Fostoria Area Business Newsletter
March 31, 2020
We are diligently working to provide up to date and accurate information during this time. We are also ready to assist you and your business in any way we can. Please reach out with questions or ways we can be of assistance during this time.
Sarah Stephens Krupp, Chamber 419-435-0486
Renee Smith, FEDC 419-435-7789
Seneca County Health Department Requests Info on Essential Businesses
On March 30, the Seneca County Health Department issued a letter to Seneca County businesses requesting them to email Director, Beth Schweitzer, a statement justifying the essential nature of their operations. We encourage our members to do so citing the Ohio Stay at Home Order and the specific line(s) in the document which allow you to continue operations. Also, we recommend adding a statement which includes your company policy in regard to workplace safety during this COVID-19 pandemic. You may simply cite that you are operating in accordance with the Ohio Department of Health and CDC Recommendation Strategies for businesses. But please ensure you are following them. As the letter states, there have been multiple complaints filed. We want our workplaces to be safe and to keep our essential businesses in operation.

Email Statement to bschweitzer@senecahealthdept.org by end of business
on Wednesday, April 1.


WOOD & HANCOCK COUNTY BUSINESS: we contacted both the Wood and Hancock County Health Departments on March 31 and they are not currently requiring business to have statements to justify their essential operations. However, we do recommend you have one prepared in case you are questioned or if either county requests one.
U.S. Homeland Security Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker List version 2.0
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has released an updated version of their Critical Essential Infrastructure Workforce list . This is the list Governor DeWine used for the Ohio Stay at Home Order. Please refer to the Ohio Order as well as the Homeland Security list as a guide for your operations.
Letter from RGP President & CEO Dean Monske
NW Ohio manufacturers and economic development partners,

The Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA), the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA) and the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Ohio MEP) have joined forces through the Ohio Manufacturing Alliance to Fight COVID-19 . The Ohio MEP will provide engineering capabilities and technical support to make PPE alternatives when possible. 
 
We are asking Northwest Ohio companies to consider how they could re-tool their existing facilities to provide key items needed to combat COVID19. 
 
It is encouraged that you enter your capabilities into their portal. Please see the following link OMA factsheet for more information pursuant to this alliance on how you can help. The Governor's office and JobsOhio are supporting this effort and all major initiatives are being directed to this process. Federal assistance may also be available to help you in this effort.
 
I have also included a very informative, short and visual link on understanding PPE .

Local needs in the NW Ohio region:

Donate items - We have a desperate need for personal protection (PPE) items.

The list and items needed the most are listed here:
  
If you wish to volunteer, donate food or goods, please visit www.donatetlc.org
 
We ask that you use your personal networks to pass this information on to anyone you think could help.

 
Thank you.

Dean Monske
President & CEO
Regional Growth Partnership
Personal Protective Equipment Needed!
ESSENTIAL PPE

Due to the urgent need for PPE in Ohio, Governor DeWine is asking that anyone who has unneeded PPE or can manufacture new PPE to email the state at together@governor.ohio.gov . 
Staff will receive these emails and coordinate how these resources can best be used to benefit all Ohioans.

All PPE items are of critical need, including, but limited to:
  1. Surgical gowns (S, M, L, XL, XXL)
  2. Face/surgical masks (adult, pediatric)
  3. Gloves (nitrile, vinyl, or butyl)
  4. N-95 particulate respirators
  5. Isolation gowns
  6. Face shields 
  7. Tyvek coveralls
  8. Thermometers
  9. Foot coverings
  10. Ventilator tubing

Note: The above items are not intended to be in order of importance.

Taking care of a patient who is in intensive care for a 24-hour shift requires:
  • 36 pairs of gloves
  • 14 gowns
  • 3 pairs of goggles
  • 13 N-95 face masks.
CARES Act and Loan Options for Business



This link provides a a great overview of the programs available to businesses, including navigating existing SBA loans, Economic Injury Disaster Relief Loans (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).


How to move forward with financing options...
First, we recommend reaching out to your current lending institution and/or bank to best determine how to proceed on your current loans/financing. They may also be able to suggest applicable programs that would best suit you and your needs as well as work with you on your existing loans and lines of credit. Second, if you think you will be applying for the EIDL or PPP special loan programs, we encourage you to begin preparing loan documentation now. Begin to gather required financial documents as this could take some time. 


This program can offers loans which may be forgiven if borrower maintains their payroll during the crisis or restores their payroll to pre-crisis levels by June 30, 2020. This loan must be applied for through an SBA lending institution.


The CARES act provides additional assistance for small business, including the opportunity to receive up to a $10,000 advance (which does not have to be repaid) on the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for emergency capital. The SBA is updating its system to implement this process so small businesses can request and EIDL advance when they apply for the loan. This update will be available in the coming days. In the interim, you can still apply for a full Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) but will need to reapply for the Advance when the system is updated with a streamlined application. Once updated, the Advance will be included in your EDIL application process.
COVID-19 Workplace Safety
Ohio BWC
–Ohio BWC has announced the insurance premium installments dues for March, April and May for the current policy year may be deferred until June 1, 2020. This applies to private and public employers and will not lapse (cancel) coverage.

Employee Layoff & Unemployment
SharedWork Ohio
Ohio's Shared Work Program is managed by ODJFS. This program could be a powerful tool for employers facing a temporary layoff due to impacts of the coronavirus. In short, this program gives participating employers the opportunity to reduce the number of hours worked by its employees in lieu of laying off its workforce. So the company doesn’t have to lose a good employee, while at the same time employees retain their employment and maintain their retirement and health benefits while collecting shared work compensation for the hours they lose. The only downside is an application process at ODJFS that can take time, so the faster a company acts, the better.  


(includes instructions on how to apply)


State of Ohio Unemployment Benefits Overview

Enhanced Unemployment for Ohioans
The Governor issued an executive order which will grant the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) the authority to accept and grant requests for unemployment compensation suspending the normal 1-week waiting period.
This order gives relief to applicants who are not offered paid leave through their job, as well as those who have been quarantined by a medical professional, their employer, or whose employers must temporarily close. Those who apply for unemployment under these circumstances will be exempt from the requirement that they be actively seeking work.
For more information, go to the ODJFS site “ Coronavirus and Unemployment Insurance Benefits.”
If you are planning mass layoffs, please provide this number to your employees,  2000180  to speed the processing of unemployment benefits. Ohioans can apply for unemployment benefits online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at  unemployment.ohio.gov  or they may file by phone at 877-644-6562, Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
 
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Emergency sick leave & FMLA)



ACCURATE AND VALID COVID-19 WEBSITES
**Please be wary of unusual emails and fake websites. There are sites and links being sent in attempts to steal information. For example [corona-virus-map]dot[com]

New information available is updated daily and posted on our websites.











2020 Primary Election Update

The primary election will take place mostly via absentee ballot. In-person voting will only occur on April 28 and only at boards of elections early vote centers, not at precinct polling locations. In-person voting will only be available for individuals with disabilities who require in-person voting and those who do not have a home mailing address.
If you have already voted, your vote has been counted. If you have not yet voted, you will need to request a ballot by mail contact your local board or elections.


All ballots must be postmarked by April 27.

Fostoria Economic Development Corporation | President@FostoriaEDC.org | 419-435-7789
Fostoria Chamber of Commerce | Sarah@FostoriaChamber.com | 419-435-0486