TNLA Working For You May 8, 2020

Be the First to Know News and Updates from TNLA! APRIL 24, 2020

TNLA

Working For You

HELP CUSTOMERS EMBRACE THER SPACE TAX FREE FOR THE LAWN & GARDEN TAX HOLIDAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Members' News You Need to Know

-COVID-19 UPDATE ---Main Street Lending Program Guidance Released ---Feds Eyeing the PPP Loans for Fraud; Expect Audits ---TNLA COVID-19 Webinars ---COVID-19: Member Spotlight Nicholson-Hardie -Embrace Your Space Update -Lawn & Garden Tax Holiday -Chat with Green Aggies Webinars -2020-2021 TNLA State Board of Directors -Young Leader & Summit Nominations -2020-2021 Membership Renewal -2021-2022 Scholarships -Compensation & Benefits Study -Region Elections -Nursery & Landscape EXPO -TNLA Adds New Excitement to 2020 Labor Summit -TNLA Green Magazine May/June 2020 Exclusive First Look

Legislative & Regulatory -Ted Cruz Co-Authors Anti-H-2B Letter to Trump -TNLA PAC Auction -TNLA Monitoring State’s Water Conservation Advisory Council -TNLA Webinar: Mandatory Landscape Compliance Agreement for Citrus Canker

Education - Certification Renewal in June 2020

TNLA's COVID-19 Resource Center is available for all members to get information on the things that are impacting the Green Industry. This includes information on legislation and advocacy, educational resources and opportunities, & communication resources for your business and team.

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

COVID-19 UPDATE: Main Street Lending Program Guidance Released For those larger companies unable to access the PPP, the Main Street Lending program may offer some relief in the form of low interest loans. The U.S. Treasury has expanded the pool of eligible applicants by increasing the number of employees and annual revenue a company may have. In addition, certain loan minimums have now been lowered to $500,000 from the $1million originally proposed. You can find an FAQ document published Here There are three main facilities to access financing through the Main Street Program: The Main Street “New” Loan Facility is intended to provide eligible borrowers with new loans originated after April 24, 2020.

The Main Street “Priority” Loan Facility is intended to provide eligible borrowers that are more highly leveraged with new loans originated after April 24, 2020.

The Main Street “Expanded” Loan Facility is intended to “upsize” existing term loans or revolving credit facilities made to eligible borrowers on or before April 24, 2020, and that have a remaining maturity of at least 18 months.

Unfortunately, a program’s start date has yet to be announced. If you are interested in pursuing this form of financing, we encourage you to talk directly to your local lending entities.

COVID-19 UPDATE: Feds Eyeing the PPP Loans for Fraud; Expect Audits The administration has announced that they expect to review all PPP loan more than $2 million dollars for misuse and false certification. We expect that the administration will also randomly select loans under this threshold for review.

This has some companies concerned with their legal liability on certifying their need for the PPP loans considering the new guidance offered up by the SBA in this recent FAQ (see FAQ 31). The most recent FAQ can be found Here. In response to the need for additional guidance, the administration is expected to release another FAQ in the next few days.

Companies with this concern are rapidly returning the PPP loan prior to the “grace period” expiring. The administration has lengthened the grace period from its original deadline of May 7th next Thursday May 14th. This is one of the issues which will be examined in the Laura Fowler TNLA webinar next Tuesday.

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

COVID-19 UPDATE: TNLA COVID-19 WEBINARS TNLA is offering webinars in response to COVID-19 to provide our member companies assistance in navigating their way through updates and resources as they become available. Watch these Webinars and register for upcoming webinars on the COVID-19 Webinars page here!

ON THE WEB TODAY Plants to the Rescue! Messaging for Hope Through Plants Susan Yonder, Seed Your Future

COVID-19 Status Report: Independent Garden Centers Danny Summers, Managing Director & Chief Instigator of The Garden Center Group

TNLA LIVE Employment Law Town Hall Featuring Texas Workforce Commissioner Aaron Demerson and Director of Economic Development Adriana Cruz

COVID-19 FAQs and Updates on the H-2A & H-2B Programs Jarrod Sharp, FEWA

Info and Success with SBA's Paycheck Protection Program Panel Discussion with Green Industry Growers & Kerr Financial Services

Rights & Realities of Green Industry Business Owners: Coronavirus 2020 Straight Talk Laura Fowler & David Oliver, with Fowler Law

COMING UP NEXT...

