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.

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.
  
  
• 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..
  

• Small Business Administration (SBA) Express Bridge Loans: Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
  
  
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Debt Relief: The SBA is providing a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SBA EIDL & Emergency Advance Video

• Video Slides
• SBA – Large Businesses Table of Size Standards
• SBA – FAQ Faith-Based Organizations
• EIDL & Emergency Advance Application

Tips for Applying for EIDL and PPP

• Click here for an overview and comparison guide for SBA Emergency Loans (EIDL and PPP)
• US Chamber of Commerce – Coronavirus Small Business Guide
• Mountain BizWorks Recorded Webinar – Navigating COVID-19 Financial Resources

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

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.

General Small Business Loans

• Thread Capital (NC Rural Center)
  • Telephone (919) 212-4950
  • Email: connect@threadcap.org
    
• Mountain BizWorks
  • Telephone: (828) 253-2834
    
• Small Business Administration
  
• Self-Help Credit Union
  • Telephone: (800) 476-7428
    
• Carolina Small Business Development Fund
  • Telephone: (919) 803-1437
    
• North Carolina Community Development Initiative
  • Telephone: (919) 828-5655

Information on the CARES Act

• CARES ACT – Appropriations Highlights
• CARES Act – Tax Relief for Individuals and Businesses
• COVID-19 and Direct Payments to Individuals: Summary of the 2020 Recovery Rebates in the CARES Act
• Committee on Education and Labor – CARES Act Education and Labor Provisions
• Small Business Committee – CARES Act
• Topline Points on CARES Act
• Summary of CARES Act – Energy and Commerce
• Key Financial Services Provisions in the CARES Act
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure – Highlights of CARES Act
• CARES Act – FAQ
• Fact Sheet – Department of Defense and the CARES Act
• CARES Act – State Department Provisions
• CARES Act – Unemployment Insurance Provisions

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.

• Small Business and Technology and Development Center (SBTDC)
• SCORE
• Women’s Business Centers: Asheville area Charlotte area

Resources for Small Businesses

• The SBA Administrator, Jovita Carranza, announced automatic deferments through December 31, 2020 for borrowers still paying back SBA loans from previous disasters. For more information, please click here.
• For information on supply chain resources, funding resources, counseling, and government resources: EDPNC Business Relief Resources
• NC Commerce Employer Resource Guide
• WARN Notice – For businesses that may be looking at layoffs or closing, click here for information on how/when to file a WARN notice
• Unemployment Insurance – For the most recent information, please click here.
• COVID-19 Main Street Resources
• Fair Labor Standards Act Resources
• Manufactured NC – Resources for supply chain disruptions
• Business Edge counseling services, including layoff aversion strategies
• North Carolina Business Relief Resources
• OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
• NC Emergency Management – Resources for recovery and emergency preparedness
• NC Department of Agriculture – Disaster planning for farms and agribusinesses
• Business Link NC – If your business wants to be informed of future resources available for small businesses, please call 800.228.8449 to register your interest.
• USDA Rural Development – COVID-19 Resources page
• Yelp is providing $25 million in free advertising, products, and services to independent restaurant and nightlife businesses.

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.

Supply Connector

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