CORONA VIRUS RESOURCES & ANNOUNCEMENTS VOL. III
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This week more information has emerged concerning the CARES Act and more specifically, the Paycheck Protection Act (PPP), which is a financial option for small businesses during COVID-19. Below is information on this new program and how to get started, along with the existing financial lending/grant programs available.
None of these are a one-size fits all, and should be carefully considered for your individual business to see what option is best for you. Review the programs, consult your local lender, and utilize the SBA hotline or email. All entities are experiencing a high volume of calls, so remember to be patient and anticipate a wait time.
A couple of important things to note:
No business may take more than one resource or it may be considered a, “duplication of benefit.” Businesses may not be forgiven for amounts paid for leave if they are eligible for a tax credit to off-set the cost.
Be Prepared – Compile company documents, such as certificates or articles of incorporation, bylaws, operating agreements, and certificates of good standing. In addition, you will need financial information that a normal lending situation would require such as financial statements, tax returns, and payroll information. Take careful records of your business during the pandemic.
Additional Resources for Businesses:
Idaho Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The Idaho SBDC business advisors are available to provide information and technical assistance on SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans and to help you navigate the economic impacts caused by COVID-19. Find more information
here.
Idaho Women’s Business Center (WBC)
The Idaho WBC is available to provide information and technical assistance on SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans and to help you navigate the economic impacts caused by COVID-19. Find more information
here.
Small Business Administration Idaho Offices
There are several SBA offices in Idaho which offer many small business loan and assistance programs and are currently helping small businesses understand how to access and apply for the capital they need. To find the SBA office near you,
click here.
US Chamber
The US Chamber has great breakdowns of these loan programs on their COVID-19 Small Business Resource page,
click here.
Idaho Department of Commerce
COVID-19 information for Idaho Businesses,
click here.
West Central Mountains Economic Development Council
***The McCall Area Chamber office is currently closed to the public, but still conducting business as usual internally (M-F, 9-5) and open to help you via
email
or leave us a voicemail at 208-634-7631 and we will return your call!
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PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM THROUGH THE CARES ACT
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The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses under the new Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. This is the largest economic stimulus package ever passed in U.S. history for a total of $2 trillion worth in funding.
Small businesses with less than 500 employees and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible for the PPP if they also meet program size standards.
The PPP is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
The PPP will be available through June 30, 2020 and loans may be processed as soon as April 3, 2020.
HOW TO APPLY
You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.
(2) Two Local Banks are on the list:
Idaho First Bank (208) 634-1000
U.S. Bank (208) 634-2281
***Nicholas Accounting conducted a helpful webinar:
"CARES Act - SBA Loan Overview"
For the full webinar click
HERE.
For the slides click
HERE.
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Federal Coronavirus Relief Package Officially Signed by
President Trump March 27th
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The CARES Act is a $2 Trillion aid package passed by Congress to aid Americans during the COVID-19 crisis with the intent to provide emergency relief to individuals and businesses and
was officially signed into law by President Trump today, Friday, March 27th, making history as the largest stimulus bill in the U.S.
Below are quick-reference documents aimed at providing clarity on available options for how this will help small businesses and American households hit hard by the pandemic:
For Individuals:
➡️
Additional Resources for
Idahoans:
For Small Businesses:
➡️
SBA expanded programs under the CARES Act:
***
In addition, our friends at the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce teamed up with KBOI Channel 2 in Boise to relay what this new act will provide for small business payroll protection program:
SEE THE ARTICLE HERE
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ADDITIONAL SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DISASTER
LOAN PROGRAMS
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Small Business Administration COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL)
- All territories and all states have been designated eligible for these loans, which is only the second time in U.S. history this has occurred. The first time was 9/11. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
- The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%. The SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.
Economic Injury Disaster Advance Loan (SBA) Immediate $10k Advance
- In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000.
- This advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application. This loan advance will not have to be repaid.
