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Stay Informed Regarding COVID-19
Visit the Center for Disease Control's website for the most current information and health tips to keep yourself and others safe.

Visit the City's website to stay up-to-date with the City response to COVID-19.
How Can We Help?
Our team is here and ready to assist you however we can. We know each business has its own unique circumstances and challenges during this time, and we stand ready to do all we can to help you navigate this uncertain time. Please let us know how we can help!

Visit our Business Resources page for additional resources, funding sources, business guides, and other important information .
This page is updated regularly
Andrea Worthy
Economic Development Director
Caroline Davis
Economic Development Specialist
NEW: State of Georgia Updates
Gov. Kemp extended Georgia's State of Emergency through May 13, 2020

Gov. Kemp extended Georgia's shelter-in-place order through April 30, 2020

Learn more about whether or not your business should remain open HERE

Georgia's primary election has been postponed to June 9, 2020
Loan and Grant Information
NEW: Fulton County Emergency Loan Program
 Select Fulton has partnered with Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), a nonprofit agency, which will administer a  $1.5 million small business loan program  that will benefit small businesses outside the City of Atlanta.
 
Applicants can receive up to $50,000 in emergency working capital for qualifying Fulton County small businesses who have experienced loss of revenue or service disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
To qualify, organizations must be in business at least 2 years. All applications are now being accepted online. Businesses must be asked to provide required documentation to ACE by fax, mail, or email. A final decision will be made as quickly as possible.
NEW: GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund
This fund will provide one-time matching grants to qualifying small businesses to help alleviate the financial burdens during these pressing times. Donations to the relief fund will be paid out as grants to businesses that qualify, and which businesses have created a fundraiser through the Small Business Relief Initiative, or had an existing GoFundMe. 
NEW: eBay "Up & Running" Small Business
Accelerator Program
eBay is pledging $100 million to help brick-and-mortar small businesses move their goods and services online through their "Up & Running" accelerator program. The offer includes a free basic eBay store for three months and waiving selling fees for up to 500 sold items.
CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP or P3)
 The Paycheck Protection Program 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 of up to 500 employees, as well as non-profits, independent contractors, and sole proprietors are eligible. Applications should be made directly to a bank or credit union qualified as an SBA 7(a) loan lender.

Overview of the program HERE
Find more detailed information for borrowers HERE
U.S. Chamber Synopsis HERE
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
 The CARES Act also provides additional assistance through an opportunity for small business owners and non-profits to get  up to a $10,000 Advance on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) . This  Advance  may be available even if your  EIDL  application was declined or is still pending and  will be forgiven. 

SBA Loan PowerPoint  HERE
U.S. Chamber Synopsis HERE
Contact disaster customer service: 1-800-659-2955 or [email protected]
U.S. and Georgia Departments of Labor Updates
NEW: Self-Employed, Gig & Contract Workers Can Begin Applying for Jobless Benefits Monday, April 13
 The GDOL is modifying its current online unemployment application adding new questions to better identify those individuals who may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). This modified application is expected to be available on Monday, April 13, 2020. Once the application is received, it will take several weeks to process.

Qualified individuals include self-employed, gig workers, 1099 independent contractors, or those with limited work history who will not qualify for state unemployment benefits.

If you have already filed a claim with the GDOL and will be eligible to potentially receive benefits under this program, you do NOT have to refile your claim. These individuals will be identified and sent an email with a link to provide additional information for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program.
New GDoL Rule Requiring Employers to
File Unemployment Benefits for Employees
 The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) has adopted an   emergency Rule 300-2-4-0.5   Partial Claims, effective   March 16, 2020 . The rule mandates ALL Georgia employers to file partial claims online on behalf of their employees for any week during which an employee (full-time/part-time) works less than full-time due to a partial or total company shutdown caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency .

Find step-by-step instructions on how to file partial claims as an employer.

Any employer found to be in violation of this rule will be required to reimburse GDOL for the full amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid to the employee.
 
Please continue to monitor the GDoL website  or any updates to these guidelines.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
 The Department of Labor has posted important FFCRA posters on their website. Each covered employer must post a notice of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requirements in a conspicuous place on its premises. An employer may satisfy this requirement by emailing or direct mailing the notice to employees or posting the notice on an employee information internal or external website. These provisions will apply beginning April 1, 2020,   through December 31, 2020.

Find these posters and more information on the U.S. Department of Labor  HERE.
NEW: Upcoming Online Free Events
Greater North Fulton Chamber: Grow With Google - Using Data to Drive Growth + Tips and Resources to Work From Home
Tuesday, April 14 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
ALL registrants will receive up to $150 in Google Ad Credit to immediately market their business with the lessons they learn and apply.


COVID-19 Emergency Loan Webinar
This series is a joint effort of The UGA Small Business Development Center, Georgia Dept. of Community Affairs, and Georgia Dept. of Economic Development.
The next series of sessions will take place at various times on April 14th-15th.
Find a session and REGISTER HERE
View an on-demand recorded webinar from April 6th here .


Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber: Young Professionals
Virtual Happy Hour
Thursday, April 16 - 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM


View SCORE's library of recorded on-demand webinars HERE
Resources for Restaurants
Submit Your Restaurant's Information
to Visit Sandy Springs
Visit Sandy Springs is dedicated to supporting our restaurant and hospitality industry. This dedicated webpage provides the community with information regarding the offerings of Sandy Springs restaurants including take out, curbside pickup, delivery and more.

If you would like to add your restaurant to their list or update your current information, please submit your details  here or email [email protected] . 
Register Your Restaurant For Food Delivery
If you are an eatery of any kind, you can sign up with any of these delivery services to facilitate deliveries to your loyal customers in Sandy Springs and the surrounding area. This is a great option for restaurants right now that are seeing a decline in foot traffic.
Federal AND State Income
Tax Filing Deadlines Extended to July 15, 2020
The 2019 income tax filing and payment deadlines for all taxpayers who file and pay their Federal income taxes on April 15, 2020, are  automatically extended until July 15, 2020 . All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties.

On March 23, 2020, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp   authorized   extending the state tax filing to July 15 to coincide with national extension.

The IRS has established a special section of the agency’s  website   focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by this coronavirus. The page will be updated as new information is available.
City of Sandy Springs Updates
City of Sandy Springs Updates
Additional Resources
Your Economic Development Team
We are here to support you.
Please reach out to us with questions or concerns.
Economic Development Director
Economic Development Specialist
This newsletter is prepared by the City of Sandy Springs. You can learn more about the City on our website at  sandyspringsga.gov. You can also telephone our Call Center 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 770-730-5600.