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(Last Updated on April 28, 2021 at 7:00pm)

• Look into the Small Business Guide to the CARES Act, part ofthe largest federal stimulus money disbursement in history.
• You can learn more about the Paycheck Protection Program, a part of the CARES Act, that helps small businessespay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs, including benefits. Apply here. The Greater Cleveland Partnership did a good job on an FAQ document on the program. Here is also another PPP FAQ that some Ward 3 Business have told me they found helpful too Click Here. (This may not be everything you ever wanted to know about PPP, but it sure is a useful primer on some of the basic questions we’re all getting about the program.)
  • Loans of 250% of employer’s monthly payroll (up to $10 million) until 6/30/2020 that can be used to cover payroll (salary, leave, insurance), mortgage, rent and utility payments.
  • Loans are forgivable for funds spend during 8 week period after origination in the amount equal to payroll, mortgage interest, lease and utilities.
  • Businesses, even without a personal guarantee or collateral, can apply as long as they were operational on February 15, 2020 and had paid employees (even if the owner is the only employee).
  • It is important to note that loan forgiveness only occurs (generally –seek legal counsel) if employees continue to receive pay at normal levels during 8 weeks after loan origination. The amount spent on payroll, mortgage interest, rent and utility payments can be combined and that portion of the loan will be forgiven.
    • Small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply on 4/3/2020
    • Independent contractors and self-employed can apply on 4/10/2020.
• The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus. This IRS page will be updated as new information is available.
• Businesses impacted by Covid-19 can apply for up to $2 million to pay for payroll, accounts receivable and fixed debts that can’t be paid due to the impact of the Corona Virus through the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
  • Frequently asked questions on the program can be found here.
  • You can watch a short 15 minute video on how to apply from the SBA Economic Injury Loans.
  • To expedite the process the borrower should have complete copies of their most recent federal income tax return and a completed and signed IRS form 4506-T which authorizes the release of tax information. Additional information to have available would be a schedule of liabilities, personal financial statement, monthly sales figures, a current year-to-date profit-and-loss statement, and a year-end profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet for that tax year if the most recent federal income tax return has not been filed.
  • If you are a small business with who currently has a relationship with an SBA Express Lender you can access up to $25,000 with substantially less paperwork with an SBA Express Bridge Loan. This can also be used as a way to get urgently needed cash while waiting for a decision on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
• You may also wish to review if your business interruption coverage or if the Corona Virus damage to property can be covered by your insurance policy.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce developed a Small Business Guide for Covid-19 Loans.
• The Economic and Community Development Institute also has a variety of loans for start ups or small businesses.
• Tax filings and payments may be deferred until July 15th. The Treasury Department will not be applying any interest or penalty on amounts normally due with the 2019 return up to $1 million for individuals (including the self-employed) and up to $10 million for corporations. Read the publication here.
• Northeast Ohio has a long standing tradition of generosity. HFLA of Northeast Ohio makes education, personal and small business loans without interest.
• ECDI Recovery Loan: ECDI is facilitating a COVID-19 Recovery Loan program as a complement to existing SBA programs. The loan amount is up to $20,000 for new ECDI clients or up to $50,000 for previous ECDI loan recipients. The loans are at 6% for 69 months with the first 3 months being interest only. Anyone interested in applying can email mrecovery@ecdi.org or cfaircloth@ecdi.org.
• Cuyahoga County announced on May 8, 2020 a second round of the Small Business Stabilization Funding which assists small neighborhood-based businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The applications close May 15, 2020 at 5:00pm. Click Here to apply online. The Small Business Stabilization Fund is funded in part by the Cleveland Foundation and is administered by Cleveland Neighborhood Progress.
• The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has released an updated FAQ for both employers and employees regarding COVID-19 impacts to workers’ compensation. The FAQ covers questions on claims, benefits, premiums and many other issues. You can read the FAQ in full HERE.
• One-Time Liquor Rebate Program. The one-time Liquor Rebate Program is designed to help Ohio bars and restaurants as they navigate reopening in the coming weeks. Eligible permit holders can receive a $500 rebate to purchase high proof spirituous liquor at their assigned wholesale Contract Liquor Agency. JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Commerce are working together to assist businesses’ efforts to maintain operations as a result of the health crisis.
• Emergency Funding Options for North Royalton Businesses
  • The business must have been certified as a Minority Business Enterprise or woman-owned EDGE-certified business as of Feb. 29, 2020;
  • The business must have 10 or fewer employees;
  • The business may have up to $500,000 in annual revenue; and
  • The business must not have received funding under the federal CARES Act.Ohio Minority Micro Enterprise Grant Program. Many Ohio small, minority- and women-owned businesses have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.  In response, the State of Ohio has created the Ohio Minority Micro-Enterprise Grant Program which provides eligible businesses with $10,000 in grant money to both assist with the current pandemic and to position the business to thrive in the future.  It is anticipated that 500 Ohio businesses will be awarded this grant.
    In order to qualify for this grant program:
    • Also, the business must be current on all taxes and private or public loans. To find more details and how to apply, click here. Or at Coronavirus.ohio.gov/businesshelp
• SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund: Registrations begins on April 29, 2021 and applications will open on May 3, 2021. The applications will remain open until $28.6 billion is gone. Read More.

