WA State Updates & Resources
Resources & Tips for Business, Nonprofit & Community Leaders
Looking for more information about the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program? On January 28, 2021, the SBA added a new frequently asked questions which includes information about eligibility, application, use of funds and more.
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.
The topics covered include:
- Important steps companies are implementing to ensure Safety
- How companies can assist employees with physical limitations or are immunocompromised
- Steps that employees can take to protect themselves
https://www.safety.com/public/natural-disasters/coronavirus-workplace-safety/
COVID-19 Relief Grants Available to Businesses, Nonprofits, and Residents of Whitman County.
This site contains information about COVID-19 relief funding available from Whitman County for small business owners, nonprofits, and individuals residing in Whitman County.
The LISC Rapid Relief and Resiliency Fund will inject much-needed, flexible resources into historically under-invested communities. These are the places that are suffering most from the economic fallout gripping our nation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our aim is to raise up to $100 million in grants, loans and other investments for the Fund.
The Association of Washington Business is currently surveying its members to learn more about the health of the business community and how they can help assist in the statewide recovery efforts. In order to ensure that they are reaching a wide and geographically diverse audience throughout the state, they would especially like to hear from our Pullman Chamber members.
If you can, please take a few minutes to complete the survey at the following link – https://research.zarca.com/r/bUcrmL.
The survey will remain open until August 25th.
Below you will find the Palouse Regional Small Business Fund guidelines, application form and agreement with Innovia.
Palouse Regional Small Business Recovery Fund Guidelines
Palouse Regional Small Business Recovery Fund Application (Fillable)
Palouse Regional Small Business Recovery Fund Agreement
To donate to the fund, visit Innovia Foundation’s website: https://innovia.org/give-now/
Coronavirus Customizable Flyer
This is a flyer you can customize and post to inform your employees and customers about the steps you are taking to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
These are common steps recommended by the CDC, states, and local jurisdictions, as of May 18, 2020. This is not a substitute for guidance from your state or local health departments, so please consult those resources as well.
With facial coverings now mandatory in Washington state, questions remain for many businesses on how best to enforce mask requirements for their customers and staff. Join us to hear how local companies set up their internal and store mask policies and how best to accommodate customers or employees with medical exemptions who cannot wear face coverings.
Click here to access a recording and audio transcript of this webinar.
Below you will find a list of helpful links regarding housing and COVID-19. Please refer to each link for more information.
GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
- Centers for Disease Control Guidelines for Your Home & Family
- CDC Guidelines for Unsheltered Homelessness
- CDC Coronavirus Self-Checker Tool
- Census Bureau Emergency Preparedness: Coronavirus Pandemic
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Coronavirus Information
- US Department of Housing and Urban Development Coronavirus Information & Resources
- Federal Housing Finance Agency Coronavirus Assistance Information
EVICTION & MORTGAGE RELIEF
- FHFA Suspends Foreclosures and Evictions for Enterprise-Backed Mortgages
- FHFA Announces Tools to Help Renters Find Out if They are Protected from Eviction
- Eviction Lab: COVID-19 and Changing Eviction Policies Around the Nation
- National Multifamily Housing Council: Apartment Industry Committed to Supporting Residents Impacted by COVID-19
- Veterans Affairs: Special Relief for those Potentially Impacted by COVID-19
- Mortgage Relief Tracker (Forbes)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University– A complied list of housing-related information and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- National Low-Income Housing Coalition- Resources for low-income and homeless individuals/families.
- Department of Housing & Urban Development- COVID-19 resources for renters.
- National Multifamily Housing Council- Frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 and the Fair Housing Act.
- National Fair Housing Alliance- Resource center for COVID-19.
To access information regarding confirmed COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the Washington State, click the link below:
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020COVID19/DataDashboard
Toolkit for reopening the office and getting back to work.
The video below contains details on the results of the recent City of Pullman poll regarding reopening businesses in Pullman, precautions/protocols the community expressed opinions about, and moving towards economic recovery.
REBOUND & RECOVERY IN WASHINGTON
Rebound
Here to help Washington employers reopen their doors. Find the guidance and resources you need to prepare your workplace and safely welcome back employees and customers.
Recovery
Here to help Washington’s economy recover. By working with state and federal officials, industry leaders, and local chamber leaders, AWB serves as a unifying voice for rebuilding Washington’s economy and bringing economic prosperity to every part of the state.
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.
