilities, etc. like before. There is also the ability to spend funds on ‘‘(IV) an expansion of additional indoor, outdoor, or combined business space”. This expansion is now applied retroactively, as well, for anyone who hasn’t received forgiveness. The law is written broadly, so we will see what the Treasury allows.
• Taxability of PPP Forgiveness: Congress has overridden the IRS and made it explicit that the expenses used to generate PPP forgiveness WILL be tax deductible. This is a huge win for taxpayers.

EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT (ERTC) EXPANSION - The Federal government will pay for 70% of your first $10,000 of wages per employee during periods when your business is operating under either partial or full shutdowns through June 30, 2021. The ERTC provides immediate relief - it’s a credit each time you run payroll, not at the end of the year, meaning you get money back up front - and will be accessible immediately.

Click here for a more detailed analysis of what is included. We will keep you posted as more information becomes available, and we are looking to host a roundtable on this new relief legislation, so please stay tuned.

On a less bright note - the indoor dining pause in DC.

We are extremely disappointed in the timing of this announcement, as are you. It is important that you know that we have been in conversations with the Mayor and city officials since Friday advocating for the things you are telling us everyday are critical to your operations. Our role as your Association is to represent your businesses and ensure that our local elected officials know your pain points and know the effects you are feeling based on decisions they make, as well as to offer solutions and guidance based on industry input as they consider proposing laws, regulations and decisions that could impact the industry.

Understanding how disruptive the indoor pause that goes into effect Wednesday, December 23rd at 10pm until 5am on January 15th is on your operation, we pushed for clarity on additional allowances that needed to be addressed with outdoor dining. With outdoor on premise dining still permissible, the Mayor announced additional allowances and guidance, at yesterday's press conference, to make outdoor dining more accessible. Click here for the updated Streatery Winter Ready Dining Guide.

Here is what you CAN now do:

• NEW: Outdoor structures, dining tents and/or canopies CAN have two (2) flaps down and are now considered outdoor. Previously, only one flap/side was permitted to be down in order for it to be considered outdoors. This allowance is only in place during the Holiday Pause.
• All outdoor structures previously permitted before the pandemic with more than two sides, and approved by DCRA, may continue to operate. You can work directly with DOH (food.safety@dc.gov) and DCRA (dcra@dc.gov) to ensure compliance if you have questions.
• NEW: You CAN now continue to operate when the temperature reaches 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. This restriction on outdoor temperature for Streateries, parklets and sidewalk cafes no longer applies. The new requirement states that Streateries and parklets shall not be used during a Snow Emergency. Additionally if a Snow Emergency is declared during 12/23 and 1/15, sidewalk cafes are restricted from being used.
• Enclosed structures, such as plastic domes or igloos for individual parties of 6 or less guests, are not considered indoor space and are permitted. These structures must be cleaned and sanitized between parties. Larger igloos or structures that accommodate multiple parties are considered indoor space.
• NEW: Electric portable space heaters are permitted inside of outdoor structures/igloos. This is a huge win.
• Small electric heaters may be used with 8 or 10 gauge extension cords. This is a new allowance. A permit from the Fire Marshall must be obtained prior to use. The online application can be found at fems.dc.gov . (Indicate “Mayor’s Emergency Order” in application).

Again, click here for the detailed guidance from the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife and Culture. If you have any questions regarding this guide and updated allowances please email nightlife@dc.gov.

Regarding vaccine distribution, we have been relentless in communicating to elected officials and health officials in the District that, as much as is possible given available resources, foodservice employees should be included in early rounds of vaccinations in DC.

Metrobus resumes fare collection and front-door boarding on January 3

Beginning Sunday, January 3, 2021, Metrobus will resume fare collection and front-door boarding as part of Metro’s pandemic recovery plan to preserve service and transit jobs.  Many other major transit agencies around the country are also returning to fare collection and front-door boarding as part of their pandemic recovery plans.

While onboard buses, customers are still required to wear face coverings and to maintain social distancing as much as possible.

"Shop in the District" promotes shopping safely at small local retailers

Attention restaurants and retailers in Adams Morgan: Shop in the District is a new initiative by DC's Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and Washington DC Economic Partnership , aimed at promoting shopping safely at small local retailers throughout the city, especially during the upcoming holiday season. The website will connect consumers directly with local retailers (searchable by neighborhood or product type) and will feature gift guides curated by local DC celebrities. The site will be heavily advertised and promoted through all available channels over the next 2 months. They have also partnered with NEAR.delivery to offer free delivery services (as early as same-day) to deliver orders to DC residents through the holiday season. Download the one-pager for more information.

Sociable City Vision Innovation Team

Since early summer, the Responsible Hospitality Institute (RHI) has worked on developing the second phase of their project and scheduled online forums the week of January 11th. The goal of the January forums is to establish a framework for cities to work on recovery and revitalization of their social economy.

Here are links to lessons learned and discussion topics for January:

• Summary of Ten Section Forums in June and July
• PDF of PowerPoint for January: A Proposed Framework
• Video of PowerPoint

Please RSVP to select the section(s) you want to join.

Your Holidays at The LINE DC

Click here for good things going on this season at the LINE DC, from holiday plans and happy hours at Brothers And Sisters to public art and socially-distanced ways to support local biz.

New Year? Yes, please. They're ringing in 2021 with cozy room offers and some seriously epic add-ons: Chef Erik Bruner-Yang’s NYE picnic baskets were made for dining in, kicking back, and making the most of the final few moments of 2020.

Submit your events!

List your Adams Morgan event on our webpage for free! Click here to go to the event submission form, fill it out completely, and click on "submit event." Event submissions are reviewed to ensure the events either take place within the Adams Morgan business district or are being put on by an Adams Morgan business, and once approved should appear on the website within 48 hours.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sponsor one of our community events! Partner with our community while reaching some of the city's most desirable demographics. For details, contact Kristen Barden at 202-997-0783.

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