WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (March 20, 2020) –  West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James signed an Executive Order mandating that all West Palm Beach restaurants are to close effective 9:00 p.m. March 21, 2020. This does not prohibit the restaurant from providing takeout, delivery and pickup only services.  The City of West Palm Beach Police Department shall use its authorities under Florida law to implement and enforce the provisions of this Executive Order to protect the public health, safety and welfare.

Simultaneously, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an order –effective immediately -- to shut down all non-essential businesses (restaurants, bars, taverns, pubs, nightclubs, banquet halls, cocktail lounges, cabarets, breweries, cafeterias, movie theatres, concert houses, auditoriums, play houses, bowling alleys, arcades, gymnasiums, fitness studios, and beaches.) effective immediately. This order shall not apply to delivery services, pickup, or takeout services provided by any of the establishments listed.

The City of West Palm Beach is committed to working with the local business community to provide assistance during this time of emergency. Signage identifying business pickup locations will soon be deployed to help streamline consumers to their destination. Efficient carry out protocols are imperative during this time to ensure continuous traffic flow.

Additionally, the City will soon launch “West Palm Beach Eats,” a campaign centered around supporting local restaurants during times of unprecedented hardship. Customers will be directed to a landing page detailing nearby establishments that are providing carry out services. In order to participate, business must provide their website, menus and hours of operation. As the campaign develops, a badge will be created that establishments can use to signal their participation in this campaign.

Short-term solutions for businesses include:

• City of West Palm Beach Business Assistance: Contact: Chris Roog, director of economic development croog@wpb.org
• Florida Business Damage Assessment Survey: https://floridadisaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssessments
• Florida Department of Economic Opportunity: http://www.floridajobs.org/
• Florida Disaster Bridge Loan: https://floridadisasterloan.org/
• Small Business Administration: http://floridasbdc.org/small-business-preparedness-recovery-resources-for-the-coronavirus/
• Small Business Development Center at Florida Atlantic University: http://www.fau.edu/sbdc/

Businesses that would like to be included in the West Palm Beach Eats campaign, are providing pickup and delivery services, or would like more information about financial assistance can email EcoDev@wpb.org.

Consumers and merchants can stay up to date with local business happenings on the City’s dedicated COVID-19 update page at www.wpb.org.