GOING BACK TO WORK Presenter: Laura Fowler, The Fowler Law Firm PC TUESDAY, MAY 12 | 11:00AM

Register Here >> LEADING IN THE NEW NEXT™ Presenter: Randy Pennington, Pennington Group TUESDAY, MAY 19 | 11:00AM

Register Here >> HOW TO SELL LANDSCAPING OVER VIDEO CONFERENCING WEBINAR Presenter: Jack Jostes, President + CEO of Ramblin Jackson FRIDAY, MAY 22 | 11:00AM

Register Here >>

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

COVID-19 UPDATE: TNLA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT TNLA Member Josh Bracken with Nicholson-Hardie, TMCNP was interviewed for the Dallas Conscious Conversations. Josh talks about family business and the benefits of nurseries during COVID. Check out the video here!

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

EMBRACE YOUR SPACE UPDATE Get Your Community Back in their Garden!

We all know that COVID-19 has been making a huge impact on communities and businesses. Take advantage of this opportunity to remind people why it feels so good to get your hands in the dirt!

We are in this together, and we want to help you communicate that to your community. Please use the media kit for your social media or inspiration to keep customers inspired.

We also encourage you to Embrace the Lawn & Garden Tax Holiday. Get your community pumped up for tax free plants, mulch, grass and more by encouraging them to embrace their space!

We have updated the media kit to be easy-to-use and fresh with new content!

Check it out here Don't forget to use #EmbraceYourSpace and tag us on Social Media!

#Embrace Your Space

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

LAWN & GARDEN TAX HOLIDAY

This is a great time to get your community to visit your retail store! This Memorial Day Weekend May 2325, your customers get water-saving products Tax Free. This is a chance for you to encourage a family to spend quality time in creating a garden, a new couple the chance to save money by planting their own veggies, a retiree the chance to make their lawn their own outdoor oasis. Your community agrees the Green Industry is essential and this is the opportunity for them to get to know your business.

TNLA will be sharing an interactive map of participating retailers on Landscape.TNLAonline.org for consumers to search and find those taking part in the Lawn and Garden Tax Holiday.

Getting started is easy, 1. Email ashley@tnlaonline.org to let us know that you are participating! Include the address of your store, so we can add you to the map.

2. Download your Lawn and Garden Tax Holiday media tool kit today at TNLAonline.org and add them to your social media and email marketing and promotions during the month of May. 3. Be sure in your comments on Social Media to post the following hashtags #EmbraceYourSpace, #LawnGardenTaxHoliday Let's Make this Memorial Day Weekend Water Smart!

Our Map Missing Your Business?

Email your company name and address to ashley@tnlaonline.org today!

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

CHAT WITH GREEN AGGIES WEBINARS AVAILABLE! Chat with Green Aggies’ is a group of Extension Specialists at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension providing research-based information to the Texas green industry. We will update you all on issues faced by the green industry and then answer questions from the live audience.After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Register for all four chats in May (14th, 21st, and 28th) by clicking Here. Not in front of a computer during the chat time? No problem! Just register- you could call in and listen on our chat while you’re out and about, AND even if you can’t call in, you’ll get notification when the recording is ready so that you don’t miss anything.

Preview for this week: Mealybugs; importance of disease diagnostics in turfgrass; immature stick bugs; and Dr. Gu pretending to be Dr. Ong and talking about daylily rust, among other things. Submit your question in our Facebook group ‘Chat with Green Aggies’ and we’ll chat about it----or just email me.

In addition, take part in 4 crapemyrtle bark scale webinars: • May 27—Feeding preference of Lagerstroemia (crapemyrtle), Punica (pomegranate) and Callicarpa (beautyberry) taxa; Consumer and grower preference survey; Register Here!

• June 24— Mechanical control; biopesticides; Register Here!

• July22— Beneficials; Register Here!

• August 19— Chemical control; Register Here!

