COVID-19 Updates & Resources

Mayor Bowser announced DC’s Stay-at-Home order will be lifted Friday, May 29. Beginning May 29, the city will move into Phase 1 of reopening. Click here for Phase 1 reopening guidance, an overview of the four recommended phases, and what you need to know before moving forward.

Our public spaces have always provided residents, commercial district employees, and visitors alike with beautiful, unique, and unexpected opportunities to shop, stroll, eat, relax, and socialize. As we adjust to our new normal, we can’t wait to welcome you back to Georgetown – safely.

Click here to learn more about our new public space initiatives, and for a list of Georgetown businesses selling face masks.

Employees in the Georgetown BID commercial district who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus crisis, and need money to pay for rent, food, medical bills, or other emergency costs because they have few other options, could apply for up to $500 in financial assistance from the Georgetown Business Improvement District’s Employee Emergency Relief Grant program.

The Georgetown BID is currently granted $150,000 to hundreds of initial applicants, but hundreds’ more have applied. If you would like to donate to this cause, and help those who are still in need, visit georgetowndc.com/employee-relief-grant/donate. A second round of applications will likely open as the fund receives additional support.

The Georgetown BID has contracted with CPA firms and lawyers to advise BID member businesses that are suffering as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and need technical assistance to understand and apply for government assistance, or other legal or financial advice to get through the crisis. This program is intended primarily to help those BID member businesses that do not know where to turn for assistance and may not have the resources to get the help they need. Click here for full program details, and to apply.

As a business improvement district, the vitality of our restaurants and retail is obviously of huge concern. Our commercial district will feel the economic effects of this over the coming months and beyond. To what degree, we’re unsure. However, the health and well-being of all community members – including business owners and employees – is the No. 1 priority at this time.

Please click here for a list of Georgetown restaurants still offering carry-out and delivery; and here for retail shops that are selling gift cards and offering online shopping. We will update these documents regularly; please email us at info@georgetowndc.com if we’ve missed something.

You can also support our community by being responsible and following CDC guidelines. We know – we miss you, too! – but let’s do the right thing.

Many of our businesses are offering online promotions and virtual events (often free!). Visit our Events & Promotions Calendar to see what’s scheduled. We are closely monitoring additional events currently scheduled for this summer.

We are still sending the BIDness e-newsletter every Thursday, and hope it can serve as an outlet for positivity, inspirational stories within our community, and a resource for alternative ways to stay connected – from free online fitness classes, to virtual tours of historic homes. Each week, it will include something for your body, something for your brain, something for your happiness, and something for someone else.

• We launched the Employee Emergency Relief Grant program. Employees in the Georgetown BID commercial district who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus crisis, and need money to pay for rent, food, medical bills, or other emergency costs because they have few other options, can apply for up to $500 in financial assistance. We have awarded a total of $150,000 to hundreds of initial applicants, and have partnered with Halcyon, a Georgetown nonprofit, to accept donations that will hopefully help hundreds’ more who have applied and are still in need.
• We contracted with CPA firms and lawyers to advise BID member businesses that are suffering as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and need technical assistance to understand and apply for government assistance, or other legal or financial advice to get through the crisis. Click here for full Georgetown BID Technical Assistance Program details, and to apply.
• Our Clean Team increased the cleaning and sanitation of all of our public furniture and public spaces
• We changed deployment schedules to create staff redundancy in case some team members get ill
• We are coordinating with DPW to ensure that trash pickup continues in the commercial district under multiple scenarios
• We’re communicating regularly with our members, as well as city officials
• We will be updating this page regularly with additional information. We have also compiled an ever-evolving list of Georgetown restaurants that are still offering carry-out, delivery or curbside pick-up; businesses offering free shipping or gift card specials; and alternative ways you can still support Georgetown businesses.

In addition to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans as part of The CARES Act, above, several other loan and grant opportunities are available to small businesses. We recommend you contact your lender, attorney or business adviser to determine the best options for your business.

On March 17 the DC Council passed the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020. This bill provides support for employees and small businesses, including:

• Extends unemployment benefits to employees affected by the public health emergency. This applies to employees who are quarantined or who are out of work because of COVID-19. Applicants can receive benefits immediately and do not have to demonstrate that they are actively searching for work. Employees should apply for unemployment benefits online here. Click here for a DC unemployment eligibility infographic from the Department of Employment Services.
• Defers payment of property taxes for hotel properties until June 30, 2020, without penalties or interest
• Defers payment of sales and use taxes collected in February and March 2020 until July 20, 2020, without penalties or interest. The sales and use tax deferral does not apply to hotels specifically.
• Creates a public health emergency grant program to provide grants to small businesses that may be used to pay employee wages and benefits; business operating costs, including taxes and debt service; and repayment of federal SBA loans
• Allows restaurants to sell beer, wine, and spirits for carry-out and delivery. Businesses must register online and ABRA will approve the registration right away. Additional FAQs on this program are available here.
• Extends the first biennial corporate filing deadline until June 1, 2020, without penalty
  Extends validity of licenses, registrations, and certifications, and waives fees and deadlines for renewing licenses, registrations, and certifications (includes drivers licenses, vehicle registrations, professional licenses, and professional certifications

The bill provides other support to District residents, including:

• Allows the Mayor to extend the public health emergency for an additional 30 days, and for additional 15-day periods after that
• Places limits on price-gouging and stockpiling
• Prohibits utility shut-offs for non-payment during the public health emergency and for 15 days after the public health emergency
• Prohibits evictions from rental housing during the public health emergency
• Extends deadlines for tenants to exercise TOPA rights
• Extended benefits under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and DC Healthcare Alliance and Immigrant Children’s programs
• Allows for prescription drug refills before the expiration of the waiting period between refills
• Provides flexibility for ANCs, board and commissions, and other public meetings to be postponed or happen remotely, and provides flexibility from FOIA and Open Meetings requirements

More information about resources for small businesses is available on the DC Government’s coronavirus website.

• CDC COVID-19 webpage
• WHO COVID-19 webpage
• COVID-19 resource toolkit from the Mayor’s Office
• Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security daily updates (if you’re a science geek, like we are)
• CDC’s guide for businesses
• DC Health
• Georgetown Village, a local  non-profit providing services and programs in Georgetown, Burleith, Hillandale, and nearby neighborhoods to help neighbors age in place. Available to provide resources and assistance to the elderly during this time.
• DC unemployment eligibility infographic
• Videos of cute cats for when you’re feeling anxious