ACA’s Government Relations Committee is continuing efforts to secure further financial relief for camps and closely monitoring ongoing discussions in Washington, DC, about reallocating funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) that have not yet been spent to maximize their impact through existing vehicles.
Some of the main strategies the committee is pursuing to further help camps include:
- Fixing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Form 1502 issue. A technicality has kept many camps from being able to fill in the summer date field that was approved on April 27. ACA is working to get that addressed so camps can maximize their potential loans.
- PPP second draws and extension. ACA is participating in and paying close attention to ongoing discussions in Washington, DC, about allowing businesses to take a second draw from current PPP funds and extending the program through the end of the year.
- Raising the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) maximum. The suspension of EIDLs for non-agricultural businesses was lifted on June 15. However, the maximum loan amount has been lowered from $2 million to $150,000. ACA is trying to get that cap raised.
- Weighing in on the Main Street Lending Program. The Federal Reserve has put out a proposal to open these loans to small and mid-sized nonprofits. ACA has submitted comments to help make this a more useful vehicle for camps.
- Securing state-level relief. ACA is developing resources to help camps advocate at the state level to be included in the allocation of relief funding. Rhode Island set aside $7.5 million for coronavirus relief for day camps, and we expect additional federal funding to be set aside for states in the next relief bill (which may be passed by the end of July).
Visa Restriction Update
In addition, ACA has learned that current restrictions on J-1 visas for camp cultural exchange participants do not affect individuals already working in the US or those whose visas were valid prior to the effective date (June 22, 2020) of the Executive Order. The latter will be granted entry to the US, or reentry if they have been abroad, provided they have not otherwise rendered themselves inadmissible. Get more information on this visa restriction clarification.
ACA’s Government Relations Committee will provide further information as it becomes available.