Business Recovery Information

By Jackson County

New information each week will be labeled NEW for quick identification.

NEW The Federal CARES Act makes self-employed and independent contractors eligible for unemployment insurance. The Oregon Employment Department is updating its guidance and information as quickly as they are able. For the latest info, visit: https://govstatus.egov.com/ORUnemployment_COVID19

These Local Organizations May Be Your Best Sources of Information

CARES Act/Paycheck Protection Program:
According to Sen. Merkley’s office, “The Administration/U.S. Treasury has not yet sent banks and credit unions the info they need to accept and process the new Payroll Protection Program (PPG) forgivable loans for small businesses and 501c3 organizations starting tomorrow.  Senator Merkley has been recommending that small businesses should make contact with their local bank or credit union and ask to be put on an application list (many banks have started doing this). That way when the Administration releases details, the banks can get back to the small businesses.”

• Business Oregon
  Marta Tarantsey, Regional Development Officers, Business Oregon Marta.tarantsey@oregon.gov (541) 503-856-2693 www.oregon4biz.com
• Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI)
  (541) 773-8946
• Southern Oregon University, Small Business Development Center
  Marshall Doak, SOU SBDC doakm@sou.edu (541) 552-8331
• Governor’s Office, Regional Solutions
  Alex Campbell, Regional Solutions Coordinator, Office of Governor Kate Brown Alex.campbell@oregon.gov (541) 601-0408
• Rogue Workforce Partnership
  www.rogueworkforce.org
• National Contact Info for the Small Business Association
  The SBA Customer Service Center (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

Potential Sources of Loans

Rogue Valley Workforce Layoff Aversion Funds. We have been informed that there is a very limited amount of money that has been made available through the workforce investment system to make grants to small businesses to avert layoffs. For Rogue Valley businesses, see: http://www.rogueworkforce.org/resources-in-response-to-covid-19/ .

U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans. We have been informed that the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). However, we are told that it could take a month to 2 months for a loan application to be approved and funded.
https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19
Applicants may apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

NEW SCDC & the SWOCC SBDC have organized a discussion with CCD Business Corporation and Oregon Pacific Bank to talk about their loan funds and the new SBA offerings. Thursday, April 2nd at 10:00am: https://Bizcenter.zoom.us/j/838739143

NEW Layoff Aversion Funds
There are still small amounts of layoff aversion funds available in our region. Businesses with small needs that will allow them to avoid layoffs, should contact either SOWIB or RWP. A great example of a grant would be a new server to allow more workers to work remotely. Layoff aversion

NEW CARES ACT: New portal for SBA EIDL applications: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/. See summary of Business Benefits document at the bottom of this page (Documents to Download) box.

NEW SBA Economic Injury Disaster Lending:
Documents can be found at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s6jdu3wnsbkjatv/AADPzpTJi2HEQJB68zgkaHhFa?dl=0

For general information

Business Oregon
NEW Business Oregon has revamped their webpage on Coronavirus resources and established a hotline to help direct businesses to the best resources: http://www.oregon4biz.com/Coronavirus-Information/

• Business Oregon has developed Business Survival Tips During a Pandemic.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a Coronavirus Small Business Guide, with a range of resources for employers.
• Business Oregon has a COVID-19 info page.
• Medford Chamber of Commerce as a COVID-19 info page.

The Governor’s Office of Regional Solutions provided the following:

