Archived Announcements

This is a collection of the briefing updates and guidance from government officials we've collected since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. 
Last updated: April 3 at 3:30 p.m.

April 1

• Gov. Wolf today placed all 67 counties under a "stay-at-home" order, in effect at 8 p.m. (for the new additions). Restaurants may continue to operate take out and delivery services. Residents may travel to pick up food. READ PRESS RELEASE 
• Gov. Wolf today also banned short-term rentals and released an FAQ document regarding life-sustaining businesses. REVIEW UPDATED LIFE-SUSTAINING BUSINESS LIST
• The Pa. Supreme Court today extended the statewide judicial emergency and court closures to April 30, prohibiting evictions until after that point.
• The SBA EIDL portal is open. Please Note: EIDL loans are different from the Paycheck Protection Program established in the CARES Act. 
• Paycheck Protect Program yesterday released initial guidance and applications will start being accepted on April 3. Download the application.
• A hospitality and travel coalition submitted a letter to the governors and mayors urging their action on an emergency forebearance and rent abatement program. READ LETTER

March 31

• The SBA EIDL portal is open. Please Note: EIDL loans are different from the Paycheck Protection Program established in the CARES Act. 
• Paycheck Protect Program this afternoon released initial guidance and applications will start being accepted on April 3. Download the application.
• Cameron, Crawford, Forest, Franklin, Lawrence, Lebanon, and Somerset counties were added to the governor's "stay-at-home" order. Restaurants in stay-at-home counties may continue take out, delivery, and drive thru services. READ RELEASE​

March 30

• Gov. Wolf expanded the stay-at-home order to include Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, and Schuylkill counties, taking effect at 8 p.m. today, March 30. Additionally, all Pennsylvania schools will remain closed until further notice. Restaurants in those counties may continue to offer take out and delivery services. Residents in those counties may leave their homes to pick up food from restaurants. READ RELEASE

March 28

• Gov. Wolf expanded the stay-at-home order to include three additional counties: Beaver, Centre, and Washington. This order takes effect at 8 p.m. tonight. Restaurants in those counties may continue to offer take out and delivery services. Residents in those counties may leave their homes to pick up food from restaurants. READ RELEASE

March 27

• Gov. Wolf expanded the stay-at-home order to include nine additional counties: Berks, Butler, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, Pike, Wayne, Westmoreland, and York. This takes effect at 8 p.m. today, March 27. Restaurants in those counties may continue to offer take out and delivery services. Residents in those counties may leave their homes to pick up food from restaurants. READ RELEASE
• The U.S. House this afternoon passed the $2 trillion CARES Act. Review the Small Business' Guide to the CARES Act.
• If your business is still open, the U.S. Department of Labor is requiring a new poster for you to display in a conspicuous location.

March 26

• Transporter-for-Hire permit clarification: Retail licensees can apply for a Class B Transporter-for-Hire license at PLCB+.
  • This allows you to sell malt and brewed beverages for delivery
  • The cost is $700 for a new application + $30 filing fee + $160 for the license itself. The annual renewal is $160.
  • PLEASE NOTE: Even if you have a Wine Expanded Permit, there is no way under current legislation for you to deliver wine to go.​

March 25

• Gov. Wolf amended the "stay-at-home" order to include Lehigh and Northampton counties, which will take effect at 8 p.m. tonight. As a reminder: take out, delivery, drive thru are still permitted under this new order as restaurants are a critical part of the nation's food chain. READ PRESS RELEASE
• The Pa. Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) yesterday approved guidelines for the new COVID-19 Working Capital Access program. Over $60 million is available in the form of no-interest and low-interest loans for small businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees. PIDA opened the program to applications today. Businesses will need to apply through their local Certified Economic Development Organization.

March 24

• (5:45 p.m.) Gov. Wolf just issued a "stay-at-home" order for Erie County. As a reminder: take out, delivery, drive thru are still permitted under this new order as restaurants are a critical part of the nation's food chain. READ PRESS RELEASE
• The PLCB is prioritizing the processing of Wine Expanded Permit (WEP) and Transporter for Hire applications. 
  • WEP costs $2,000 and allows a licensee to sell up to 4 bottles of wine in a single transaction. Wine can be purchased from the PLCB or a state winery.
  • Transporter for Hire costs $160 and permit holders can deliver beer (and only beer) to individuals in the Commonwealth.
  • To apply for either permit, visit PLCB+.
• We continue to work with the PLCB and should have answers soon on how licensees can acquire more product during the shutdown.
• The National Restaurant Association is collecting information on the economic impact of the recent Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. TAKE SURVEY
• The Pa. Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) yesterday approved guidelines for the new COVID-19 Working Capital Access program. Over $60 million is available in the form of no-interest and low-interest loans for small businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees. PIDA is expected to open the program to applications later this week. Businesses will need to apply through their local Certified Economic Development Organization. LIST OF CEDOS

March 23

• (2:20 p.m.) During his 2 p.m. press conference, Gov. Tom Wolf issued a "stay-at-home" order for Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe, and Montgomery counties. Starting at 8 p.m. today, residents must stay home unless someone’s life depends on leaving. Restaurants are still permitted to operate take out, carry out, and delivery services. 
• Today's order also extends school closures and other mitigation efforts for an additional two weeks (April 6). 
• The City of Philadelphia announced a deadline extension for real estate, Business Income and Receipts Tax, and the Net Profits Tax to July 15, 2020. READ RELEASE
• Allentown has also followed the federal and state government's lead on extending tax payment deadlines until July 15. You should consult your local governments to see if similar action has been taken in your municipality.

