COVID-19 Resource Page

March 20, 2020

The Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce is working to ensure our members and community are receiving the most current and reliable information regarding COVID-19.

We have created a resources page to offer guidance for businesses and help you monitor the situation. Below you will find a series of links to information specific to business and industry in response to the virus. We encourage you to check these links often, as well as all other information being continuously by our partners.

Your Chamber Team is dedicated to our mission now more than ever before! And, as always, your Prattville Chamber is Open for Business--working for you! The well-being of our community and businesses is a top priority for us and we are here to help our members, partners, businesses and community to navigate through this difficult and challenging time.

We want to remind you that our local businesses remain open and ready to serve you, and encourage each of you to find creative ways to support our amazing local businesses during this crisis—they need us now more than ever before! When you support of our local businesses, you are helping your friends and neighbors while helping to keep our economy health and our community strong.

We know that this too shall pass and we will be better individuals and businesses and a stronger community because of it.

Business Resources & Tips

U.S. Chamber of Commerce:
December 22, 2020- As part of an end-of-year pandemic relief package, Congress has passed several changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and created a “Second Draw” PPP for small businesses who have exhausted their initial loan. Other changes impact eligibility for initial PPP loans, the loan forgiveness process, and the tax treatment of PPP loans.

Congress has also made changes to other programs – including Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL Program), the Employee Retention Tax Credit, a Venue Grant program, and SBA loan programs –that will benefit small businesses. Click the link below to see everything small business owners need to know now!

Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans: What Small Businesses Need to Know About the New Pandemic Relief Package – Changes to PPP and More---(CLICK HERE)

Guidance for employers to plan and respond to the Coronavirus
Workplace tips and resources for employers to combat the virus
Corporate aid tracker for details on how businesses are helping nationwide
Survey on business impact results from the American Chamber of Commerce in China
Backgrounder on Health Coverage Options provides an overview of the health coverage alternatives available to workers and their families who have lost coverage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic- whether because of job loss, hour reductions or lay-offs.
Backgrounder on Unemployment Insurance Under the CARES Act provides an overview on how the CARES Act has impacted unemployment insurance options available for workers who suffer job losses or reduced hours as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic--including how to find out if you're eligible and how to access coverage.
Resilience in a Box toolkit created in partnership with UPS

Your Chamber Team will be in the office; however, the general public will have limited access to the Prattville Chamber offices during this time. Please use our online services, www.prattvillechamber.com, reach out to us through email or simply call us at 334-365-7392.

LOCAL

City of Prattville

The City of Prattville is in pro-active ready mode, and we are working closely with Prattville Baptist Hospital officials, the Autauga County Commission, Elmore County Commission, EMA, the Autauga and Elmore County Board of Education Superintendents, and neighboring city and county elected officials. As we focus on the health and well-being of all citizens and employees, we are limiting access to City offices and encouraging you to call 334-595-0100 or visit prattvilleal.gov for updates. If you have any further questions, please reach out to the Mayor's Office, (334) 595-0101 or mayor@prattvilleal.gov..

Click Here for More Information

STATE

Alabama Department of Public Health

ADPH - alabamapublichealth.gov
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is in close communication with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who is closely monitoring this rapidly evolving outbreak caused by the new coronavirus in China.

CDC

Interim Guidance for Business and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus 2019
The CDC will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.

Alabama Department of Labor Resources

https://www.labor.alabama.gov/
ADOL Announces Support for Workers Impacted by COVID-19 for Unemployment Benefits*
ADOL: AL to Waive Employer Charges for COVID-19 Related Claims

Coronavirus and Unemployment Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions
Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Alabama Department of Revenue

December 11, 2020- Governor Ivey signs Emergency Proclamation to address tax and economic development issues delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic: https://lnkd.in/drC7ap4

March 13, 2020-- Governor Ivey declared a state of emergency in response to COVID-19, thereby allowing the Alabama Department of Revenue more flexibility in working with impacted taxpayers.

