IOGA Industry Update – Week of May 4 (May 5 Updates)

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INDUSTRY NEWS & UPDATES 
 
05.04.2020
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Details on the criteria and timelines for Idaho Rebound Cash Grants were released within 20 minutes of sending out this newsletter last evening. What are the odds...

See below for the new, highly relevant information. 
 

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UPDATE TO THE UPDATE
Gov. Little Announces Criteria/Timelines for Small Businesses to Apply for Idaho Rebound Cash Grants

Yesterday evening, Governor Brad Little announced the full eligibility criteria and process for small businesses to apply for an Idaho Rebound cash grant, with the Governor’s Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee having finalized the eligibility criteria and related details.
 
Applications will be handled in two waves:
  • Eligible entities with one to 19 employees may apply starting at noon MDT on May 11 through noon MDT on May 18
  • Eligible entities with one to 50 employees may apply starting at noon MDT on May 18 through noon MDT on May 22
All applicants must first establish a secure Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) account if they do not already have one, in order to protect their personal and business information on submitted applications. (LINKS AND OUTLINED STEPS BELOW)
 
All eligibility criteria, information on how to apply along with instructions on how to gain a TAP account are available at https://rebound.idaho.gov/idaho-rebound-cash-grants-for-small-businesses/
Idaho Rebound Cash Grants for Small Businesses

Governor Brad Little announced plans last week for more than 30,000 Idaho small businesses to receive Idaho Rebound cash grants, a $300 million investment in Idaho’s small business employers.

The U.S. Treasury guidance allows the state to use Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars for expenditures "related to the provision of grants to small businesses to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by required closure."

Here are the key details and steps: 

Details

  • Total Program: $300 million (24% of total CRF award)
  • Individual Business Grant: up to $10,000
  • More than 30,000 Idaho small businesses supported Subject to qualification
  • Targeted to those small businesses that did not receive the Paycheck Protection Program or received less than $10,000 through this program
  • Applications will be handled in two waves:
    • Eligible entities with one to 19 employees may apply starting at noon MDT on May 11 through noon MDT on May 18
    • Eligible entities with one to 50 employees may apply starting at noon MDT on May 18 through noon MDT on May 22
  • All individual grants will be reported on Transparent.Idaho.Gov

Application Process

The State anticipates opening applications on May 11, 2020. Applications will be facilitated by the State Tax Commission. To apply, small businesses will need to create a Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) account if they do not already have one. Small businesses are encouraged to create a TAP account as soon as possible, well in advance of the application period opening on May 11.


Register with TAP for the Idaho Rebound Small Business Grant

  1. On the TAP home page, click "Don’t have a logon? Register here" beneath the "Log In" button.
  2. Leave "No" selected where you’re asked if you received a code. Click "Next."
  3. Fill in all the required fields. If a field turns red/pink, hover over it to see the error and correct it. (Call the efile Help Desk at (208) 332-6632 if you’re unable to correct the fields in error.)
    1. For the "You Are" field, use the drop-down arrow to select:
      – BUSINESS if you’re an owner or employee of a business (but not the sole owner)
      – SOLE PROPRIETOR if you’re the sole owner of a business and have employees
      – 3RD PARTY TAX PROFESSIONAL if you’re a tax preparer or accountant managing your clients’ taxes
  4. Click "Submit."　 The Tax Commission will send you a letter. This letter has a registration code. When you receive your letter, return to the TAP home page and click "Don’t have a logon? Register here" beneath the "Log In" button.
  5. Click on "Yes" to indicate that you have a registration code, then click "Next".
  6. On the "Verify" page:
    1. Enter the registration code exactly the way it appears in your letter (it is case sensitive).
    2. Select the option under "You Are" that matches the selection you made during your pre-registration
    3. Enter the EIN or SSN that you used during your pre-registration
    4. Click "Next"
    5. Complete the required fields
    6. Click "Submit"

You now have full access to your TAP account.

If you don’t receive a letter within five business days after your request was successfully submitted, contact [email protected] or call (208) 332-6632.

  • If you’re a tax professional who needs to file/pay for clients, read the Advanced Use of TAP guide.
USFS Releases New Guidance re: Reopening:

"Guidance for Use of NFS lands including the Operation of Recreation Sites and Services"

IOGA's interpretation of the guidance document is that it encourages Forests and Line Officers to align their policies/requirements/etc. with applicable State and Local orders and guidelines for reopening (but not also with national CDC or other guidelines in addition to these).

(This interpretation of the new FS guidance would, for instance, hypothetically mean that if the Governor were to issue an order/guidelines establishing a social distancing metric of, say, 3 feet in outdoor environments in Idaho, then FS permitees would be required to comply with that 3-foot distancing guideline and not the CDC's 6-foot social distancing guideline.)


Here is an Excerpt Related to Guiding and Outfitting:
 

GUIDANCE FOR PERMITTED OPERATIONS SUCH AS GUIDES
 
Permitted recreation providers are an essential part of reopening recreation sites and services. The above Guidance for Reopening Recreation Sites applies to all recreation offerings, whether operated by the Forest Service, permittees or partners. The following additional guidance is intended for permitted operations. It is the Agency’s intent to support permittees as best as possible in resuming operations.
 
