5-Star Certification Program Helps Businesses to Reopen

Feb 9, 2021 | business attorney, COVID-19, Entrepreneurs, Medium-sized business, Small business

5-Star certification program for Colorado businesses

The State of Colorado recently announced the 5-Star State Certification program. This is a process operating at the county and municipality level to encourage and certify businesses to implement COVID-related safety measures that go beyond current public health orders and guidelines. By doing so, certified businesses will be able to accelerate their reopening and operate at greater occupancy.

The 5-Star Certification process is aimed primarily at businesses such as restaurants, gyms, personal services businesses (such as hair and nail salons), and indoor event venues. For example, in the case of restaurants, obtaining 5-Star certification requires instituting the following measures:

  • Greater table distancing, from six feet to ten feet
  • Improvements to ventilation
  • Required daily employee symptom and exposure checks, rather than recommended checks
  • Required screening for symptoms and recording of customer names and contact information to support tracing
  • Written implementation and compliance plans specific to the business
  • Business-specific plans for detection, reporting, and response to outbreaks

These are some of the requirements for restaurants, and other types of businesses have their own checklists, all of which are available at the following website: https://covid19.colorado.gov/five-star-certification.

Each county or municipality must have the State approve its program, after which businesses can apply for certification. In the City of Denver, for example, businesses will compete an application and must certify they have met the elevated requirements. Once certified, a business can accelerate its operations, such as through increased occupancy. Certified businesses must post program signage visible to customers. The signage must include the business’ date of certification and contact information if a customer wishes to report a complaint or perceived violation.

The 5-Star Certification program is an innovative program to allow eligible businesses to accelerate their opening while protecting employees and customers. If you need more information on the program, contact Mark Spitz at mark@spitzlegalcounsel.com or 720—575-0440.