For taxpayers affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), the due date for filing state income tax, FIET and BPT returns and making state income tax, FIET and BPT payments due on or before April 1, 2020 and before July 15, 2020, is postponed to July 15, 2020. For small businesses, restaurants, and other food service businesses unable to pay their state sales taxes due to the impact of COVID-19, late payment penalties will be waived for taxes reported on returns filed for the February, March and April 2020 reporting periods. Similar relief is provided for state lodgings taxes due for these same periods. For more information about these businesses relief programs visit:

The Departments COVID-19 Update Page

FEDERAL

U.S. Department of Labor

Wage and Hour Division

COVID-19 or Other Public Health Emergencies website. This site provides information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, including effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Workers' Compensation

Guidance for federal employees and outlines Federal Employees' Compensation Act coverage as it relates to the novel coronavirus.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act This technical assistance document provides information about Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and pandemic planning in the workplace.

May 15, 2020 NEW: The SBA released a Loan Forgiveness Application designed to educate borrowers on how to apply for PPP loan forgiveness. Additional guidance- for both borrowers and lenders- is still expected from the agency. The application includes a worksheet that details how to calculate the amount of the loan that can be forgiven and provides a summary of costs eligible for forgiveness. The SBA also provided a list of documents borrowers have to submit with their forgiveness applications.

Click Here for More Information

Our partners at the SBDC have prepared on On-Demand Webinar providing a high-level overview of the PPP Forgiveness Application, but does not include a line by line walk through. To view the webinar, click the link below:

Click Here to View Webinar

Under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created by the CARES Act, loans may be forgiven if borrowers use the proceeds to maintain their payrolls and pay other specified expenses. Our partners at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have prepared a step by step guide to help borrowers understand the process by which their loan forgiveness amount will be calculated and the overall approach of the loan forgiveness process. Download the guide by clicking the link below:

Click Here to Download Guide

Click Here for More Info

Below are the updated resources that the U.S. Chamber has developed to assist businesses access resources created under the CARES Act (Phase III bill).

4/1:- Updated Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist (Paycheck Protection Program) US Chamber (Excellent Resources)

Congress has approved $350 billion in emergency loans for small businesses to help them keep workers employed. In fact, if small businesses maintain or later restore their payrolls, they may not have to repay some--or possibly any--of the loan.

4/1- Economic Injury Disaster Loan Guide

Congress The CARES Act expanded the Small Business Administration's long -standing Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), which includes $10,000 grants for eligible applicants. The EIDL program was created to assist businesses, renters and homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters.

How can I access an EMERGENCY $10,000 GRANT?

• Eligible applicants for an EIDL can receive a $10,000 emergency grant within three days of application (through Dec. 31)

• There is no obligation to repay the grant. To receive the $10,000 emergency grant, it is not necessary to have an approved EIDL loan. However, if you are able to secure a PPP loan, the $10,000 grant will be subtracted from the forgiveness amount

NOTE: The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created by the CARES Act prohibits borrowers from taking out two loans for the same purpose. For more information

CLICK HERE for more information.
Click Here to apply online

4/1- Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
The CARES Act created a new employee retention tax credit for employers who are closed, partially closed, or experiencing significant revenue losses as a result of the coronavirus.

CLICK HERE for more information

Updated: Small Business Emergency Loan Guide
The U.S. Chamber's Coronavirus Small Business Emergency Loan Guide, first issued last week, outlines the steps small businesses need to take to access much-needed Payroll Protection Program (PPP) funds. The guide now includes important information including key dates as the government moves forward toward implementation. Recently, the Treasury Department issued more details on this paycheck protection program (PPP) and a loan application available for download.

Important Dates:

Starting April 3, small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply for and receive loans to cover their payroll and other certain expenses through existing SBA lenders.

Starting April 10, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply for and receive loans to can apply for loans.

