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Biden stimulus plan offers less help for small businesses

The Biden administration acknowledges that small businesses continue to face an "immediate crisis" because of the economic fallout from the coronavirus. Direct aid to small businesses accounts for $50 billion of the $1.9 trillion plan, or just 2%. "There are things that will help small businesses like everyone else, but the direct benefits in the most recent stimulus bill for small businesses is pretty small," said Richard Prisinzano, director of policy analysis at the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a nonpartisan group at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Their businesses have mostly shut down$10 billion will go to state programs that help small businesses get affordable loans. One sign of how dire things remain for small businesses in America: About 40% of U.S. small businesses fear they won't survive the pandemic, according to a recent survey from accounting firm H&R Block.

cbsnews.com

The smallest businesses can still apply for the Paycheck Protection Program

Time is ticking for the smallest companies to access the priority application period for the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program. But these firms, along with small businesses of all sizes, will still be able to apply for forgivable loans outside of the priority window. The 14-day priority window announced by the Biden-Harris administration last month ends at 5 p.m. What to know before applyingEven after this window closes, it will still be possible for these businesses to apply for and receive funding through the program. The smallest businesses can still applyThat's important for the smallest businesses that wanted to take advantage of the priority application window but delayed submitting paperwork.

cnbc.com

Survey: Some local businesses to require employees get vaccine

A new survey from PNC found more than four-in-ten small and medium-sized businesses in Houston that responded plan to require employees to get vaccinated. The survey was part of an economic outlook and conducted 150 interviews in Houston. “According to Texas law, the employers here in Texas can require their employees to take the vaccine,” said Houston attorney Sophia George. “The Partnership is urging businesses to encourage their employees to get vaccinated as employees are able to do so. The question of mandating employees get vaccinated is a legal one and businesses should seek out legal advice to understand what is appropriate,” a spokesperson said in an email.

1 in 3 small businesses won't survive without government help, owners say

Isabel Guzman is poised to take the reins of the Small Business Administration in an unprecedented landscape for small businesses devastated by the ongoing pandemic. At the time, more than 30% of small businesses said it was unlikely they could survive until sales recovered without government help. While 57% of businesses characterized their financial situations as "fair" or "poor" last fall, that grew to 79% among of Asian-owned businesses, 77% among Black-owned businesses and 66% among Hispanic-owned small businesses. This comes as the Senate Small Business Committee held a confirmation hearing Wednesday for Guzman, Biden's nominee to lead the Small Business Administration, the agency primarily responsible for administering COVID relief for small businesses. According to the SBA, there are more than 30 million small businesses in the United States, which includes those who employ less than 500 employees.

cbsnews.com

‘We have families’: Fort Bend County bar owners face setback with reopenings being reversed

“We all have mortgages and car payments, kids and it’s just a really scary situation,” Bryden said. Bryden said this is the third time her bar was ordered to shut down and this time her family’s savings are dwindling. Over in Sugar Land, Linda Flowers the owner of Gridiron Bar and Grill is also feeling the pain. “You know the bartenders this is their livelihood, the cooks this is their livelihood as well as the owners,” said Flowers. Her restaurant has to reduce capacity to 50%, which means less revenue for her and potentially fewer hours for her staff.

Bar owners face uncertain future with rollback in reopenings

NEW CANEY, Texas – Since last spring, Texas bar owners have been on a financial roller coaster. In Montgomery County, Sandra Young says the doors of her place, Bokeeter’s Cocktail Bar in New Caney, will remain open in spite of any closure order. She’s had a long-running dispute with state regulators ever since she was first ordered to close last spring. Young’s business actually shouldn’t be open right now. But Young is convinced she has a right to remain open regardless of what the governor says.