Employment and Economic Response to COVID-19Weekly Summary: Sunday, March 29This digest is a compilation of information and resources related to employment, commerce and economic development issues surrounding COVID-19. There are numerous online resources for those seeking health-related information, including daily COVID-19 updates from the Oregon Health Authority at https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19.Business ResourcesBusiness Oregon has translated its fact sheet on COVID-19 Business Survival Tips – SPANISHThe National Main Street Center is offering a series of webinars to support local businesses and communities. Sessions will cover national policy and best local practices related to Main Street America during the COVID-19 outbreak.The Oregon Health Authority has a fact sheet for the restaurants, food carts and other food service operations that remain open for takeout and delivery service.The Oregon Department of Revenue has guidance on COVID-19 tax relief options, with information on the personal and corporate income tax and the corporate activity tax.The Oregon Small Business Development Center Network has consolidated COVID-19 Disaster Assistance Funding into one online location. The page is updated daily as information changes and new funding programs are identified.The U.S. Small Business Association and the Outdoor Industry Association are holding a webinar at 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time on Tuesday, March 31. Webinar details and registration.The Manufacturing Extension Partnership has COVID-19 resources, including information on managing supply chains, business continuity and financial resources.The U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor announced that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees.The State of Oregon has created a simple business quiz that can help owners determine if their business is essential for purposes of complying with Governor Kate Brown’s recent executive order.The Small Business Administration has approved Oregon’s request for a disaster declaration, making Oregon businesses eligible for favorable loans under the  SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.The United States Department of Labor has provided guidelines for employers on implementation of the Families  First Coronavirus Response Act. Materials include a fact sheet for employers, a fact sheet for employees and a Questions and Answers document.Worker and Unemployment ResourcesThe Oregon Employment Department is working hard to ensure people have access to the most current guidance for  employers, workers, and job seekers who may be impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Information continues to change daily, including where and how to apply for unemployment insurance benefits and eligibility requirements. Please visit the department’s COVID-19 employment-related web page for the latest information.The Oregon Employment Department continues to respond to questions related to layoffs, work-hour reductions and unemployment claims. As conditions change daily, the department encourages people to visit its COVID-19 employment page for the most current information.Oregon’s Occupational Safety and Health Division  has an online form for workers who have a concern or complaint about an employer’s compliance with COVID-19 workplace restrictions.Restaurant workers impacted by COVID-19 can apply April 2 for a one-time, $500 grant to use towards housing, transportation, utilities, child-care, groceries, medical bills and/or student loans. These grants will be administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation on a first-come, first-served basis.The Oregon Employment Department said in a  news release that it received more than 76,500 unemployment claims during the week of March 15. The number of new claims continues to increase this week.The Oregon Department of Revenue announced an extension for Oregon tax filing and payment deadlines for personal income taxes, among other taxes. The state changes closely follow the  IRS extension declaration. The department has created  FAQs to explain the changes for taxpayers.Cities and CountiesUSDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to  help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep its customers, partners, and stakeholders continually updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America.Travel Oregon has created an online form to capture feedback on how to best meet the needs of the 115,000 Oregonians who are directly employed in the tourism industry.The International Economic Development Council is offering a free webinar from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30 to explain a range of federal programs and resources to help businesses respond to and recover from the pandemic.Oregon licensed healthcare professionals looking to volunteer in the fight against COVID-19 can find more information on this  Oregon Health Authority site . The site also has information on how out-of-state medical professionals can register to help.FEMA has a new webpagewith information to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also seeks your help in stopping the spread of disinformation.Policy and LegislationGovernor Kate Brown tightens social distancing measures, tells Oregonians to “Stay Home, Save Lives”: Governor Kate Brown today issued  Executive Order 20-12, directing everyone in Oregon to stay at home to the maximum extent possible and adding to the list of businesses that will be temporarily closed to stem the spread of COVID-19 in Oregon. The order is effective immediately, and remains in effect until ended by the Governor.Governor Kate Brown issues order to stop residential evictions during COVID-19 crisis: Governor Kate Brown on Sunday issued  Executive Order 20-11, placing a temporary moratorium on residential evictions for nonpayment in light of the public health emergency caused by the spread of coronavirus in Oregon. The order is effective for 90 days.The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Special Committee On Coronavirus Response met March 24. The agenda and meeting materials   are available, with a recording log of the session to follow.The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis has a new post about the number of state and federal unemployment insurance claims and the outlook moving forward.The support available to small businesses in the Coronavirus relief packages is summarized in this report from Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley.The Oregon Health Authority released its statewide action plan to dramatically bolster the state’s ability to treat people with COVID-19 illness who need hospital care.The Oregon Health Authority’s latest Oregon COVID-19 Situational Status Report tracks a wide range of state data on the pandemic.The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis explores the statewide  economic fallout from COVID-19 and looks at various recovery scenarios, using existing data and historic precedence as a guide.Oregon State Police on Tuesday issued FAQs to answer common enforcement questions related to Governor Kate Brown’s Executive Order 20-12, known as “Stay Home, Save Lives.” The document clarifies what the order means for Oregonians and how Oregon State Police will help enforce measures taken in the order.The Institute for Disease Modeling released an in-depth analysis of the impact of social distancing measures on COVID-19 rates of infection. The model predicts a decrease in the number of active infections in Oregon by May 8, with health care systems likely to be overburdened by late April without sustained interventions to keep the number of infections under control. Read the full report and analysis here.Non-Profit OrganizationsThe Oregon Community Foundation provides funds through the Oregon Small Business Stabilization Fund to nonprofit organization in Oregon that provide loans or grants to small businesses affected by COVID-19. Grants will be awarded to community lending organizations or other nonprofit intermediaries. Small businesses are not eligible to receive these funds.Oregon Housing and Community Services has a COVID-19 landing page, with information a range of housing-related information. The page also provides new information on the announcement by the state’s three largest utilities to suspend disconnection and late fees due to the pandemic.The Oregon Department of Agriculture regularly updates its COVID-19 resource page with information about farm workers, animal health, food safety and more.USDA Rural Development has extended the loan application deadline for two rural grants due to COVID-19. These include the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The page also explains other USDA Rural Development programs to help rural Oregon.