(Last Updated on April 28, 2021 at 7:00pm)

Below are listed some helpful resources for Ward 3 Small Businesses. Also small businesses are encouraged to also look at the Financial Programs Page as many of these will apply to your business too. Business owners considering a layoff or reduction in staff are encouraged to look at the Taking Care of Your Employees Page.

• If you are looking for employees, or you are a current job seeker looking for work at an essential visit, please visit this site to post and search for job opportunities:https://jobsearch.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/jobsearch
• Current economic relief opportunities –Squire, Patton, Boggs
• SCORE (the Service Corps of Retired Executives) has created a Coronavirus small business resource hub
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce developed a Small Business Guide for Covid-19 Loans.
• You may also wish to review if your business interruption coverage or if the Corona Virus damage to property can be covered by your insurance policy.
• You can learn more about the Paycheck Protection Program that helps small businesses pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs, including benefits. Apply here.
• Learn more about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements that affects all private employers with fewer than 500 employees. You may also download a poster on employee rights for this act.
• The Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance program.
• Tax filings and payments may be deferred until July 15th. The Treasury Department will not be applying any interest or penalty on amounts normally due with the 2019 return up to $1 million for individuals (including the self-employed) and up to $10 million for corporations. Read the publication here.
• For bar and restaurant owners that have stocked up on alcohol in expectation of brisk sales during St. Patrick’s Day, NCAA tournaments or other events that drive bar / restaurant traffic, owners of these establishments have a time-limited opportunity to return unopened, high proof liquor products purchased from February 13thto March 15th, 2020 back to the agency of purchase. For more information please contact 1-877-812-0013 or ohioliquorinfo@com.ohio.gov
• The National Restaurant Association also has created a coronavirus information and resource page.
• On October 26, 2020 it was announced that Governor Mike DeWine has designated up to $125 million of funding received by the State of Ohio from the federal CARES Act to provide $10,000 grants to small businesses to help them through the current crisis. The program, which will begin accepting applications November 2, 2020, will be administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency. Click Here to learn more.
  