Click Here for a List of Current SBA 7(a) Lender Partners in the State of Alabama

The following Chamber Members have notified us that are participating in the program:

As an SBA Preferred Lender, Synovus is participating in Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program if there are different use of proceeds for each loan. Click Here for more information.

As an SBA Preferred Lender, Trustmark will provide small business loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. Click Here for more information.

Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans as soon as they are approved and enrolled in the program.

The guide is available at: uschamber.com/sbloans

A Spanish language version of the guide is at: uschamber.com/sbloansESP

Counseling & Training Opportunities

If you, like so many business owners, need a business counselor to help guide you through this uncertain time, you can turn to your Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Women's Business Center (WBC) or SCORE mentorship chamber. These resource partner's, and the associations that represent them, will receive additional funds to expand their react and better support small business owners with counseling and up-to-date information regarding COVID-19. Counseling is free and training is low cost with these partners.

Click Here to find a Local Resource Partner

Contracting

If you are a government contractor, there are a number of ways that Congress has provided relief and protection for your business. Agencies will be able to modify terms and conditions of a contract and to reimburse contractors at a billing rate of up to 40 hours per week of any paid leave, including sick leave. The contractors eligible are those whose employees or subcontractors cannot perform work on site and cannot telework due to federal facilities closing because of COVID-19.

If you need additional assistance, please reach out tor your local Small Business Development Center, Women's Business Center, SCORE Chapter, or SBA District Office. You should also work with your agency's contracting officer, as well as the agency's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU).

Small Business Tax Provisions

Employee Retention Credit for Employers Subject to Closure or Experiencing Economic Hardship

This provision would provide a refundable payroll tax credit for 50 percent of wages paid by eligible employers to certain employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The credit is available to employers, including non-profits, whose operations have been fully or partially suspended as a result of a government order limiting commerce, travel or group meetings. The credit is also provided to employers who have experienced a greater than 50 percent reduction in quarterly receipts, measured on a year-over-year basis.

Wages of employees who are furloughed or face reduced hours as a result of their employer's closure or economic hardship are eligible for the credit. For employers with 100 or fewer full-time employees, all employee wages are eligible, regardless of whether an employee is furloughed. The credit is provided for wages and compensation, including health benefits, and is provided for the first $10,000 in wages and compensation paid by the employer to an eligible employee. Wages do not include those taken into account for purposes of the payroll credits for required paid sick leave or required paid family leave, nor for wages taken into account for the employer credit for paid family and medical leave (IRC sec. 45S).

* The credit is not available to employers receiving assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program. The credit is provided through December 31, 2020.

Delay of Payment of Employer Payroll Taxes

This provision would allow taxpayers to defer paying the employer portion of certain payroll taxes through the end of 2020, with all 2020 deferred amounts due in two equal installments, one at the end of 2021, the other at the end of 2022. Payroll taxes that can be deferred include the employer portion of FICA taxes, the employer and employee representative portion of Railroad Retirement taxes (that are attributable to the employer FICA rate), and half of SECA tax liability.

* Deferral is not provided to employers receiving assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program.

Small Business Administration:

COVID-19 Relief Options

As of March, 21, 2020, all 67 counties in Alabama are eligible to apply for the SBA Business Disaster Loans. These loans will provide working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19.

SBA Alabama 7a and SBA Express Lenders: Please click the link below to see the attached list of Alabama 7a and SBA Express Lenders that are headquartered in the State of Alabama. Be advised that there are a number of 7a and SBA Express Lenders, not on this list, that are headquartered elsewhere but operating in Alabama.Also, be advised that a number of Lenders are in the process of applying to obtain an SBA 7a Agreement that would enable them to originate SBA 7a Loans in Alabama.

Click Here to access the Active List of Lenders

Contact:

Kristi Pieper, Marketing & Communications Director

kpieper@prattvillechamber.com, (334) 365-7392