<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585149786008.png" alt="Gov. Ricketts (center-left, DED Director Tony Goins (center-right,&nbsp;small business owner Natalie Micale (far left, and Duncan Aviation&nbsp;Chairman Todd Duncan (far right) during a recent Facebook Live event." />
 <figcaption>Gov. Ricketts (center-left, DED Director Tony Goins (center-right,&nbsp;small business owner Natalie Micale (far left, and Duncan Aviation&nbsp;Chairman Todd Duncan (far right) during a recent Facebook Live event.</figcaption>
 </figure>News ReleaseLINCOLN –&nbsp;Today,&nbsp;Governor Pete Ricketts hosted a Facebook Live event to discuss ideas on flexibly continuing business operations during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.&nbsp; He was joined by Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Tony Goins; Natalie Micale, Owner of Oh Hello! ad agency; and Todd Duncan, Chairman of Duncan Aviation.&nbsp; Business owners were invited to participate online and to submit questions electronically during the event.Oh Hello! has created a “COVID-19 Lincoln Business Directory” which can be found by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foh-hello.co%2Fcovid-19-lincoln-business-directory%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7Cc5fdd8e2998b4c903cda08d7d0c8f1bd%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637207433770755241&amp;sdata=VwIgJ53hGMzM6oyAclVGbJnt8Shi7GlYFqMYBpG3wC4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.&nbsp; The Lincoln Independent Business Association (LIBA) has also created a resource that can be accessed by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fshop.nebraskabuylocal.com%2Fsignup&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7Cc5fdd8e2998b4c903cda08d7d0c8f1bd%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637207433770765198&amp;sdata=5J09gWNE10yw9SQrZTa18eHbu5Y5TWZlqJYkJzx3Me0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.BUSINESS FLEXIBILITY IDEASOffer drive-up service to customers·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Restaurants and bars have moved to takeout, curbside pickup, or drive-thru service.&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Traditional sit-down restaurants are adding phone lines to handle calls for delivery/pickup orders.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Local retailers are posting items for sale online and then readying orders for curbside pickup.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Veterinary clinics have begun to offer stay-in-car services.&nbsp; They will come to get the pet from a vehicle, take the pet inside for a checkup, and then deliver the pet back to the vehicle after the exam.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Photography stores are offering online sales and giving customers the option to pick up curbside.Deliver to customers·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Traditional sit-down restaurant establishments and bars are delivering orders.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Consider how you can deliver your product to your customer.&nbsp; Even cigar lounges are delivering cigars to customers.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fitness centers are offering virtual classes.&nbsp; YMCA has classes available on a YouTube channel. &nbsp;Other gyms are offering free classes on demand.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gyms are sending instructors to provide in-home classes to groups of 10 or less.Modify normal day-to-day operations·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Businesses are meeting virtually via teleconference or videoconference.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Food processing plants are taking temperatures of all workers at the door to ensure the health of their teammates at the worksite.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Large stores have marked off where customers should stand while waiting to checkout.&nbsp; This helps to maintain the recommended social distance between customers.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Medical clinics are having patients check in from the parking lot and wait in their vehicles for their appointment. &nbsp;This prevents patients from being bunched together in a waiting room.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fitness centers are spreading out their equipment to allow up to 10 customers to work out at once.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Manufacturers are rearranging workspaces to space out their teammates during the pandemic.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Restaurants are offering gift cards with more value than the purchase price, while specifying that the cards must be used at a later date. &nbsp;For instance, they’re selling $75 gift cards for only $50, provided that the cards are used after June 1, 2020.&nbsp; This is helping their cash flow during the pandemic.Video of the recent Facebook Live sessions are available by&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovernorPeteRicketts%2Fvideos%2F1966736256803458%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7Cc5fdd8e2998b4c903cda08d7d0c8f1bd%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637207433770765198&amp;sdata=YU7oQdtYR2Osc0mh2YpT0HhaTa9Gz6w7fckyHR2ND%2F8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovernorPeteRicketts%2Fvideos%2F513047756245538%2F&amp;data=02%7C01%7CJustin.Pinkerman%40nebraska.gov%7Cc5fdd8e2998b4c903cda08d7d0c8f1bd%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C637207433770775163&amp;sdata=uJvG1YqJF9WkYsBaIVlqD9HQ5TYt%2FNnIi7z9N%2BoZgao%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Governor Ricketts encourages business flexibility during COVID-19 emergency