Below are links to valuable information for RINLA member companies from a variety of both state and national sources:
Seasonal Workers
RIDEM has forwarded to RINLA recently issued regulations and guidance on seasonal workers and communal living arrangements. Please click links below to view these regulations:
Additional guidance for re-opening or continued operation of a non-critical retail business on May 9th can be found here: https://www.reopeningri.com/ under business guidelines. The following points are referenced from the Phase I Non Critical Retail Guidance.
Additionally, these non-critical retail businesses must complete a COVID-19 Control Plan by May 18th. A template for this is found here: COVID-19 Control Plan: Template. This plan does not need to be submitted, but must be on-site and available for review.
Access to interior areas: If a store permits in-person shopping, capacity is limited to 1 customer per 300 square feet of floor area. Very small stores, under 300 square feet of floor area, may only allow one customer at a time in the store. Browsing is encouraged to be brief and limited.
Partitions: It is recommended that check-out areas have see-through barriers between employees and customers.
SBA PPP Loans – The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation is doing its best to match small businesses in Rhode Island that do not have relationships with financial institutions with lenders who will be able to process their PPP applications. If you wish to apply for the PPP program but do not have access to a financial institution — or if your bank/lender has told you it is unable to assist you. For any questions you may have please contact the Commerce RI by emailing ppp@commerceri.com.
Unemployment Insurance– Dept of Labor & Training (DLT) unemployment insurance now available for Contact (1099) Workers such as Gig economy workers, contract workers, small business owners, workers for hire, self-employed, or others ineligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits can apply for emergency COVID unemployment insurance with DLT here https://covidemergencyuibenefits.dlt.ri.gov/ [nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com].
CVS COVID Testing– CVS opened a no-cost Coronavirus rapid-test drive through facility at Twin River in Lincoln, RI. Appointments are required but physician referral is not required. Further information is available on the CVS Minute Clinic site at this link: https://bit.ly/3aPfpMM [nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com]
Small Business Assistance –Commerce hotline: 401-521-HELP
From National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP)
Farm operations vary across regions of the country. This guidance provides a template of action to protect agriculture workers from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Agricultural employers can adapt these recommendations to protect workers at their particular work sites or in specific work operations.
To prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19, agricultural employers can use this checklist to create a COVID-19 assessment and control plan for applying specific preparation, prevention, and management measures. This checklist has been developed based on the Agriculture Workers and Employers Interim Guidance from CDC and the U.S. Department of Labor.
This document presents different testing strategy options for exposed co-workers when public health organizations and employers determine testing is needed to help support existing disease control measures.
Administrators of shared or congregate housing: This guidance was created to help owners, administrators, or operators of shared (also called “congregate”) housing facilities – working together with residents, staff, and public health officials – prevent the spread of COVID-19.
