8
COVID-19 Resource Guide For Businesses & Workers Last Update: April 30, 2020 CONTACT offi[email protected] www.skagit.org
204 West Montgomery St., Mount Vernon, WA 98273www.skagit.org, 360-336-6114, [email protected]
COVID-19 Resource Guide
For Businesses & WorkersLast Update: April 30, 2020
Duringthishealthandresultingeconomiccrisis,SkagitCountybusinesses—alongwiththoseintherestofthestate,countryandworld—havefacedunprecedentedadversity.Therehavebeenforcedclosures,layoffs,scaled-downoperations,can-celedeventsandcontracts,illnesses,andeverythinginbetween. Butthroughtheseuncertainanddifficulttimes,onethingisapparent:theSkagitCountybusinesscommunityandresidentsareuptothischallenge. Theexamplesofinnovation,problem-solving,civic-mind-edness,andcollaborationhavebeenapparentthroughourdailyinteractions,socialmedia,newsstories,andmore. EDASC’sNo.1priorityfortheforeseeablefuturewillbehelpingtheSkagitCountybusinesscommunitynavigatethispublichealthandeconomiccrisis.Therefore,EDASCwillcontinueprovidingthelatestCOVID-19resourcesandupdatesrelevanttobusinessesandworkers. ThisCOVID-19ResourceGuideForBusiness&Workerswillberegularlyupdatedandre-uploadedonourwebsiteasnewresourcesbecomeavailable.Thelatestversionofthisdocu-mentcanbefoundonourCOVID-19Resourcespageonourwebsite. Thisisanunprecedentedtimefromapublicandbusinesshealthperspective,andithasbeenhearteningtoseehowourwonderfulcommunityhasbandedtogethertosupportoneanotherwhilemaintainingsocialdistancingpolicies. KnowthatEDASCwillcontinuetobeheretohelpyouwithyourbusinessneedsandconnectyouwiththeexistingandtheever-wideningselectionofnewbusinesssupportresourc-esrelatedtotheCOVID-19outbreak.
Warmregards,
JohnSternlichtEDASCCEO
Skagit County is up to this Challenge
2 skagit.org
Message from the CEO
John SternlichtEDASCCEO
BUSINESSESFinancial Support
Loans
SBA Disaster Loans: TheU.S.SmallBusinessAdministrationisofferinglow-interestloansforworkingcapitaltosmallbusinessessufferingsubstantialeconomicinjuryasaresultofCOVID-19.Theseloansmaybeusedtopayfixeddebts,payroll,accountspayableandotherbillsthatcan’tbepaidbecauseofthedisaster’simpact.Theinterestrateis3.75%forbusinessesand2.75%fornonprofits.
Skagit County Loan Fund:AreyouaSkagitCountysmallbusinessexperiencingseveredisruptionsfromCOVID-19?ThisemergencyloanprogramthroughtheNationalDevelopmentCouncilprovidesfinancialreliefwithaccessible,low-interest,deferredloansupto$25,000forworkingcapital.Theinterestrateis2.44%.Formoreinformation,[email protected].
Lender Match:Thisno-costprogramisanonlinereferraltoolconnectingsmallbusinesseswithSBA-approvedlenders.ThisisagoodalternativetoanSBADisasterLoanbecauseithasamuchquick-erturnaround.SBAofficialssaytheycanapproveloansunder$350,000inamatterofdays.
Paycheck Protection Program:Thisprogram,whenimplemented,willprovideadirectincentiveforsmallbusinessestokeeptheirworkersonpayrollbyprovidingeachsmallbusinessaforgivableloanupto$10millionforpayrollandcertainotherexpenses,accordingtotheU.S.SmallBusinessAdministra-tion.Ifallemployeesarekeptonpayrollforeightweeks,theSBAwillforgivetheportionoftheloansusedforpayroll,rent,mortgageinterest,orutilities.Upto100percentoftheloanisforgivable.
SBA Micro Lender Program: TheU.S.SmallBusinessadministrationhasmicrolendingpartnerswhereloansofferedrangefrom$500to$50,000.TheSBAprovidesfundingtothesemicrolendingpartnerswhothenre-lendthismoneytoqualifiedsmallbusinesses.TheactiveSBAmicrolendersintheareaincludeBusinessImpactNorthwest,Ventures and MercyCorpsNorthwest.
Grants
Business for All: Thisgrant,poweredbyHelloAlliceinpartnershipwithVerizon,provides$10,000emergencyCOVID-19grantsforsmallbusinessesincrisis.
Emergency Economic Injury Grants:Thesegrants,providedthroughtheU.S.SmallBusinessAdmin-istration,provideanemergencyadvanceofupto$10,000tosmallbusinessesandprivatenonprofitsharmedbyCOVID-19withinthreedaysofapplyingforanSBAEconomicInjuryDisasterLoan(Page3).Toaccessthegrant,firstapplyfortheSBAEconomicInjuryDisasterloanandthenrequestthegrant.
