If COVID-19 has impacted your business, there’s assistance available. We are providing links to the various agencies where you may apply or simply learn more about the programs.
Non-profit organizations suffering losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for assistance from the SBA. For more details, click here. https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/SBA%20Faith-Based%20FAQ%20Final.pdf
NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan is a program for all North Carolina businesses with loans up to $50,000. <a href="https://www.ncifund.org/what-we-do/covid-19-loans
• Businesses and individuals may obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or 1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, or by emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Loan application forms can also be downloaded atdisasterloan.sba.gov. Here’s a link for more information on low-interest loans. https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
• The Small Business Administration offers information for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Click here for the link. https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
• Available from the Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center are numerous free online classes to help small businesses deal with the COVID-19 crisis and the economic havoc it has played upon us. Take advantage of these FREE classes to help you navigate through these uncharted waters of a pandemic. https://cfcc.edu/small-business-center
• Be sure to visit SCORE, a free service with helpful links designed for your success. This national resource with an office in the Cape Fear Region offers many helpful tips, webinars, and links to business resources. https://www.score.org/
• For business loan information, ThreadCapital will offer guidance. It’s a free service. https://www.threadcap.org/
• If you must lay-off employees who will file for unemployment, please list COVID-19 as the reason for the ‘separation’ and instruct your employees to do the same. We were told by the NC Department of Commerce this will expedite an overwhelmed process. https://des.nc.gov/apply-unemployment
• N.C. State Extension has an extensive page of resources for our farm families and agricultural sector, including information on food safety and supply chain issues. https://strawberries.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/03/covid-19-farming-resources/
• A reminder from the IRS about the distribution of Economic Impact Payments authorized by the CARES Act, which will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. Here’s more information about the payments, who qualifies and how they’ll be distributed. An important reminder: individuals on Social Security who have not filed tax returns ARE eligible for the payments. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know
• Treasury and IRS have also launched the Employee Retention Credit, designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payrolls during the pandemic. The refundable tax credit is 50 percent of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19. Updates on the implementation of this credit and other information can be found on the Coronavirus page of IRS.gov. It’s important to remember that businesses that receive Paycheck Protection Program loans are not eligible to receive the Employee Retention Credit. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-employee-retention-credit-available-for-many-businesses-financially-impacted-by-covid-19
The attached document provides detailed information about North Carolina and Federal Business Relief ResourcesCOVID-19 Business Relief Resources v15
- This SBA link goes directly to the loan page and describes each they are offering. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options
- For help with applying for the SBA Loan, call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. You can also use a text telephone (TTY) by calling 1-800-877-8339.
- If unable to reach someone from SBA PLEASE UTLILIZE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES (depending on size of company) Contact your local location based on your county and schedule an online counseling session
• FEWER than 9 Employees – Contact the local – SBC – Small Business Center Network – https://www.ncsbc.net/DocumentMaster.aspx?doc=1003
• MORE than 10 Employees – Contact the local – SBTDC – Small Business Technology Development Center – http://www.sbtdc.org/erfc/
In the Cape Fear Region call Don Spry – Tel: 910-398-0746; email: don.spry@sba.gov ; Fax: 202-292-3787
Unemployment – there has been a long wait time for calls to the Unemployment Office, please try to do as much as you can online.
N.C. Division of Employment Security – 888.737.0259 https://des.nc.gov/
If you have lost your job or been laid off, file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim.
- If you are not eligible for UI benefits, the business owner and/or employee may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is a federal program that provides temporary payments to people in a federally declared disaster area whose employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster. Business owners that are self-employed, farmers, or commercial fishermen, who are unemployed as a direct result of the disaster may be eligible.
How do I apply for DUA? – What is Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)?
You can file online. Once you have created an online account, file for unemployment and choose the appropriate reason for losing your job. If you have difficulty filing online, you may contact the DUA Hotline at 1-866-795-8877 Employee Call Center 866-278-3822
Pender County staff will continue to compile new information throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like to thank Congressman Rouzer’s office, Small Business Administration, SCORE, and Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center for providing us with useful information.
