Our top priority here at the Chamber is the health and safety of our community including our residents, visitors and businesses. We have been closely monitoring the current health situation and based on information and recommendations from state and county health departments we are making adjustments to our scheduled Chamber events. Please visit our website for the latest updates on our Chamber events.
We have gathered resources for our Chamber members that we would like to share to help during this time:
Communication on behalf of Local Business
Association of Washington Business
Letter to Congress from AWB – April 16, 2020
Business, Employer & Employee Resources
Employment Security Department – Washington State
Employment Security Department: If you are affected by COVID-19, Employment Security has programs that may be able to help. We adopted a series of emergency rules to relieve the burden of temporary layoffs, isolation and quarantine for workers and businesses. This easy-to-read comparison guide lists some of the most common scenarios that may occur and benefits that may apply.
Employment Security Department: Video of Shared Work Program overview
Employment Security Department: Layoff Assistance:“The Employment Security Department (ESD) can: Help businesses and workers facing major layoffs, and help prevent layoffs from happening.”
U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance in Response To Coronavirus
Low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Public Health – Seattle & King County
Public Health – Seattle & King County: Guidance for retail businesses and service operators
Public Heatlh – Seattle & King County: Guidance for Businesses and Employers
Office of the Governor, Jay Inslee
Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grants
Office of the Governor, Jay Inslee: Resource List for WA State Businesses and Workers
The Governor’s Office has compiled this partial list of resources to support economic retention and recovery related to COVID-19 coronavirus. This list includes information Financial Assistance, Export Assistance, Employer and Worker Assistance, and Insurance Assistance.
IRS
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: The Act contains tax credits to help employers offset the cost of the newly mandated paid leave coverage for their employees.
Greater Seattle SCORE
Managing Cash Flow During the COVID Crisis
Find a SCORE Mentor : SCORE mentors are available for online mentoring
Washington State Department of Health
WA State Department of Health: Workplace and Employee Resources & Recommendations: An extensive list of resources and materials for employers and employees related to COVID-19.
Workplace and Employee Resources & Recommendations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC Guidance for Businesses: Recommended strategies for employers to use now, response plans and more.
US Chamber of Commerce
US Chamber of Commerce: Workplace Tips for Employees: General workplace health and safety information.
Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Washington Small Business Development Center (WSBDC) Business Resiliency Toolkit: Disaster planning information, guide, and emergency procedures workbook.
A Guide For Businesses & Organizations: Free small business resiliency webinars
World Health Organization
World Health Organization – Getting Your Workplace Ready for COVID-19
Workplace Checklists
Business resources and checklist (Centers for Disease Control)
Widespread Illness – Employer Checklist
StartUp Washington | Washington State Department of Commerce
Small Business Assistance | SBA
There is a tool posted on Treasury website that shows borrowers how to calculate payroll by industry with detailed step by step guidance. The PDF is HERE.
National Restaurant Association
Restaurant Employee Relief Fund
Washington State Department of Commerce
WA State Department of Commerce: COVID-19: Insurance For Businesses and Events
Documenting The Business Impacts: Work with Your County to Submit this Form
The State Department of Commerce has provided this form to report the economic impacts of COVID-19 on local businesses. The information will be used to document the need for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance.
How do counties apply for assistance?
To apply for this assistance, a county must provide one Economic Injury Worksheet for at least one business demonstrating economic loss due to COVID-19. If a county were to be approved for the SBA Economic Loss Declaration, then each contiguous county around the declared county would be eligible for SBA economic injury assistance.
Washington State Commerce recommends counties begin collecting Economic Injury Worksheets as soon as possible. Counties will work with their cities and towns to collect the forms and submit them to the Washington State Emergency Management Division.
Snohomish County
Send to ECC, Joint Information Center: eccjic.activation@snoco.org
and ECC, Manager eccmanager.activation@snoco.org
King County
Send to ECC, Operations: ecc.kc@kingcounty.gov
Counties should submit completed EIDL forms to HSDamage@mil.wa.gov and state your county name and EIDL in the subject line, e.g. “Snohomish County EIDL”.
New federal legislation and appropriations have opened up the possibility for small businesses to receive assistance for economic loss due to COVID-19. Details of eligibility and administration of this emergency assistance from SBA are still being determined. However, some aspects of the traditional SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program will still apply for COVID-19.
- If a small business has suffered substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19, it may be eligible for financial assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- Small businesses and small agricultural cooperatives that have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program.
- Substantial economic injury is the inability of a business to meet its obligations as they mature and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses.
- An EIDL can help meet necessary financial obligations that a business could have met had the disaster not occurred.
- It provides relief from economic injury caused directly by the disaster and permits the business to maintain a reasonable working capital position during the period affected by the disaster.
- The SBA provides EIDL assistance only to those businesses that SBA determines are unable to obtain credit elsewhere.
- The loan amount will be based on the business’ actual economic injury and financial needs.
- The interest rate on EIDLs cannot exceed 4 percent per year.
- The term of the loans cannot exceed 30 years.
- Terms and conditions will be determined by the business’ ability to repay the loan
