Archive for April 2020

Beshear Sets Date For Business Sectors To Restart Governor Beshear stated that as long as Kentucky keeps up the fight against the Coronavirus with promising results, the following business sectors are in line to restart: May 11 – Manufacturing, construction, vehicle and vessel dealerships, professional services (at 50% of pre-outbreak capacity), horse racing (without spectators),…

U.S. – Mexico – Canada Agreement Trade Pact Delayed Mexico and Canada have taken measures necessary to comply with their commitments under the U.S. – Mexico – Canada Agreement (USMCA) which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico requested for a longer transition period for the auto industry to ensure that it was…

Crisis Shows Supply Chains Need To Embrace New Technologies Cognitive technology involves a combination of “big data” and artificial intelligence (AI). With cognitive technology, supply chain data and transactions from some of the world’s largest corporations can be loaded up to a single place in the cloud. There, the numbers can be crunched and key…

Planning To Reopen Your Business? 10 Things Beshear’s Administration Is Looking For Telework whenever possible Return employees to work in phases Limit face-to-face meetings Social Distance Accommodate for at-risk individuals Provide universal masks for employees Close common areas Enforce use of sanitizer/hand washing stations Conduct temperature checks Have a testing plan   Read the Press…

UofL Technology Shows Promise Fighting Coronavirus University of Louisville researchers have developed a technology that is believed to block coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 from infecting human cells. Early tests show that this may stop viruses, from “hijacking” nucleolin to replicate inside the body. UofL is seeking to fast track development, including application to the Food and Drug…

Is It Time to Rethink Globalized Supply Chains? Over the last 30 years supply chains have become increasingly global. This change has been caused by the increase in the number of trade-able goods and services. Goods with high value relative to their size and shipping cost makes sense to manufacture them in a low-cost region…

Kentucky Businesses Approved for SBA Paycheck Protection Loans Since the beginning of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, more than 1.6 million loans have been approved totaling to approximately $350 billion. The Federal Reserve announced creation of the Main Street Business Lending Program that will…

How Soon Can Kentucky Businesses Reopen? Unless a 14 consecutive day decline in the rate of new COVID-19 cases or access to much more testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) it might be at least another month before businesses start reopening. The U.S. Senate is expected to approve a deal that would add another $310…

Flavorman Alters Production to Manufacture Hand Sanitizer As a life-sustaining business essential to the beverage industry’s supply chain, Flavorman has been allowed to remain open and operating throughout the pandemic and has decided to manufacture its own hand sanitizer to fulfill a critical need for its local community. The companies have produced over 17,000 gallons…

Three Phases of Opening Up America Again Phase One: Individuals Continue to shelter in place Maximize physical distance Avoid groups of more than 10 people Minimize non-essential travel Employers Encourage telework Return to work in phases Close common areas and enforce social distancing Minimize non-essential travel Specific Types of Employers Schools should remain closed Visits…