SBA Express Loans
- Any business concern, non-profit organization (501(c)3), veterans organization (501(c)19) or tribal businesses that employs less than 500 employees or meets size standard. Sole proprietors, independent contractors, and eligible self-employed individuals. Non-profits receiving Medicaid expenses are ineligible.
- Cap is $1 million and with a turnaround time of 36 hours. Loan forgiveness components include: Any payment made for payroll (including paid sick, medical or family leave and group health benefits), rent, mortgage interest, utilities between February 15, 2020 and June 30, 2020 can be forgiven. Amount of loan forgiveness can be reduced by any change in staffing or payroll expenses. Amounts forgiven shall be excluded from taxable income. Interest will have a 4% max and payments may be deferred up to 6 months.
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RESTAURANT EMPLOYEE RELIEF FUND
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National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Restaurant Employee Launches Relief Fund
There are more than 1 million restaurants in the U.S., home to more than 15 million employees. Early estimates indicate that this industry is the largest sector impacted by the spread of COVID-19, with 5 to 7 million restaurant workers expected to lose their jobs. These grants will be made on a first-come-first-served basis, subject to availability of funds.
100%
of the Fund’s proceeds will go to providing grants to restaurant workers.
- If relief criteria is met, participants are eligible for a one-time, $500 check to use towards housing, transportation, utilities, child-care, groceries, medical bills or student loans
Visit their website
HERE.
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The McCall chamber will be partnering with UI Extension, Valley County, to feature a business of the week interview program during the pandemic.
If you are a business interested in participating, please reach out to
Director, Lindsey Harris.
Businesses will be featured on a first come, first serve basis. This is an effort for the McCall Chamber to stay connected with our vital business community and utilize the resources of the UI Extension Office, Valley County.
Interviews will be conducted via Zoom, so a computer, strong internet connection, and a quiet space is needed for a quality video. Participants will need to share a brief entertaining and educational piece related to their business (show us what you do!), followed by a conversation about how the community can support them during COVID-19.
Today we had our first interview with Mary Gilson of Backcountry Boutique and next week will be interviewing Chef Topple for his three restaurants. We are planning to launch these videos in conjunction with virtual happy hours and guest speakers so stay tuned in the coming days for more details!
The goal is to cultivate ingenuity for a business, provide support, and problem solve technology challenges along the way. The videos will run through the end of April during the pilot program
and be posted to
UI Extension, Valley County
and
McCall Area Chamber’s
social media.
This program will be revisited at the end of this time frame to determine success / interest. Thank you for your willingness to participate in this opportunity.
Together we can!
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WCMEDC LAUNCHES FOOD DELIVERY SURVEY
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We understand everyone has been preoccupied with COVID-19. To alleviate some of that stress, we made the call to extend our deadlines for the upcoming 2020 Summer Visit McCall magazine.
There still is space, so contact us today!
We plan to have magazines in hand by the beginning of June, with digital release later in May. We look forward to promoting your businesses in this upcoming issue.
Our pricing always includes complimentary design as well!
AD SALES OPEN: April 17, 2020
MATERIAL DEADLINE: April 24, 2020
PUBLISHED: June 2020
CIRCULATION: 12.5k copies + digital issue
Contact
Lindsey Harris to reserve your space and get started! Send her an email or her cell while the Chamber office is working remotely is 208-315-1449.
*If you would like to discuss payment options for your ad during this uncertain time, we are happy to chat about alternatives.
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CITY OF MCCALL AND VALLEY COUNTY COVID-19 BUSINESS AND SERVICE GUIDE
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Help notify the community of changes
being made at your business or non-profit in response to the current health pandemic. Keep those updates coming!
This web page was created in collaboration between the City of McCall and Valley County. It will allow all businesses and organizations to update the community on changes in hours or operations through a location-based survey. The information provided will be streamed live through a public dashboard. To make edits, just resubmit the form again and it will automatically populate.
