• Certain Tax & Payment deadlines have been extended. 

• The Bureau of Recycling & Solid Waste is suspending electronics and paper shredding recycling until further notice. No appointments are being scheduled.
• Bulk Item Curbside Collection resumed on Wednesday, May 13.
• The City of Allentown’s Yard Waste Drop-Off Site is open for the season for city residents only. During the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency, the site at 1401 Oxford Drive will be open Mondays and Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mulch loading services by city staff are suspended until further notice. Residents may continue to self-load mulch for free.
• All household trash must be in plastic bags and may not be placed loosely inside a trash can.  This safety measure will contain household waste in a manner that is safer for the collection employees.

Parks

• Allentown Municipal Golf Course to reopen May 1, 2020
• All park pavilions are closed.  
• Li’l -Le-Hi Trout Nursery Hatch House from which fish food is sold to the public is closed until further notice
• Effective March 18, 2020 all City of Allentown Department of Parks and Recreation organized field and pavilion rentals at city facilities are suspended until further notice.
• Existing scheduled renters will be contacted regarding rescheduling of events or issuing of refunds. No further permits will be issued at this time.
• All City playgrounds are closed. The Skate Park at Keck Park, and the Dog Park will re-open on Friday, June 5.

 Community & Economic Development

• Pre-Sale Inspections to Resume
• Construction Activity Resumption
• Rental Assistance Program
• Small Business Stabilization Program
• Service Modifications
• COVID-19 Safety Videos

 Police Department

• Letter from Chief Granitz

 Fire Department

• Childcare facilities and food establishments with permits expiring in March or April have been extended to June 30.

 Special Events

• Pending Permits - Special event applications that were previously submitted are not being considered for approval at this time. Events meeting the criteria in which a special event permit is required including walks, runs, tournaments, corporate fundraising etc. If you have already applied for an event to be held during the 2020 calendar year, please contact the Special Event Bureau. The Bureau will continue to monitor state and local health recommendations.
• Future Permits - The City of Allentown special event application process is currently closed. Please note that once they are re-opened, there may be a delayed timeline for processing applications, and granting approvals based on city services requested and health recommendations. Permits will not be issued before the current declaration has been rescinded.

• Governor Tom Wolf announced that starting Tuesday, May 19, businesses and employees in the real estate industry may conduct limited business-related activities statewide and provided guidance for this industry to operate in red phase and yellow phase counties.
• Governor's Amendment to Business Closure Order- May 19, 2020
• Secretary of Health Amendment to Business Closure Order - May 19, 2020
• Governor Wolf extends "Stay at Home" Order until June 4, 2020
• PA Health Secretary Signs Order Providing Worker Safety Measures to Combat COVID-19
• Pennsylvania Supreme Court Order issued April 28.
  • Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order on May 7, 2020 that protects Pennsylvanians from foreclosures or evictions through July 10.
    In almost all circumstances, renters and homeowners are required to continue making monthly payments. If you are a Pennsylvanian struggling to make your monthly payments, you should contact your landlord or mortgage servicer immediately.
    
    PHFA is also taking action to help homeowners and renters. The agency has stopped foreclosures and evictions and is offering forbearances with late fee waivers to homeowners with a PHFA mortgage who are experiencing a financial hardship because of COVID-19. PHFA also developed a list of renters’ rights and responsibilities to clarify the situation for apartment residents and is working with landlords and property managers to distribute it to renters. PHFA is also encouraging Low-Income Housing Tax Credit building managers to be flexible on rent payments and to waive late fees for tenants whose employment has been affected by the crisis.
• For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, Pennsylvanians should visit the following website: https://www.pa.gov/guides/responding-to-covid-19/.
• Governor Wolf expands "Stay at Home" Order to include Lehigh County
• Governor's Order - 3/19/2020
• PA Secretary of Health's Order - 3/19/2020
• Essential / Non-Essential Business Categories

• Allentown Coronavirus Response Hub
• CDC Coronavirus Page
• PA Department of Health Coronavirus page
• IRS - Economic Impact Payments: What you need to know

• LVHN Preparedness & Care
• SLHN Covid-19 Info

• Statewide Mitigation Efforts beginning at 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, March 17 include:
  
• Practice Social Distancing: Social distancing means staying away from close contact in public places. It includes actions like staying out of places where lots of people gather and maintaining distance – approximately 6 feet- from others. Social distancing also includes minimizing contact with people by avoiding public transportation when possible, limiting non-essential travel, working from home, and skipping social gatherings. All Pennsylvanians should practice social distancing – not just those who are seriously ill or at high risk. Social distancing is a proven way to slow the spread of pandemics.

