COVID-19 Resources for Downtown Bridgeport Businesses
Updated January 27, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. Governor Lamont announced that Connecticut businesses must roll back to Phase 2.1 reopening protocols and guidelines as of 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 6. Information on those requirements are detailed in our Downtown Bridgeport Back to Business Guide below, as well as in our most recent Business Alert Newsletter below the Guide.
Contact your local Small Business Development Center and the State’s Department of Economic and Community Development by email or phone (860-500-2333) to help your business prepare, rebuild, and grow during the COVID-19 pandemic response. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Bridgeport DSSD by email or by phone at (203) 908-3622 with any questions.
DOWNTOWN BRIDGEPORT BACK TO BUSINESS GUIDE
There have been a number of guides and toolkits created for the business community to reopen safely for their customers and their employees. Below is a summary of some of the available resources, organized by business type.
Restaurants and Food Businesses: Restaurants will reduce to 50 percent capacity with a maximum of 8 people limited to a table; and will be required to close by 9:30 p.m., with the exception of food takeout and delivery services, which will be allowed to continue after 9:30 p.m.
- Read the State of Connecticut’s Rules for Reopening Restaurants here.
- The National Restaurant Association partnered with Food and Drug Administration (FDA), public health officials, industry representatives, the Conference for Food Protection, and others to create protocols for restaurants to reopen safely. Access their reopening resources here.
- Check out resources and information from the Connecticut Restaurant Association website and their Facebook page.
- Streetsense, a national restaurant and retail advisory firm, created a Relaunch Toolkit that includes recommendations on how to prepare a capital plan for relaunch, change operations to comply with new public health requirements (including sample floor plans), communicate with customers and staff on new operations, and ways to diversify your business model such as virtual kitchen, make at home kits, delivery options, and more. Access the Relaunch Toolkit here.
Retail: This includes smaller stores, such as clothing, toy, shoe, and jewelry stores.
- Read the State of Connecticut’s Rules for Reopening Retail here.
- The US Chamber of Commerce recommends helpful strategies to pivot and add new revenue streams to your business. Check out the Coronavirus Resource Guide here.
- Constant Contact, an email marketing provider, has compiled a guide to selling online through email, as well as setting up an online store. Read through the toolkit and speak with one of their customer service reps for free.
- Stand for Small, an online coalition to support small businesses, offers deals and guidance on minimizing expenses, employee training, adapting your business to this new environment, and establishing an online presence.
- Amazon is offering resources for small businesses to build their presence online through Amazon Storefronts and other mechanisms.
- The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has developed guidelines with specific considerations for retailers to consider when reopening. Download the guide here.
- &Access, a national retail advisory firm focused on inclusive economic growth, created a Back to Retail roadmap to rebuilding retail that includes best practices for deciding when and how to reopen, identifying essential operations and designing reliable protocols, training employees, and communicating with customers. Access the Back to Retail Roadmap here.
Personal Services: These include nail and hair salons, barbershops, and tattoo parlors, and will remain at 75 percent capacity.
- Read the State of Connecticut’s Rules for Reopening Personal Services here.
- Stand for Small, an online coalition to support small businesses, offers deals and guidance on minimizing expenses, employee training, adapting your business to this new environment, and establishing an online presence.
- Need help finding an online appointment booking software? Check out this “Best Of” list of appointment scheduling software from Software Advice.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had created detailed safety and cleaning protocols for businesses in a variety of sectors, personal services in particular. Check out the CDC protocols here.
Arts, Entertainment, and Events Venues: Performing arts venues and movie theaters will have a capacity of 100 people. Event venues will be limited to 25 people indoor, 50 people outdoor.
- Read the State of Connecticut’s Rules for Reopening here.
- The Connecticut Office of the Arts, in partnership the Connecticut Arts Alliance and nine (9) Regional Services Organizations, have developed COVID-19 Operating Guidelines for Connecticut’s Arts & Culture industry. The operating guidelines are designed to aid organizations as they plan to reopen in accordance with the guidelines of both state and federal government and presents information that is currently recommended and/or mandated as of the date of issuance. Access the Operating Guidelines here.
- Contact the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County for more resources and information.
Hotels: Hotels are open to guests with reservations, and must ensure strict adherence to the protocols listed here. Read the State of Connecticut’s Rules for Reopening Hotels here. The Downtown’s Holiday Inn Hotel opened on June 20th, but the swimming pool will not be open. Contact hotel staff for more information by phone at (203) 334-1234, or by visiting their website here.
Professional offices: Governor Lamont’s task force recommends employees continue to work from home where possible.
- Read the State of Connecticut’s Rules for Reopening Offices here.
