THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020  |  IN THIS ISSUE

Nikki Hynek
Hoping to keep her business afloat while lifting spirits through the COVID-19 pandemic, Cedar Rapids-based beauty company Pretty Lane has launched  the "It's Pretty To Be Kind" campaign designed to put a smile on recipients' faces - and some color on their lips.

"Lipstick has been a symbol of hope in times of unprecedented circumstances tracing all the way back to the Great Depression," said Pretty Lane founder Nikki Hynek, who is currently offering a discounted price on lipstick gifts as well "an option to customize a note that will be hand delivered to a friend to brighten their day during these gloomy times."

Pretty Lane, an experience-based beauty company that provides consultations, services and parties for individuals and groups, expanded its vision as a diversification strategy when the social disruption caused by the outbreak imperiled its revenue stream. Ms. Hynek hopes those  receiving the gifts will go to the company website and "pass it on so we can spread hope to as many people as possible during this time." According to the company's Facebook page, for every lipstick delivered, another will be donated to a healthcare worker with an encouraging note.

"I have been a long-time customer, am passionate about Nikki's vision, and am excited to bring my experience in business strategy and sales to complement and build upon what Nikki has created," said  Lindsay Leahy, founder of The Restoration Project, who has teamed up with Ms. Hynek to grow local market share, expand the brand's reach, and add to its line of services. "We  both believe in quality, customer care, connection, convenience, and community and we are excited to build on those pillars as partners in this next phase." 

Pretty Lane was founded as a sister business to Dollup Beauty, which offers high-quality, natural makeup products aimed at enhancing natural features. Once the crisis has passed, Ms. Hynek and Ms. Leahy plan  to more proactively market to locals who currently buy makeup at big box stores and encourage them to try Pretty Lane's locally-made products.

For the moment, though, the team is focused on making a rather dreary reality a bit more colorful via "the Lipstick Effect," which Ms. Hynek described as " a theory that when facing economic uncertainty, consumers will purchase less costly luxury goods that allow them to continue to take care of and feel good about themselves, like lipstick." 
Because people need to eat, even amid a pandemic, the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD) has teamed up with downtown restaurants to implement delivery and "no-contact" pick-up services following the most recent guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health regarding COVID-19 that orders all restaurants in Iowa to limit service to drive-through, carry-out, and delivery.

Diners wishing to avail themselves of no-contact pick-up simply call ahead to place an order to any participating restaurant, giving their name, make and color of their vehicle, and method of payment. Customers can then park near the chosen restaurant, call to confirm arrival and wait for a restaurant employee to deliver food curbside.

For delivery orders, locally-owned and operated CHOMP Delivery is offering free delivery from many downtown restaurants for the remainder of March and the entirety of April (customers should enter code ICDD). As part of stringent new safety and hygiene precautions, the service has recently added a "leave it at the door" option.

"CHOMP is one of the last remaining sources of revenue for over 75 restaurants in our community during this period when the state has required their dining rooms to be closed," the delivery service posted on Facebook today, stressing using CHOMP keeps dollars local. " We are all in this together, we are your neighbors, we are here for you. We are committed to the safety and well-being of both the individuals and small businesses of our community and the progression of our city through this trying time ... Our community is united and our family is strong."

ICDD is also "hoping to spark some cash flow spending for businesses by incentivizing gift card purchases."

As of March 16, customers spending $100 at a downtown business online or by phone, can receive a $25 Downtown District gift card "to say thank you for supporting local." Customers spending $500 will receive a $150 ICDD gift card. Customers are encouraged to go online and purchase gift cards from downtown businesses or order from them by phone.

Proof of receipts to receive gift cards should be submitted here.


The coronavirus outbreak is posing a tough challenge for business owners of all kinds, including those in the funeral industry. News partner KCRG spoke to Michael Lensing of Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City about how funeral directors are mitigating risks, including limiting crowds, while still allowing families time and space to grieve. Watch the full video here .

Iowa Small Business Administration (SBA) officials are urging small businesses impacted by COVID-19 to reach out to their county Emergency Management Agency to help gather statistics to be used in the state's application for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

EIDL rules require each state to demonstrate economic losses to the SBA before it can declare counties within a state eligible to apply for the loans. The governor's office is currently working with SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance to get the appropriate statistics for the application, but affected businesses are encouraged to pass their information on to speed the process.

"Unfortunately, we don't have a timetable as to when a decision will be made, but hopefully it will be soon," officials said in a release.

Impacted businesses should contact the following people in their home counties:

Johnson: Dave Wilson, coordinator, Johnson County Emergency Management Agency, 4529 Melrose Ave., Iowa City, IA 52246,  (319) 356-6761 or  dave.wilson@jecc-ema.org.

Iowa: Josh Humphrey, coordinator, Iowa County Emergency Management Agency, 785 Cherry Ave., Marengo, IA, 52301, (319) 642-3151 or jhumphrey@iowacosheriff.org.

Washington: Marissa Reisen, coordinator, Washington County Emergency Management Agency, 2175 Lexington Blvd., Bldg 3 ,P.O. Box 889, Washington, IA, 52353, (319) 653-7794 or  mreisen@co.washington.ia.us.

