Unique COVID-19 Relief Effort
|
|
Support COVID-19 Relief Run for Local Businesses and...
My name is Jordan J. Phelan. For the past seven months I have served as the managing editor at the Eagle Times. Through this role I have been granted the marvelous opportunity to connect with members of the local and regional communities and...
Read more
pledgeit.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please visit our
COVID-19 Page
which includes links to area resources for both individuals and businesses including funding options as well as a listing of area businesses hours of operation. New additions to the website include:
|
|
- The Governor has authorized the allocation and expenditure of an initial $400 million in emergency funding from the CARES Act to provide emergency financial relief to New Hampshire small for-profit businesses due to the economic disruption caused by COVID-19.
- New Hampshire small businesses desiring to obtain relief will be required to provide information concerning their possible COVID-19-related lost revenues and receipt of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans or any other federal relief. In order to be eligible, a business must have its principal place of business in New Hampshire and must have generated less than $20 million in revenue during the 2019 tax year.
Deadline to Submit Form is May 29
|
|
LATEST BEA COVID-19 UPDATE
What you need to know this week:
- Gov. Chris Sununu last week introduced the Main Street Relief Fund, authorizing an initial $400 million in emergency funding from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund for small, for-profit New Hampshire businesses affected by COVID-19. The prequalification application is due May 29. For more information and the prequalification form, click here.
- More than 12,750 businesses received masks through the Business Mask Order program, enabling them to reopen, or remain open, under the Stay at Home 2.0 guidance. Beginning this week, disposable masks are available for purchase through the NH Liquor and Wine Outlets.
- The Governor’s Economic Reopening Task Force meets daily, hearing from industry leaders about the safest way to open sectors, and hearing public comment. For information about the task force, its upcoming agendas, and how to access the meetings, click here. Also on this page are links to guidance documents for sectors that are approved for reopening, including Universal Guidance for all businesses.
- Business owners with questions about reopening can submit any questions they have about the reopening of the economy at the business help portal, developed by the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. Learn more and submit your questions here.
- The New Hampshire Small Business Development Center has free, and timely, webinars. Topics range from planning and recovery for restaurants and best communications practices for recovery and reopening, to information on PPP forgiveness and OSHA-related work practices. Click here for upcoming programs.
The Department of Business and Economic Affairs is working with its state and federal partners to provide resources to New Hampshire businesses affected by COVID-19. For information, visit
www.nheconomy.com/covid19
or email us at
info@nheconomy.com
.
|
|
The Greater Sullivan County Community Relief Fund Continues to Accept Requests
|
The Funding Steering Committee is still accepting requests for non-profits to access community relief funds. As the current state continues to evolve, the Committee wants to ensure that any non-profit organization in need assistance due to COVID-19 is able to apply for these funds.
We are asking partners to begin to anticipate their needs during the recovery phase of COVID-19.
Click here
to access the request form if your agencies has unmet needs of any kind, current or anticipated. Please reach out to
GSCPHN@hitchcock.org
with questions.
More about the Community Relief Fund
Click here
for a list of agencies who have been funded.
Our most recent press release can he found
here
.
A huge thank you to Sullivan County government, Region 1 IDN and our new partner Sullivan County United Way for their work on this project!
|
|
News from the Small Business Association
|
The Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. The form and instructions inform borrowers how to apply for forgiveness of their PPP loans, consistent with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SBA will also soon issue regulations and guidance to further assist borrowers as they complete their applications, and to provide lenders with guidance on their responsibilities.
Payroll Protection Program
PPP Funds Are Still Available
- Interim Final Rule for Loan Forgiveness
- Loan Review Procedures and Related Borrower and Lender Responsibilities
- NH PPP Lender List
- PPP Forgiveness Application
New Webpage Brings Together Federal Resources
With funding received from the CARES Act, the National America's SBDCs and Association of Women's Business Center's have created a federal resource website for U.S. small businesses affected by COVID-19. You can view relevant federal agency resources, access the latest news, and search for a Small Business Advisor near you.
