BOSTON
- Thursday, May 21, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the
Licensing Board for the City of Boston (the "Board") has taken
steps to streamline existing processes and remove outdated restrictions to
help small businesses and restaurants as part of the COVID-19 reopening
process.
At
its voting hearing on Thursday, May 21, 2020 the Board took the following
actions:
- Voted to pass an emergency
amendment to its General Rules codifying its existing administrative
review of temporary extensions of licensed premise onto outdoor space
using its existing One Day Amendment to Existing License Application;
- Voted to administratively lift
citywide the preexisting condition of "alcohol with food
only" on outdoor space or any other similar condition that
prohibits the sale and service of alcohol on outdoor space without the
service of a food item;
- The Board, Boston
Transportation Department, Inspectional Services Department, Public
Improvement Commission, and Public Works Department will waive
fees for the approved use of outdoor space for this program, on both
public and private property, on a temporary, non-precedent setting
basis.
"We've
said from the beginning that Boston's reopening process must take a
cautious approach that puts science and public health at the forefront of
our discussions," said Mayor Walsh. "It's my hope that these
updated protocols will help ensure proper social distancing, and give
much-needed assistance to the small businesses that are the lifeblood of
Boston's neighborhoods."
On
Monday, the Licensing Board issued
a questionnaire for businesses that will be used as the starting point
for both identifying opportunities for temporary extensions onto outdoor
space both on public and private property. Extensions into the public way,
whether sidewalks or streets, require evaluation by multiple departments to
confirm doing so can be done while ensuring the safety of patrons and
employees. The goal is to be able to process and approve these temporary
extensions administratively without requiring hearings, fees, or multiple
applications going to multiple departments. To date, 147 businesses have
filled out the questionnaire across the city ranging from small restaurants
and coffee shops in neighborhoods to restaurants downtown. The
questionnaire is for businesses who have licenses from the Licensing
Board.
The
data from the questionnaire, in addition to serving as the starting point
for the review process, also informs City departments which neighborhoods
may not be aware of the temporary extension process so that outreach can be
targeted to ensure businesses across the city have access to this
opportunity.
These
new protocols are part of the Walsh Administration's ongoing work to
support small businesses during this challenging time. On Thursday, Mayor
Walsh announced that nearly $4 million in public and private debt-free
grants have been distributed to just over 1,100 small businesses in every
neighborhood across the City of Boston through the Small
Business Relief Fund, including the $2
million distributed to businesses earlier this month. The businesses
receiving grants represent industries
most-impacted by closures, policies, or general loss of revenues due to
the COVID-19 pandemic throughout every neighborhood in Boston.
Managed
by the Mayor's Office of Economic Development (OED), this new fund was
designed to disburse grants through a streamlined process without having to
assume additional debt, which can be used to address rent, fixed debts,
payroll, accounts payable, lost sales, lost opportunities, and other
working capital expenses. Through a combination of City, Federal, and
private funds, a total of $7.5 million has been made available to fully
fund all remaining eligible grant requests that were submitted during the
application process.
To
further assist the City's small businesses, the City of Boston has created
a new platform to help businesses source the personal protective equipment
(PPE) and cleaning supplies they will be required to have available in
order to ensure the safety of employees and customers as industries begin
to reopen. Along with industry-specific reopening requirements, the page
includes a list of self-identified, local suppliers of PPE and cleaning
supplies, information on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' vendor
database, and partner organizations helping to connect businesses with
vendors.
As
business owners, employers, and employees navigate an evolving
COVID-19-related assistance landscape, the Economic Development Office has
created a Federal
Assistance Guide, Financial
Relief Handbook and FAQ
document, all of which are continuously updated. Small Business
conference calls will continue every Tuesday at 3pm to communicate policy
updates, answer questions, feature relevant City of Boston departments, and
troubleshoot the ecosystem of funding available from the state, federal,
and private industry.
###
|
沒有留言:
發佈留言