The Treasury Department and Small Business Administration recently released the application form and instructions for loan forgiveness. The forgiveness forms, instructions, and worksheets can be downloaded here.
PPP borrowers must apply for loan forgiveness with the lender that processed the loan.
This guide is designed to help borrowers understand the process by which their loan forgiveness amount will be calculated and the overall approach of the loan forgiveness process.
Dear Employers,
During these unprecedented times, we know that you are doing everything you possibly can to support your employees. That’s why we are reaching out to offer our help, if needed, as well as ask for your help with our efforts. Note – if you are a sole-proprietor or self-employed worker impacted by COVID-19, you may be eligible for the new expanded unemployment assistance benefits enabled by the Federal CARES Act. The steps below will help you prepare to apply for these benefits.
First – thank you for your part in helping Washington state flatten the curve! Whether you are enabling your employees to stay home and stay healthy or whether yours is an essential business and you’ve identified how you can provide safe social distancing – your business transformation to prioritize the health of Washingtonians during these historic times is deeply appreciated!
Fundamentally, I hope you and your employees don’t need our Unemployment Insurance services. But if you do, this email provides you with some key steps to take before you lay off or reduce the hours of your staff. With these materials in hand, you will be able to equip your employees with the tools they need to best navigate our Unemployment Insurance system. We have found that the better prepared applicants are, the faster they obtain their benefits.
The enormous demand for our services has led to a 1,000% increase in call volumes and, unfortunately, significant wait times (which we are working to address). Of those calls, approximately 60% are questions that are answered on our website. At the same time, many people have been able to successfully apply – mostly online – and then receive their benefits within 7-10 days after their application is approved. (If they sign up for direct deposit, they can get benefits within 48 hours!)
We want to help you help your staff have a smoother application process so that they can get their benefits more quickly and have a more satisfying experience. This, in turn, will help us reduce call volumes so that our claims staff can focus on more complex customer needs.
Key steps to take right now to support your workers
- Consider SharedWork: If you are able to reduce staff hours rather than laying people off, we highly recommend considering SharedWork. This program allows you to reduce staff hours 10-50% and have Unemployment Insurance provide partial wage replacement against those reduced hours. You can learn more and apply here. In addition to the Unemployment Insurance weekly benefit, those staff members will be able to receive the additional $600 weekly benefit provided by the federal CARES Act through the end of July. Additionally, the CARES Act covers 100% of the costs so it won’t impact your experience rating.
- Prepare your staff for the process: Here is a resource center where you’ll find a template letter for you to use to send to your employees, webinar sign-up information and other tools for your employees you intend to lay off due to COVID-19. This will provide guidance on how they can best prepare to apply and give you a vehicle to answer company specific questions. If you are a larger employer with more than 250 impacted employees and need help customizing your message and frequently asked questions, please contact us for assistance at ESDGPBusinessAssistance@esd.wa.gov.
- Emphasize these four steps: At a minimum, we recommend sharing these four action steps with your staff, especially with the upcoming rollout of the federal CARES Act. We recommend everyone do these right now, before they apply:
- Stay up to date. If you haven’t already, please sign up for ESD’s COVID-19 action alerts. You can do so on the agency’s COVID page (esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19). We send out updated information and instructions through this channel.
- Check your eligibility. Learn more about your eligibility and when to apply for benefits using this eligibility checker. We encourage those eligible for regular unemployment to apply now, and newly eligible to wait until after April 18.
- Get ready to apply. Download the application checklist.
- Set up your account. Watch the tutorial video to set up your account correctly. It is nine minutes long but will likely save a lot of time.
- Come up to speed: Go to ESD.WA.GOV and check out our COVID-19 information section. There, you’ll find FAQs for employees and businesses, preparation checklists and more.
The more questions you can answer for your employees related to your particular business, the more successful they will be. Do what you can to help your employees take their time and prepare themselves before filing for unemployment. You will also find the most current information related to experience ratings and other updates for employers.
Thank you for helping us support your team!
Warm Regards,
Suzi LeVine
Commissioner, the Employment Security Department
The coronavirus is causing financial difficulties for businesses across the U.S. Here is a complete listing of all of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce coronavirus resources for small businesses.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a guide to the Employee Retention Tax Credit for COVID-19 impacted employers. Click here to view the guide.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created an employer guide to Paid Leave Programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to view the guide.
The U.S. Travel Association has created a list of resources for 501(c)6 organizations. To view the resource document click here.