• All restaurants and bars close their dine-in facilities to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery, and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to do so but eating and drinking inside restaurants and bars is temporarily prohibited.
• A no-visitor policy for correctional facilities and nursing homes has been implemented and will be evaluated for other facilities.
• Freedom of travel will remain, but all Pennsylvanians are asked to refrain from non-essential travel.
• All child care centers licensed by the commonwealth were closed as of Tuesday, March 17.
• Adult day care centers, adult training facilities, Provocations facilities, LIFE centers and Senior Community Centers closed beginning Tuesday, March 17.
• Essential State, County, and Municipal services will be open: police, fire, emergency medical services, sanitation, and essential services for vulnerable populations.
• Supermarkets, pharmacies, and gas stations will remain open. The administration issued guidance for non-essential businesses, such as gyms, movie theaters and shopping malls during county-specific mitigation periods to protect employees, customers, and suppliers and limit the spread of the virus through personal contact and surfaces.
• The Wolf Administration strongly encourages the suspension of large gatherings, events, conferences of more than 10 people.
• The Wolf Administration encourages religious leaders to exercise discretion in order to mitigate the spread of illness.
• Restricted visitors in state centers to ensure health and safety for individuals with an intellectual disability.
• Restricted visitors in assisted living and personal care homes to minimize exposure to our seniors and individuals with disabilities.
• It is anticipated that Lehigh County will advance to the "yellow" phase on Friday, June 5 easing some of the above restrictions.

• Essential / Non-Essential Business Categories

The city understands that no matter what industry you’re in, the COVID-19 Pandemic has likely affected your business in some way. The Lehigh Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is conducting virtual meetings with any businesses to provide assistance, information and resources.For questions and assistance please call 610-758-3980 to leave a voicemail or email insbdc@lehigh.edu. Consulting sessions are no cost, one on one and confidential.

Financing Assistance for small/local business

1. Touch base with your banker - the quickest way access to capital is through a credit line (new or increase), so if you need the most immediate access to cash flow, this is probably your best starting point.
2. Explain to your banker any issues with cash flow and see if they are able to help. Whether that means forgiving late payments/delaying payments/etc. Communication is key here to address any issues sooner rather than later.
3. U.S. Small Business Administration
   Federal Funding Options

Additional Resources:

• PA Department of Labor - Shared Work Program.Talk to your accountant about the effects of taking advantage of this program.
• CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
• WHO Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19
• 2020 Employer Response to the Coronavirus Webinar

Pennsylvania Workers

The PA Department of Labor & Industry will continue to provide employment benefits updates as the situation evolves.
You may be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits if:

• Your employer temporarily closes or goes out of business because of COVID-19
• Your employer reduces your hours because of COVID-1
• You have been told not to work because your employer feels you might get or spread COVID-19
• You have been told to quarantine or self-isolate, or live/work in a county under government-recommended mitigation efforts

Last Updated: May 4, 2020 : 9:30 a.m.

Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank
534 Chew St
Food bank open — Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; 9:30 a.m. until supplies run out.

Catholic Charities
Our Lady of Mt Carmel
179 Chew Street
Boxed lunches (canned & other non-perishable foods), Fridays and Mondays, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Christ Fellowship Church
12th & Chew Streets
Dinner at church Thursdays, Fridays 5 p.m.

Jackson Park
9th & Jackson Streets
Dinner served Saturdays, Sundays 5 p.m.

Jubilee Breakfast Ministry
Zion's UCC
620 W. Hamilton (rear)
There are "grab and go" chicken or sausage and egg sandwiches, fruit, snack and coffee available Thursday, Friday, Saturday, breakfast meal from 7 - 8:30 a.m.

LCC Soup Kitchen
Alliance Hall 6th & Chew Streets
Bagged lunches available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12 - 1 p.m.

Operation Address the Homeless
221 N 7th Street
Open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. providing a hot meal and a bag to go.
Sundays brunch at 12 noon and dinner at 6 p.m.
Showers also available, on a spaced basis to maintain safe distance.

Salvation Army
8th & Turner Streets
Soup kitchen is open 2nd and 4th Sunday at 2 p.m.
Monday hot breakfast served in to go cups 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Emergency food by appointment daily (call 620-432-0129).
Food bank distribution the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month (10-12).
The shelter continues to accept clients from the 211 system.

YMCA
425 15th Street
Provides dinner for school age children, 18 and under. Serving from 4-5 p.m. as follows: Monday - dinner pick-up for Monday and Tuesday; Wednesday - dinner pick-up for Wednesday and Thursday; Friday - dinner pick-up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. An adult must bring the children the first time to get them registered; thereafter the adult alone may pick up food for the children.
They are also open for showers for our homeless neighbors on Wednesday and Friday from 1-4 p.m. Pre-registration is required through Ripple Community.