COVID-19 Pandemic Resources for Employers and Employees

December 23, 2020

In light of recent events, we are gathering information for our businesses, community leaders, job seekers, and the public about what resources are available during this historic moment.

We are aware of the need to communicate resources to those who are struggling or simply in search of answers.

We hope you will find the information provided helpful.

  •  Please click on the links for the Cares Resources and SBA to find out what program you are eligible for. Also be in touch with your bank on how they are handling the new programs that are coming out.

Small Business Development Center at UW-Superior Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/uwsuperiorsbdc/

Paycheck Protection Program

NOTICE: Congress approved additional funding for PPP Dec. 21 to run through March 31, 2021, as part of a new COVID-19 relief bill.

The House Committee on Small Business posted a fact sheet and a section-by-section summary. 
The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship posted a summary. 
And the House Ways & Means Committee posted a summary of the bill, with wider tax-related information.
The Paycheck Protection Program is an SBA 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.
If you don’t have a business loan, you can reach out to your current bank for a referral. If you have a loan but your lender is not a PPP lender, contact us if you’d like assistance in getting connected or check our Paycheck Protection Program FAQs. You also can review the approved lenders by state and use the Lender Match Tool.

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PPP FORGIVENESS APPLICATION

PPP Forgiveness Application

New *** 2 methods in which you can process the PPP Forgiveness Application:

EZ Loan Forgiveness Application

  • Are self-employed with no employees; OR
  • Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the hours of their employees; OR
  • Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to COVID-19 and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%

PPP EZ Loan Forgiveness Application

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PPP FULL FORGIVENESS APPLICATION

PPP Full Forgiveness Application

  • Condensed application to make it simpler to complete.
  • For those that want to keep on the eight week schedule – keep processing the same forms and utilizing the same formulas. Connect with your local financial institutions to see what their process will be.
  • SBA will hold webinars soon to review. The SBDC will also hold regional webinars to work with businesses directly.
  • SBA PPP Full Forgiveness Application

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PPP LOAN DATA RELEASED

PPP Loan Data Released

  • Monday’s release had loan-level data, including business names, addresses, NAICS codes, zip codes, business type, demographic data, non-profit information, name of lender, jobs supported, and loan amount ranges as follows:
    • $150,000-350,000
    • $350,000-1 million
    • $1 – 2 million
    • $2-5 million
    • $5-10 million
  • These categories account for nearly 75 percent of the loan dollars approved. For all loans below $150,000, SBA is releasing all of the above information except for business names and addresses.

Downloadable Guidelines on How to Reopen my Business Sorted by Business Type:

https://wedc.org/reopen-guidelines/

Marketing Your Business Re-Opening:  REACHING CUSTOMERS

 

WEDC adds protective equipment makers to Wisconsin Supplier Network website.
Read about it here: wisconsin-supplier-network-website

Find suppliers here: Equipment Suppliers

 

 

Wisconsin Restaurant Initiative
Restaurant Re-Opening Webinar & Pdf presentation: Restaurant Re-Opening Webinar

 

 

 

An EXCELLENT webinar on Employment Discrimination in the Post COVID Era. Presented by the Wisconsin Workforce Development Association’s Talent Development Council. Learn from a panel of experts about what employers need to know as it relates to what they can ask and what they are required to share and do, about exposure to the Coronavirus.  Employment Discrimination in the post COVID-19 era

 

 

U.S. Department of Labor/Wage and Hour Division

“Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions & Answers  READ MORE: Questions & Answers

 

What Businesses Need to be Doing Regardless of any Government Assistance…Tips for Business

 

Free Webinar Series
A series of FUN ways you can learn and improve your social media presence as a retailer, restaurant or other customer-driven business.
http://www.nwwib.com/webinars

 

    Updated information on Wisconsin unemployment and how the federal funds will be implemented. CARES Act (a.k.a. Federal Stimulus Bill). READ MORE: Federal Stimulus

 

Check out Discover Mediaworks while at home by viewing the best of Wisconsin and Outdoor learning resources. Go to: Discover Media Works

 

COVID-19 Business Resources

This following web page is designed to provide the latest, best information to our clients and the citizens of Wisconsin on resources aimed at maintaining the vitality of the companies upon which our economy depends.

WEDC Business Resources

CROWE Data Briefs are short, regular reports meant to highlight timely and important topics. Data briefs bring economic and policy discussions down to the personal level, showing how economic issues affect individuals and communities.
READ MORE: https://crowe.wisc.edu/data-briefs/

 

In working with WEDC, UW-Oshkosh Center for Customized Research & Services, Visions Northwest Regional Economic Development, and our organization, we ask you to take the survey linked below by April 6th. Results will be available at the county, region, and state levels and will be used by the state to measure economic losses caused by COVID-19 and will assist in future recovery efforts.

 
You will note that this survey tool is dated and stamped with Observation Period #1. After your survey completion, you will get a second survey stamped Observation Period #2 the week of May 3rd directly from UW-Oshkosh Center for Customized Research & Services, in which the questions may be altered slightly. At this time, it is the intention that there will be at least four separate observation period surveys – with the last one at the tail-end of the pandemic.
 
We realize with an overlap of membership, you may get the survey link from more than one organization. You only need to complete this survey once per observation period. Thank you for your assistance in providing this important information.
Take the survey: SURVEY

 

The staff at the NWWIB are aware of the need to communicate resources to those who are struggling or simply in search of answers. On our website, we have compiled a list of resources.

For Businesses: NWWIB Resources for businesses
For Employees: NWWIB Resources for employees
If you are looking for information on unemployment insurance see the links above.

 

 

Tips & Hacks for Working Remotely
see more: Working Remotely

WI Department of Revenue announces immediate help for small businesses on sales taxes and other steps to help taxpayers in response to COVID-19.

READ MORE: WI Dept. of Revenue help

 

WORKERS NEEDED by Employers Providing Essential Services. 
Read more: Workers Needed for Essential Services

      Keep up with the latest on COVID-19 on their web page: Iron County Health Dept.

 

  FREE WEBINARS

WITC’s webinars are a free, no pressure option to explore different career fields or gain insight and grow in your current field. To learn more visit:    WITC.EDU

 

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