COVID-19 Resource List
City of Pullman: https://www.pullman-wa.gov/cms/one.aspx?pageId=16532442
City of Moscow: https://www.ci.moscow.id.us/#tab68314d11-db47-436d-ae6f-8b19c6ad0667_0
Pullman Chamber: www.pullmanchamber.com
Moscow Chamber: www.moscowchamber.com
SEWEDA: www.seweda.org
PEP: www.pepedo.org
Centers For Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Small Business Administration: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
State of Washington: www.coronavirus.wa.gov
Washington State Department of Labor and Industries: https://www.lni.wa.gov/
Idaho Department of Labor: https://labor.idaho.gov/dnn/COVID-19
Idaho Department of Commerce: https://commerce.idaho.gov/covid-19/
Washington Department of Commerce: http://startup.choosewashingtonstate.com/links/crisis/covid-19-resources/
Find out what the federal government’s coronavirus stimulus programs mean to your small business in this presentation from Inc. in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Whitman County, WA – United Way of Whitman County has launched a community fund to provide immediate assistance for those affected by COVID-19. Resources from this fund will be deployed to address the urgent health and economic needs of impacted individuals and communities as well as to provide basic human services. Priority will be given to nonprofit organizations that provide community safety nets and to those with strong connections to populations made vulnerable by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During times of uncertainty, Americans come together to support their neighbors and their communities. The COVID-19 pandemic is a new challenge for all of us, but the human desire to help one another is not. Please donate and help our community rise to help those who need it most in this crisis.” -Eric Fejeran, Interim Director United Way of Whitman County
One-hundred percent of all donations will be dispersed to nonprofits serving individuals and families in need; no administrative cost will be reserved. Disbursements will be made as soon as funds are received and immediate needs are identified. The United Way of Whitman County will serve as a funnel of local donations and emergency funds from agencies such as FEMA. They will gather input from the agencies they presently assist and other non-profits who are in dire need of contributions. A heavy emphasis will be placed on providing food and basic living supplies to residents throughout our county.
Pullman resident and United Way of Whitman County Board member Chris Oakley said, “While staying home is a necessity at this time, it prevents me from holding the hands of assisted living residents or collecting food from my neighbors for our local food banks. I am so grateful that the United Way has provided me with a way to help that does not put me or others in Whitman County at risk.”
Donate to the Whitman County Community Relief and Recovery Fund by following the links at www.whitmanunited.org or by mailing donations to P.O. Box 426, Pullman, WA 99163 For more information on this topic contact Eric Fejeran at 509-332-3691 or at director@whitmanunited.org
Eric Fejeran Interim Executive Director
United Way of Whitman County
PO Box 426 ~ Pullman, WA 99163
509.332.3691
Businesses are also encouraged to utilize the Main Street Advocacy Toolkit for resources on measuring impact, communicating with elected officials, and effectively sharing the success of your efforts.
“There is a good chance that you, like many small business owners, are wondering how the financial fallout of the coronavirus (COVID-19), will impact your business. For many, it isn’t just a question of lost sales, but uncertainty around how to best protect your livelihood, support your employees and manage ongoing operational costs.
However, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel, as the U.S. Small Business Administration announced on March 12, 2020, that they will be offering low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to impacted small businesses. The interest rate on these loans will be 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profits. Loans can be repaid over a period of up to 30 years. Here’s a quick overview of the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program with details below.”
“The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is hitting the United States hard, forcing shutdowns of schools and businesses and prompting government officials to issue orders forcing people to stay in their homes and avoid all but the most essential outside travel. On March 13th, President Trump declared a national emergency due to the virus sweeping through communities from coast-to-coast. In the wake of this crisis, small businesses have been hit the hardest: many state governors have closed down restaurants, bars, movie theaters, and non-essential retail stores, causing entrepreneurs to experience significant losses in revenue. The problems posed by this viral outbreak for small business owners are myriad and potentially devastating. Fortunately, there are ways of alleviating these problems, and large-scale relief initiatives are on the horizon. Whether your business has been shut down or remains open in some capacity, outlets for relief already exist or are on the way. In order to aid and inform owners of small businesses, we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to coronavirus issues and solutions. We wish you good luck during this difficult period.”
For more information and to view the resources available from Chamber of Commerce click here.
The number one issue in addressing the Coronavirus is to protect public health as much as possible…however, as with many disasters, there is also an “invisible disaster” that affects businesses and communities due to changes in consumption, supply chain disruptions, social distancing and other factors.