Jefferson County Public Health *These are challenging and confusing times for everyone. Please remember that changes will continue to happen often. Please be flexible and understanding. *The Jefferson County Courthouse is ordered to remain closed by Jefferson County Public Health Administrator, Chris Estle. This order is in effect until May 15, 2020. *Courthouse services may be accessed, this includes in person voting. *PPE supplies are currently being maintained at an appropriate response level. On-going monitoring of county PPE usage and supply needs continue to be monitored by Brett Ferrel, Jefferson County EMA. *Please visit https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/ as there is new information available. Follow us on Facebook: Jefferson County Public Health, Jefferson County Emergency Management, Jefferson County Health Center, City of Fairfield, Iowa Government
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Retail Ready to Reopen Resources Provided by the Iowa Retail Initiative Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Retailers are able to reopen their stores in 77 counties in Iowa (shown in grey below) per Governor Reynolds’ new proclamation on April 27, 2020. On May 1, 2020 retail establishments may reopen at 50% of their maximum legal occupancy capacity. Local fire code determines a retail store’s legal occupancy capacity. Retailers must also follow the guidelines from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to reduce the risk of transmission within their retail stores which include practicing social distancing for employees and customers, increasing hygiene practices, and other public health procedures. Communication with employees and customers is a key component to reopening. The IDPH guidelines recommend utilizing signage as a part of your retail store’s communication. Please utilize the following editable signs in your retail stores or as templates for your own needed signage. Additional tips or considerations include: Consider reducing the number of customers in your store below the required 50% maximum legal occupancy capacity. This would provide customers freer movement around the store allowing them to browse merchandise while maintaining social distancing. Communicate to your customers and employees that you are taking extra steps to make sure your store is safe. Reference the IDPH link above for specific measures you need to take in your store. Implement or keep curbside pick-up for those customers not comfortable shopping in stores or for those at more risk. Consider making certain business times “appointment only”. This allows customers to shop at special times on their own. This would work especially well for smaller stores and provide the opportunity for specialized customer service. For further retail assistance please contact: Lisa Bates, lmbates@iastate.edu References: Iowa Department of Public Health. (2020, April 27). Public Health COVID-19 Reopening Guidance. https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/61/covid19/IDPH%20Reopening%20Guidance %204_27_20.pdf Office of the Governor of Iowa. (2020, April 27). Gov. Reynolds signs new proclamation continuing the State Public Health Emergency Declaration. https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/gov-reynolds-signs-new-proclamationcontinuing-the-state-public-health-emergency-0 Small Business Best Practices - Creative examples to use in your own business
Provided by the Iowa Retail Initiative Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Kameron Middlebrooks & Lisa Bates Business is not as usual for all small businesses during this pandemic time. Now is the time to get creative and learn great ways to connect with customers through some best practices you can implement in your own business or in your communities. All Small Businesses: Increase web presence by making sure your website is updated. You can also add a sign-up form to collect emails. Incentivize potential customers to sign up by offering discounts and newsletters. Look to connect with customers through social media and be sure to have links back to your website on all platforms. Some small businesses like, Lefty’s Live Music, are still conducting business through social media platforms. They are both delivering cocktails and streaming their concerts through their Facebook page. Send updates via email to your customers. Make sure your email list is clean and current. Some examples of updates to include are: store hour changes; event cancelations or postponements; how customers can access and support your business virtually; and new business procedures (i.e. delivery, pickup, appointments). Offer customized email depending on type of customer (i.e. regular patron, referrals, targeted new customers). Communicate workplace safety to educate your customers. Make sure to let them know about your in-store store cleaning protocols, social distancing requirements, order fulfillment options such as curbside pick-up, provision of hand sanitizer or other disinfectant in appropriate areas, and efforts to protect vulnerable customers. Grocery stores are communicating with their customers on all the efforts to keep their stores clean and safe including having special hours of shopping for seniors. Workforce considerations to keeping your dedicated employees. Consider reducing your hours of operation to reduce the hours of work. Also, consider furloughs instead of layoffs. While layoffs terminate employment and your relationship with your employees, furloughs allow you to keep them on your payroll but on unpaid leave of absence. Retail Stores: Implement online shopping like Prime Roast Coffee. Their new website lists all their products where customers can shop and have their orders shipped directly to their homes. They also utilize social media by hosting “how to” videos, virtual happy hours, and sharing news on their employees. Offer delivery so your customers feel safer shopping locally. Utilizing their Facebook page, Cecil K’s Hometown Market provides frequent updates, offers grocery delivery and curbside pick-up. They have