Updated May 19, 2020
Webinar hosted by The Herring Group will address PPP loan forgiveness application
To help understand the PPP forgiveness application and answer any questions about the process, The Herring Group will host a webinar on Tuesday, May 26, at 2 p.m. EST. Register here for the webinar.
This webinar is designed for both the landscape business owner and the person who will be completing the forgiveness application. In the webinar, it will address “owner-level” issues at the first part of the webinar and more tactical numbers issues (e.g., completing the form) for the second part of the webinar.
Click here to read some helpful pointers to begin the application process.
John Deere recognizes landscapers and commercial mowers with video tribute
Even during these challenging times, landscaping crews all over the country are still maintaining lawns, parks, campuses, and businesses. John Deere salutes the men and women who are making sure the grounds we work, live, and play on will be ready when the time is right again.
SnowWolf reconfigures plant to assemble field hospital beds
SnowWolf recently converted one of its snowplow attachment assembly plants in Burnsville, Minn., to support the COVID-19 relief effort in less than a day.
In partnership with Fastbeds, a manufacturer of Emergency Field Hospital Beds, SnowWolf began assembling, packaging and shipping beds to the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
Updated May 18, 2020
Kioti Tractor provides sales and finance programs due to COVID-19
Kioti Tractor has launched a variety of sales and finance programs through May 31 to provide savings to customers affected by the current economic situation.
These include deferred payments, increased financing options and extending Kioti’s Heroes Reward Program to include front-line medical workers.
MRD Landscaping experiences uptick in installs, donates protective equipment to front-line workers
MRD Landscaping in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, has been busier than normal, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Frank Shang, owner of the landscape design and installation firm.
“I think since the homeowners stay at home with nothing to do, they want to update their yard,” he says. “For over a month now, construction work, firms and trades across British Columbia have been given the all-clear from the provincial health officer to remain operational.”
However, Shang says that busier than normal doesn’t necessarily mean business as usual.
Updated May 13, 2020
R&R Landscaping joins the effort to support health care workers
In At Home Edition, LM Senior Editor Abby Hart chats with Claire Goldman, principal and head of design & business development. Goldman shares how she’s leading Auburn, Ala.-based R&R Landscaping during the pandemic and how the company started providing free lawn maintenance services for health care workers.
Finance expert Herring summarizes PPP loan safe harbor
Greg Herring, The Small Business Administration announced a safe harbor update for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under $2 million. Read more about this update here.
Jeffrey Scott discusses the economy and the importance of diversifying services
In this episode of Landscape Management’s At Home Edition, Editor-in-Chief Seth Jones sits down with industry consultant, author and longtime LM columnist Jeffrey Scott to discuss what his clients are reporting to him in regards to how their businesses have been impacted by the pandemic; his feelings on how companies can control their own fate despite the turbulent economy; and the importance of having a superior sales team during the pandemic.
Updated May 11, 2020
Kris Kiser on GIE+EXPO 2020: “The show will be held safely and responsibly”
Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), appears on this new episode of Landscape Management: At Home Edition, to talk with Editor-in-Chief Seth Jones about the status of the 2020 GIE+EXPO show in Louisville, how the show might be different this year and what he’s hearing from the members of OPEI in regards to how the pandemic will impact their businesses.
Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE) has provided some updates on its federal and state advocacy efforts on its website.
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute is offering a list of regulatory updates and an address from Kris Kiser on the status of GIE+EXPO.
Updated May 8, 2020
Cub Cadet and TaskEasy, an on-demand lawn care service, will offer free lawn mowing to support first responders and emergency workers who risk their lives and well-being on the COVID-19 front lines.
The companies will offer a free month of lawn mowing service (up to two cuts, every other week) to doctors, nurses, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers and firefighters.
How telematics can reduce operating costs
Ryan Driscoll, vice president of marketing for GPS Insight, shares how telematics and fleet management can help reduce business operating costs.
Isuzu offers truck cleaning how-to
Isuzu Commercial Truck of America offers tips on how to clean a truck’s touch points to help eliminate the spread of viruses and bacteria.
Updated May 7, 2020
Fighting the stay at home order in Michigan
When Michigan’s stay at home order took effect on March 24, Amy Upton, executive director of the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) went to work. Instead of labeling businesses as nonessential and essential as the state did, Upton says she and the team at MNLA wanted “to change the conversation to a safe workplace versus a not safe workplace.”
In subsequent executive orders, landscaping was among the industries singled out as nonessential. MNLA and Upton worked with lobbyists to advocate for the industry, and they tried to stress how landscaping companies could work safely. Instead of hearing any comments about their efforts, it was radio silence from Lansing and the statehouse.
“There weren’t any industries getting any feedback,” Upton says.
