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Business Community Resources
In an effort to put together information that is beneficial to all of our local businesses, the following list has been compiled by your local Economic Development Offices, Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Development Offices and Small Business Center. During this time of what seems like constant change and definite uncertainty, it is important that the business community be equipped with information and knowledge to weather the days ahead. It is our hope that the information provided below will do just that.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) created several materials [ncdhhs.gov] to help businesses navigate Phase 1, including:
- NCDHHS Checklist for Business Owners
- Interim Guidance for Owners, Staff, and Patrons of Businesses
- Symptom Screening Checklist
- Templates to Meet Required Signage
Click here for those resources.
FAQs Executive Order 138 - Phase 1
Previous orders:
Executive Order 120 from Governor Roy Cooper (March 23, 2020)
Executive Order 121 from Governor Roy Cooper (March 27, 2020)
NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences Notice of Essential Food and Agriculture Employee
Message from the US Small Business Administration: We know you are facing challenging times in this current health crisis. The U.S. Small Business Administration is committed to help bring relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations suffering because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the CARES Act, which provided additional assistance for small business owners and non-profits, including the opportunity to get up to a $10,000 Advance on an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).
- To qualify for the Advance on your EIDL, visit www.SBA.gov/Disaster to fill out a new, streamlined application
- The Advance may be available even if your EIDL application was declined or is still pending, and will be forgiven
To apply for the Advance, you need to submit a new application even if you previously submitted an EIDL application. Applying for the Advance will not impact the status or slow your existing application.
Kerr Tar Council of Governments Loan Programs:
Information on SBA Disaster Assistance:
SBA Press Release 03/18/2020 (English) SBA Communicado de Prensa 03/18/2020 (Spanish)
SBA Fact Sheet on Economic Injury Disaster Loans
Information on Golden Leaf Rapid Recover Loan Program:
Press Release from Golden Leaf on Rapid Recovery Loan Program for Small Businesses
NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery for Small Businesses
Ideas to keep your business strong through Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis
Let the community know the status of your business and how you are doing business during this time. Email your post link, or graphic with post copy to your local Chamber, EDC, DDC and the SBC so that they can post to their pages or email it to others.
Ideas to help increase certainty in your business during uncertain times:
· Communicate with your customers - Call, email, social media posts to let them know of status and how you are doing business during this time. Ask them to share this with others.
· Consider ideas such as: call-ahead (or online order, or via email) Pick Up services, delivery, take out, gift cards, encourage customers to reschedule instead of cancel, pre-payment of future services (deposit, subscription, membership), online orders, virtual services (consulting, training, problem solving), etc.
- Brainstorm and collaborate with fellow small business owners to help each other with ideas and to each other’s increase visibility.
- Focus on purchasing local produce/meats to sustain local farmers and help with social distancing.
For Customers:
- Buy now to enjoy later. Much like produce, you can also get carry-out meals to enjoy in the comfort of your home, whether you eat it while it’s still hot or freeze it for later.
- Consider delivery from local stores where available.
- Buy gift cards. Purchasing a gift card to use at another time helps local businesses, as well by putting cash in their hands to use now.
- Load up on entertainment on your devices and pull out the old board games to help distract your family and escape for a while.
ARTICLES & Informative Links:
Coronavirus: 8 Things Your Small Business Needs to Do
US Small Business Administration - Guidance/Loan Information
We are waiting for word about NC receiving assistance as necessary activation is requested by Governor Cooper regarding the Disaster Assistance Loans.
SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov(link sends e-mail)
North Carolina websites:
NCDHHS, NC Div. of Employment Sec., Gov. Cooper on Twitter
Kerr Tar Council of Governments Loan Programs
Small Business Center:
Your local SBC is hoping to be back in the classroom soon. In the meantime, please feel free to take advantage of webinars across our network, across the state.
Click to see schedule of upcoming webinars
Click for Electronic Request for One-on-one counseling via phone or email
WEBINAR Wed 3/25 2-3:30 p.m. Preparing Your Business for the Threat of the Coronavirus
Thread Capital (NC Rural Center) – contact 919-212-4943. Jonathan Brereton, Executive Director; Email: connect@threadcap.org; Website: https://www.threadcap.org/; Thread Capital was launched in 2018 by the NC Rural Center and continues to be an operating subsidiary of the Center to handle business loans.
Carolina Small Business Development Fund (formerly The Support Center) – (919) 803-1437; Website: https://carolinasmallbusiness.org/; Loan Products: https://carolinasmallbusiness.org/loans/loan-products/
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE - As an employer you 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, a farmer, or a commercial fisherman, who is unemployed as a direct result of the disaster may be eligible. For more information go to https://des.nc.gov/; Phone: 888-737-0259.
Your local Economic Development Offices, Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Development Offices and Small Business Centers are here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to these organizations with questions or concerns.