Novogradac’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Statement from Michael Novogradac Regarding Novogradac’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

[Posted at 1:43 PM on March 12, 2020]

To our valued clients, colleagues and industry partners:

First and foremost, I want to express our deep hope that neither you nor your loved ones have been afflicted by the novel coronavirus.  All who have been sickened by this virus are in our thoughts and prayers.  We are relieved and grateful that, at the time of this writing, none of our personnel have been diagnosed with this virus.  We hope that continues to be the case and are taking proactive steps to that end.  Our number one priority is to protect the health of our partners, employees, and their families.

We are also acutely focused on continuing to serve our clients, and minimizing disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  Knowing that a disruptive situation such as a pandemic was always a potentiality, Novogradac has long invested heavily in the technology and practices needed to serve our clients from any location. As a result of years of preparation, all Novogradac professionals are equipped with hardware and software that allows them to securely and efficiently connect to the firm’s Wide Area Network. In addition, technology such as encrypted VPNs, remote desktop software, and our “ring anywhere” computerized telephone exchange allows our professionals to seamlessly access all of our client-service applications from anywhere in the country.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have instituted an office-wide “work-from-home” practice in Novogradac offices located in the hardest hit areas. Those of our professionals who are already working remotely have done so without adversely affecting client service.  We will expand the office-wide “work-from-home” practice to other locations as local situations warrant. 

In all Novogradac locations, we have taken steps to help keep our workplaces safe; these include urging employees and partners to: stay home if sick, stay home if they have had contact with a potentially affected person, refrain from travel to high risk areas, and practice proper hygiene.  We are also avoiding nonessential travel and in-person meetings (both at Novogradac offices and at those of our clients). We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with those temporary measures.

In addition to availing ourselves of the pre-staged preparations discussed above, Novogradac’s Business Continuity Task Force is actively implementing additional measures to ensure we are fully prepared for any substantial worsening of the pandemic.  Although we certainly continue to hope for the best, we are diligently preparing for worse.

We continue to closely monitor the responses and actions of government agencies such as Congress, the President, Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, state allocation agencies and other elements of federal and state government that most-directly impact our clients.  Novogradac will provide industry-specific guidance on our website, via email to Industry Alert and client mailing lists and working groups, as agencies issue pronouncements affecting those industries. 

Novogradac will continue to adapt our pandemic response activities as needed and will continue to provide general updates to clients and industry partners.  Please reach out to me or one of my partners if you have any specific concerns or comments.  Thank you for your continued support.