March 22

• Gov. Tom Wolf reiterated that enforcement of the non-life-sustaining businesses starts at 8 a.m. Monday, March 23. 
• Mayor Jim Kenney issued a "stay-at-home" order for Philadelphia that takes effect at 8 a.m. tomorrow, March 23. READ THE ORDER
  • Take out, delivery, and curbside pick up is permitted. 
  • All orders must be placed in advance. You may not order and wait for the food to be prepared.
• The Pennsylvania State Police announced it will begin enforcement actions with the order for non-life-sustaining businesses to close. READ RELEASE

March 20

• The Governor's Office released the updated list of essential businesses, which now includes hotels. COMPLETE LIST  PRESS RELEASE
• PRLA issued a statement regarding the updated essential business clarification.
• The Department of Revenue announced that it is waiving penalties for businesses that are required to make Accelerated Sales Tax (AST) prepayments. Additionally, for April sales tax payments, the department is waiving the AST prepayment requirement and asking businesses to simply remit the sales tax that they have collected in March. READ ALERT

​March 19

• All non-life-sustaining businesses are ordered to close their physical locations. Restaurant take out and delivery is still permitted. Hotels eventually added to the list of essential businesses.  READ RELEASE
• SBA disaster loans are now available to small businesses at www.sba.gov/disaster.
• Allegheny Co. Treasurer suspends new enforcement actions to collect delinquent drink, hotel, and car rental taxes (though taxes will continue to be collected as scheduled)  READ ANNOUNCEMENT

March 18

• LCB Guidance on Licensee Operations  READ THE LETTER
• Gov. Wolf requests disaster declaration to open SBA disaster loans READ GOV. WOLF'S PRESS RELEASE

March 17

• Feds announce 90-day interest free grace period to pay income taxes READ MORE

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March 16

• The PLCB issued a letter providing further clarifications, limited special allowances, and guidance to licensees. READ LETTER (downloads as a Word document)
• PLCB announced  the indefinite closure of all Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores and licensee service centers READ FULL RELEASE
• Gov. Wolf ordered statewide shutdown of non-essential stores for at least 2 weeks. Order includes the closure of restaurants and bars dine-in services. Hotels also must shut down their restaurants. Take out, delivery, carry out are permitted. 

• PRLA continues to monitor all legislative activity, but below are a few of the measures that have been introduced to help our industry:
  • Business Interruption Insurance Relief
    • HB 2372 – Rep. Frank Dermody (D, Allegheny)  
    • Co-sponsor memo – Sen. Vincent Hughes (D, Philadelphia)
    • Co-sponsor memo – Rep. Thomas Mehaffie (R, Dauphin)
  • Better access to working capital / Business relief
    • HB 2369 – Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R, Allegheny) – Low-interest loan program
    • SB 1096 – Sen. Tom Killion (R, Chester/Delaware) – Establishes a small business disaster and relief fund
    • Co-sponsor memo – Sen. Tom Killion – Halt on evictions and foreclosures for businesses
      Co-sponsor memo – Rep. Tarah Toohill (R, Luzerne) – Moratorium on payments for existing PIDA loans
    • Co-sponsor memo – Rep. Todd Stephens (R, Montgomery) – Financial assistance for small businesses to meet payroll during shutdown
  • Tax Relief / UC Issues
    • Co-sponsor memo – Reps. David Rowe (R, Snyder) & Francis Ryan (R,Lebanon) – Suspension of sales and personal income tax
    • Co-sponsor memo – Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R, Luzerne) – Seeks a waiver from the federal government to allow small business owners to collect unemployment compensation
    • Co-sponsor memo – Sen. Scott Martin (R, Lancaster) – Allows counties and municipal governments to make changes to their property tax discount and base periods, as well as remove penalties for late payments
    • Co-sponsor memo – Rep. Anita Kulik (D, Allegheny) – Extends sales tax remittance deadline
  • While no travel bans currently exist in Pennsylvania, we have prepared template letters for essential hotel and foodservice workers that you can use if needed. HOTEL LETTER   RESTAURANT LETTER
  • Pennsylvania small businesses are eligible to apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Relief Loans. APPLY ONLINE
  • Pennsylvania Shared-Work Program
    This program is through the Unemployment Compensation Office which allows an employer to temporarily reduce the work hours of a group of employees and divide the available hours equaling rather than laying off any employees.
  • Department of Community & Economic Development
    A collection of links to various resources for employers in response to COVID-19.
  • Office of Unemployment Compensation
    Resources and information regarding UC benefits. Prepare now so if you or your employees need to file, your application(s) can be processed quickly.
  • AH&LA is surveying hoteliers to identify those who are willing to enter into temporary leases for certain types of lodging properties at this time. TAKE SURVEY
  • The Pa. Department of Human Services is conducting a Feeding & Sheltering Survey of Pa. businesses.  
  • Must Have Menus has released a Coronavirus Response Kit for Restaurants full of actionable messaging templates that your restaurants can use for Takeout, Delivery, Safety, Hours, Pick-Up, Meal Kits and more.
  • ServSafe recently launched two, new free on-demand training modules to address COVID-19 precautions for takeout and delivery. It's available in English and Spanish. SERVSAFE Takeout and Delivery: COVID-19 Precautions