Big thank you to our County and City staff for mobilizing so quickly to put this fantastic resource together for our businesses.
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ST. LUKE'S MCCALL & CASCADE MEDICAL CENTER COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
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Residents of our Local Idaho Mountain Communities:
You have no doubt by this time heard a great deal of information, advice, and concern regarding the current COVID19 worldwide pandemic.
The level of public awareness and media coverage of this viral outbreak has been unprecedented, and it is on all of our minds.
As we have been tasked with the challenge of managing this new disease, please know that we share your concerns and we are planning and preparing to manage an outbreak in our communities.
As such, we thought it would be a good time to share some essential steps we can all take to protect our friends, our loved ones and ourselves.
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OPTIMISM CORNER - TAKE A LOOK!
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McCall Chamber Launches Local Business Bingo
We are inspired by our community's support, creativity, and ingenuity during these uncertain times. One thing we are certain of is how special our small business community is. Let's show our support by playing a game of "Local Business Bingo!" Blackout all the spaces, enter your card via
#mccallchamberlove
and tag us on Instagram or Facebook for your chance to win a special prize!
Four (4) winners will be drawn end of the day, Friday, April 10th. Tag a business or a friend and let the local business bingo game begin.Together we can get through this stronger and better than ever.
Please share on your local business social media or personal pages using the hashtag #mccallchamberlove to help encourage more community members to play along. Visit the
McCall Chamber Facebook
page for the post!
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We have come across some great webinars specific to small businesses and the pandemic that we wanted to share with you.
Destinations International "Corona Virus Updates"
:
Destinations International is joined by Amir Eylon with Longwoods International for a Coronavirus Benchmark Study and Andreas Weissenborn with Destinations International who presented their results from their recent Coronavirus Member Survey.
The survey was taken on March 10-11, so we understand a lot has changed since then; however, we still were encouraged by the stats they provided regarding people's opinions of future travel. Their data suggests strong domestic travel and we have hopes that will bode well for us.
To check out more of Destinations International webinars
CLICK HERE.
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We loved this webinar because it gave us hope and it gave us actionable, achievable ways to protect your business during crisis. We appreciated these simple steps to take stock, identify a few goals, and how to work towards them without getting overwhelmed.
A 3-Step Model to Survive the Next 60-90 Days with Dr. Evans Baiya, Innovation and Business Trainer. The rapidly developing COVID-19 pandemic poses a twin-threat to employee health and enterprise resiliency. Millions are disrupted regionally and globally, so how can you set yourself and your business on a path to survive and thrive through this crisis? Join BBB NW+P Chief Innovation Officer Dale Dixon and Dr. Evans Baiya for a webcast discussion on how to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on your people and your businesses.
-What are you worried about?
-What are your opportunities?
-What are your hindrances/barriers to success?
Have something you found to be useful lately?
Email us!
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COVID-19 INFORMATIONAL LINKS
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We want to link some important web pages for you to be up to speed on the current state of affairs and prepare your business and community during the pandemic. Given the nature of these things, misinformation and rumors can easily be spread and we want to make sure you are informed directly from the right sources so that you can make the best and most informed decision.
Email Alerts & Emergency Notifications
If you are not doing so already, now is a good time to sign-up for email blasts from health organizations and to sign-up for our own Valley County Sheriff's emergency notifications to ensure you receive instant updates.
Website Resources
Here are some suggested and offical websites to follow federally, statewide, regionally, and locally for COVID-19 information:
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CONSTANT CONTACT MARKETING TOOLKIT FOR BUSINESSES DURING COVID-19
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Marketing Ideas for Your Business - Ideas from Constant Contact on how to keep your customers informed
For 20 years, we've been committed to helping small businesses and nonprofits grow. And in these unprecedented times, businesses across every state, town, and Main Street are scrambling to find new ways to operate.
