How the Latest COVID Relief Bill Affects Independent Retailers
In late December, Congress reached a deal on a $900 billion bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill that includes direct payments and jobless aid to Americans as well as funding for small business.
NGA has created a detailed breakdown of the bill for retailers, which you can access here. For an in depth summary of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provisions, including new expenses eligible for forgiveness, click here.
Vaccine Distribution
An advisory committee of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended grocery store workers and other food, agriculture, and manufacturing workers be part of the next round of COVID-19 vaccines (1b), classifying the group as non-health care essential front-line workers. While the recommendation will help states guide their development of priority groups, the decision is ultimately up to your state government. If your state does not include grocery employees as essential workers, customize and send this letter to your state's governor to lobby them to do so.
Coping-19 addresses mental health, stressors, and personal experiences onset by COVID-19. Working with physicians and mental health professionals, the organization provides resources to help people cope with the challenges of COVID-19. Use this resource yourself and share with your associates.
Institute Courses: Protect Your Networks from Hackers
With hacker preying on retailers distracted by COVID-19, the IGA Coca-Cola Institute has added three courses to help retailers and associates avoid and prevent attacks:
Ensure your store is communicating the latest COVID-19 rules and protective measures through IGA signage. Download and print IGA-designed signage addressing store capacity limits, social distancing, updated hours, proper hand washing techniques, and more.
STAY INFORMED
Independents Ride Out Another Stockpiling Wave
More than a quarter of consumers shop at small, local grocery stores, hitting the perimeter for perishables like fresh meats and produce, according to late-November surveys from Shopkick and ACI Worldwide. Find out what other shopping trends are holding steady, including continued gains in eCommerce, in this NGA report.
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