COVID-19 Business Resources

Below, you will find information and links to organizations who provide rapid-response relief for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about how Isothermal Planning and Development Commission can help you, your business, and your employees during this uncertain time, please click here to be taken to the IPDC staff directory.

Email covid19resources@regionc.org with any questions and an IPDC staff member will contact you directly.

CARES Act

  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): 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. Applicants can to apply online. Click here to apply.
    • NEW – The SBA has reopened the EIDL and EIDL Advance application as of June 15, 2020.

  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance: This loan advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties. When you apply for the EIDL, you can request the advance at the same time.
    • NEW – The SBA has reopened the EIDL and EIDL Advance application as of June 15, 2020.
  • Paycheck Protection Program Loan Guarantee: There is $350 billion allocated for the Small Business Administration to provide loans of up to $10 million per business. Any portion of that loan used to maintain payroll, keep workers on the books or pay for rent, mortgage, and existing debt could be forgiven, provided workers stay employed through the end of June. Click here to learn more.

SBA EIDL & Emergency Advance Video

SBA PPP Video

  • Video Slides
  • Looking for a lender for PPP? Click here for a PDF of new lenders who can help with PPP
  • Mountain BizWorks can nonprofits apply for the PPP. Click here to learn more

Tips for Applying for EIDL and PPP

SBA Paycheck Protection Program
Loan Forgiveness Application

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S 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.

The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including:

  • Options for borrowers to calculate payroll costs using an “alternative payroll covered period” that aligns with borrowers’ regular payroll cycles
  • Flexibility to include eligible payroll and non-payroll expenses paid or incurred during the eight-week period after receiving their PPP loan
  • Step-by-step instructions on how to perform the calculations required by the CARES Act to confirm eligibility for loan forgiveness
  • Borrower-friendly implementation of statutory exemptions from loan forgiveness reduction based on rehiring by June 30
  • Addition of a new exemption from the loan forgiveness reduction for borrowers who have made a good-faith, written offer to rehire workers that was declined

Click here to view the application and instructions.

Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA)

On June 5, 2020, the President signed into law the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (PPPFA) in an attempt to address many concerns expressed by the small business community around the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) aimed at providing COVID-19 relief. Click here to learn more.

Here are a few key changes for the PPP program:

  1. PPPFA changes amount of loan needed for payroll to 60%
  2. PPPFA extends time period to use funds from 8 to 24 weeks
  3. PPPFA pushes back a June 30 deadline to rehire workers to December 31, 2020
  4. PPPFA eases rehire requirements
  5. PPPFA extends the repayment term from 2 years to 5

North Carolina COVID-19 Rapid Recovery for Small Businesses

May 4, 2020 – House Bill 1043, a bipartisan effort by the NC General Assembly and which was signed into law by Governor Cooper this morning, includes an appropriation of $125 million to Golden LEAF for the NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program. This appropriation is a significant fiscal commitment that will help meet the needs of our state’s entrepreneurs and small-business owners.

We know the need is great and we know our small business owners have a long road ahead of them. The NC Rural Center and our partners in the NC Rapid Recovery Loan Program will do all we can to assist them. Applications to the NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program will continue to be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Please visit www.ncrapidrecovery.org to learn more about the program and submit an application for your small business. Click here for more info.

Mountain BizWorks COVID-19 Resources

Mountain BizWorks is a U.S. Treasury certified non-profit community development financial institution (CDFI). For nearly 30 years, Mountain BizWorks has been making business loans ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 to small businesses in Western North Carolina who may find it difficult to secure funding from banks and other traditional sources.

Mountain BizWorks Resources for Small Businesses

  • COVID-19 Disaster Financing – Mountain BizWorks offers resources for COVID-19 funding programs for small businesses. These resources include the NC Rapid Recovery Loan mentioned above.
  • One-On-One Coaching and Technical Assistance – Mountain BizWorks offers individualized one-on-one coaching and technical assistance for small business owners. To learn more about these resources, reach out to Mike Ames at mames@mountainbizworks.org.

Shelby 1 Fund

Shelby 1 Fund Small Business Loans aim to provide a rapid source of assistance for City of Shelby-based businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19.  Mountain BizWorks is the administrator for the emergency loans program, with details and a link to apply below.

Shelby 1 Fund small business loans are designed to be flexible and rapid sources of low-interest loan capital to help local Shelby businesses meet pressing needs and navigate the COVID-19 crisis. Repayment is expected either from more permanent funding sources (like SBA Disaster Loans) or from the future cash flow of the business. The Shelby1Fund loan program received initial funding from the City of Shelby.