Appeals court again halts El Paso County’s shutdown of nonessential businesses

People wait outside an El Paso restaurant to pick up their food orders after the county judge ordered a shutdown of nonessential businesses. Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas TribuneEL PASO — A state appeals court late Friday again halted El Paso County’s shutdown of nonessential businesses that was scheduled to last until Dec. 1. El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego issued the shutdown order Oct. 29 in an effort to slow the latest outbreak of COVID-19 here, where total cases since the pandemic began surpassed 70,000 Friday. “If activities are prohibited by the Governor’s order, the County cannot allow them.”The decision Friday comes as El Paso County recorded 1,488 new coronavirus cases. Samaniego’s shutdown caused a rift between him and El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, who said Thursday he hasn’t been consulted about countywide restrictions for weeks.

Houston-area businesses boarding up doors, windows on Election Day

HOUSTON – As Americans across the nation wait for the highly anticipated 2020 presidential race results, many businesses are in fear of potential protests following the election results. Many businesses in the Galleria, River Oaks and downtown have boarded its buildings Tuesday afternoon. KPRC 2 reached out for comment to a few businesses. Houston businesses aren’t the only ones boarding up. In Austin, several stores on South Congress Avenue, which is down the street from the State Capital, have also boarded up over fears of protests.

Yelp creates alert to warn consumers of businesses accused of racist behavior

HOUSTON – Yelp announced that it will now alert consumers of businesses that are accused of racist behavior in efforts to fight against racism and ensure the safety of its community following the rise in the Black Lives Matter movement, according to the company. - Yelp says it will only escalate to a Business Accused of Racist Behavior Alert when there’s resounding evidence of egregious, racist actions from a business owner or employee, such as using overtly racist slurs or symbols. We know these values are important to our users and now more than ever, consumers are increasingly conscious of the types of businesses they patronize and support. In fact, we’ve seen that reviews mentioning Black-owned businesses were up more than 617% this summer compared to last summer. While searches for Black-owned businesses surged on Yelp, the company said so did the volume of reviews “warning users of racist behavior at businesses.”In response to the increased complaints, Yelp introduced the now place Consumer Alert on business pages to caution people about businesses that may be associated with overtly racist actions.

Galveston County judge to host ‘happy hour’ with residents to celebrate reopening of bars

GALVESTON, Texas – Galveston County Judge Mark Henry will celebrate the reopening of bars with residents by hosting a happy hour at Buccaneer Bar at Railean Rum Distillery in San Leon on Oct. 14. READ: County judges outline their plans for reopening bars after Abbott’s new orderOnce Judge Henry reviewed the governor’s announcement, he said he would allow bars to reopen earlier than Oct. 14. “I want to let small business owners know that I’ll be reopening bars immediately,” Henry wrote on Twitter Wednesday. He indicated on Thursday that Galveston County law enforcement would not intervene if bars decided to open even earlier. Judge Henry said that not only bar and nightclub owners were suffering during the closure period but so were service organizations.

County judges outline their plans for reopening bars after Abbott’s new order

HOUSTON – Houston-area county judges weighed in Wednesday on their plans for reopening bars following Texas Gov. READ: Abbott says bars can reopen at 50% capacity in counties with low COVID-19 hospitalizationsThe new executive order gives the authority to reopen bars to the county judges. “I want to let small business owners know that I’ll be reopening bars immediately,” Henry wrote on Twitter Wednesday. Abbott's Exec Order GA-32 issued today which gives County Judge's the authority to finally reopen bars within their county. Expect an official announcement tomorrow, but I want to let small business owners know that I'll be reopening bars immediately.

Is Gov. Abbott hinting he will soon reopen Texas bars in his latest tweet?

Greg Abbott’s latest tweet is giving some bar owners hope that he will soon announce the reopening of Texas bars as coronavirus numbers in the state continue to decline. His recent tweet piqued the interest of many after he used a GIF of two people toasting with beer mugs. In his last round of reopenings, Abbott said restaurants, retail shops, gyms, office buildings and factories could increase capacity to 75% starting Sept. 21. He also allowed hospitals to resume elective procedures and nursing homes and assisted living facilities to allow visitations again with health protocols in place. Abbott ordered that bars remain closed during September’s announcement because they were nationally recognized as places where COVID-19 spreads.

