PPP application opens today

Issue 6.14

April 3, 2020

Message from the President

This past Sunday we hosted a call with US Senator Chris Coons and John Fleming, State Director at the US Small Business Administration. We focused the discussion around the $350 billion dollars the CARES Act set aside for small businesses within this $2 trillion federal stimulus package. This is a lot of money. The challenge is getting the U.S. Small Business Administration to stand up the infrastructure needed to move these resources out to approved applicants. To be clear, however, the SBA has a full-time, nationwide staff of about 3,400 people, so using existing application and processing resources from financial institutions will accelerate loan decisions. The SBA is being asked to do in two months, 13 times the volume they would otherwise complete in one year. It’s a big job, but with support from our nation's lenders, I’m confident it will work. If you weren't able to join the call, you can find the recording on our coronavirus resource page here .

Please join us this afternoon on another call with Governor Carney. The Governor will provide another update on the State's response to COVID-19, including more information on the eighth and ninth modifications to his State of Emergency declaration.

Friday, April 3 | 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Dial: 1-571-317-3122 | Access Code: 870-533-837

If you would like to submit a question to be asked during the call, please email it to Kelly Basile at kbasile@dscc.com .

Stay up-to-date with the DE Division of Public Health's Update Page

Visit the Delaware State Chamber's COVID-19 Resource Page

CARES ACT RESOURCES:

The U.S. Chamber released guides to help

you & your business apply for financial relief

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program was created to assist businesses, renters, and homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters. This guide explains who is eligible, what are the loan parameters, and how to access a $10,000 emergency grant. Download the guide here .

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created a new employee retention tax credit (ERTC) for employers who are closed, partially closed, or experiencing significant revenue losses as a result of COVID-19. This guide explains who is eligible, how much the tax credit is, which employees count towards eligibility, and how the credit is paid. Download the guide here .

( The Internal Revenue Service will issue further guidance and mange the ERTC process. Please contact the IRS with specific questions.)

The CARES Act allocated $350 billion into the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. This program provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses. Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward. Download the guide here .

Small businesses and sole proprietors can begin applying on April 3. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply beginning on April 10. Download the application here .

The US Department of Treasury issued additional guidance on this program. They are available at www.treasury.gov .

Need help figuring out which state or federal

loan program is best for your business' needs?

The DE Division of Small Business created this helpful chart.

What are large employers doing

amid the COVID-19 crisis?

Just Capital created a COVID-19 Corporate Response Tracker — starting with America’s 100 largest public employers — to help assess what’s happening on the ground, elevate best practices, and share what good looks like in this rapidly shifting landscape.

As a companion to this tracker, JUST has also identified 5 Principles to Help Guide Corporate America During the Coronavirus Crisis , constructed from five years of public opinion research on what constitutes just business behavior, to support corporate decision-making during these challenging times:

Support workers’ health and financial security
Adopt practices to minimize job loss
Put workers first, and work with government to do so
Support communities, local suppliers, and customers
Have the C-suite lead by example

Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund

Verizon's recently invested $2.5 million in the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to support small businesses. LISC will use the funding to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19—especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically under-served communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital.

Learn more & see if you're eligible

Apply for a grant

Applications for the 1st round of grants must be completed by April 4th, 11:59 PM ET. There will be a second round.

APRIL 1 WAS CENSUS DAY

We all have a say in the outcome of the 2020 Census, and it can help Delaware secure $3 billion in funding and maintain fair representation in Congress. All you have to do is complete and return your 2020 Census form. It is a simple civic duty with enormous impact. It's fast, it's easy! Go online to my2020census.gov or call 1-844-330-2020 to complete your Census today and help shape Delaware’s Future!

INTERNSHIPS 101

UD hosts internship workshop

for employers

Think about the worst job you ever had. Were you fetching coffee and lunch orders all day? Or were you slammed with daunting tasks and endless data entry? The biggest problem employers face today is how to manage interns. Too little work can be fruitless or demeaning; too much can be overwhelming. An unbalanced internship experience is frustrating for both parties. Read more

The Total Internship Management Workshop - to be hosted online!

Thursday, April 16, 2020 | 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Dr. Robert Shindell fr om Intern Bridge , the nation’s leading experiential education research and consulting firm, will share a new approach to internships.

Online Course – Accessible 24/7/365
60-minute follow-up consultation to implementing Total Internship Management in your organization!
4.5 Hours of HRCI and/or SHRM-PDC Credit

Hosted by:

Join us on April 22 for a virtual workshop on how to write your best Superstars in Business application! Register here

Learn more about Superstars in Business

Welcome DSCC's Newest Team Member!

Melissa Brayman joined the State Chamber in March as the Office Administrator. Aside from the administrative duties of ensuring the office is running smoothly, she also assists with keeping the president’s schedule and

supporting accounting functions.

Melissa is originally a native of Costa Rica, but she grew up in Newark and now lives in Pike Creek with her 13-year-old daughter, Maria Soleil and her boyfriend, Curt. Melissa enjoys any challenging outdoor activity, such as running, hiking, mountain-biking, snowboarding, camping, and most of all, backpacking. She and her daughter are ‘partners in crime,’ and love spending time together whether it’s bonding over The Walking Dead, Zumba class at the YMCA, exploring NYC, or backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. Welcome Melissa!