Greater Memphis Chamber

Amy Daniels

Daily Updates | March 26, 2020

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Mayor Strickland’s daily update

3:30 pm CST – Mayor Strickland outlines state and local programs aimed at reducing the impact of COVID-19 on families and employers. Read more >>

Chamber releases new estimates on COVID-19 business impact

2:30 pm CST – The Greater Memphis Chamber today released the latest numbers from its ongoing COVID-19 Greater Memphis Business Impact Survey. Read more >>

confirmed cases of covid-19 rise to 198 in shelby county

9:00 am CST – The Shelby County Health Department has confirmed 198 cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as of Thursday morning. Read more >>
[Read more…] about Daily Updates | March 26, 2020

Daily Updates | March 25, 2020

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DOL Issues Initial Q&A Guidance and Fact Sheet on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

3:50 pm CST – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Labor issued initial guidance in response to general questions posed by employers about the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Read more >>

New Resources Available through TN Dept. of Human Services for affected persons and child care businesses:

3:25 pm CST – The Tennessee Department of Human Services has released the following resources for affected persons and child care businesses: 

Financial Assistance for Child Care Providers

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is partnering with The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to make $10 million in new assistance available to help licensed childcare agencies that were impacted by the recent COVID-19 emergency. Starting Tuesday, March 24, agencies will be able to apply for grant money to recoup some of their losses and expenses. 

Funding is from the federal CCDF (Child Care & Development Fund) which is block granted to states and has been largely underutilized in recent years.

Cash Assistance for People

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is making essential financial resources available to families that have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 emergency.  Beginning 10 A.M. CST Thursday, March 26, families can begin applying, online, for up to two months of emergency cash assistance if they were employed as of March 11, 2020 and they’ve lost employment or at least 50% of their earned income as a result of the pandemic. This is in addition to any unemployment benefits members of the family may be receiving. 

The funding comes from the federal TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) funds that are block granted to states and for which TN has a large surplus.

Read more >>

Secretary DeVos Directs FSA to Stop Wage Garnishment, Collections Actions for Student Loan Borrowers, Will Refund More Than $1.8 Billion to Students, Families

1:00 pm CST – U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced today that, due to the COVID-19 national emergency, the Department will halt collection actions and wage garnishments to provide additional assistance to borrowers. This flexibility will last for a period of at least 60 days from March 13, 2020. Read more >>

SBA offers guidance on Disaster loan application

12:15 pm CST – The Greater Memphis Chamber hosted a free webinar with the US Small Business Association this morning. The Chamber has compiled an FAQ with some key takeaways from the session and guidance for small businesses applying for this program. Read more >>

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UNDERSTANDING REQUIREMENTS OF SAFER IN PLACE ORDER

10:00 am CST – The Offices of the Mayor and the City’s Chief Operating Officer have made the following details clear in the context of the “Safer At Home” Executive Order issued by Mayor Jim Strickland effective on March 24 at 6 pm.  Read more >>

 

CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES RISE TO 170 IN SHELBY COUNTY

9:45 am CST – The Shelby County Health Department has confirmed 170 cases of COVID-19 with 176 confirmed cases in the Memphis metro area. 667 confirmed cases have been reported in the state of Tennessee. Read more >>

 

Visit our COVID-19 Business Resources Page for information to help Memphis area businesses minimize impact related to COVID-19. 

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[Read more…] about Daily Updates | March 25, 2020

Memphis COVID-19 Testing Facilties

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Testing for COVID-19 is limited and currently being offered to those who are symptomatic, contacts of confirmed cases, or who work in the healthcare field. Patients must meet certain exposure criteria in order to be tested for COVID-19. If you suspect that you have been exposed to someone who has confirmed COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms, please call your healthcare provider or the COVID-19 hotline: 833-943-1658. 

Do not show up to a doctor’s office or healthcare center for COVID-19 testing unless you were instructed to do so by your provider or have an appointment. 

Do not show up to an emergency department for testing or treatment unless you have called ahead to notify them first. 

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced free COVID-19 testing will be available for any Tennessean, regardless of traditional symptoms, as the Unified-Command group ramps up an aggressive effort to expand testing capacity across the state.

The expanded testing effort launched the weekend of April 18-19, 2020, with the Tennessee National Guard popping up 15 drive-through testing sites across the state. Drive-through testing sites will also be available during the weekends of April 25-26 and May 2-3.

See below a list of COVID-19 assessment sites in the Greater Memphis area:

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Daily Updates | March 24, 2020

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Shelby County Schools to close ‘until further notice’

4:58 pm CST – Following Gov. Lee’s request for Tennessee school districts to remain closed until April 24, Shelby County Schools announced that SCS schools and district offices would remain closed until further notice. Read more >>

Gov. Lee Calls for TN schools to remain closed until april 24

4:20 pm CST – Tennessee schools are to remain closed for another month, Gov. Bill Lee announced on Tuesday, just over a week after he first urged districts around the state to shut down through the end of March.  Read more >>

Chamber to host SBA loan application program webinar

2:45 pm CST – The Greater Memphis Chamber in partnership with the US Small Business Association is hosting a free webinar tomorrow, March 25th at 10 am CST to review the application process for disaster loans related to COVID-19. Read more>>

Confirmed COVID-19 Cases Rise to 135 in Shelby County

2:00 pm CST – The Shelby County Health Department has confirmed 135 cases of COVID-19 with 176 confirmed cases in the Memphis metro area. 667 confirmed cases have been reported in the state of Tennessee. Read more >>

Visit our COVID-19 Business Resources Page for information to help Memphis area businesses minimize impact related to COVID-19. 

