UPDATE: Due to weather-related issues Monday, this event has been rescheduled to 5:30 pm on Wednesday, April 15 according to Chamber of Commerce officials. This report has been updated to reflect the new date.

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Following the launch of a live streamed Facebook forum with several local experts unpacking and discussing the federal Payroll Protection Plan (PPP), organizers will be welcoming a new panel in an effort to help local businesses survive and thrive during the coronavirus emergency.

Following a weather-related postponement, the next segment in this series of virtual forums entitled “Surviving and Thriving in Lockdown: Tips for You and Your Business,” will be available to viewers free via Facebook Live Wednesday, April 15, at 5:30 pm. The series is co-sponsored by the Newtown Chamber of Commerce, and The Newtown Bee — and is being co-hosted, produced, and moderated by local realtor and Newtown Police Commissioner Andrew Sachs.

The scheduled guests include: *First Selectman Dan Rosenthal *Chamber President Scott Anders *Natalie Jackson - Newtown Director of Human Services *John Woodall MD - private practitioner/psychiatrist *John Boccuzzi, Jr - BD Provisions Newtown and Fairfield *Michelle Carrino-Hanson - Farmhouse Restaurant *Newtown Police Sergeant Scott Ruszczyk

The panel will converge via the ZOOM meeting platform, which will be live streamed to Facebook on the following pages: Chamber of Commerce of Newtown, Inc - (facebook.com/NewtownChamber/) The Around Town Team - Top 1% Selling Real Estate Team (facebook.com/AroundTownTeam/) Your Connecticut Realtor - Andy Sachs (facebook.com/YourConnecticutRealtor/) The Newtown Bee - (facebook.com/TheNewtownBee/)

To participate during the event, type questions on the Your Connecticut Realtor Facebook page as you watch, and to submit questions in advance, e-mail helenbrickfield@newtown-ct.com.

Sachs envisioned a four-part weekly virtual forum for the sharing of critical information, best practices, and ideas between key community leaders, and to build confidence across the Newtown community with an opportunity to see, hear, and interact with leaders on key areas of concern.

He and the event’s co-sponsors and participants also hope to establish communications, connections, and community teamwork to successfully overcome challenges posed by the coronavirus crisis, which physically is keeping everyone apart and making collaboration difficult.

Especially Timely Subjects

With the latest Executive Orders from Governor Ned Lamont now extending myriad business restrictions until at least May 20, this live forum is especially timely.

The April 15 panelists are planning to discuss ideas to help business owners and community members “survive” in the current environment — with a focus on specific strategies to get through this challenging, unprecedented situation both personally and as a business owner; employee and customer relations; and some specific priorities business professionals should consider.

Panelists also plan to relate tips on how to “thrive” in a COVID-19 world, taking advantage of new situations, new opportunities, and new technology. They will be focusing on things businesses can do now so as to not be left at the starting gate when statewide executive orders restricting various business operations are lifted.

Looking back on the program’s April 6 launch, First Selectman Rosenthal said the panel addressing the federal PPP, which included Newtown Savings Bank President and CEO Ken Weinstein, Attorney Francis Pennarola of Chipman Mazzucco Emerson LLC, and CPA Alan Clavette of Clavette & Company, LLC, and Chamber President Scott Anders, was important.

“If I put myself in the shoes of a business person, this program came together quickly and its qualifying criteria — all the paperwork — is complex,” Rosenthal said. “I think using experts from our own community to break down particulars into bite-sized pieces and distilling it was good, and I was happy to be part of the effort to get that information out there.”

The first selectman empathized with small business owners especially, who he recognized as being “very good at what they do, but probably not as good at deciphering complicated banking documents.”

Clavette also empathized with hopeful PPP applicants saying he actually saw PPP directives change within a day after the April 6 webcast.

“I just obtained a copy of additional guidance issued last evening by the SBA and US Treasury,” the local CPA said Tuesday afternoon. “They have clarified some issues.”

Late Breaking Updates

Clavette said the following points would be most relevant to smaller businesses:

“They specifically now say that you cannot include payments made to subcontractors or 1099 individuals in your payroll costs, so they can apply themselves for the PPP if they are qualified,” he pointed out. “You are [also] allowed to add the cost of state unemployment taxes to the wages paid for employees. You cannot include the employers share of FICA taxes — the employer match.

For employees over $100,000 in wages, Clavette said PPP applicants can add the cost of health insurance premiums and pension payments made by the employer in addition to the $100,000 in wages.

“They say that the banks should get back to you with any changes required, or that you can request to amend the application if it hasn’t already been processed.” If anyone needs a copy of that guidance, they can e-mail the local CPA at aclavette@clavettecpa.com.

Weinstein said under the circumstances, he felt the format worked very well.

“I applaud the organizers for so quickly creating a forum to get critical information out to people so quickly,” the NSB executive said. “The true measurement of this program will not be in the dollar amounts of the loans, but in the businesses and jobs that are saved.”

Pennarola remarked, “It was great to both share experiences and knowledge with both fellow panelists and the community. I did hear from members with questions and am happy to answer questions to the extent I can.”

Sachs said he thought the initial forum was a “very positive, calming and realistic view of our current life situation.”

“As small business owners, it’s very apparent that we all have to band together and support each other the best we can,” Sachs said. “Pivoting where need be and utilizing the small business association support when appropriate and necessary. These are absolutely uncharted waters and being able to present the expertise and knowledge of respected professionals in such a platform can only be of help.”