- Cushman & Wakefield released Recovery Readiness: A How-to Guide for Reopening your Workplace and companion webinar, which outline some of the best thinking and practices that have been implemented by more than 53,000 professionals across the globe.
- Review the practices recommended in the CDC’s COVID-19 Response Guidance to Businesses.
BUSINESS ALERTS
Since March 17, the Bridgeport DSSD has sent out a series of business alerts with information about emergency operations, how to get support for your local business, and disaster recovery resources that are available. If you would like to be added to the business alert newsletter list, send us an email. Below is a listing of those alerts, which will be updated as new alerts are released.
- Reminders! Grant deadlines, parking enforcement is back, UI energy $$ savings program, and more!, January 26: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/reminders-1199600
- Just 2 days left to apply for City CARES Grant! And info on new PPP $$, CT Business Recovery grant, and more!, January 13: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/citygrantlastcall-1199596
- New State Grant (no app needed) and City Grant deadline coming up soon!, January 8: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/stategrant-1199592
- NYE Safety Reminders, Grant $$ Details, and More!, December 31: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/nyereminders-1199588
- $900B Federal COVID Relief Package: What You Need To Know, December 22: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/federalrelief-1199584
- Apply now for $1M City grant program; City suspends Downtown parking meters, December 9: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/citygrantopen-1199564
- Holiday Shopping Prep and $5 customer coupons from DSSD, November 25: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/givecolorfully-1199548
- CT CARES $5,000 small business grant deadline TOMORROW 11/19 @5pm, November 18: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/ctcaresdeadline-1199532
- 8PM TONIGHT: Apps open for CT CARES $5,000 small business grant, November 12: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/ctcares-appsopen-1199528
- Phase 2.1 Rules Go into Effect at Midnight TONIGHT, see details enclosed, November 5: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/phase2-1details-1199524
- Gov. Lamont issues rollback to Phase 2.1, rules and details included, November 3: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/phase2-1rollback-1199516
- ICYMI: Phase 2 rollback requirements, CT CARES $5K small business grant, and more, October 31: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/phase2rollback-1199512
- CT CARES $50 million in small business grants, safety tips to prevent robberies, and more!, October 27: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/robberytips-1199504
- CT CARES $50 million in small business grants, new date for McLevy Green quality of life issues meeting, and more!, October 20: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/ctcaresgrant-1199492
- McLevy Green quality of life issues meeting, new business grants, and more!, October 15: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/mclevygreenqol-1199480
- Utility shut off moratorium updates, new business grants, and more!, October 6: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/phase3-1199460
- Phase 3 Reopening Details: 75% capacity allowed, UI payment plans, and more, September 25: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/phase3-1199436
- Parking enforcement returns to the Downtown, small business loans and grants still available, and more!, September 2: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/parkingresume-1199396
- New small business grants available, Downtown parking meters suspended, and more!, July 28: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/parkingsuspend-1199376
- City of Bridgeport opens applications for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, July 14: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/cityappsopen-1199360
- PPP loans applications reopened, utility shut off moratorium extended, aerator bundles from UI, and more!, July 3: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/pppscooters-1199348
- PPP loans stops applications, electric scooters, and more!, June 26: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/pppscooters-1199336
- Guide to Navigating the Second Phase of Re-Opening, June 16: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/guide-to-reopening-phase2-1199332
- Phase 2 reopening on 6/17 sector rules, Downtown Relaunch Grant Program, and more!, June 7: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/phase2announce-1199320
- APPLICATIONS OPEN for Downtown Bridgeport Business Relaunch Grant Program, June 5: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/relaunchappsopen-1199308
- Gov. Lamont releases roadmap to full economy reopening + more, May 27: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/recoveryroadmap-1199304
- Latest information on reopening business on May 20th, available grants/loans, + more, May 19: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/outdoordining-1199300
- Governor Lamont release rules for reopening businesses on May 20, May 9: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/reopenrules-1199284
- Downtown Back to Business Guide, May 4: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/reopeningguide-1199276
- Governor Lamont says CT businesses could open in 7-10 days, April 29: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/1mfunding-1199272
- Congress passes new business recovery funding legislation and other updates, April 23: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/newbizfunding-1199264
- Lamont announces date to reopen economy, April 15: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/reopenannounce-1199244
- Business Curfew Announcement, April 7: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/8pmbizcurfew-1199239
- Small Business Grants and Loans, April 2: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/smallbizgrants-1199235
- Small Business Administration and CARES Act Loan Programs, April 1: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport/sbaloanapps-1199231
- Downtown Bridgeport COVID-19 Update, March 27: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport.com/covid0327update-1199207
- Downtown Bridgeport COVID-19 Update, March 17: https://mailchi.mp/infobridgeport.com/covid0317update-1199159