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FEMA Simplifying Public Assistance Process to Expedite Payment

11:00 am CST – While communities that regularly experience natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes are familiar with FEMA’s Public Assistance process, the President’s recent declaration of a nationwide emergency under the Stafford Act encompasses every state, including tens of thousands of eligible applicants (if not more) for disaster assistance, many of which are navigating unfamiliar territory. Recognizing the logistical and bureaucratic challenges this unprecedented response effort will bring, FEMA is actively working to develop a simplified application and funding process. In this alert, we provide an overview of the Public Assistance process for COVID-19 – for new and experienced applicants. Read more >>

Mayor Harris issues stay at home order for shelby county

7:00 am CST – Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris announced Monday a planned executive order requiring that all county residents stay at home. Excluded from the order are those performing essential services. The order is effective Tuesday, March 24 at 6 p.m. Read more >>

Chamber launches jobs list for Memphis

6:50 am CST – The Greater Memphis Chamber has launched an ongoing list of business in the Memphis area who are hiring. See available jobs>>

[Read more…] about Daily Updates | March 24, 2020

What constitutes an “Essential Business” Qualification?

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One of the key questions we are getting at the moment from Memphis area companies is how to determine whether or not they are considered an essential business. While this information is fluid, below we have outlined how essential businesses are classified as of March 19, 2020.

With the potential of current recommendations from federal, state, and local officials around business closings potentially turning into more universal “orders” and “mandates” in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic, determining what institutions will be deemed as “essential” and thereby allowed to remain open is critical.

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Daily Updates | March 23, 2020

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Mayor strickland issues safer at home order for memphis

12:10 am CST – Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland has issued a Safer at Home Order for the City of Memphis effective at 6pm on March 24, 2020 through midnight April 7, 2020 — directing all residents of Memphis to stay inside their homes, and immediately limit all movement outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary to take care of essential needs. Under this order, Memphis residents may still go to grocery stores and perform other necessary duties. Read more >>

Confirmed covid-19 cases rise to 84 in shelby county 

11:15 am CST – The number of confirmed cases in Shelby County has reached 84. Read more >>

What constitutes essential business 

9:00 am CST – CISA has developed an initial list of “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” to help state and local officials.  The Chamber provides an overview of those guidelines as of today. Read more >>

Memphis Medical Society seeks PPE Donations

6:00 am CST – Memphis area healthcare workers are in need of personal protective equipment (PPE). The Memphis Medical Society is asking for N95 masks and protective eye equipment. Donate Here >>

[Read more…] about Daily Updates | March 23, 2020

Daily Updates | March 22, 2020

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MATA Announces Temporary Travel Limitations for MATAplus Customers

4:40 pm CST – – Effective Tuesday, March 24, 2020, the Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) will only transport MATAplus paratransit customers to work, medical-related destinations (including dialysis, doctor appointments and pharmacies) and to purchase/collect food from grocery stores, restaurants, or food distribution centers at non-profit organizations. Read more >>

Mayor Strickland’s Daily UPdate includes new guidance for employers

2:30 pm CST – Based on CDC guidance, Mayor Strickland is asking employers to adopt the following practices: 
1. Encourage staff who can to telework
2. Consider the following measures to achieve social distances requirement 
– Spacing workers at the worksite 
– Staggering work schedules 
– Decreasing social contacts in the workplace (limit in-person meetings) 
– All break areas must accommodate distancing 
– Reducing the capacity of customers
3. Strive for flexible leave policies for staff who need to stay home due to school/childcare dismissals.

Read more >>

[Read more…] about Daily Updates | March 22, 2020

Daily Updates | March 21, 2020

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MATA ANNOUNCES NEW SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES

5:23 pm CST – The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) will implement temporary social distancing measures on its fleet of fixed-route, paratransit vehicles and Trolley cars. Read more >>

Mayor JIm Strickland expands list of required business closings

3:10 pm CST – Theaters, bowling alleys, private clubs, indoor and outdoor performance venues and other facilities where large groups may gather have been ordered to close effective at midnight. Read more>>

Takeout beer sales approved for Memphis restaurants

1:08 PM CST – The Memphis Alcohol Commission unanimously voted to allow restaurants to sell beer for delivery and takeout for now. Read more>>

SBA Begins webinars for COVID-19 disaster relief application

1:06 PM CST – SBA is offering free webinars and consultations starting today, March 21, to assist with the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program application. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.  View list of upcoming webinars>>

Kroger expands sick leave for diagnosed, quarantined employees

12:45 pm CST–  Kroger is expanding its sick leave to associates diagnosed with COVID-19 or under mandatory quarantine, company spokeswoman Kristal Howard said. Kroger will also “provide a one-time bonus to every hourly frontline” employee, which works out to $300 for every full-time employee and $150 for every part-timer, the company said in a news release. Kroger said two of its employees — one in Colorado and one in Washington state — have tested positive for coronavirus, CNN reported.

UTHSC Begins COVID-19 Testing at Tiger Lane

11:15 am CST – The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, working with the Shelby County Health Department and the City of Memphis, today began drive-thru testing for COVID-19 at Tiger Lane at the Memphis Fairgrounds. Read more>>

[Read more…] about Daily Updates | March 21, 2020

How to maintain a social media presence during a crisis

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As the U.S. grapples with our new reality fighting COVID-19, it puts things in perspective. What we need, what we want, and how we should carry on are all questions Memphians are asking themselves. This is a very scary time for brands. Companies in most verticals have seen a real slowdown in traffic and sales. As we come to terms with a new normal, the way we leverage marketing channels needs to shift.

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