Chamber working to help local businesses
As a Chamber, we are here for our businesses and our community. We have been through difficult times before and we will continue to be strong during these unprecedented times. We are all in this together!
Below is a chronological timeline of announcements, Executive Orders, and waivers showing how rapid the release of information is becoming. The Chamber will continue to monitor all information channels and will continue to work to get information out to our members and community via emails and Facebook posts. There is much information being put out regarding COVID-19, however, the Chamber is posting and emailing ONLY information coming out of our city, county, state and federal governments.
March 16, 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the following:
15 DAYS TO SLOW THE SPREAD:
Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local authorities:
• If you feel sick, stay home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider
• If your children are sick, keep them home. Contact your medical provider
• If someone in your household has tested positive for the coronavirus, keep the entire household home. Do not go to work. Contact your medical provider.
• If you are an older person, stay home and stay away from other people.
• If you are a person with a serious underlying health condition that can put you at increased risk (for example, a condition that impairs your lung or heart function or weakens your immune system), stay home and away from other people.
March 16, 2020 – Mayor of the City of Wimberley issued a Declaration of Public Health Emergency.
March 17, 2020 the Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce joined the newly formed Hays County COVID-19 Task Force.
This Task forces includes Hays County, Caldwell County, the Chambers from San Marcos, Buda, Kyle, Dripping Springs, Luling and Lockhart, Workforce Solutions of Rural Capital Area (Hays and Caldwell counties), and the Greater San Marcos Partnership. This Task Force began putting together an Economic Impact Survey that will be completed this week. The Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce will be deploying this survey to all our Chamber members via email no later than Thursday of this week. We are asking all our members to take the time to complete this survey, as this information will provide much needed data to Hays County, the State of Texas and the Federal Government outlining the economic damage to our business community and put us ahead in getting our business community the needed support, post COVID-19. For more information on the Hays County COVID-19 Task Force and its members can be found at www.greatersanmarcostx.com/virus.
March 18, 2020 the followings waivers were issued by Governor Abbott:
Governor Greg Abbott today issued a waiver that will allow restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages with food purchases to patrons, including beer, wine, and mixed drinks. The Governor also directed the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to waive certain provisions to allow manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of alcoholic beverages to repurchase or sell back unopened product.
These waivers are in response to the financial hardship caused by COVID-19 that has disproportionately affected the hospitality industry.
“The State of Texas is committed to supporting retailers, restaurants, and their employees,” said Governor Abbott. “These waivers will allow restaurants to provide enhanced delivery options to consumers during this temporary period of social distancing.”
Under this waiver, effective immediately, restaurants with a mixed beverage permit may sell beer, wine, or mixed drinks for delivery as long as they are accompanied by food purchased from the restaurant.
The buy-back waiver allows alcohol distributors and manufacturers to repurchase excess inventory from restaurants, bars, and clubs affected by event cancellations due to COVID-19.
March 19, 2020 the following Executive orders were issued by Governor Abbott:
• Order No. 1: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
• Order No. 2: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors; provided, however, that the use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options is allowed and highly encouraged throughout the limited duration of this executive order.
• Order No. 3: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
• Order No. 4: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, schools shall temporarily close.
These orders became effective on a statewide basis starting at 11:59 PM on March 20, 2020 and will end at 11:59 PM on April 3, 2020, subject to extension thereafter based on the status of COVID-19 in Texas and the recommendations of the CDC.
March 20, 2020 the following announcement was made by Governor Abbott:
Governor Greg Abbott today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has included the entire state of Texas in its Economic Injury Disaster Declaration and granted access to its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which will provide long-term, low-interest loans to qualifying businesses across the state.
“Small businesses are the foundation of our state’s economy and they need all the help they can get as the ripple effects of COVID-19 impact their everyday operations,” said Governor Abbott. “Today’s decision by the U.S. Small Business Administration to make Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to qualifying small businesses across Texas is a vital lifeline for Texas small business owners who are doing their best to adapt to these trying times.”
The Governor’s request was driven by COVID-19-related economic losses across Texas related to major event cancellations, loss of walk-in customers, depletion of stock from suppliers, and client cancellations. Governor Abbott also commented on the SBA’s rapid turnaround to a request he made by letter just three days ago.
“The overriding message of this time in history is that we are all in this together,” said Governor Abbott. “From people responsibly remaining at home to protect themselves and their communities to the small businesses adapting to serve them, Texans are showing their willingness to serve the greater good and that’s why we’ll overcome this together. That’s what Texans do. We are not only Texas Strong, we are #TexasBizStrong.”
Texas small businesses who believe they may be eligible for an SBA EIDL should visit www.sba.gov/disaster where they can directly apply for assistance. The online application is the fastest method to receive a decision about loan eligibility.
For full and complete language of the Governor’s Executive Orders, Declarations, Proclamations, and Waivers on COVID-19, please visit gov.texas.gov/coronavirus.
For full and complete language of the Mayor of Wimberley’s Declaration please visit www.cityofwimberley.com/covid19
As things change by the minute, the Chamber is working hard to keep our members as up to date as possible. In the meantime, we are calling on our healthy community members to continue to patronize our restaurants by calling for take-out, curbside or delivery. All Chamber member restaurants and shops may be found on our website at wimberley.org/listing-category/dining/. We are also asking you to shop online at our stores and art galleries who are offering that option or give them a call to see how they can provide you the opportunity to patronize their businesses. All Chamber member retail shops may be found on our website at wimberley.org/listing-category/shopping/. All Chamber member art galleries and artists may be found on our website at wimberley.org/listing-category/arts-culture/.
The Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce’s website has a COVID-19 section where there are many resources for our businesses. Please visit our website at www.wimberley. org/COVID-19.
The Chamber Board of Directors, on Sunday, March 22 made the decision to ask the staff to work from home until the “15 DAYS TO SLOW THE SPREAD” deadline of March 30, 2020.
We, John and I, will be working remotely, and will continue to be available to serve our members via phone and email. My cell phone number is 512-922- 1648, email either of us at michaelanne@wimberley. org or John Palumbo at [email protected]. We ask our members to let us know about your announcements, updates and other pertinent information so we may post on social media and through emails to our community. Also, on Sunday, March 15th we asked our volunteers to stay home until March 30th. However, this date is subject to change as the COVID-19 situation changes.
We appreciate your support of the Chamber and again, please know we are working hard to keep all members and community informed through this difficult and unprecedented time in our country.
Michaelanne Hurst, Executive Director, Wimberley Valley Chamber of Commerce