Rosslyn BID Launches “Rosslyn Ready” to Provide Specialized Aid and Strategy to Rosslyn Businesses for Successful Re-Opening Following COVID-19
New Program Enlists Help of Experts from Gensler, Streetsense, Hillmann Consulting, Bean, Kinney & Korman
Rosslyn Ready Builds on the Success of Previous BID Programs Like #RosslynRewards and Arlington County GRANT program
Rosslyn, VA – May 11, 2020 – Today, the Rosslyn BID announced the launch of Rosslyn Ready, a multifaceted program to support and organize businesses in promoting proper safety measures when people are welcomed back into the neighborhood. Rosslyn Ready will provide customized digital resources and access to industry experts to help Rosslyn businesses create individualized strategies for reentry. In just under a week since launch, 90 businesses and restaurants have signed up to be part of the program.
As a part of Rosslyn Ready, businesses can sign up to join the Ready for Reentry program, where they will receive specific guidance in the form of digital resources and a webinar series where they can ask questions of renowned experts, including:
- Gensler, who will provide resources and information related to space management for businesses of all types, considering social distancing, workplace utilization, and considerations for new ways to think about workplace cultures, behavior, and communications.
- Streetsense, who will offer restaurant and retail-specific information related to capital management, operational adjustments (e.g., seating spacing, cleaning, delivery/pickup, etc.), and access to messaging and communications for their customers.
- Hillmann Consulting, Industrial Hygienist, who will advise our businesses on enhanced cleaning and sanitizing of their office space.
- Bean, Kinney & Korman, who will help navigate the changing world of employment regulation and other legal considerations.
“The Rosslyn BID's mission is to support and connect our business community, and Rosslyn Ready is a new facet of that mission,” said Mary-Claire Burick, President of The Rosslyn BID. “With this unique program, we’re giving businesses, restaurants, and retailers access to step-by-step guides and in-demand experts who they might not otherwise be able to work with due to monetary or time constraints.”
“Restaurants have been hard hit, so having the right support as we are coming out the other side of this crisis is critical,” said Matthew Carlin, President of Metropolitan Hospitality Group and owner of Salt and Open Road in Rosslyn. “We are relatively new to Rosslyn and the BID has been an invaluable resource for information and support from day one. We’re excited to fully reopen for our guests in the safest possible way, and the Rosslyn Ready program will help us to reach that goal.”
“Employee experience and well-being are a primary focus at POLITICO, and we know that returning to work will look different, with social distancing and increasingly stringent protocols,” said Traci Schweikert, Chief Talent Officer for Politico. “We’re glad to have this expert knowledge as we navigate the possibilities surrounding our reentry so we can make sure our employees can focus on their jobs and know that their health and well-being come first.”
The Rosslyn BID has launched several programs to assist small businesses and restaurants since Virginia’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order was passed in mid-March. The #RosslynRewards program and Rosslyn restaurant directory benefit both restaurants and consumers by encouraging residents to frequent Rosslyn restaurants to earn gift cards to those establishments. The Rosslyn BID also contributed $100,000 to Arlington County’s Small Business GRANT Program, which will be reserved for Rosslyn companies. Rosslyn small businesses in need of funding can apply for assistance through Arlington County’s website, with the application period closing at midnight on May 17.
Although social distancing has changed many of the Rosslyn BID’s 200+ annual events and activations, the BID is continuing to foster social connections for the community in new, innovative ways through virtual offerings like:
About the Rosslyn BID:
The Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) is a designated 17-block mixed-use, urban center in the heart of Rosslyn, Virginia. Through a public/private partnership with Arlington County, the Rosslyn BID provides services for our 25,000 employees, 15,000 residents and 1.2 million visitors a year to enhance, grow, and connect the neighborhood.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alex Miller Murphy
717-903-9302