Dear Neighbors, As you may know, Governor Wolf has put Philadelphia on lockdown until at least 3/27. A precise end date has not been determined and will depend upon containing the spread. We will do our best to keep you informed of important announcements affecting our neighborhoods. Due to the CDC's ban on gatherings of 50+ for the next 8 weeks, we, unfortunately, have to postpone our annual Arts Crawl. We’re currently working on ways to assist our local businesses and neighbors during this difficult time. We've reached out to the business owners to find out exactly how our community can continue to support them. That information will be coming soon. To allow for essential goods to be accessible to the public, the City of Philadelphia designates the following businesses as essential: -Supermarkets and grocery stores -Big box stores -Pharmacies -Discount stores, mini-markets, and non-specialized food stores -Daycare centers -Hardware stores -Gas stations -Banks -Post Offices -Laundromats and dry cleaners -Veterinary clinics for domestic pets and pet stores ***PLEASE NOTE THAT MAYOR KENNEY PLANS TO ENFORCE THESE RULES*** Business and worker relief: -Workers of companies deemed non-essential may file for unemployment compensation from the Commonwealth, and can find more information and fill out that application here. -The Fairmount CDC is working to put together a business relief fund and are going to match donations from the public up to $2,000. We will have more information in the coming days. For updated information, please continue to check our blog which can be found here. -The City and PIDC will launch a program to support Philadelphia businesses, help maintain payroll obligations, and preserve jobs impacted by the spread of COVID-19. The program will be a tiered program that aims to provide targeted support for small businesses. The program will include a mix of new grants and zero-interest loans for Philadelphia businesses that make under $5 million in annual revenue. PIDC will continue to offer its existing lending programs for small and midsize businesses on flexible terms to provide working capital, fund contract receivables, refinance high-interest debt, and meet other needs. -More details about the program, including how businesses can apply, will be announced in the coming days, and the Commerce Department’s Office of Business Services is available to answer questions businesses may have during this difficult time. They can be reached through the business services hotline (215-683-2100) and email (business@phila.gov). Please stay safe and healthy.