• The Bar and Restaurant Assistance Fund is designed to assist Ohio’s on-premise liquor permit holders.  $38.7 million of funding received by the State of Ohio from the federal CARES Act has been designated to provide $2,500 assistance payments to on-premise liquor permit holders to help them through the financial difficulties experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. These permit holders have not been able to fully use their liquor permit and it’s had an impact on their business. The program, which will begin accepting applications November 2, 2020, will be administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency. Read More.
• The Small Business Relief Grant is designed to provide relief to Ohio businesses that have been negatively affected by COVID-19. Governor Mike DeWine has designated up to $125 million of funding received by the State of Ohio from the federal CARES Act to provide $10,000 grants to small businesses to help them through the current crisis. The program is administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency.
• Small Business Stabilization Program Round 3
  $4 million is now available for local businesses through Round 3 of the Small Business Stabilization Fund. Business owners can receive up to $10,000 in grants to help with rent, utilities and other business expenses. Applications begin November 23, 2020 and close December 3, 2020 and grants will be distributed shortly after. Cleveland Neighborhood Progress will administer the third round of grant deployment. Click Here to apply.
• Emergency Funding Options for North Royalton Small Businesses.
• Responsible RestartOhio
• Businesses/Employers – COVID-19 Checklist from State of Ohio.
• The State of Ohio has created an Office of Small Business Relief to coordinate efforts on behalf of Ohio’s 950,000 small businesses amid the Coronavirus pandemic. The website also has information on unemployment benefits and answers for frequently asked questions on federal and state assistance. Please visit businesshelp.ohio.gov to learn more.
• On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law, which provides additional relief for the nation’s small businesses and hard-hit industries for programs the SBA is currently administering and adds new efforts. Specifically, the new law includes:
  • $7.25 billion additional for the Paycheck Protection Program, including to expand eligibility to additional nonprofits and digital news services
  • Additional funds are allocated for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, and now allows businesses to apply for both a PPP loan after Dec. 27, 2020, and the SVOG
  • $15 billion additional for Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance (EIDL) payments, including NEW $5 billion for Supplemental Targeted EIDL Advance payments for those hardest hit
  • NEW: $28.6 billion for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund for industry-focused grants
  • NEW: $100 million to establish a Community Navigator pilot program; grants will go to eligible organizations supporting efforts to improve access to COVID–19 pandemic assistance programs and resources. Click Here for more information.
  • SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund: Registrations begins on April 29, 2021 and applications will open on May 3, 2021. The applications will remain open until $28.6 billion is gone. Read More.

(Updated Last on May 4, 2020 at 9:27am)

Ward 3 Businesses that have employees working from home. Below are some helpful tips for you and your employees.

• GoToMeeting / LogMeIn has created a free service for healthcare, educational, non-profit and government organizations to host meetings, video conferencing, etc. for three months. Google Hangouts also has a free offering until July 1st, 2020 for companies not covered by GoToMeeting.
• Roetzel (a legal firm) has developed a best practices document for remote work. They have also developed information on employer’s responsibilities to review I-9 documents in-person if the workforce is operating completely remotely as well as four legal pitfalls of employees working from home due to the coronavirus.
• The Society for Human Resources Management also has some no-cost resources such as templates for memos, travel policies and protocols for health screenings.

(Last Updated May 4, 2020 at 4:53am)

Some helpful tips below for Ward 3 Businesses on how to take care of your employees during this COVID-19 epedemic. Employers who have individuals working from home may also wish to visit the Working From Home Page.

• If you are looking for employees, or you are a current job seeker looking for work at an essential visit, please visit this site to post and search for job opportunities: https://jobsearch.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/jobsearch
• The IRS Employee Retention Credit is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business was financially impacted by Covid-19.
• SharedWork Ohio is a creative alternative to avoid layoffs for employers. It allows workers to remain employed and employers to retain their staff during times of reduced activity. By utilizing the SharedWork tool the employer reduce hours to avoid a layoff, the employee works the reduced hours and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services provides an unemployment insurance benefit proportionate to their reduced hours. Learn more here.
• All health insurers have been required by the Ohio Department of Insurance to allow employers to defer their insurance premium payments for up to two months. You can keep your employees covered and push back the costs until later to free up cash.
• The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides up to 14 days of paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family medical leave to help those dealing with exposure, diagnosis, or even symptoms of the coronavirus. The majority of workers of small and midsized companies and non-profits are eligible as long as they have been employed for at least 30 days. The White House has stated that businesses and non-profits who provide this paid leave will be reimbursed for the full amount within 90 days (in the form of a payroll tax credit). The bill also requires employers to provide additional protections for healthcare workers. Read more about the bill here. You may also reference this FAQ documentfrom GBQ.
• Businesses may direct employees that they were forced to lay off to this resource from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services as well as this FAQ on Coronavirus and Unemployment Insurance Benefits.
• The Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation have created a BWC Covid-19 FAQ. March to May payments may be deferred until June 1, 2020.
• Employers planning mass layoffs or shutdowns as a result of the coronavirus are asked to share a specific code (2000180) with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to speed the processing of unemployment benefits.
• The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services offers a Rapid Response Team to help employers with transitions such as layoffs and assistance with the federally required WARN act.
• Businesses that are interested in learning more about the products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against the Coronavirus may reference the publication List N.
• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created a resource documenton what to do if your employees are having trouble with bills, experience a loss of income or may be targeted by scammers looking to take advantage of a bad situation.

