• How do I get help running my small business?
  • A-State Small Business and Technology Development Center (consulting), www.astate.edu/a/sbtdc/, 870-972-3517, or email at asusbtdc@astate.edu.
  • SBA: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options
  • SBA Arkansas District Office: 501-324-7379
  • AR Chamber of Commerce: https://www.arkansasstatechamber.com/covid-19-coronavirus-and-arkansas/
  • CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
  • Arkansas Economic Development Commission: www.arkansasedc.com/covid19
  • World Trade Center Arkansas: The Day Trade Stood Still, or Did It? - World Trade Center Arkansas COVID-19 Business Resources (PDF)
  • COVID-19 Prevention Best Practices, Return to Work Safely: https://files.constantcontact.com/bd895b5c001/48bc9228-b59b-4a4e-b53d-b2d68703aace.pdf
  • Arkansas Ready for Business Grant Program (affected by COVID-19): www.arkansasedc.com/covid19resources/business-resources/ready-for-business-grant-program/
    
    • Overview: https://www.arkansasedc.com/docs/default-source/covid-19/ar-ready-for-business-grant-program-overview9122f35590654c3f93feb83ad4814476.pdf?sfvrsn=653166a6_2
• Is there special funding for businesses affected by the emergency?
  • US Small Business Administration – Disaster Loan Assistance: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
    • Eligibility: For-profit or private non-profit businesses; or agriculture cooperative less than 500 employees; Must be affected by the disaster.
    • Use of loan funds: Working capital which includes fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that can’t be paid due to the disaster’s impact. It does not cover lost sales.
    • Maximum loan amount: Secured loan up to $2 million and an unsecured loan up to $25,000.
    • Gather needed information: See https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Documents/Three_Step_Process_SBA_Disaster_Loans.pdf
  • Small Business Emergency Grant (Applications available at City of Jonesboro Grants Department: https://www.jonesboro.org/511/Small-Business-Emergency-Grant
    
    
  • State of Arkansas (AEDC) Quick Action Loan Program, https://www.arkansasedc.com/covid19:
    • Eligibility: Small/medium AR business that is in supply chain of essential goods or services (healthcare, food manufacturing, logistics).
    • Maximum Loan: $250,000.
    • Contact: 501-682-112, or COVID19.businessinfo@arkansasedc.com.
      
  • Paycheck Protection Program (Federal CARES Act), provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. Small businesses and sole proprietors can begin applying on April 3. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply beginning on April 10. You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating.  Funds are provided in the form of loans that will be fully forgiven when used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Loan payments will also be deferred for six months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.
• How do my employees claim unemployment insurance?
  • Contact the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services (DWS), 855-225-4440, email: ADWS.Info@arkansas.gov.
  • To file your claim online, visit: dws.arkansas.gov/unemployment/ezarc/
  • For more information, visit the DWS website at dws.arkansas.gov/unemployment 
  • Governor expedites Unemployment Insurance benefits: https://governor.arkansas.gov/news-media/press-releases/governor-hutchinson-expedites-unemployment-benefits-for-those-impacted-by
  • Arkansas Division of Workforce Services FAQs for Employers: Employers FAQs UI COVID-19 (PDF)
  • Arkansas Division of Workforce Services FAQs for Workers: Workers FAQs UI COVID-19 (PDF)
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance News Release ADWS May 2020 (PDF) 
• What are the CDC recommendations for employers to deal with the emergency?
  • Actively encourage sick employees to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
  • Separate sick employees.
  • Emphasize respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees.
  • Perform routine environmental cleaning.
  • Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps (on CDC website).
  • Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
  • If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employees exposed to a co-worker with confirmed COVID-19 should refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
• Is there guidance on how to operate child care facilities?
  • AR Dept. of Human Services: https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/child-care-early-childhood-education/important-covid-related-information/

• What businesses are opening back up and what must they do to be compliant?
  Arkansas Ready for Business is a dedicated resource that provides the most up to date information on how to operate your business safely for both customers and employees. Visit the website here: https://www.arkansasready.com

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Advance Program Reopened to All Eligible Small Businesses and Non-Profits Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON – To further meet the needs of U.S. small businesses and non-profits, the U.S. Small Business Administration reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19 today.

 “The SBA is strongly committed to working around the clock, providing dedicated emergency assistance to the small businesses and non-profits that are facing economic disruption due to the COVID-19 impact.  With the reopening of the EIDL assistance and EIDL Advance application portal to all new applicants, additional small businesses and non-profits will be able to receive these long-term, low interest loans and emergency grants – reducing the economic impacts for their businesses, employees and communities they support,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza.  “Since EIDL assistance due to the pandemic first became available to small businesses located in every state and territory, SBA has worked to provide the greatest amount of emergency economic relief possible.  To meet the unprecedented need, the SBA has made numerous improvements to the application and loan closing process, including deploying new technology and automated tools.”

 SBA’s EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for a small business or non-profit.  These loans can provide vital economic support to help alleviate temporary loss of revenue.  EIDL assistance can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses.  Additionally, the EIDL Advance will provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties, and these emergency grants do not have to be repaid.

 SBA’s COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance

• The SBA is offering low interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses and non-profit organizations that are suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19 in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories.
• These loans may be used to pay debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact, and that are not already covered by a Paycheck Protection Program loan.  The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses.  The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
• To keep payments affordable for small businesses, SBA offers loans with long repayment terms, up to a maximum of 30 years.  Plus, the first payment is deferred for one year.
• In addition, small businesses and non-profits may request, as part of their loan application, an EIDL Advance of up to $10,000.  The EIDL Advance is designed to provide emergency economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue.  This advance will not have to be repaid, and small businesses may receive an advance even if they are not approved for a loan.
• SBA’s EIDL and EIDL Advance are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response.
• The SBA is also assisting small businesses and non-profits with access to the federal forgivable loan program, the Paycheck Protection Program, which is currently accepting applications until June 30, 2020.

 For additional information, please visit the SBA disaster assistance website at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.