Automotive Recyclers Association
  • Find a Member
  • Membership
    • Application to Join
    • Photo Gallery
    • Member Login
    • ARA 2020 Association Report
  • Events
    • ARA Town Halls
    • Calendar
  • COVID-19 Dashboard
    • COVID-19 BLOG
    • COVID-19 LINKS
    • COVID-19 RESOURCES
  • RESOURCES
    • Automotive Recycling Magazine
    • Buyers Guide
    • Industry News
    • ARA Blog
    • Affiliate Chapters Resources
    • ARA University
    • Choose Recycled Parts Marketing Campaign
    • AUTO RECYCLING IN COLLISION REPAIR
  • Programs
    • Advocacy
    • Certification
    • ECAR Center
    • ARA Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program
    • Scholarship Program
  • About ARA
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • ARA Foundations
    • Why Use Recycled Parts
    • Industry Statistics
    • Contact

Automotive recycler
​COVID-19 Updates

March 24 covid-19 update

3/24/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Many ARA members have asked if there are “transit” letters for employees going to and from their “essential” businesses in the case of a state or locality stay-at-home or other business shutdown mandate.  ARA was on a call yesterday with a representative of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) discussing the “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce.” While automotive recyclers fit within their definitions of essential workforce under the terms “automotive repair and maintenance facilities” and “employees who repair and maintain vehicles”, the document is only a guidance.  States and in some instances, localities determine which businesses are essential and can remain open.  But please remember that things are changing on an hourly basis and we are tracking as fast as we can all changes.
 
On the questions of a transit letter, during yesterday’s call with CISA, a question was asked about documentation for workers going to and from essential businesses. The CISA staff said that they were “working through that as we speak”.  He suggested that they might provide a templet for a letter but there are so many issues that they are working out and promised “more to come” on that issue.  There is confusion over this especially because a “federal” letter wouldn’t replace a state letter.  Many business groups are exploring how to make this work and have asked states to provide more clarity. Please find a draft template for your employees to carry with them to and from work if you are in a state or locality that has a work stoppage order or “stay at home” order in place.  They should also carry business cards if they have them or another form of identification.  The letter should be put on your letterhead and you can enter your specific business and employee information in the yellow highlighted parts.   Employees have been stopped going to and from their jobs across the country.  Click for sample letter.

There is still no deal in the U.S. Senate on a third coronavirus relief bill amongst much partisan rancor.  Senate Democrats have held up passage with demands for less “slush funding” and have also tied issues to their demands that are not directly related to the current pandemic.  A successful vote is still expected today, being brokered by the Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.  Stay tuned.
 
For small businesses that might need credit during this turbulent health and financial crisis, the Small Business Administration (SBA) “is looking at every option and taking every action to cut red tape to make it easier for small business to stay in business.” The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) can give a business up to $2 million.  According to EIDL, “These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. ... The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses.” SBA also allows small businesses to spread out the loan over as long as 30 years dependent on a case-by-case basis.  To apply: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
 
In addition, the Federal Reserve announced that they are establishing programs using the Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF) possibly allowing small and large businesses “to tap new credit.”

Find More Resources at https://www.a-r-a.org/covid-19-resources

Click HERE to join ARA!

​
1 Comment
Bob Remington link
3/26/2020 16:08:48

We are in Wisc. and I had an employee get stopped on his way to work and the officer asked if he had a work letter for COVID 19. I do not know where to get the correct information to fill out your sample letter. can you help me with this, please?
Thanks Bob

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ARA

    Keeping you informed is our top priority!

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020

    Categories

    All
    Coronavirus
    COVID-19

    RSS Feed

© 2021 Automotive Recyclers Association.  All Rights Reserved.
9113 Church Street  |  Manassas, VA  20110
Phone: (571) 208-0428 | staff@a-r-a.org | Sitemap | Privacy Policy

Picture
  • Find a Member
  • Membership
    • Application to Join
    • Photo Gallery
    • Member Login
    • ARA 2020 Association Report
  • Events
    • ARA Town Halls
    • Calendar
  • COVID-19 Dashboard
    • COVID-19 BLOG
    • COVID-19 LINKS
    • COVID-19 RESOURCES
  • RESOURCES
    • Automotive Recycling Magazine
    • Buyers Guide
    • Industry News
    • ARA Blog
    • Affiliate Chapters Resources
    • ARA University
    • Choose Recycled Parts Marketing Campaign
    • AUTO RECYCLING IN COLLISION REPAIR
  • Programs
    • Advocacy
    • Certification
    • ECAR Center
    • ARA Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program
    • Scholarship Program
  • About ARA
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • ARA Foundations
    • Why Use Recycled Parts
    • Industry Statistics
    • Contact