even provided shoppers maps of their store so customers can make their grocery list in order of the product location. Offer curbside pick-up options to remain “open” for your customers. Ted’s Sports not only offers delivery or curbside pick-up for their customers, they also schedule virtual fittings to ensure the right size. Limit the number of people in the store or special hours for those at most risk. Restaurants: Online ordering and delivery options are needed now. If you do not already have delivery at your restaurant and do not have the capacity to start delivery, consider utilizing one of the online ordering and delivery marketplaces such as MyTown2Go, Food Dudes Delivery, Grubhub, Door Dash, or Uber Eats. Curbside pick-up via phone or online orders. You can also keep your customers well fed by offering a curbside pick-up option. Your restaurant does not even have to have online ordering available to start this option, just make sure to advertise well and have your phone ready. Cornbred restaurant highlighted their Easter curbside pick-up specials through their website, twitter, and Facebook. Referencing their online menu, customers could order and pay via the phone. Customers then just call when arriving at the restaurant and their orders are delivered directly to their car. Take-out cocktails / mocktails are a way to continue the happy hour tradition. Iowa has temporarily allowed any business with a Class C liquor license to sell liquor and wine to go. This provides bars and restaurants the opportunity to sell unopened original containers of liquor. You can find many examples of rotating take home versions of specialty cocktails now on local restaurants’ menus. Communities: Create community-based social media to promote or support local businesses. The Great Grey Tee Project at Bulldog Design was set up to help their local community’s businesses. A large portion of each t-shirt sale goes to the local business that customers choose to support. Gift cards sold for community small businesses provide incentives to shop locally. The Asheville, NC community has started the movement to buy gift cards from local businesses to show support. AshvilleStrong provides one website for any local business to sell their gift cards. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrimination statement or accommodation inquiries, go to www.extension.iastate.edu/diversity/ext. Jefferson County Public Health *These are challenging and confusing times for everyone. Please remember that changes will continue to happen often. Please be flexible and understanding. *Please visit https://coronavirus.iowa.gov/ as there is new information available. *Official press releases will now be issued twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday. *Information/Education updates will continue to be posted frequently. Follow us on Facebook: Jefferson County Public Health, Jefferson County Emergency Management, Jefferson County Health Center, City of Fairfield, Iowa Government
Important Upcoming IDR Tax Deadlines
Although a number of tax filing deadlines were recently extended by Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Revenue, not all tax filing deadlines have been extended. The Department is reminding taxpayers that a number of important tax deadlines are approaching soon and taxpayers should meet those deadlines to avoid interest, penalties, or loss of other tax benefits. Unless a deadline has specifically been extended, the regular deadline still applies. This is not necessarily a comprehensive list of upcoming tax deadlines. These important tax deadlines include:
Recent Tax Deadline ExtensionsSeveral important tax deadlines were recently extended by Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Revenue. This is not necessarily a comprehensive list of recent extensions. These recent extensions include:
IWD announces Guidance on Unemployment Benefits
Iowans Who Refuse to Return to Work Without Good Reason When Recalled Will Lose Eligibility to Unemployment Benefits DES MOINES – Iowans who have been placed on a temporary layoff related to COVID-19 but refuse to return to work when recalled by their employer will lose unemployment benefits, except for certain circumstances including:
Employees in any of these positions are strongly encouraged to work with their employer in the best way to handle the situation to return to work. Refusing to return to work when recalled for any other reason, or in an attempt to continue to draw unemployment benefits will be considered a "voluntary quit" which would disqualify a claimant from receiving benefits, including the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit of $600/weekly. An employee who is recalled on a part-time basis may continue to be eligible for benefits depending on the amount of wages they earn. They should continue filing their weekly claims and report the gross wages they earned each week. Additionally, the self-employed should continue to report their weekly gross income as part of their continuing claims as they return to work. "The additional unemployment benefits that are provided under the CARES Act are meant to be temporary in nature and bridge the gap between the outbreak and a return to normal,” said Director Beth Townsend, Iowa Workforce Development. “For Iowans whose employment may be permanently affected by the outbreak, we have many training opportunities under Future Ready Iowa to help them obtain training and begin a new career in a high-demand, high-paying job." Businesses should report employees who refuse to return to work without good reason or who quit their jobs as soon as possible to IWD at https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/job-offer-decline-form-employers While an employee may have temporarily earned more in benefits than they earn in wages, the CARES Act outlines serious consequences for fraud, including fines, confinement and ineligibility for future unemployment benefits until all fraudulent claims and fines have been repaid should an individual continue to claim benefits they are not otherwise eligible for because of a change in their employment situation. For more information, please visit www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov Friday, April 24, 2020