Mayor Turner to announce launch of program designed to protect restaurant-goers during COVID-19 pandemic

HOUSTON – Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will announce the launch of a new training program designed to protect the health of restaurant-goers during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Sept. 17, Turner said allowing restaurants and other businesses to open at 75% capacity is a “high risk” plan following Gov. Greg Abbott’s reopening plans. The goal for Houston’s positivity rate is to be at 5% or below for at least 14 days, he said. Turner encouraged residents to use their best judgment and patronize businesses that are doing their best to adhere to the health and safety guidelines such as wearing a mask and practicing social distancing and good hygiene.

Bar, nightclub owners anticipate governors announcement in hopes of reopening

Bar and nightclub owners are holding out hope that it will pertain to positive news for their business. Seats around the bar are sectioned off and their customer base has decreased due to the pandemic, said owner Steve Labac. Michael Klein, president of the Texas Bar and Nightclub Alliance (TBNA), said a lot of bars and nightclubs are making that transition, since the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) wont allow them to open their doors otherwise. Popular Houston chef Chris Shepherd, who owns Underbelly Hospitality, said his industry is taking a huge hit too. He also said the Payment Protection Program loans from the Federal Government, which he applied for, runs out this month.

Houstons small business owners can soon apply for up to $50K grant for pandemic relief. What you need to know

HOUSTON Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the launch of Houstons Small Business Economic Relief Program during Mondays daily briefing on the citys COVID-19 cases. Small business owners can apply for an SBERP grant beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The $15 million program, funded with the citys allocated CARES Act funds, will provide immediate and short term assistance to small businesses and chambers of commerce that have been impacted by the pandemic. I highly encourage you to take your time to complete your application fully and carefully before the Sept. 4 deadline.How will business owners get the money? In addition to immediate financial assistance, the SBERP is also intended to help small businesses sustain their operations during and after the pandemic.

Survey: US companies cut back sharply on hiring in July

U.S. businesses sharply reduced hiring last month suggesting that the resurgent viral outbreak this summer slowed the economic recovery as many states closed parts of their economies again and consumers remained cautious about spending. U.S. firms added just 167,000 jobs in July, payroll processor ADP said Wednesday, far below June's gain of 4.3 million and May's increase of 3.3 million. July's limited hiring means the economy still has 13 million fewer jobs than it did in February, according to ADP, before the viral outbreak intensified. Hiring collapsed among companies of all sizes and in nearly all industries. A category that mostly includes restaurants, bars and hotels added just 38,000 jobs last month, after gaining more than 3 million in May and June.

Mexican businesses struggling in pandemic with little help

MEXICO CITY – Mexican business owners are trying to cling to life — often unsuccessfully — in an economic recession profoundly deepened by the COVID-19 pandemic and with almost no assistance from the government. Business owners report extending credit to clients while laying off workers, cutting their hours or reducing their salaries. The National Small Business Alliance said Tuesday that more than 150,000 mostly small businesses have been forced to close amid the pandemic. Their most recent survey, presented Tuesday, showed that 79% of business owners said their clients didn’t have enough money to cover the basic food basket, he said. Instead, he has offered $1,000 in low-interest credits to small businesses, as well as credits to some workers in the informal sector.

Ask 2: Are businesses in city of Houston required to wear masks?

The question: Are businesses in the City of Houston required to wear masks? As Texas is under a statewide mask order, this includes Harris County and the city of Houston. Businesses who offer goods and services must wear face masks, including in public areas where social distancing is not possible. Employees must also ensure that all customers wear face masks while inside the establishment. To report a business not following the mask order, you can call (832) 839-6941 or you can click here.