Click here to learn more.

Rutherford Town Rising Angel Fund

Rutherford Town Rising (RTR) is developing a fund to provide critical assistance to Rutherfordton businesses that have been hit hard by the effects of COVID-19. Our downtown businesses are being crushed, either closing completely or having to pare down drastically just to keep open.  

Beyond the current crisis, this fund will be used to support the future critical needs of Rutherfordton businesses individually or as a group.

This program will provide funding of up to $3,000 to cover rent, utilities and other critical operating expenses for local businesses in need. The first $1,000 is considered a grant, the remaining funds up to $3,000 will be an interest-free 24-month loan from RTR.

To learn more about the RTR Angel Fund and to apply, click here. If you have the resources to become an Angel and want more information or to give to this Fund and help local business click here.

Business for All Grants

Apply for grants up to $50,000 to support business growth, including $10,000 emergency COVID-19 Business for All Grants to help small businesses in crisis. Click here to learn more and apply.

General Small Business Loans

Information on the CARES Act

Small Business Administration Resources

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in modified and additional SBA resources to help our small businesses, small aquacultural businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and/or most private nonprofit organizations.

SBA Resources for Counseling and Training

The following SBA backed organizations provide assistance to small businesses in the state; email and phone counseling are available.

Resources for Small Businesses

COVID-19 Essential Businesses

Under Executive Order 121, issued by Governor Roy Cooper on March 27, 2020:

Businesses excluded from the list of COVID-19 Essential Businesses and Operations set forth in this Executive Order who believe that they may be essential may direct requests to be included to the North Carolina Department of Revenue (the “Department”). The Department may grant such request if it determines that it is in the best interest of the State to have the business continue operations in order to properly respond to this COVID-19 pandemic. The Department shall post on its website a point of contact and procedure for businesses seeking to be designated as essential. A business that has made a request to the Department to be included as a COVID-19 Essential Business or Operation may continue to operate until that request is acted upon.

Businesses designated as Essential Business and Operation are listed in the Executive Order.

Request to be Considered an Essential Business 

If your business is not listed among essential businesses that can remain open, you may submit a request to be considered an essential business. Click here to submit a request.

Upon submission, you will receive an email acknowledgement. Per the Executive Order, a business that has made a request to the Department to be included as a COVID-19 Essential Business or Operation may continue to operate until that request is acted upon.

While the web form is the preferred method, you may also submit the request by email if you are unable to use the web form.

While the web form is the preferred method, you may also submit the request by email if you are unable to use the web form.

Essential.Exemption@ncdor.gov  

You must include this information in your email: 

  • Legal Name 
  • Doing Business As (D/B/A, if applicable) 
  • Sales and Use Tax Registration Number (if applicable) 
  • Address
  • Name of Contact Person
  • Email Address 
  • Phone Number 
  • Website 
  • Description of Business
  • Justification: Please provide a brief explanation of why your business should be designated as essential. 

All information submitted is subject to North Carolina public records laws.

Medical Product Production

If you know of a business that is interested in pivoting production to a needed medical product, please refer them to Matt Kemnitz (contact information below) from North Carolina Emergency Management. Matt is working with NC State University on a process for technical assistance for these companies.

Matt Kemnitz
AD – Administration
North Carolina Emergency Management
matthew.kemnitz@ncdps.gov

Pivoting Your Company to Produce Medical PPE

For Textile Companies

This week the Carolina Textile District (CTD) announced a major initiative to assist in the production of medical PPE.  A textile company that would like to produce PPE can utilize the resource below to be put in touch with the Carolina Textile District to produce the needed PPE.  The CTD has purchased FDA approved material and can distribute the material to manufacturers that are willing to help.  The CTD is also collecting data from hospitals and medical providers as to their needs.

Click here to learn more and click on “We will help produce PPE.”

For Non-Textile Companies

NC State University and IES is compiling data on companies that can produce medical PPE.  For companies that would like to begin producing PPE or already producing PPE please click here.

NC Emergency Management Essential Industry List Guidance

NC Emergency Management has a process to vet businesses and allow them the ability to move employees IF an emergency or shelter in place order should be put into place. The steps for a business to follow are:

  • Email beoc@ncdps.gov
  • In the email, provide the following:
    • Business name
    • Point of Contact including:
      • Name
      • Email
      • Phone number
      • Address
    • Nature of their business and why they are critical to continue operations
    • Business website

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