News

Beginning today, under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral/cremation expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

Governor Asa Hutchinson announced today the statewide mask mandate will be lifted effective immediately. Our labor and employment attorneys have put together some much needed guidance in the form of frequently asked questions to help business owners understand how this affects their place of business and current requirements set for employees and customers.

Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP is proud to announce the establishment of the Friday Forward Fellowship. The program was created by the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee with the goal to increase the number of law school students from diverse backgrounds. Recognizing that diversity includes many human differences such as race, ethnicity, sexual and gender identity, military service, socioeconomic status, faith and beliefs, disability status, immigrant upbringing, and other conditions, we are committed to seeking out these populations in Arkansas colleges and universities to provide financial support and mentorship with the goal of inspiring a more diverse representation in the Arkansas legal profession.

The Arkansas Hospitality Association hosted a webinar to educate their members on potential loans available through the Paycheck Protection Program. Friday, Eldredge & Clark Attorneys Robert T. Smith and Madeline O. McElhanon addressed recent updates to the program and discussed its application to the travel and tourism industry.

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service issued the following press release yesterday announcing the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021. The ARPA follows previous laws applicable to the minimum funding contribution requirements for defined benefit plans, and this article discusses the impacts of the ARPA on Single Employer Plans (as opposed to Multi-Employer Plans).

The extended Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is of particular interest to those in the tourism industry because it addresses specific issues businesses like hotels, restaurants and bars are facing and have faced during the pandemic. Below is a summary of two recent articles that explain the loan program in more detail.