March 17, 2020
COVID-19
If you are a City of Roanoke Business experiencing loss due to COVID-19, please visit our website, BizRoanoke/COVID-19. To help control the spread of
COVID-19, learn, plan and respond by visiting

To our Small Business Partners in Roanoke throughout Virginia:

Below is an overview and Survey Monkey link from the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity.

We ask that you share this with your small business community and ask for their participation in this survey process as Governor Northam seeks to have Virginia declared a disaster because of the COVID-19, thereby making our Commonwealth eligible for federal disaster relief.
  
The input and response from small businesses throughout the Commonwealth is critical for us to have enough data to meet federal requirements which will allow access to disaster loan funds at the federal level.

Please take a moment to complete this survey so they can share the results with State and Federal partners. Responses need to be received as soon as possible but will be open through  5:00pm., Friday, March 27, 2020  to capture responses.

Thank you for your partnership in disseminating this survey to those most impacted!
COVID-19/Coronavirus Business Assistance
With regards to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), please know we consider our City of Roanoke businesses a top priority and appreciate all you are doing during this trying time.   As we continue to receive more information from the federal and state governments regarding disaster relief, we will share these updates with you. In the meantime , we have four suggestions for things you can do now.

1.   Please begin collecting and documenting any loss of business related to this pandemic.  
This could include the following:
  • Hotel Room Cancellations
  • Meal Reservation Cancellations
  • Private Event Cancellations
  • Conference Cancellations
  • Any business and revenue loss associated with the pandemic

The City of Roanoke Department of Economic Development is developing a collection system so you can easily report this information to us and we can assist City businesses with this effort. In the meantime, please document the information in a written or electronic format for yourself for later.

2. So we can communicate directly with City Businesses throughout this situation, please send your business name, the appropriate contact name, email and phone number for this effort to us at [email protected] or complete this Contact Form . 

3.In order for you to have pertinent documentation should it be needed/required for relief, below are examples of informational items you may be required to present during or after emergency declarations:
  • Monthly sales history for the past two years
  • Accurate year-end business financial statements (both Income and Balance sheets)
  • As time transpires, interim month-end statements may also be required
  • You will need to show a downturn in sales from prior periods (exact details unknown at this time) - early application may be premature

4. SHOP LOCAL - please support the local businesses in our community by purchasing gift cards, ordering carry-out and making an effort to visit as frequently as safely possible.

The City of Roanoke Department of Economic Development is here to assist you. Should you need our help, please contact us using the information below:

Rob Ledger, Director of Economic Development: [email protected]
Marc Nelson, Manager of Economic Development: [email protected]
Lisa Soltis, Economic Development Specialist: [email protected]
Business Loss Data Collection
While details of any potential small business disaster relief related to COVID-19 is still uncertain, we created this form to collect data that may be needed. Please complete these weekly reports so Roanoke can determine the extent of business impacts and to assist you with obtaining any relief possibly made available. The data will be held as confidential proprietary records provided by a business and shall be maintained as confidential by the City of Roanoke and are not subject to disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Code of Virginia §2.2-3705.6(a)(3).

If you need assistance, do not hesitate to contact the City of Roanoke Department of Economic Development via email at [email protected] or 540-853-1694. 

‌
Don't forget...BizRoanoke is on RVTV Channel 3!

 BizRoanoke, our monthly television program will feature an updated program on COVID-19 beginning April 1. Please be sure to tune in.

Tune into RVTV Channel 3 to learn more, access it on our website at 
The City of Roanoke Department of Economic Development is on Facebook and Instagram ! Please "like" or "follow" us today!