District Update | March 23, 2020 |
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The Department of Homeland Security designated food and agriculture as one of sixteen critical sectors in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak and said that it is essential that food and agriculture workers remain at work. Here in Arkansas, we have some of the finest farmers, ranchers, and food workers in the entire country and during this public health crisis, they have remained hard at work so our entire country has enough food. The Arkansas Farm Bureau has been highlighting some of our small producers by sharing their stories and posting videos on social media. Click HERE or on the image below to watch Caleb Plyler and his son, Huck, of Hempstead County, provide an update on the work that continues with their cattle operation.
For a bright spot in your day, and an excellent example of how Arkansans are stepping up to the plate to help as we face this virus, visit their Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages.
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and our state government have been working to prevent price gouging and to crack down on scam artists who are taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis. When Governor Hutchinson declared a state of emergency on March 11th, Arkansas's price gouging laws automatically went into effect. This state law prevents individuals or businesses from increasing product prices by more than ten percent of what the product would have cost prior to the state of emergency declaration. Violators can face criminal charges and fines as well as civil penalties of up to $10,000 per incident. Arkansans can report price gougers to the Attorney General’s Office at ArkansasAG.gov or call (800) 482-8982. Click HERE or on the image below to watch Arkansas AG Leslie Rutledge discuss the penalties for price gouging. Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips to avoid price gouging: · Know the average price for goods like hand sanitizer, soap, and non-perishable food items before purchasing. If it seems too high, ask questions. · Avoid high-pressure sales tactics to purchase items that claim to keep you healthy. · When possible, deal with established, reputable businesses in the community. · Stay updated on the latest risks, warnings, and prevention tactics at CDC.gov/Coronavirus. To report fraud related to the COVID-19 public health crisis, you can also call the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or email the NCDF e-mail address disaster@leo.gov. You should also be vigilant for possible scams related to COVID-19 such as cures or people posing as fake government agencies to steal your money or personal information. For example, the CDC is NOT going door to door and offering COVID-19 testing in exchange for money and personal information. If someone comes to your door, contact the AG's office at 800-482-8932 or report the incident here: https://arkansasag.gov/forms/file-a-consumer-complaint/
BIG NEWS. On March 20th, the Small Business Administration approved Governor Hutchinson’s disaster declaration request for economic injury as a result of the novel coronavirus.
This means that small businesses in central Arkansas and throughout the state can start applying for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) immediately. These loans are designed to help businesses who are losing revenue due to federal, state, and local measures about COVID-19. Click HERE to apply for these loans now that declaration has been made official. If you are not a small business owner but would like to help, please share this information with your friends, family, and the local businesses that you frequent. |
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