Click here for Georgetown COVID-19 updates & resources.

COVID-19 Updates & Resources

As the Georgetown BID monitors the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19, we want to ensure our business owners, residents, students, and visitors are informed about the ways in which this is affecting the Georgetown community and commercial district – and how we can still support our businesses, and one another.

Support Georgetown

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; retail shops that are offering gift card specials, free shipping and more (most businesses offer online shopping!); the ways in which you can support local business in alternative ways during this time; and how our businesses are giving back to others. We will update this document regularly; please email us at info@georgetowndc.com if we’ve missed something.

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

Events & Communications

The Georgetown French Market, scheduled for April 24-26, has been canceled. We hope to bring this event back to Georgetown later in the year.

Bike to Work Day, scheduled for May 15, has also been canceled for this year.

We are closely monitoring additional events currently scheduled for this summer.

Although we do not have typical events and promotions to share with you, we will continue to send 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. Click here to subscribe.

BID Actions

  • The Georgetown BID Clean Team has increased the cleaning and sanitation of all of our public furniture and public spaces
  • We are changing 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 are exploring additional assistance for our members
  • 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.

BID Taxes

The Georgetown BID Board voted to waive penalties and interest for BID taxes paid by June 30 (a 90-day delay) for all BID properties that have not yet paid.

The CARES Act & Paycheck Protection Program

Overview

On March 27, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) was signed into law. The Act provides stimulus to individuals, businesses, and hospitals.

The U.S Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship has created an excellent guide to the funding & resources available in The CARES Act, including:

  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (including the $10,000 loan advance, which is essentially a grant)
  • Forgivable loans through the Paycheck Protection Program
  • Small Business Debt Relief Program
  • Small Business Counseling
  • Small Business Contracting
  • Small Business Tax Provisions

Beyond funding sources, click here for broader CARES Act take-aways from the Counsel for the Georgetown BID, Foley & Lardner.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) included in the CARES Act is the biggest benefit for employers providing 100% forgivable loans to small businesses to use for payroll, rent or lease obligations, and utilities as long as you continue to employ your full staff.

The application process opened on April 3. You must apply through an existing SBA lender, FDIC-insured institution, credit union, or financial-technology lender that has signed up for the program.

Documentation
In addition to your completed application, your lender may require the following documents:

  • Articles of incorporation for each borrowing entity
  • By-laws or operating agreement for each borrowing entity
  • Copies of each owner’s driver’s license
  • Payroll expense verification documents (RS forms 940 and 941; Payroll summary report with corresponding bank statements; Breakdown of payroll benefits (vacation, allowance for dismissal, group healthcare benefits, retirement benefits, etc.); 1099s (if you are an independent contractor)
  • Certification that all employees live within the United States. If any do not, provide a detailed list with corresponding salaries.
  • Trailing twelve-month profit and loss statement (as of the date of application) for all applicants
  • Most recent mortgage or rent statement
  • Most recent utility bills

Additional Small Business Funding

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.

SBA Disaster Loans

The federal government has designated DC as a federal disaster area. DC businesses are now eligible to apply for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) & Loan Advance. The program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Businesses can apply online.

Loan Advance
Small business owners are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application, and this loan advance will not have to be repaid.

If You Applied Before the Advance Was Available
If you applied for an SBA loan before the CARES Act was passed, you need to apply again to be able to receive the one-time $10,000 advance. This advance may be available even if your previous EIDL application was declined or is still pending, and will be forgiven.

If you wish to apply for the advance on your EIDL, please visit www.SBA.gov/Disaster as soon as possible to fill out a new, streamlined application. Applying for the advance will not impact the status or slow your existing application.

DC Small Business Grant Program

Small businesses were eligible to apply for a DC Small Business Recovery Microgrant. The application was due on April 1, and is now closed. The program will offer grants to small, local businesses, individual contractors, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits to meet their short-term financial needs. The grant can cover employee wages and benefits (including fringe benefits associated with employment, such as health insurance), accounts payable, fixed costs, inventory, rent, and utilities.

Award notifications are expected to be made by Monday, April 6.

Other Financial Assistance Opportunities

Restaurant Resources & Guidance

RAMW Text Alerts & Resource Guide

It is imperative that DC restaurants sign up for the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) text alert system to stay informed. Text the letters RAMW to the phone number 52886 to start receiving text messages from them.

Click here to access RAMW’s COVID-19 resource guide.

Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker Letter

Restaurants offering takeout and delivery are deemed essential. Click here for letters you can share with your employees still working regarding their essential status. RAMW recommends that you personalize these letters and make sure your employees carry them in transit to and from work.

Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) set up the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to help restaurant industry employees experiencing hardship in the wake of COVID-19. Through this Fund, grants will be made to restaurant industry employees who have demonstrated being financially impacted by COVID-19, whether through a decrease in wages or loss of employment. Each approved grant will be $500. These grants will be made on a first-come-first-served basis, subject to availability of funds. 100% of the Fund’s proceeds will go to providing grants to restaurant workers.

The application will be live on April 2; click here for more.

Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020

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.

Important Resources

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