Recover. Reopen. Reconnect.- Preparing Workplaces for Employees and Customers
April 29, 2020
Recover. Reopen. Reconnect.
As always, one of the goals of your Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce is to encourage commerce and to help your business succeed. And as we continue to navigate these uncharted waters during the coronavirus pandemic, your Chamber is here to provide the tools and resources as we all work together to Recover, Reopen and Reconnect!
NEW: July 30, 2020-- Today Governor Kay Ivey Kay Ivey on Thursday announced a $50 million grant program to support nonprofit and faith-based organizations who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alabama Nonprofit Grant Program and the Alabama Faith-Based Grant Program will be awarded to eligible applicants on a first-come-first-served basis up to a $25 million aggregate cap in each program.
Coronavirus Relief Fund Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Click Here to Learn More
***The submissions portal will open at noon August 3, 2020.
At that time you will be able to complete an application though
the submittable online portal.
NEW: July 29, 2020- On Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey amended the Safer At Home Health Order and has extended the current order.
The Safer at Home order will be extended through Monday, August 31, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Below is a quick summary of the changes:
1. Extension of current order: The Safer at Home order will be extended through Monday, August 31, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
2. Masks: The current order’s mask requirement will continue. Beyond that, the new order contains a few tweaks to provide clarity in this area:
a. Masks in schools: Under this order, students in “second grade or above” (including colleges and universities) will be required to wear masks in schools “to the greatest extent practicable” when in close contact with people from another household. (The “young-child” exception to the general mask requirement will be updated accordingly to mirror the second-grade cutoff.)
b. Masks at sporting events: Under the new order, mask use will be required at an athletic activity only when a person is within six feet of a person from another household.
3. Athletic facilities. The current order contains a paragraph entitled “limits on facility access,” which imposes an emergency occupancy rate and which requires closure of certain areas of an athletic facility, such as showers and lockers. Under the new order, this paragraph will be deleted. The facility-access paragraph is unnecessary in light of the other sanitation and social-distancing rules that apply in athletic facilities.
Click Here to Download
July 15, 2020- On Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey issued her fourteenth supplemental emergency proclamation containing an amended Safe at Home Order that includes a statewide mask requirement. Individuals will be required to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people, described in the order. This requirement goes into effect Thursday, July 16 at 5:00 pm and is currently set to expire July 31, 2020 at 5:00 pm. Below are some key points to the order:
- Each person shall wear a mask or other facial covering that covers his or her nostrils and mouth at all times when within six feet of a person from another household in any of the following places:
- An indoor space open to the general public
- A vehicle operated by a transportation service
- An outdoor space where 10 or more people are gathered
- Businesses are not required to deny entry to people who aren’t wearing a mask, but they retain the right to do so.
- The order doesn’t apply to children 6 years of age or younger.
- The order doesn’t apply to people with a medical condition or disability that prevents him or her from wearing a facial covering.
- The order doesn’t apply while you are consuming food or drink.
- The order does not apply to people who are actively engaged in exercise or athletic activities.
- The penalty for violating the order can result in a $500 fine and/or jail time
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| Click Here To Download | Click Here to Download |
Click Here to Download Signage To Display In Your Business To Encourage Everyone To Wear Masks
June 30, 2020- Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday issued an amended Safer at Home Order to be applied statewide. The current order, which took effect on May 22, was previously set to expire on Friday, July 3, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. but has been extended to expire on July 31, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
The order continues the current safety guidelines and requirements, including:
- Social distancing--maintaining six feet distance between individuals and households.
- Wearing face coverings around people from other households when it is necessary to leave the home.
- Practicing proper hygiene (i.e., washing your hands regularly and covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough).
- Businesses maintaining sanitation rules.
- Retails stores and restaurants limited to 50% occupancy.
- Effective immediately, any person who has tested positive for COVID-19-- other than institutional persons-- shall be quarantined to their place of residence for a period of 14 days, or other period of time as directed by the State Health Officer, after receiving positive test results .