USDA Funding Available
The USDA is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under USDA Business & Industry CARES Act Program.
The USDA also will host webinars to provide an overview of program requirements. For more information, please visit the
USDA news release
.
The USDA also announced details on the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers who have suffered a 5%-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities. More information is available in this
news release
.
USDA Rural Development Business and Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program Webinar
Wednesday - June 3rd - 2PM
|
|
Sullivan County Delegation Executive Finance Committee Meeting
|
The Sullivan County Delegation Executive Finance Committee will convene on
Monday, June 1, 2020, at 10AM
to continue discussions on the FY21 budget. Other County business may be discussed during this portion of the meeting.
We invite the general public to listen in on this meeting ~ see notice for call-in information.
Please feel free to circulate and post this message. Do not hesitate to contact
commissioners@sullivancountynh.gov
or, call 603-863-2560 if you experience any issues accessing the call-in information.
|
|
News from Vital Communities
|
The Local Crowd (TLC) 4WARD Launch
All local businesses are essential! Our small businesses make the Upper Valley unique, and many are struggling. TLC 4WARD is a local way to pay it forward and give them financial support so they can make it through this emergency. Visit the newly launched
TLC 4WARD
Upper Valley pages and give to the businesses and organizations you love with one easy and secure checkout. Businesses are joining every day, so bookmark
TLC 4WARD
and give what you can to keep your favorite businesses in business. Local businesses interested in joining can learn more
here
.
Housing Update
How has this crisis impacted those seeking rentals, those who are homeless, and those building new dwellings? Vital Communities Workforce Housing Coordinator, Mike Kiess, shares a snapshot of
how the pandemic has affected housing needs
, services, economics, and long-term thinking over the past two months.
Making Telecommuting Work for All
Though working from home is now normal for many, we are still trying to find the answers to many questions. How can collaboration occur without shared space? How can employers be sure their employees are actually working? What are the implications for health and wellness? If your office is your home, can you ever leave the office?
Vital Communities and the Chittenden Area Transportation Management Association (CATMA) are answering these questions with an upcoming statewide telecommuting guide. We are excited about this
new partnership
.
|
|
Mental Health Tips from West Central Behavioral Health
|
Isolation and quarantine can lead to fear. Fear of the unknown coupled with financial stresses, child and family care pressures, being alone, or trying to find time for yourself can lead to anxiety and depression. In times of fear, breathe deeply, and know there is help just a phone call away. Our region's community mental health center is West Central Behavioral Health with clinics in Claremont, Lebanon, and Newport. Through teletherapy (phone and video) and in-person, West Central clinicians continue to help people of all ages during this pandemic. You can visit its website at:
https://www.wcbh.org/
and call to schedule an appointment if necessary. If you are in immediate crisis, or know someone who is, which includes suicide, self-harm, or severe depressive symptoms, please call West Central's 24/7 Emergency Services crisis line at: 1-800-564-2578. West Central, through it's collaboration with other NH behavioral health centers offers
these mental health wellness tips during quarantine
.
|
|
New Hampshire Small Business Development Center has a wide range of free webinars available
online here.
|
|
Message from the Chamber Director
|
Like many of you I am working remotely in order to do my part of social distancing. I can be reached by phone (603-543-1296) or
email and will continue working to enhance, promote and support economic stability and growth in our community.
I invite you, individuals, businesses and organizations, to reach out to me with any questions, comments or concerns you might have. If I don't have the answers I will do my absolute best to find them for you.
In addition to standard phone service the Chamber also has Zoom video conferencing available if you'd like to connect face to face while maintaining social distancing.
While we all navigate these uncertain times lets all remember to be kind.
Elyse Crossman, Executive Director
Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce
|
|
If you'd like to have an item appear in the newsletter please
email it by noon on Monday to appear in that week's regular issue.
|
|
Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce | 24 Opera House Sq. Claremont, NH 03743
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