Save Small Business Grants:TheU.S.ChamberofCommerceFoundationhaslaunchedtheSaveSmallBusinessFund,agrantprogramprovidingassistancetosmallbusinessesownersimpactedbythecoronaviruspandemic.TheFoundationwilldistribute$5,000grantstosmallemployersineconomical-lyvulnerablecommunitiesintheUnitedStatesanditsterritories.
3 skagit.org
BUSINESSESFinancial Support
Grants Continued
Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grants: Update4/9/20:EDASCisnolongeraccept-ingapplicationsforthisgrant. Upto$5millionfromTheGovernor’sStrategicReserveFundwillbeusedtoprovideupto$10,000grantstosmallbusinessestohelppreventclosureduetoCOVID-19.TheStateDepartmentofCommercewillcoordinatetheapplicationprocesswithyourlocaleconomicdevelopmentorganization.
Skagit Valley Disaster Relief Fund:ThisfundwascreatedbytheSkagitCommunityFoundationincollaborationwithEDASCandUnitedWayofSkagitCountytosupportandhelpsustaincharitableorganizationsandagenciesastheyworktodirectlyaddresstheCOVID-19pandemicanditsimpactsontheSkagitValley.Toapplyforthefund,contactskagitrecoveryfund@skagitcf.orgwithanswerstotheapplicationfoundonthefund’swebpage.
Skagit Publishing Community Grant Program:SkagitPublishinghasestablisheda$500,000grantfundtoassistlocallyownedbusinesseswithmatchedadvertisingduringthischallengingsituation.ThegrantisgoodthroughJuneandisrestrictedtoSkagitCountybusinesses.
Social Justice Fund Northwest’s Rapid Response Grants: PerSocialJustFundNorthwest’swebsite,theRapidResponseGrantsaresmallprojectspecificgrantsof$2,000tohelpgrassrootsorganizationsrespondquicklytothechangingpoliticalclimate.
Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund: Thesegrantsofupto$10,000offerhelpforsmallbusinessestofillurgentfinancialgapsuntiltheycanresumenormaloperationsoruntilothermorepermanentfinancingbecomesavailable.ThedeadlineforthefirstroundofgrantsisApril4,8:59PST.TheseconddeadlineisApril17.Apreferencewillbegiventoentrepreneursofcolor,women-ownedbusinessesandotherenterprisesinhistoricallyunderservedcommunities.
4 skagit.org
A Note on lenders and landlords
Lendersandlandlordsmaybeinapositiontoproviderelief.Manylargemortgagelendersareofferingprogramstomovecurrentmortgagepaymentstotheendofaloanwithoutpenalty.Banksmaydothesameforsimpleloans.Somelandlordscanhelp,especiallyastheythemselvesreceivemortgageflexibilityfromlenders.Contactyourlenderorlandlordtoseewhattheycanoffer.
5 skagit.org
BUSINESSES
Insurance
State Office of the Insurance Commissioner:Asanemployer,ifyouhaveboughtthecorrectendorse-ments,insurancepoliciesmaycovercanceledeventsorbusinesslosses.ContacttheStateOfficeoftheInsuranceCommissionerat1-800-562-6900orgototheirwebsiteformoreinformation.
Business Interruption Insurance:ChmelikSitkin&Davisisprovidinginformationforbusinessesthathavebusinessinterruptioninsuranceandwhattodoifyourbrokerhastoldyouthatitwillnotcoveryourlostbusinessincome.
Tax
Federal:TheIRShascreatednewwaystohelptaxpayers,businessesandotheraffectedbyCOVID-19.Thispagewillbecontinuallyupdated.Oneimportantupdate:AlltaxpayerswhofileandpaytheirFed-eralincometaxesonApril15,2020,areautomaticallyextendeduntilJuly15,2020.
State:ThestateDepartmentofRevenueisofferingextensionsontaxfilingsandcertainlatefees,aswellasreschedulingauditsandmoretimetofileorrenewabusinesslicense.Contactthedepartmentat360-705-6705formoreinfoorvisittheirwebsite.
Utilities
Cascade Natural Gas:CNGannouncedMarch17thatitwillnotbedisconnectingcustomersfornon-paymentduringthistimeandwillcontinuetoworkwithcustomersonpaymentplanoptions.TheyhavealsoimplementedplanstoprotectemployeesfromexposuretoCOVID-19.
Puget Sound Energy:PSEannouncedtheywillnotbedisconnectingcustomersfornon-paymentduringthistime.Theyalsoreceivedapprovetowaivelatefees.Theywillworkwithcustomersonoptionssuchaspaymentplansandchooseanewbillduedate.Itsemployeesarerequiredtomaintainsocialdistancingwhileworkinginthefield.