(Last Updated June 3, 2020 at 11:00am)

Ward 3 Manufacturers are encouraged to also look at the Financial Programs Page as many of these will apply to your business. Below are some helpful information to assist you during this tough time.

• Legal Opinion for Ohio Manufacturer’s Association on Essential Business.
• Information on how to retool the shop to make personal protective equipment from the Ohio Manufacturer’s Association.
• America Makes partnered with the Food and Drug Administration to help the manufacturing community meet the needs of first responders and health care workers. Learn more here.
• Not sure what kinds of supplies might be in demand? Reference this document.
• The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET) has put together a variety of resources including this document.
• The Ohio Manufacturer’s Association also has a list of resources on Covid-19.
• A recording of a call (3/23/2020) on Ohio’s Stay atHome Order and the impact on manufacturers throughout the state is available here.
• The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a documenton how businesses can plan to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus in the workplace basedon traditional infection prevention and industrial hygiene practices as well as a website on the virus full of resources.
• Businesses that are interested in learning more about the products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against the Coronavirus may reference the publication List N. There is limited supplies of hand sanitizer, etc. available but perhaps you can find a good work around with other materials listed.
• Center for Disease Control’s Q&A on Manufacturing Facility Protocols for Covid-19
• FEMA Pandemic Influenza Continuity of Operations Annex Template Instructions
• You may also wish to review if your business interruption coverage or if the Corona Virus damage to property can be covered by your insurance policy.
• If you are looking for employees, or you are a current job seeker looking for work at an essential visit, please visit this site to post and search for job opportunities: https://jobsearch.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/jobsearch
• Ohio PPE Retooling and Reshoring Grant Program. During the pandemic, I have shared information about the need for Personal Protective Equipment or PPE.  Both the Ohio Manufacturing Alliance and MAGNET were heavily involved with the effort to have manufacturers pivot their operations to create PPE.  To further these efforts, the State of Ohio has created PPE Retooling and Reshoring Grant Program to provide grant funds to help businesses innovate and create solutions to the PPE shortage. Small and medium-sized manufacturers that retool existing facilities to make PPE or reshore PPE production to Ohio are eligible. The funding provides up to $500,000 per facility. In demand PPE Includes:
  • Surgical masks,
  • Gowns,
  • Gloves,
  • Community masks,
  • Face shields,
  • Thermometers,
  • Hand sanitizer,
  • Cleaning and sanitizing products,
  • Other products and solutions.

  Guidance on eligibility details go to coronavirus.ohio.gov/businesshelp

Ohio manufacturing companies are doing a variety of practices to keep their facilities clean but ensuring that their employees remain safe is a top concern. Here is what some of them are doing that you may be able to implement at your plant:

• Some companies are adding shifts or weekend hours so everyone can still collect a paycheck, ensure social distancing and not affect product delivery.
• Another company split plant into 2 work teams to promote social distancing, each working for 7 days 12 hour shifts (with additional breaks).
• Some have created a built in break time for employees to clean and disinfect with checklists on what has to be done.
• Take temperature checks at the door before someone enters the facility. This way if someone has a high temperature they are not in the building potentially causing contamination or causing some employees with reasons to worry.
• Stagger breaks and start times so 6’ distance can be maintained and not a mad rush for the same limited areas. If you have some employees who need structure and hate to deviate from routines you can try to incorporate this into your planning too.
• Some have withdrawn attendance and points policies, including leeway for employees with children affected by school closures.
• If not a fire door, consider propping it open to avoid a lot of people touching the same thing over and over throughout the day.
• Some companies that have been forced to implement a layoff are still paying their employees benefits. The hope is that they will have an easier time getting these great employees back when the economy ramps back up. All health insurers have been required by the Ohio Department of Insurance to allow employers to defer their insurance premium payments for up to two months.
• Keep your staff informed but not with in-person meetings. Use your bulletin boards and emails to keep everyone in the same loop.-One company has a dedicated person watching the daily Governor’s updates and sending out communication the following day after they see what the media is saying to ensure that they are getting the right message to communicate.
• Other have a communication response team made up of a cross section of department managers who can each see how to better plan for the outbreak with minimal disruptions.
• If someone from your company has a LinkedIn account have them search for OMA’s Covid-19 Information Exchange or www.linkedin.com/groups/12385229/ to stay up-to-date on other best practices