COVID-19 Business Resources

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.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.

The holidays are over, but you can still love your local! Shop Locally and Give Colorfully from Downtown Bridgeport with our neighborhood shopping guide.