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

2020-2021 TNLA STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS LISTING

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

YOUNG LEADER & SUMMIT NOMINATIONS Each year, TNLA recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements in the Green Industry with Young Leader Awards and Summit Awards. Nominations for these awards are currently being accepted!

Please help TNLA honor individuals and Member companies doing great work in out industry by submitting nominations by May 15!

2020-2021 MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Membership renewal statements are in the mail, and don't forget the deadline is coming up on July 1st!

2021-2022 SCHOLARSHIPS We are now Accepting Applications for the 2021-2022 Scholarship Program If you know of a deserving student who is studying programs related to the nursery and landscape industry, please send them to TNLA's Awards Platform to complete the TNLA Foundation scholarship application.

All scholarship applicants should carefully review the program requirements as explained on the website, and then submit their application, letters of referral and transcripts by December 31, 2020.

The Foundation Trustees have stressed the importance of having good personal references accompany the scholarship application form -- many times it is the personal references that help the Trustees decide between two deserving students.

We appreciate your support and promotion of this worthwhile program. If you are interested in finding out more, please visit our website tnlaonline.org or contact Cheryl Staritz at (512) 5793863 or cheryl@tnlaonline.org.

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS STUDY

The Texas Nursery & Landscape Association is excited to have completed the 2020 Texas Green Industry Compensation & Benefits Survey and is ready for it to be released. With over 100 companies contributing, the survey represents a window into the employee benefits and compensation of your colleagues in the green industry.

This valuable data is an opportunity to know how your competitors monetarily compensate employees, in addition to analysis on workplace culture, education, certification, and ancillary benefits.

The study features hard data on compensation, as well as comments from the study participants in order to contextualize the results.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insight into Texas-specific green industry employment information.

The complete survey results are available to TNLA members at $100 and non-members at $250.

Purchase it here!

REGION ELECTIONS TNLA Region elections are currently in progress. Keep an eye out for an email with your region ballot so you can vote! Deadline in June 1st, 2020 and all ballots are to be received electronically or through the mail.

A WORD FROM THE STATE Members' News You Need to Know Hear it straight from the State Office

NURSERY LANDSCAPE EXPO 2020 Nursery/Landscape EXPO is looking forward to bringing the Green Industry together all under one roof in San Antonio this August. Please note EXPO is moving from a three day to a two-day show, Thursday, August 13th, and Friday, August 14th, to help your company source the muchneeded product needed for the year. This year EXPO is also offering 8 hours of Virtual pre-show CEU Education sessions. EXPO's LIVE in-person Education Conference will be conducting sessions that will assist your company in gaining tips and knowledge to recover from COVID-19 and help with your labor needs. To view this year's updated schedule, to register or book your hotel stay, visit www.nurserylandscapeexpo.org.

TNLA ADDS NEW EXCITEMENT TO 2020 LABOR SUMMIT The team at TNLA is very excited to be adding to the content of the EXPO Labor Summit this year. In partnership with FWD.us, TNLA has secured Texas Tribune Editor Ross Ramsey as a moderator for a new panel where we hope to host several Texas congressmen. Topics to be discussed will of course include workforce development, seasonal employment visa programs, and immigration as it relates to labor. Keep an eye out for updates to our line up as we work to secure panelist commitments!

! w o N t i d a e R o C l ic k t

A WORD FROM THE STATE Legislative & Regulatory

Hear it straight from the State Office

TED CRUZ CO-AUTHORS ANTI-H-2B LETTER TO TRUMP

On Thursday morning, Politico reported on a letter sent by 4 U.S. Senators to the Trump administration requesting that the President use this authority to suspend the H-2B, H-1B, OPT, and EB-5 programs. The four include Tom Cotton, Chuck Grassley, Josh Hawley, and Texas’ Ted Cruz.

The senators propose to suspend these programs for a minimum of a year or “until unemployment levels return to normal”. Further the Senators made the statement that given the current economy, high school students and college students should not be deprived of the chance to have a summer job as landscaper by the H-2B program.