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| Click Here to Download Image | Click Here to Download Order |
NEW, June 30, 2020: Public Health Considerations for Reopening
ADPH is using data and metrics to make recommendations to assist the Governor's Office, partners, and stakeholders across the state in making decisions about safely reopening Alabama. View the COVID-19 Risk Indicator Dashboard (Mobile Version). For more information and resources on reopening Alabama, visit Public Health Guidance for Reopening.
Friday, June 12, 2020: Paycheck Protections Program Borrower Application Form Revised 06/12/2020.
Click Here to Access the Revised PPP Application
Tuesday, June 16, 2020: SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Advance Program Reopened for all eligible small businesses and non-profits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Expired 06/30/2020
| To further meet the needs of U.S. small businesses and non-profits, the U.S. Small Business Administration reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19 today. Click Here for More Details |
Friday, June 5, 2020: The PPP Flexibility Act was signed into law. This legislation includes several changes in forgiveness requirements and other aspects in the program. As always, we encourage you to follow-up with your financial advisor.
Below are some of the changes included in the new law:
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May 21, 2020 @ 2:00 PM: Governor Kay Ivey held a joint press conference with Dr. Scott Harris to provide further updates on COVID-19. Alabama is now the entire state is under an amended Safer at Home Order until July 3. Click the link below to read the Current Safer At Home Amended Order from today's press conference.
May 11, 2020: Governor Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health issued an amended “Safer at Home” order beginning on May 11, 2020 and expiring on Friday, May 22, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. This NEW order allows more businesses to begin re-opening with specific guidelines.
Under this amended health order, individuals are encouraged to exercise personal responsibility but are not ordered to stay home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Public places are to take reasonable steps to maintain six feet of separation between persons, and disinfect frequently used items and surfaces.
Employers are also encouraged to maintain a six feet of separation between persons as work duties permit, consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Employers are to facilitate remote working arrangements where practical, minimize employee travel, and otherwise follow guidance from the CDC concerning ways to reduce transmission among employees to maintain healthy business operations, and to maintain a healthy work environment.
Retail stores may open with the following rules:
- Occupancy is limited to no more than 50 percent of normal occupancy as determined by the fire marshal. Staff is to be posted at entrances and exits for enforcement.
- Employees may not knowingly allow customers or patrons to congregate within 6 feet of one another.
- Retailers must comply with sanitation guidelines.
Restaurants, bars and breweries are allowed to reopen with specific guidelines, including limiting the party size to 8 and maintaining social distancing at 6 feet between people seated at other tables. In addition, employees are required to wear masks and abide by the sanitation guidelines. these establishments may continue to offer can continue take-out, curbside, pick-up and delivery service.
Athletic facilities such as commercial gyms, spas, yoga, barre and spin facilities are allowed to open at 50% capacity and that they comply with social distancing, employees wear face masks and they abide by the sanitation guidelines.
Entertainment Venues such as bowling alleys, movie theaters, and others along with athletic activities, such as sports are still not allowed.
Your Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce knows that our business community is excited to begin the reopening process, but we also know that they want to do it safely---and we are here to help you!
We are strongly encouraging our businesses to consider what they need to do in order to safely reopen their business to protect their employees and customers. Our business community is resourceful, resilient and responsible. Below are resources and tools to help our community to RECOVER, REOPEN and RECONNECT!
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| "Amended Safer At Home" Order Click Here for PDF |
"Safer At Home" Q&A Click Here for PDF |
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| Guidelines for Places of Worship Click Here |
Guidelines for Restaurants & Bars Click Here |
Guidelines for Close Contact Businesses- Beauty Salons, etc. Click Here |
Guidelines for Athletic Facilities
Click Here
Your Prattville Chamber, and our partners, are here every step of the way to help our members to RECOVER. REOPEN. RECONNECT. Below are resources and tools that will be extremely valuable to you and your business during this process.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Four Steps to Reopening Your Business Safely
Resources from the SBA- Reopening Your Business
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has prepared a Reopening Template and a Helpful Tips Guide to assist businesses in developing and implementing an effective plan for reopening their business while ensuring a safe and healthy workplace for all employees and customers.