Loophole around governor’s order allows some night clubs to remain open

HOUSTON – This past weekend a Southwest Houston “strip club” that allows patrons to bring their own alcohol shared video of patrons in close contact, many without masks. But it appears even if the club were to remain open, TABC, the state agency charged with investigating bars operating illegally, would not have jurisdiction over “Crazy Bull” located at 10701 W. Bellfort Ave. in Southwest Houston. “The Crazy Bull appears to be a BYOB location, meaning it doesn’t hold a TABC permit to sell alcohol. It did not appear Monday that TABC had undertaken such an effort regarding “Crazy Bull” Monday. The most recent post on the “Crazy Bull” instagram page is now dated June 20, and reads that the club has temporarily shut down due to COVID-19 concerns.

Q&A: The nuts and bolts of the Paycheck Protection Program

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)NEW YORK Small businesses can still get help from the governments coronavirus relief plan after Congress extended the Paycheck Protection Program until Aug. 8. The program that was set to expire Tuesday still has nearly $132 billion left after giving out more than 4.8 million loans since it began April 3. On Monday, the Small Business Administration, which oversees the program, disclosed the names of companies that received loans of more than $150,000. The program aims to motivate small businesses to retain their employees or, if they have laid them off, get them back to work. The SBA approved more than 4.8 million loans in less than three months, far more than the 58,000 it approved in 2019.

Missouri City and Dickinson join other cities as people are required to wear masks in businesses

On Sunday morning, Missouri City joined a list of other cities now requiring people to wear a mask while visiting local businesses. The mandatory mask order went into effect at midnight. In Pearland, the mayor issued a similar order requiring businesses to make mask-wearing mandatory or face a $1,000 fine. According to the order, face masks are to be worn in public. The new mask orders are parallel to orders in Harris and Fort Bend counties.

Business owners, workers stay afloat due to Paycheck Protection Program

To stay alive, business-wise that is, Michael applied for the Paycheck Protection Program. Just to be safe to continue you working in the industry I love, to continue doing what I love, has been awesome, Bo said. And now there is good news for Americans both working and not working. Lawmakers in Washington are now considering a second stimulus program. The HEROES Act, larger than the original stimulus package, this program would give more money to families.

Main Event reopens all locations with additional features to ensure social distancing

HOUSTON Main Event announced the reopening of all its Texas locations, including Houston, at 50% capacity on Thursday. The family entertainment venue stated it developed a new standard of cleanliness called the Play Smart, Play Safe" plan. Main Event also created a team of employees specifically dedicated to cleaning the center from top to bottom, throughout the day as guests play. All locations will also feature 6-foot markers throughout the venue to promote social distancing. Guests will also find sanitation stations placed throughout the center to sanitize their hands as they transition from game to game.

Apps highlighting black-owned businesses see a surge in support during pandemic and protests

As protests for racial justice continue to spring up across the country, so has the push to support black-owned businesses. And with the swell of support has come a surge of popularity in black-owned business directory apps and new ways to support small black-owned businesses during this time. In the United States alone, there are nearly 2.6 million small black-owned businesses, according to the Census Bureau. Google Docs containing resources and lists of black-owned businesses have also been popular and highly shared across social media platforms. The company says the intent is to make it easier for users to find black-owned businesses on the platform.

Video: 2 Harris County fire marshal inspectors shut down tanning salon while violating ‘mask order’

CROSBY, Texas – Two Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office Inspectors who shut down a Crosby Tanning Salon will be disciplined for violating a Harris County Order and department policy when they visited the location. The inspectors ultimately did not cite Givans for violating any order, but rather shuttered the business based on a paperwork technicality. "HCFMO has been working with Island Tanz to help walk the business owner through the appropriate procedure in obtaining the appropriate permits. "Wed., 5/6 -- Owner emailed at 4:45 p.m., stating he received the approved changed of ownership from Harris County Engineering, and he submitted as built documentation. Business Owner requested a final inspection.

