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.

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  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). This Advance may be available even if your EIDL application was declined or is still pending, and will be forgiven.

If you wish to apply for the Advance on your EIDL, please visit SBA.gov/Disaster as soon as possible to fill out a new, streamlined application. In order to qualify for the Advance, you need to submit this new application even if you previously submitted an EIDL application. Applying for the Advance will not impact the status or slow your existing application.

Also, we encourage you to subscribe to our email updates via: SBA.gov/Updates and follow us on Twitter at @SBAgov for the latest news on available SBA resources and services. If you need additional assistance, you can find your local SBA office and resource partners at: SBA.gov/LocalAssistance. If you have questions, you may also call 1-800-659-2955.

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** PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE
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From: “Tori Emerson Barnes, U.S. Travel Association”
Date: Mon, March 30, 2020 8:28 pm

After last week’s passage of the CARES Act, we know that many of you have questions about what aid you qualify for and how you can apply for it. I wanted to share several U.S. Travel resources that may be able to help provide some answers and make sure our industry is getting the assistance it needs. It is important to know that the guidelines have not been completed yet but should be soon.

CARES ACT WEBINAR

U.S. Travel hosted a webinar earlier today to walk our members through the provisions of the CARES Act for which travel industry companies are eligible. Please see helpful resources below — all of which are also available on our CARES Act resources page: CARES Act Resource Page — to ensure as many travel companies as possible are equipped to take advantage of the assistance available and provide guidance on HOW TO NAVIGATE THE RECENTLY PASSED RELIEF PACKAGE. Our resources page also includes other official resources from the Small Business Administration, House Small Business Committee, U.S. Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security, among other materials.

* View full slide deck outline CARES Act provisions and eligibility (PowerPoint available upon request)
* View an FAQ that answers many of your questions from today. We will continue to add to this page, which will be available with other resources.
* For the full recording with slides and audio, click below.

WEBINAR RECORDING:  Webinar

In the webinar, U.S. Travel’s government relations team shared detailed information about the following CARES Act provisions, INCLUDING WHO IS ELIGIBLE, WHAT KIND OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED AND HOW COMPANIES CAN APPLY, as well as any outstanding questions or direction still to come from the administration:

* Emergency Stabilization Fund
* SBA Coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loans
* SBA Business Interruption Loans (Paycheck Protection Program)
* SBA Express Loans
* Debt Relief for Small Businesses
* Tax Relief
* Federal Grants for Airports & Community Development Block Grants

OTHER CARES ACT RESOURCES

U.S. Travel’s CARES Act resources page has a host of other resources as well, most notably a Guide to CARES Act Eligibility that can walk you through exactly what your organization is eligible for:  Eligibility Guide

Please stay healthy,
Tori Emerson Barnes
Executive Vice President, Public Affairs and Policy
U.S. Travel Association
ustravel.org

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 Coronavirus Small Business Guide by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: COVID-19 Small Business Guide

 

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The SBA loan program is the main source of assistance at this time. There are several informational pages listed here. There is also a good cheat sheet to get you started. Just remember the web site for SBA gets bogged down and can take some time. I have had some tell me to go on after 10pm and you can navigate much easier. I would also recommend registering for one of the webinars before you get started. They are daily at 10am and 2pm and the links are on this page.

There are other programs that will be coming up like the Bridge Express loan program. We will have information on this as it becomes available. The state of Wisconsin is also developing other programs.

SBA EIDL Cheat Sheet

Tips from the Wisconsin Bankers Association

On a call with the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, the Bankers Association recommended businesses should get in contact with their banks and develop a plan. They suggest you should plan for 3 to 6 months out. There could be workout strategies, deferrals, interest only and new loans that could help out during this time. You should also assemble required documentation (see the cheat sheet above). Be careful on drawing on a line of credit and have patience as banks and the SBA will be overloaded and have delays.

Kiva US Small Business Loans
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiva US is offering small business loans. To see if you qualify visit their web site: https://www.kiva.org/borrow

PAID LEAVE

Attention Members!

As an attempt to promote small business and our community during this uncertain time, the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce has developed an online store. Each business will have the opportunity to sell gift cards/certificates on our website. The Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce will do most of the legwork. All we ask of you is to supply us with your gift cards/certificates ($20 value) as orders are placed. We will do a weekly report of how many we need from you, have you deliver or mail them to the chamber, and we’ll take care of the rest. We will mail all of them out and then distribute the funds to the respective business. Payments can be made either by check or PayPal, with the fees being covered.

This is not profiting the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce in any way. This is one of the ways we are hoping to show our support and loyalty to all of you, as you are the heart of this community.

Please see the following link for the online store:
https://mercercc.com/shop/