COVID-19 Business Resources
In an effort to support our business community during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have compiled the following list of valuable resources.
Please visit our Economic Development page for additional webinars, seminars, workshops, resources and press releases.
Small Business Association
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan
Small Business Administration Deadline for Second Round of PPP Loans is March 31, 2021 Click here to read press release and learn more.
If you received a Paycheck Protection Program loan, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness. Here are four steps to apply for loan forgiveness.
- Contact your lender and complete the correct form
- Compile documentation
- Submit the forgiveness form and documentation to your lender
- Communicate with your lender throughout the process
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan for Business with Fewer than 20 Employees
In order to reach the smallest businesses, the SBA will offer PPP loans to businesses with fewer than 20 employees and sole proprietors only from February 24 through March 9.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
If your COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan was declined, you can request reconsideration within six months of the date of the decline letter. Include your application number and information required to overcome the reason for decline. You can send this information via email to pdcrecons@sba.gov or mail to the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas, 76155. Learn more
Virginia Restaurant, Lodging, Travel Association (VRLTA)
Restaurant Law Center Releases Restaurant Guidance: Legal Issues to Consider Regarding COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccine Policies
Questions on whether you can or should mandate vaccines for your employees? The NRA’s Restaurant Law Center has created a lengthy guidance document, which you can review here. They advise…
• As a best practice, restaurants should encourage all employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available.
• In general, if you want to and based on existing case law, restaurants can require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Please note that most of the prior cases dealt with individuals in the health care field, which more often would require vaccinations as a prerequisite to employment.
• Restaurants still must allow for disability accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and religious accommodations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Want to learn more? Review their guidance and register here for a free webinar on February 11 at 3 p.m.
Shuttered Venues Grant
The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.
Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. Learn more. Frequently Asked Questions.
Verizon Pledges $10M Towards Small Business Grants
Verizon is committing $10 million to provide grants to small businesses through Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Applications will open the businesses across the nation on February 8. Businesses can receive up to $10,000. Learn more.
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Federal Coronavirus Resources
State, local, and federal agencies are working together to maintain the safety, security, and health of the American people. Check out coronavirus.gov for updates from the White House’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Task Force. Go to cdc.gov for detailed information about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Visit covid-sb.org, the official federal resource website for U.S. small businesses affected by COVID-19.
EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT (ERTC) INFO
Eligible businesses can now access ERTC for both 2020 and 2021 for eligible employee wages as long as these specific payroll wages and/or group benefits were not directly paid with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds. Employers can access up to $5,000 per employee for a calendar quarter in 2020, and up to $7,000 per employee and per quarter for January 1 – March 31 and April 1 – June 30, 2021. A good NRA Explainer can be found here. View a recent VRLTA webinar focused on the ERTC.
LOCAL RESOURCES
- Town of Chincoteague CARES Act Information
- Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission – ESVA Financial Assistance Resources
- Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission – Business COVID Response Survey
- Eastern Shore of Virginia Chamber of Commerce
- Eastern Shore Tourism Commission
- Shore Delivery Corps. – Pick-up/delivery service for food/medications. Call (757) 801-9950, or email shoredeliverycorps@gmail.com
STATE RESOURCES
- Hampton Roads Workforce Council/Greater Peninsula Workforce Board
- Rebuild VA Grants for Small Businesses and Non-Profits
- Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
- Virginia Chamber COVID-19 Resource Center
- Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD) Virtual Events
- Virginia Employment Commission
- Virginia Employment Commission Online Unemployment Filing Process Tutorial
- Virginia Small Business Development Center Road to Recovery Webinar Series
- Virginia Tourism Corporation Business Resources Toolkit & Industry Response Toolkit
- Virginia Workforce Connection – check unemployment status or file a new claim
- Worker FAQ – Frequently asked questions from workers regarding COVID-19
NATIONAL RESOURCES
- HartBeat of Main Street Grant Program
- National Restaurant Association
- US Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Response Toolkit
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
FEDERAL RESOURCES
- Internal Revenue Service COVID Resources
- IRS – Small business & self-employed resources, IRS – Postponement of tax filing
- Paycheck Protection Program
- Social Security Administration
- U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
- U.S. Small Business Administration – Funding Programs & Disaster Assistance
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Resources
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention Resources
- COVID One-Stop Shop Toolkits
- Business Resources
- Prevention and Treatment
- Travel Information
- Travel: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Travel Health Notices
- Large Event Gatherings
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The Chincoteague Chamber seeks to provide access to recommendations, regulations, services and expertise to its members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this mission remains constant. Prior to acting, members should consult their own professional advisers for information and counsel specific to the individual and unique situations faced by organizations, individuals and corporations. The opinions, interpretations and recommendations of the Chincoteague Chamber are informational only and should not be relied upon by the recipient as legal or professional advice. The Chincoteague Chamber makes no representations as to the accuracy or reliability of the content contained herein. Users of this information accept any and all risks associated with the use of such information and agree that the Chincoteague Chamber has no liability to user.