Video: Business owner tired of bored ‘quaran-teens’ trespassing on her property

HOUSTON – A Houston business owner says she’s fed up with bored teenagers trespassing while her building is closed due to stay-at-home orders. Kelley said it’s teenagers who are trespassing her space. "We have a lot of kids go up on the roof to do all kinds of things, illegal things they should not be doing," she said. The business owners want to know why the girls were out at that time of night and what they were doing together. I saw them digging through the ditch, walking behind this building, I saw they had taken out my handicap ramp," Kelley said.

These are the businesses and museums that can and can’t open in Texas under the governor’s new order

Retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls were all given the green light to start re-opening their businesses May 1, though under restrictions, through Gov. Greg Abbott’s Reopen Texas plan. Abbott on Monday said this order is voluntary and business owners can choose whether or not to open. He also said this order supersedes all local orders. Here is the list of businesses that can reopen on May 1:

Houston business owner creates quirky home shopping network to support local businesses

HOUSTON Small businesses have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, but one local woman is helping them hit back. As a business owner herself, Carla Lyles, owner of Carla Sue Greeting Cards & Gifts, knows the best way to get through this is together. Shes helping her fellow entrepreneurs by showcasing their products in a hip and quirky version of the Home Shopping Network, which she dubs the Carla Sue Network. Lyles initially planned to start the endeavor to promote her own small business, but after checking in with some of her small business network friends, she realized this project could be so much more. Lilly Belle Jewelry Co- Carla Sue Network Welcome to the Carla Sue Shopping Network.

Next week, retail businesses in Texas can start offering pick-up services. Here’s how that will work.

Gregg Abbott announced the start of the state’s reopening of Texas plan on Friday, which includes allowing retail businesses to provide to-go services. Retail stores are allowed to reopen for business on April 24 though they may only provide pick-up services. • Purchased items should be delivered by an employee or third party carrier and delivered to the customer’s doorstep. Guidelines for employees• All employees must be trained on environmental cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette. • Upon entering the business, employees must wash or sanitize hands.

James Beard Award nominee turns acclaimed Houston restaurant into grocery store in wake of coronavirus closures

HOUSTON – A James Beard Award nominated chef is reinventing his north Houston restaurant into a grocery store in the aftermath of closures due to coronavirus. In 2018, Jonny Rhodes opened Restaurant Indigo in the Trinity Gardens neighborhood where he grew up. Rhodes said his original reason for opening the grocery store was to provide healthier options for the community, where fresh foods are not easily found. He hopes to eventually re-open Indigo and expand the grocery store to a separate storefront. Broham Fine Soul Food and Groceries (formerly Indigo) is located at 517 Berry Road, Houston, Texas 77002.

Veterinarians are considered ‘essential’ and work on the front lines

HOUSTON – Much of Southeast Texas is under a “stay at home” order to curb the spread of the coronavirus. And under that order, only businesses that are deemed “essential” are allowed to remain open, which includes veterinarians. “We’re taking safeguards not just to protect our clients, but also protect staff,” Chamaitelli said. We’re trying to ration out what we won’t use in the next month to donate to hospitals and other medical facilities,” Chamaitelli said. “We take pride in serving our clients and we’re thankful to be open during this time to continue that service.”

You can now donate to local businesses you love through this new donation button on Yelp

HOUSTON – Yelp has teamed up with GoFundMe to create a donation button to make it easier for people to support to a local business they love. Yelp and GoFunMe wanted to make it easier for loyal customers to help relieve small businesses of their financial burdens during the pandemic. The partnership follows Yelp’s announcement of a $25 million in relief for local businesses, which will primarily focus on supporting independent local restaurant and nightlife businesses, in the form of waived advertising fees, and free advertising, products and services, during the outbreak. The GoFundMe fundraisers will appear on Yelp pages for restaurants, nightlife, beauty and fitness and active life businesses. For more information on the partnership with GoFundMe and eligibility for participation, click here.