In the Know: News and Resources about Covid-19
Unfortunately, Covid19 gave no choice about cancelling the Bunny Brunch and Easter Egg Hunt. No one could take a ‘wait and see’ attitude. What does the future hold for other events? We don’t know. Currently, the first Thursday In The Park is June 4th- “Meet Your OCMS Merchants,” followed by the OCMS Golf Tournament, June 12th, but we must continue to plan as if they will happen.The most pressing issues, however, concern helping businesses and their employees and uplifting essential workers during this very uncertain time.
Chamber-Main Street is part of a national community and receives up-to-the-minute news for businesses. Executive Director, Ashleigh Eckels researched and compiled the following information for employers, employees and anyone else impacted by the Covid-19.
From Lisa Shimkat, State Director of SBDC:
Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides financial assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits.
It has not happened, yet, but there is high probability that DUI (Disaster Unemployment Insurance) will be activated soon and self-employed individuals can then apply. https://oui.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp
NEW: Targeted Small Business Sole Operator Relief Fund (grant)
- Provide grants of between $5,000-$10,000 to sole proprietorship or single member LLC businesses that are also certified as Targeted Small Businesses (TSB) by the State of Iowa.
- Businesses who are not currently certified TSBs may submit a certification application and be considered for assistance through the program.
- Applications will be available beginning Wed., March 25 and will remain open until funds have been exhausted.
- Must be a Certified Targeted Small Business or have submitted a certification application by April 10
- Business must be able to demonstrate COVID-19 impact
- Business must be primary source of income for business owner applying
- Business must be in existence for 12 months prior to April 10
- Application and additional information: https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/tsb
Iowa Small Business Relief Fund (grant)
- Governor Reynolds announced a new Iowa Small Business Relief Program that will provide financial assistance to small businesses and tax deferrals to any Iowa businesses that have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Applications are now available: https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/our-agency-detail-resources/6710
- Application deadline is Tuesday, March 31, at 12 p.m.
- The program offers eligible small businesses grants ranging from $5,000-$25,000 in addition to offering Iowa businesses a deferral of sales and use or withholding taxes due and waiver of penalty and interest.
- Eligibility: business must be experiencing business disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic; must have employed between 2-25 people prior to March 17, 2020
Posters on the updated rules - https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf
The Wage and Hour Division provides information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, and its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employer-paid-leave
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/flsa/pandemic
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/pandemic
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/covid-response
Other Business Resources for You to Use Now
In the March 23rd Monday Morning Update (MMU), Ashleigh included many links to resources. We know not everyone receives the MMU, so please help us by sharing this information.*
The Small Business Association issued a disaster declaration for the State of Iowa as of March 21st. The declaration allows pandemic-impacted small businesses to apply for low-interest support loans.
Applications are available through the SBA's website: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
Application details can be found here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/2824f9f
If anyone needs help with the application process, or has a business issue you can reach out to Ethan Pitt, regional SBDC director @ [email protected]
Covid-19: Iowa Business Recovery Assistance: https://www.iowaeconomicdevelopment.com/our-agency-detail-resources/6710
Iowa State University Center for Industrial Research and Service: https://www.ciras.iastate.edu/covid19/?utm_source=All+Subscribers+for+Newsletter&utm_campaign=1a43ab23ad-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_03_18_12_10&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9d5115e4d0-1a43ab23ad-137030529&mc_cid=1a43ab23ad&mc_eid=2aa75f34e8
Stop Germs Poster: https://mcusercontent.com/84733b1dbf2632d48581af9fc/files/186b0946-ec4d-4583-8658-5198af64715a/Germ_Poster.pdf
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Combatting the Corona Virus: https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus?iesrc=ctr
Unemployment-Iowa Workforce Development: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/COVID-19
File a claim for unemployment on-line: https://www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov/file-claim-unemployment-insurance-benefits?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Google Resources: https://smallbusiness.withgoogle.com/news/resources-for-smbs-impacted-by-coronavirus/#!/
Main Street America Guidance for Our Community: https://www.mainstreet.org/howwecanhelp/resourcecenter/covid19resources
CDC Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/
Iowa Department of Public Health: https://idph.iowa.gov/
WhizBang Podcast and helpful Information for businesses dealing with Covid-19: https://www.facebook.com/WhizBangTraining/?__tn__=%2CdkC-R&eid=ARDkd9b3we6NZdqhzEaJICJsl1K4lqfTkMn8icIjnwi1Iqi3qP4I0L-mmrVNHCyZhUjZUNdHzxNNMpz9&hc_ref=ARQmfZmCHLbUFYjR4KN2CAYHcVNoghWp6NGPBnLil6vWVaDpB5AqXijO0mc9VWTLzS0
Video Conferencing Options: https://mcusercontent.com/84733b1dbf2632d48581af9fc/files/ad5b541c-ecb4-4079-9aa7-2deda1f8601f/Video_Conferencing_Options_.pdf
As anyone can see, the volume of information for businesses and employees is large. Everyone has a lot to deal with in making their way through these processes. Thank you to everyone who is continuing to support our local businesses through meal orders, shopping on-line LOCALLY, buying gift certificates for later use, and just being creative in showing we are #OsceolaStrong .
*Now is a good time to send Chamber-Main Street an email to sign up for the MMU- it doesn’t cost anything, and you will stay In the Know.*
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