Skagit Publict Utility District:SkagitPUDhassuspendedallwatershut-offsduetodelinquentpay-ment,accordingtoitswebsite.Customersconcernedabouttheirabilitytiopaytheirbillshouldcon-tacttheSkagitPUDCustomerServiceteamat360-424-7104.
Financial Support
Manufacturers: Find out how you can help fill shortages of needed equipment
Thestateandcountyarelookingtofillshortagesofpersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE), infection-controlproductsandotherdesperately-neededproducts.Tolearnmoreaboutstateneeds,visitthispage.Tolearnaboutcountyneeds,[email protected],orSkagitCountyEMS’[email protected].
6 skagit.org
Business Guidance
Federal
SBA Guidance and Resources: TheU.S.SmallBusinessAdministrationhasapageprovidingguidanceforsmallbusinessesimpactedbythespreadofCOVID-19,aswellasloanresources.
SBA Export Working Capital Program:Forexporters,theU.S.SmallBusinessAdministration’sExportWorkingCapitalProgramcanhelpsmallbusinessesgainaccesstocapital.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Survival Resources:TheU.S.ChamberofCommercehascompiledaresourcelistdesignedtohelpyourbusinesssurvivetheeconomiccrisiscausedbytheoutbreakofCOVID-19.Resourcesincludearesponsetoolkit,loaninformation,smallbusinessadvisingservices,bankandcreditinformation,federalassistance,taxreliefandmore.
State
Association of Washington Businesses:AWBisofferingno-costweeklywebinarsforemployersfea-turinghigh-levelspeakers.
Impact Washington:ImpactWashingtonisanonprofitprovidingconsultingandtrainingservicestoWashingtonstatemanufacturers.
WSBDC Advising:TheWashingtonSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenterprovidesno-costconfidentialbusinessadvising.Togetstart,createanSBDCaccounthere.ThencontactEDASC’[email protected].
SCORE Advising: SCOREoffersno-costsmallbusinessadvisingforbusinessownersandentrepre-neurs.Call360-685-4259tomakeanappointment.
Small Business Resiliency Assistance: Thisprogramprovidestechnicalassistanceforsmallbusinessownersfromculturallyandhistoricallydisadvantagedcommunities.Ifyourbusinesshasbeenaffect-edbytheCOVID-19pandemicandyouneedhelpidentifyingnextsteps,youcancontactoneoftheorganizationspartneredforthisprogram.
WSBDC Small Business Resiliency Guide:TheWashingtonSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenterisprovidingasmallbusinessresiliencyguidetohelpyoudevelopcontingencyplansandassessriskstoenableyourbusinesstorecover.
COVID-19 Business Resources for Washington State:ThestateSmallBusinessLiaisonTeamhasde-velopedalistofCOVID-19resources.
BUSINESSES
Federal
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Employee Assistance Funds: TheU.S.ChamberFoundationisofferingtheEmployeeAssistanceFundprogram.Accordingtoitswebsite,theprogramprovidesmanagementservicesforemployerslookingtosupporttheiremployeesduringtimesofhardship.
State
Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Checker:Viewthisfactsheettolearnifyouareeligibleforunem-ploymentinsurance.
ESD Emergency Rules:TheStateEmploymentSecurityDepartmenthasnewemergencyrulesinplacetosupportthoseimpactedbythespreadofCOVID-19.Forexample,workerswhoareillwithCOVID-19canqualifyforbenefits.Also,workersexposedandquarantinedwhilethebusinessremainsopencannowqualifyforunemploymentinsurance.HerearealistofESD-relatedresources:• Unemploymentbenefitscharts• WorkersaffectedbyCOVID-19FAQ• Paidsickandsafeleave and COVID-19FAQs• Unemploymentinsurance• Paidfamilymedicalleave and COVID-19FAQs• WorkersCompensationFAQS and application• Standbyisaprogramenablingemployerstolayoffworkerswithaplantorehirethem.
Financial Support for Workers: TheStateDepartmentofFinancialInstitutions providesalistoffinan-cialresourcesforconsumersimpactedbyCOVID-19.Itincludesunemploymentassistance,aswellasresourcesforpayingcreditcards,mortgages,rent,andstudentloans.
SharedWork Program:SharedWorkisavoluntarybusinesssustainabilityprogramofferedbytheStateEmploymentSecurityDepartmentthatenablesbusinessestoretainemployeesatreducedhours.
Layoff assistance for workers and businesses: ThestateEmploymentSecurityDepartmenthasawebpagededicatedtolayoffassistanceforbothworkersandbusinesses.
Job seeker help:VisitWorkSourceforavailablejobsortopostavacancy.
BUSINESSES & WORKERSSupport for Workers
7 skagit.org