Obviously, these calls are motivated by opponents of the H-2B program seeking to politically utilize the current crisis to restrict or degrade H-2B and other seasonal employment programs. This is especially harmful to employers in need considering the additional $600 dollars per week in bonus payments Congress is providing the unemployed through the end of July. You can find Ted Cruz’ letter here The TNLA Leader List newsletter is sent out with political notices, Legislative alerts, and highlights of TNLA advocacy work. Sign up now to receive updates and more about the Legislative and Regulatory action in the Industry!

TNLA PAC AUCTION For a second year in a row, TNLA’s Political Action Committee will be conducting an auction fundraiser at the TNLA 2020 EXPO in San Antonio, Texas. And you can play a role in helping it be a success!

As you know, the PAC is a crucial tool in our advocacy efforts and is the muscle behind our grassroots work in Texas politics. The money donated by TNLA members goes directly to helping state candidates who support the Green industry in Texas.

With the auction quickly approaching in August, please consider donating an item to help raise these critical funds.

Auction items may include: Firearms & Outdoor Equipment Artwork Jewelry Electronics Gift cards Trips/Vacation stays Custom made items for donation Industry-related equipment These are just a few of the ideas which can ensure the success of our fundraiser and help us fight for the industry policy priorities. All donors to the auction and their respective companies will be recognized for contributing at the upcoming 2020 EXPO. If you are interested in donating an item, please contact ryan@tnlaonline.org.

A WORD FROM THE STATE Legislative & Regulatory

Hear it straight from the State Office

TNLA MONITORING STATE’S WATER CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL Our association continues to monitor the rainfall and drought situation across the state and provide you the most up to date information from the Texas Water Development Board. In addition to sharing the information from the agency’s Water Weekly update, TNLA staff recently attended the TWDB’s Water Conservation Advisory Council’s virtual meeting on legislative recommendations.

Several positive recommendations out of the council include funding from the Legislature to be targeted toward agriculture and grower water efficiency demonstration projects. As always, TNLA will continue to monitor the agency’s advisory council and develop responses to over restrictive or burdensome regulatory proposals.

TNLA WEBINAR: MANDATORY LANDSCAPE COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT FOR CITRUS CANKER TNLA presents an upcoming webinar on a recent issue: Mandatory Landscape Compliance Agreement for Citrus Canker with Dr. Kevin Ong, Mr. Alex Gammon, Mr. Dale Scott on Friday, May 15 at 11:00PM CST The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is announcing the rollout of landscape compliance agreements for control of citrus canker in the Houston area. There are currently three canker quarantine zones in the Harris Co, Richmond, and Pearland area where landscape crews will be required to follow specific mitigation strategies.

Presenters include Texas AgriLife Extension's Dr. Kevin Ong, USDA's Mr. Alex Gammon, and TDA's Director Dale Scott Register Here!

A WORD FROM THE STATE Education

Hear it straight from the State Office

CERTIFICATION RENEWALS DUE JUNE 2020 Certification is a chance to promote yourself and your expertise. 2020 Renewals are in progress now. Renewal emails and letters have been sent and will be followed up regularly.

CEUs MUST BE CURRENT FOR RENEWAL. To find out about your CEU status, email certification@tnlaonline.org. Additional CEUs can be gained through TNLA’s OnDemand Education.

Explore TNLA's Education On-Demand for CEUs to get you renewed by June! The world is crazy out there, stay on the straight path through education. TNLA’s On-Demand Education is open and ready. Use this crazy time to get updated on new trends, new research and many other elements that are related to your business.

On-Demand Education Elements include: PDF Downloads for yourself & your staff FREE Webinars & Education Shorts EXPO Keynote Sessions & Short Interviews TNLA’s Digital Savvy with Jack Jostes And much more!

EDUCATION & CEU OPPORTUNITIES Don't Ask The Expert, Be The Expert TNLA Green Magazine Articles Including: Notes From SFA Gardens Bugs & Fuzz GreenVision Authors Including: Meng Meng Gu, Ph.D. Kevin Ong, Ph.D. David Creech, Ph.D.

CEU Quiz in Every Issue!

TNLA Academics Education-On-Demand Self-Paced Online Courses Guided Web Courses TNLA Academics Mini Sessions Nursery/Landscape EXPO Keynotes Nursery/Landscape EXPO Interviews Green Industry Essentials (PDFs) Free Webinars TNLA Green CEU Quizzes