Small business owners have always had to adapt quickly. But we know there's no clear way to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. That's why we created a support kit with guidance, new ways to boost business, and inspiration from other business owners to help figure out what to do next. The Small Business Support Kit is a collection of learning resources and communication tools that can help small business right now:
•
FREE ecommerce
and website builder tools included with all paid email marketing packages to help you start selling online quickly*
•
A Small Business Helpline staffed with marketing advisors to assist with your industry-specific Action Plan
•
Email te mplates designed for use throughout the COVID-19 pandemic
•
Discounted access to additional "do it for me"
subscription services
for those that need help implementing their Action Plans**
The Small Business Support Kit is designed to help businesses understand options and strategies to endure the current environment while also planning for the future of your business. We know the future can seem uncertain and the next step isn't always clear. We're here to help.
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LOCAL EFFORTS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED
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Idaho Shirts
Launches Campaign to Give Back to Local Restaurants
We want to give a shout out to local business Idaho Shirts, sister company of Printshop McCall, who took it upon themselves to help our local restaurants they saw struggling with the pandemic. They have created the hashtag #IdahoStrong and for every piece of awesome apparel they sell, the buyer receives a $10 to a local restaurant of their choice and all net proceeds benefit that restaurant. They write:
"You can help small businesses RIGHT NOW. We are raising funds to help keep our restaurant friends alive. Buy this shirt. Get a $10 gift card to the restaurant of your choice. All net proceeds go to the restaurant you pick and the Idaho Foodbank. Free shipping. Sanitized, premium eco-printed tees.
Stay
#idahostrong
. Let’s show the country how we take care of each other. Share this post."
Visit their
website
or
Facebook page
for more information on how you can get involved and get your own t-shirt.
Our local Rotary chapter is seeking out those in need during this time. They are working on several pandemic initiatives to serve our elderly, youth, and susceptible populations who need assistance during this time. They are conducting these initiatives while under the close guidance of health professionals and adhering to recommended guidelines.
If you wish to know more about these programs, please reach out to
Club President, Stephanie Nelson (208) 630-4201.
Thank you to our Rotarians and all people who have stepped up in our community to help and be positive in anyway they can.
***Interested in checking in on our local Senior Center and Meals on Wheels Program? Email their administrator, Darlene Limbaugh
mccallsrcenter@cableone.net
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Local Grocers Announce Dedicated Shopping Times for Seniors:
Albertsons currently has designated shopping days for seniors and other at-risk populations, such as pregnant women and immune compromised individuals on
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7am - 9am.
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2020 Census Begins this Month
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We understand our minds are preoccupied right now, but this month kicks-off the 2020 Census, a citizen survey for Americans that takes place every 10 years. The McCall Area Chamber, along with all entities in Valley County, encourage all of us to participate in the census and to help disseminate to all of our employees. All of us taking the few minutes to take the survey provides vital funding for our area. The other neat part of the Census? It helps keep us thinking forward, looking to our futures, and hope for what is to come.
Your response matters.
Health clinics. Fire departments. Schools. Even roads and highways. The census can shape many different aspects of your community.
The results of the 2020 Census will help determine how hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding flow into communities every year for the next decade. That funding shapes many different aspects of every community, no matter the size, no matter the location.
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Be Proactive and Register for Absentee Vote this May
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Our great State of Idaho has acted quickly for our May elections and encouraging all of us to register for absentee voting to ensure we all have the opportunity to vote!
Due to the current concerns related to the novel coronavirus, the Idaho Secretary of State’s office is encouraging voters in Idaho to vote absentee for the May 19, 2020 Primary Election.
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In additional to our incredible medical community, we want to acknowledge our grocery stores, their managers, and their staff who have endured so much and been at the front lines. We want each and every one of you to know how much we deeply appreciate all of you.
***If you haven't thanked your healthcare provider or local grocery store employee today, relay your gratitude on your next visit. Know one personally? Send them a text.
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MCCALL AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
info@mccallchamber.org
(208) 634-7631
visitmccall.org
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