Non Essential Businesses Ordered To Shut Down by 5pm Tonight, 3/23/2020

At his daily press conference today, Governor Larry Hogan advised that he signed an executive order to shut down all non essential businesses as of 5pm today.

He said he was using the federal guidelines on what is considered essential.  Those guidelines can be found using this ling:

https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce

His office also put our their own release with guidance which can be found here:

OLC-Interpretive-Guidance-COVID19-04.pdf

Governor Hogan also pointed out that millions of dollars in aid and low interest loans were made available to help businesses affected by these shut downs.  Information can be found at this link:

https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-fund-programs

Please let us know if there is anything the PBA can do for you or your business to get through these tough times.

The PBA received this information from the Police Department:

Some of the scams I’ve seen across the country thus far are:

• Cellphone apps providing a COVID-19 tracking map. Running in the background of these apps is a customized version of SpyMax which allows control of your phone’s information. Information suggests as many as 30 of these fraudulent apps have been identified.
• Phishing emails and phone calls impersonating entities such as the World Health Organization and government authorities.
• Misinformation being sent via text, social media and emails.
• Products claiming to be a vaccine or cure for COVID-19.
• Claims that you can reserve COVID-19 vaccine and get ahead of others.
• Investment scams claiming COVID-19 has created financial opportunities.
• Shopping sites readily offering products you know are nearly impossible to get.
• Calls claiming to represent the federal government's proposed stimulus package. 
• Persons in lab coats offering to perform COVID-19 testing door to door.
• The American Red Cross is not offering home tests.
• And no you don't need to buy COVID-19 software to protect your computer from the virus

  Protect yourself...

• Don’t let anyone pressure you into making any decisions.
• Don’t click on internet sources you don’t know.
• Never respond to unsolicited emails, text messages or social media messages from strangers. Immediately delete them.
• KEEP YOUR COMPUTER SECURITY (ANTI-VIRUS AND MALWARE) SOFTWARE UP TO DATE.
• If you plan to make any donations make sure you know the charity and assure your donation is going to its intended cause.

We received the following from the Maryland Department of Commerce in regards to SBA Loan information for business affected by the current coronavirus crisis.

FROM KELLY SCHULZ, Maryland Secretary of Commerce

"I highly recommend that all of your impacted businesses go to  https://businessexpress.maryland.gov/

It is a portal that was set up Friday and we are posting all updated information as we receive it. Additionally, please have your clients use Secretary.Commerce@maryland.gov to ask specific questions. This is a collaborative effort for all agencies to be able to quickly and collaboratively answer questions. Their are FAQs on the portal. If you could help to  widely distribute this information, it would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, thousands of businesses have the same questions and concerns and we need to address them all. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you for getting this in front of them and their staff. Trust me....it will save them so much time because everyone has a question right now. "

Additional Information:

Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund Programs for Businesses
Maryland has authorized $130 million in loan and grant funding for small businesses and manufacturers that have been negatively impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This emergency assistance provides interim relief and proceeds that can be used to pay cash operating expenses including payroll, suppliers, rent, fixed debt payments and other mission critical cash operating costs.

If you are a Maryland-based business impacted by the Coronavirus with under 50 full- and part-time employees, or a Maryland manufacturer, check out the programs below to see if you qualify for assistance.

https://commerce.maryland.gov/fund/maryland-small-business-covid-19-emergency-relief-fund-programs

FROM THE SBA - Baltimore Office
Our contact at the SBA sent this link and advised that SBA loans would fall under the category of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.  This program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million to give you vital economic support to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue you are experiencing. 

Here is the link for the  Disaster Loans: SBA.gov/Disaster.

Attention PBA Members and Pasadena community:

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health is providing this information about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), its spread, and protection measures for you and your family. More information is available at:

The AA County Health Department has put together a nice frequently asked questions page about the coronavirus (COVID-19).   

They answer what it is and where it started as well as what to do to avoid catching or spreading the virus.

But with all of the attention given to the coronavirus, most of the advice comes down to doing what we were told to do as kids when it comes to hygiene and washing or hands.

Be Safe, Be Happy and Be Healthy.

We held our school supply distribution to students in need at Celebree School.  The grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings raising grandchildren, nieces, nephews, brothers or sisters were very grateful.  The students had a fun time picking from the many backpacks we had donated.

We received many supplies through the PBA members who put out boxes in their business and collected for us.  I want to thank Arundel Federal Savings Bank for being a drop off of the supplies for us.  A big thanks to Haas & Sons Electric, Inc. and Texas Roadhouse for their generous checks so we can purchase necessary items and all of the business who donated to the PBA School Supply Drive.

A big thank you to Pam Borges and Ali Kraus for opening up Celebree School on a Saturday so could sort and distribute the supplies.  I also want to thank Mary Brodowski, BB&T and Jacqueline Kellum, AACPS for helping me with the sorting and distribution.  It is really a great feeling knowing with the PBA members and the community help we were able to help many families.