  • Collaborate with permittees when working on your reopening strategy to ensure alignment. Permittees may also provide industry best practices and leverage private industry supply chains for PPE, etc.
  • If a permit has been temporarily suspended, it needs to be reinstated prior to operation. (Sample reinstatement letter to be provided by the WO).
  • Per the terms of their permit, permittees are required to follow local and State laws, including public health guidance.
  • When possible, consider offering extended operating seasons and amending operating plans at the request of the permittee.
  • Consider inherent differences in social distancing ability across permitted operations.
  • When possible, use consistent, unified communication methods so that although openings may vary across areas, permitted operations can go to a centralized location to view operating information.
  • Additional Frequently Asked Questions and Answers will be provided for more detailed responses.
Read the Full Guidance Document Here
Idaho Enters Stage 1 of Reopening

Governor Little also replaced the previous statewide stay-home order with his new “Stay Healthy Order” for Stage 1. The order follows the guidance of the President and CDC and was developed in close and constant consultation with the state epidemiologists. It will be available at Coronavirus.Idaho.Gov.

Stage 1 means 90-percent of businesses can open their doors on May 1. To ensure consumer and employee confidence, businesses must follow protocols to ensure physical distancing, sanitation, and other measures are followed in Stage 1.

In Stage 1:
  • Places of worship, daycares, and organized youth activities and day camps can reopen as long as they follow protocols.
  • The 14-day self-quarantine for people entering the state will continue, to prevent an influx of out-of-state visitors who could be carrying the virus into Idaho. (Remember: Outfitters, guides, and their clients are exempt from this provision)
  • Vulnerable Idahoans should continue to stay at home if they can.
  • Employees are encouraged to continue teleworking, and employers should return employees to work in phases.
  • Gatherings of any size, both public and private, should be avoided.
  • Non-essential travel should be minimized or avoided.
  • Dine-in at restaurants must remain closed, but pick-up and delivery options will still available. In the next two weeks, restaurant operators should develop plans to open for dine-in on May 16 during Stage 2. Protocols will be available at Rebound.Idaho.Gov before close of business today.
  • Indoor gyms, recreation facilities, and close contact services such as massage, hair and nail salons remain closed but can make plans to reopen on May 16 in Stage 2 if they follow protocols.
  • Visits to senior living facilities and congregate facilities such as jails and prisons are prohibited.
  • Bars, nightclubs, and large venues must remain closed.
If Idaho meets criteria to progress to the next stage over the next two weeks, then Stage 2 will begin May 16. Details are at Rebound.Idaho.Gov.

Meanwhile, Idaho is focused on expanding and targeting access to testing, improving contact tracing for all COVID-positive cases, and working to ensure healthcare system capacity. In addition, Idaho continues to hone plans and strategies for preparedness and long-term care facilities.
Revamped "Raft Idaho" Website Up & Running 
Check it out here: https://raftidaho.org/

**If you are a member offering rafting trips and are not listed on the website, please get us your information so we can add you to the site.**
Submit Your Information Here
New PPP Rule Provides Additional Options for Seasonal Operators

Yesterday, the US Treasury Department released an interim final rule for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Calculation that addresses inefficiencies identified by and for seasonal operators. The interim rule provides seasonal employers the option of using any consecutive 12-week period between May 1, 2019, and September 15, 2019, to determine their maximum loan amount(s). 

Review the UPDATED PPP LOAN FAQ HERE.

IOGA has been lobbying Congress to provide such additional consideration for seasonal operators for well over a month. But this success would not have been possible without all of your calls and letters, not least without the invaluable efforts of partner associations, in particular, America Outdoors, whose fast Action Tool many of you used to lobby for these changes. 
 
Updated...again
Idaho Outfitter & Guide Economic Impact Estimate

Thanks, again, to analysts with the Idaho Department of Commerce, IOGA (again) has updated, best estimate calculations for the economic contributions for our industry in Idaho.
 

Results
 
Estimated Total Economic Output of Idaho's Outfitters & Guides: $ 1,089,936,184

The summary table below provides the total economic impact of Idaho guides and outfitters.
  1. The results draw from Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) data sets, were developed using Chmura JobsEQ (economic modeling software)--and represent 2019 4th Quarter numbers.
  2. This model is based on an average salary of $48,219 per guide/outfitter (averages of both respective averages)
  3. For every tour guide/outfitter job in Idaho, approximately 2.10 jobs are added to the local community
  4. Idaho guides/outfitters have a total economic impact of approximately $1.1 billion dollars a year
  5. Idaho guides/outfitters create 3,358 jobs a year (Indirect + Induced)
  6. Idaho guides/outfitters facilitate the sale of over $2 million dollars in tags and licenses a year to non-residents (based on data from the IOGLB and costs from IDFG). 
 
Redside Guide Gathering
Wednesday, May 6 @ 7:00PM MST
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & RESOURCES
 

IOGA DOCUMENTS AND RESOURCES

COVID-19 INFORMATION & UPDATES

PUBLIC LANDS GUIDANCE

OTHER AIDS AND OPERATIONAL TEMPLATES 
BUSINESS PREPAREDNESS AND MARKETING GUIDANCE 

 
PLEAE STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES & ACTION FROM
IOGA.
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Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association
9450 W. Fairview Ave., Ste. #110
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