Cedar:  Tim Malott, coordinator,  Cedar County Emergency Management Agency, 400 Cedar St., Tipton, IA, 52772, (563) 886-3355 or ema@cedarcounty.org.

Muscatine: Brian Wright, coordinator, Muscatine County Emergency Management Agency, 414 E. Third St., Suite Lower Level, Muscatine, Iowa, 52761, ( 563) 288-3909 or  brian.wright@co.muscatine.ia.us.

Eligible businesses would apply directly to SBA for assistance as EIDL is a direct loan program and o fficials said that as soon a declaration is made in Iowa, "we will be getting the word out from our office through every means we have." 

In the meantime, business owners can go to  www.sba.gov/disaster, click on the "Apply for Assistance" button and then on "Eligible Disaster Areas" and search "Iowa" to see what's available. The most recent declaration will be at the top as well as information on the COVID-19 EIDL Loans as soon as Iowa is declared eligible. This website is also where businesses will apply for EIDL loans once Iowa is declared eligible.
 
The SBA also offers a website encompassing available small business COVID-19 information.
Para3 Consulting: Get a legal grip on slip-and-fall accidents
In many parts of the country, winter means snow, ice, and freezing rain - and often, plenty of it. Although we are (hopefully) coming to an end to the winter season, the risk of a slip-and-fall accident on your business' premises can happen any time of the year.

While not all slip-and-fall accidents provide grounds for legal action, many do. While the information provided here is intended to be helpful, if you have had a slip and fall accident occur on your business premises, it is always important and necessary to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced attorney regarding your particular circumstances and what options might be available to you.

Fortunately, if you have insurance to protect your business from premises liability, your insurance company will usually take care of your defense. However, you may still wonder how the law works with respect to these types of accidents and what you can do to protect your business.

All property owners have a duty to exercise what is known as "reasonable care" in maintaining the areas where the public, including customers, can reasonably be anticipated to be present. This duty to keep those areas safe includes inspecting the property periodically and removing any hazards diligently and within a reasonable time after it is discovered. A property owner's failure to do this - failure to properly warn others of potential dangers, and failure to remediate dangers that exist - may constitute negligence.

The other side of the coin in slip-and-fall incidents is that property owners are not alone in the duty to exercise reasonable care. Members of the public also have a responsibility to use reasonable care when they are walking in an area that they either know, or should reasonably expect, might be slippery. 

Read the full column at corridorbusiness.com.
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Ed. note:  Due to Gov. Kim Reynolds' declaration of a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency, events of more than 10 people are prohibited through March 31. If you have a meeting or event that doesn't fall under that provision and will still be held, please let us know at news@corridorbusiness.com so we can update our calendar.
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Food donated and delivered in individual styrofoam boxes, as it was Wednesday evening, isn't how mealtime typically goes at the Willis Dady Emergency Shelter in southeast Cedar Rapids.  "We used to take kind of anything and put it out for people, and now just because there's not a way to keep food separate, we're only taking food if it's been prepackaged into single servings," Phoebe Trepp, Willis Dady executive director, said.  Trepp said not everything is typical these days, as the organization works to keep its clients healthy from the coronavirus. One of the biggest changes comes at the Linn County Overflow Shelter at the Fillmore Center in northwest Cedar Rapids.  The overflow shelter usually opens its doors each evening, and by the next morning, clients have to leave. At that point, they can head to the Cedar Rapids Public Library's downtown branch or to the downtown Ground Transportation Center to find shelter during the daytime.  However, with both the library and Ground Transportation Center closed to foot traffic because of the coronavirus, the overflow shelter is now open all day to the people who stay there at night.

Elizabeth Mary, a singer from Dubuque, got creative after her shows got canceled due to coronavirus.  She put on a three-hour concert on Facebook Live. It's something several musicians have done nationwide.  Mary said she was amazed at all the views, shares, and comments from people thanking her and enjoying the show.  Besides spreading hope, she also took "virtual tips" because having to cancel concerts is costing her money.  "I'm dependent on that income," she said. "I felt selfish even putting a tip jar out there but I was blown away the kindness of people reaching out and supporting me."  Mary says she also promoted other businesses to try to support everyone missing out on income because of the coronavirus response.
 
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Your KCRG-TV9 First Alert Forecast

Expect rain and thunderstorms to continue most of the day, though there could be a few breaks here and there during the afternoon. A few strong storms could develop that have the potential to produce large hail early on and as we continue through the afternoon, strong winds and the potential for a few tornadoes is not out of the question. Highs today will vary depending on where you are - the 40s and 50s toward the north and areas near I-80 and, in the south, low to mid-60s. Overnight tonight, rain and storms continue early, before transitioning into a rain/snow mix towards the north. A few flurries could be possible tomorrow morning, otherwise decreasing clouds. Once that rain moves out, winds will turn to the northwest and be very gusty, sustaining between 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, making way for a chilly day Thursday. We will start out in the mid to upper 20s, with highs only in the low 30s.