From Kathy Hollinger, RAMW President and CEO
Congress has reached a deal for what we have been referring to as Phase 3.5 of federal relief. The Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that provides a $484 billion relief package that includes $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), $60 billion will be set aside for smaller lending facilities, including "community financial institutions, small insured depository institutions and credit unions with assets less than $10 billion." There will also be $10 billion for grants under the Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, $50 billion for disaster recovery loans and $2.1 billion for additional salaries and expenses for the Small Business Administration.
The House is expected to vote on Thursday. This was a bipartisan effort, so the President will likely sign this into law quickly. We will notify you when we have more information about how this will impact the application process for those who were not granted the loan during the first round. At this time, it is likely the process will be up to the individual banks
Recognizing many of you were left behind during the first round, many lenders have the online application up and ready to go for the next round of funding. Please be in touch with your lenders to best position you to secure PPP funding.
Be prepared and make your calls NOW!
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Restaurants
We’ve heard from many of you who are seeking suppliers for PPE items such as masks and gloves, as well as cleaning supplies like disinfectant and hand sanitizer. In response, we collected information from local purveyors in our community to provide you with information and contacts to assist you in purchasing these items.
Acme Paper and Supply Co.:
Face Masks: Stocking face masks now and with inventory that should, depending on demand, carry through the first week of May. They are working with manufacturers to get case size and price down as the weeks move forward. They encourage restaurants within close proximity to consider splitting a case, if possible, to lower cost. RAMW can assist in this coordination. Acme cannot break cases for face masks as they are medically sealed products (cases of approx. 2,000 but will vary week-to-week). Gloves, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer are in stock.
Click here
for details on supplies. Contact:
info@acmepaper.com
TriMark Adams-Burch:
Face Masks: 3-ply face masks are in stock in packs of 10/cs. and 50/cs., and splitting cases is not possible. Customers can pre-pay for advanced orders and TriMark will set stock aside. Gloves and a wide variety of RTU and concentrates are in stock in terms of disinfectant and sanitizers. Customers do not need a pre-existing account. New customers can order and pre-pay via credit card. Contact: Monet Footman, 301-276-2000
Saval Foodservice:
Face masks: They have them on order and expect to have stock around 4/30 and we will share details then. Gloves, disinfectant, and hand sanitizer available and in stock. New accounts need to fill out a quick application to be able to order. Contact: Michael Koslofsky. Regional Manager, Mobile: 202-420-1240
The Grill/Knead HD:
Fellow restaurateurs at Knead HD have supplies available through The Grill, located at The Wharf, and also for delivery. Face masks: Available for online order as 5/pack for $4.99. Gloves are for sale in boxes of 100 and they have sanitizing spray, hand sanitizer and other products also available.
Click here
for details.
Additionally, some restaurants are working with companies offering Coronavirus deep cleaning and disinfecting services. Local pest control company PMSI has a food-grade, EPA approved fogging system that is labeled for schools, hospitals, day cares, residential homes, food handling areas, processing plants, and commercial offices.
Click here
to learn more.
Nelbud offers Coronavirus Disinfection service including surface deep-cleaning, fogging, and hot-water pressure washing.
Click here
for more information.
In closing RAMW is working on a blueprint for guidelines and protocol for the reopening of businesses in this region, which will be shared with all of you. DC, MD, and VA health officials are working on a coordinated effort to ensure that our region is taking next steps based on a protocol that considers several gradual phases of reopening guidelines. Health officials will lead this plan, but regional leaders are looking to the business community to give input on impact. If you have not done so already,
please take this important survey
which is critical to our next steps as an industry. We will share more of how this phased reopening will impact you and our industry as we approach these guidelines.