Dear Colleague, Today, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued updated guidance for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients with qualifying dependents eligible for COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments. SSI recipients who did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019 and who have qualifying dependents must submit additional information using the IRS’s Non-Filer tool by Tuesday, May 5, 2020 to receive the full amount of their Economic Impact Payments as soon as possible. Eligible SSI recipients will start receiving their automatic payments directly from the Treasury Department in early May. Please note that Direct Express account holders may use the IRS’s Non-Filer tool, but they cannot receive their and their children’s payment on their Direct Express card. They may only enter non-Direct Express bank account information for direct deposit, or leave bank information empty to receive a paper check by mail. I encourage you to share this information with your members, colleagues, affiliates, and other interested parties. Tell them to act now to receive all their Economic Impact Payment money. Sincerely, Jeffrey Buckner Associate Commissioner Office of Strategic and Digital Communications (T) 410-965-1804 @SSAOutreach Finally, some good news: This morning the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs announced that 156 Iowa artists and 14 Iowa nonprofit arts organizations will receive grants in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. The first round of grants from the newly created Iowa Arts and Culture Emergency Relief Fund totaled $191,000. And more good news: Round Two is now open. We’re accepting applications from Iowa arts nonprofits through next Friday, May 1. These grants range from $1,000 to $20,000, funded by $442,700 from the National Endowment for the Arts through the CARES Act. Also, keep in mind:
And I can’t say it enough: Don’t hesitate to contact our staff with any questions or concerns. We're here to help. Take care, Chris Kramer Director SOMM Wines Celebrates Our 1 Year Anniversary! SOMM SUPPORTERS LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING, THANK YOU! THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AND GRATITUDE FROM YOU ALL OVER THIS FIRST YEAR HAS BEEN BOTH HUMBLING AND REGENERATIVE. WHAT STARTED AS A NEW BUSINESS, HAS ADAPTED THROUGH CRISIS, AND NOW SURPASSES A MAJOR MILESTONE. ONE YEAR! I HAVE YOU AND MY FAMILY TO THANK FOR THAT. I ALSO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE -YOUR HARD WORK- DURING THIS UNUSUAL TIME. TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS. STAYING HOME, EVEN WHEN IT'S HARD. HOMESCHOOLING THE KIDDOS, MAKING DINNER FOR THE HUNDRETH TIME! YOU STILL FIND TIME TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH TAKE-OUT AND CURBSIDE PICK-UPS. SOMM WINES SAYS THANK YOU! THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW TO REWARD YOU IS TO BRING IN NEW WINES. ALL UNDER $25 WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO TRAVEL TO EXOTIC LOCATIONS DURING YOUR STAYCATIONS! NEW DISCOUNTED 4 PACKS ARE DESIGNED AROUND THESE NEW WINES, LIKE THE SPANISH SOLANERA, AND PETERSON ZINFANDEL BELOW. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A MOUTHFULL, TRY THE FULL OF IT 4 PACK BELOW FOR $89! SOMM IS CONTINUING OUR FAVORITES 4 PACKS, LIKE THE ROSE ALL DAY, AND THE ITALIAN RED ABOVE, DISCOUNTED 10% FOR A COMPLETE VIEW OF OUR 4 PACKS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.SOMMWINES.NET FRANCE ALSO HAS SOME AMAZING GRENACHE/SYRAH BLENDS UNDER $25. PICTURED BELOW, THE "Le PIGEOULET" IS PRODUCED BY THE POWERHOUSE VIEUX-TELEGRAPHE, AND THE BERTRAND, "ART De VIVRE," PLACED #78 ON WINES SPECTATORS TOP 100 LIST 2019 AT 90 POINTS. AS ALWAYS, JUST CALL OR TEXT AHEAD AND I WILL HAVE YOU READY TO GO CURBSIDE! LET'S CONTINUE THIS CRAZY JOURNEY THROUGH WINE TOGETHER, OR AT THIS MOMENT AT LEAST 6 FEET APART! STAY INFORMED VIA OUR WEBSITE, EMAIL, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM FOR ANY CHANGES. CURBSIDE PICK UP IS AVAILABLE TUESDAY - SATURDAY FROM 12-4 PM. THANK YOU AND BE SAFE AND HEALTHY, KRISTA The Southeast Iowa Union Launches Community Marketing Grant Program
The Southeast Iowa Union is announcing the launch of a community grant program to help local businesses continue marketing themselves as they move through, and then beyond, the COVID-19 pandemic. The program allocates up to $50,000 in matching advertising dollars to assist local businesses during this difficult time. “Many local businesses are being impacted in potentially devastating ways with the sudden and dramatic loss of customers,” said Matt Bryant, Publisher of the Union. “Our business relies heavily on a strong local economy, so we are experiencing the fall out as well. By offering heavily discounted advertising, it is our hope that we can help local businesses maintain, and then as things begin to re-open, welcome back old and new customers. It certainly benefits all of us if the local business community is successful . This is our way of helping that process.” To apply for a marketing grant through this program, please visit www.southeastiowaunion.com/marketinggrant and complete the online application. This program is open to locally owned and operated businesses impacted by the coronavirus. Dollar-for-dollar matching amounts are available for a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $1,000 in a month and can be used toward print or digital advertising in the Southeast Iowa Union, Fairfield Ledger, Mt. Pleasant News, Washington Journal, any of the shopper publications or on southeastiowaunion.com. Credits will be awarded in May, June and July and must be used within the month they are awarded. Completed applications will be reviewed by the Union team and a representative will contact recipients to confirm approval. |
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