Preparedness Plan for Reopening: Template Allowing You To Create Your Own Personalized Reopening Plan For Your Business:
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Many of our members have already opened, while others are still in the process of safely allowing customers to return. Below is a helpful guide prepared by our partners at the SBDC, providing suggestions on what you can do for a successful reopening as you prepare and continue evaluating your Reopening plan.
Helpful Tips: Preparing To Reopen: Suggestions on what you can do for a successful reopening and allows businesses to reevaluate your Reopening Plan.
Click Here to Download the PDF |
Resources from the U.S. Chamber:
Ready To Open- A Playbook For Your Small Business: In this four page guide, the U.S. Chamber will walk you through the steps your business will need to take to reopen as restrictions are lifted across the country and your business prepares for the "now normal". This handy playbook provides necessary information for you to prepare your reopening plan, and if you have already started the reopening process, to help you ensure the safety of your employees and customers while you are doing business.
 Click Here to Download PDF |
Guide TO The Main Street Lending Program: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Secruity (CARES) Act, the Federal Reserve has created the Main Street Lending Program to provide a total of $600 billion in financing for small and medium sized businesses.
 Click Here to Download PDF |
Backgrounder on Health Coverage: This publication by the U.S. Chamber provides an overview of the health coverage alternatives available to workers and their families who have lost coverage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic--whether because of job loss, hour reductions, or lay-offs.
 Click Here to Download PDF |
Backgrounder on Unemployment Insurance Under The CARES Act: This publication by the U.S. Chamber provides an overview on how the CARES Act has impacted unemployment insurance options available for workers who suffer job losses or reduced hours as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic--including how to find out if you're eligible and how to access coverage.
 Click Here to Download PDF |
Use of Face Coverings and PPE
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. The CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings should not be place on children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
The Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA) has prepared a resource list of non-medical PPE for our business community. This is a dynamic list and will be updated as information becomes available.
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| DIY Cloth Face Coverings Click Here for PDF |
Face Coverings Do's and Don'ts Click Here for PDF |
Locating PPE Equipment Click Here for PDF |
Return to Work
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed the COVID-19 planning and guidance based on traditional infection prevention and industrial hygiene practices. This guidance is intended for planning purposes which will aide in operating a workplace that will ensure employee and customer safety.
All employers should be ready to implement strategies to protect their workforce from the coronavirus while ensuring continuity of operations. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation created one page-flyers based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) providing workplace tips for employers and employees. These documents are available below for you to download.
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| OSHA Guidance: Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 Click Here to Download |
U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Foundation Workplace Tips for Employers Click Here for Download |
U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Foundation Workplace Tips for Employees Click Here for Download |
Keeping the Workplace Safe
The U.S. Chamber has compiled CDC’s coronavirus recommendations for business and workers across the country. We encourage businesses to follow data-based guidance from the CDC.
Reopening America requires all of us to move forward together practicing social distancing and other daily habits to reduce our risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 and the CDC’s Guidance For Cleaning And Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools and Homes are below.
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| U.S. Chamber of Commerce Keeping the Workplace Safe Click Here for PDF |
ReOpening America Cleaning Disinfection Decision Tool Click Here for PDF |
Reopening America Guidance Click Here for PDF |
Additional Resources
What does a business do to ensure employees who are on unemployment return to work?
The Alabama Department of Labor, Southeast AlabamaWorks, West AlabamaWorks, the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce have partnered to create a guideline to help businesses navigate the issue of recalling employees who are on unemployment during the COVID-19 Crisis.
Business Rights + COVID-19
Click Here to Download
Shop Safely During COVID-19
COVID-19 has changed many aspects of our day-to-day lives, including trips to the grocery store and shopping in general. The University of Alabama Birmingham has prepared resources to help us to shop safely during the COVID-19.
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| Shop Safely During COVID-19 Click Here for PDF |
Coronavirus Shopping Tips Click Here for PDF |
