Business Resources
The Greater Waynesboro of Commerce is dedicated to helping our businesses navigate the coronavirus pandemic. We recognize the absolute disruption to our many members – small and large – and are committed to doing what we can to help you identify resources to help.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Releases Guide to Help Tens of Millions of Independent Contractors Secure CARES Act Funding
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today released a new guide to help independent contractors and self-employed individuals secure funding under the CARES Act.
The guide, which was prepared after the Small Business Administration provided new guidance on Tuesday, is intended to assist millions of independent contractors including accountants, construction workers, musicians, real-estate agents, freelance writers, and gig workers. The guide provides step-by-step assistance to help individuals understand eligibility requirements, borrowing limits, and appropriate use of funds under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. It also outlines the steps required to apply for Unemployment Compensation under a special program created by the CARES Act.
The guide for independent contractors and self-employed individuals is available at uschamber.com/ICguide. The Spanish version of the guide can be found at uschamber.com/ICGuideESP
“No self-employed individual, independent contractor or their families should go bankrupt because of the economic fallout from the coronavirus,” said Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “This guide will help our nation’s independent contractors across a wide spectrum of industries secure the funding they need to support themselves and their families during this difficult time.”
23 Million Independent Contractors
According to IRS data from 2016, nearly 23 million Americans earn wages as independent contractors working either part or full-time. Of those 23 million independent contractors, less than 2 million (8.6%) earn wages as part of the on-demand economy.
To help illustrate the depth and breadth of the nation’s independent workforce, the Chamber has posted data visualizations on a state-by-state and industry basis. The interactive map shows both the number of independent contractors in each state and the number of independent contractors in each state that work through online or app-enabled platforms in addition to the top 20 industries for independent contractors.
Not surprisingly, the most populous states of California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois topped the list in terms of the most independent contractors per state, but it also showed that 13 states have more than 500,000 people working as independent contractors and 38 states have at least 100,000 independent workers.
Further, the dataset shows the top five independent contractor industries:
Professional, scientific, and technical services
Other services
Real estate, rental, and leasing
Health care and social assistance
Construction
“Twenty-three million American support themselves and their families through work as an independent contractor. Whether it is in construction or real-estate, delivery services or entertainment, or the hundreds of other independent contractor occupations, these individuals are a critical element of our economy. We are pleased that Congress included support for them in the CARES Act,” Bradley said.
Volunteer Fire Departments Eligible for Federal Loan Programs
Under the federal CARES Act, volunteer fire departments are eligible for two types of federal loans: Emergency Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Program loans.
For volunteer fire departments with IRC 501(c)(3) or IRC 501(c)(4) status, Emergency Injury Disaster Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other costs. If approved, EIDLs provide up to $2 million for working capital, have a 2.75% interest rate for non-profits, and can be repaid over 30 years.
Volunteer departments organized as a private non-profit [IRC 501(c)(3), IRC 501(c)(4) and IRC 501(c)(19)] that pay firefighters are also eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program. This loan is designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses and non-profits to keep their workers on the payroll. Loans are forgiven if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
The International Fire Chiefs Association has more information.
Turnpike Travelers No Longer Need to Stop at Tollbooths During Public Health Emergency
In order to limit person-to-person contact during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will no longer accept cash or credit cards at tollbooths. All tolls will be assessed electronically through the E-ZPass system or the Toll By Plate program.
During coronavirus mitigation, motorists will no longer stop at tollbooths. Instead, the Toll By Plate system will take a photo of the license plate of each vehicle that does not have E-ZPass and send the registered owner an invoice within 30 days.
More information about how the Toll By Plate system works is available at www.nocashzone.com.
New Online Tool Designed to Meet Growing Medical Supply Demands
A new web portal will help manufacturers and distributors meet the increased demand for medical products and supplies created by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The new Pennsylvania Manufacturing Call to Action Portal will help existing manufacturers produce COVID-19 related supplies and connect them with available distributors. The new resource will also assist other companies in retooling their operations to begin developing those supplies, and help businesses identify skilled workers that can fill workforce gaps and needs.
Manufacturers, distributors and other suppliers can inform the Department of Community and Economic Development of their critical supply chain capabilities, needs, workforce gaps and innovative opportunities through the portal here.
Senate Returns to Session This Week to Consider More COVID-19 Response Measures
The Senate is in session this week to consider a number of bills to aid in the state’s response to COVID-19. Session and all committee meetings will take place remotely and will be streamed live at www.PAsenateGOP.com. A full, gavel-to-gavel video will be available after the conclusion of each day’s legislative action.
Rapid Response Solutions: Building Your Business When You Can't Be In Your Business
This week features Mike Cermak from CermakTech, offering some tips for upping your social media game, using video conferencing software, and forwarding calls from your office.
Here are employers that are hiring immediately in our are!
Click here for the list, and check www.pacareerlink.pa.gov for the latest information!
Kaplan and Purdue University Global launched this week to support workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic
As the coronavirus pandemic affects all parts of our society and economy, many companies need to make the tough decision to furlough or lay off employees. For any business that finds itself in this situation, Kaplan and Purdue Global are offering affected employees free and reduced cost, educational resources. Below are the details and a link to the site where interested parties can obtain additional information.
Kaplan—a global leader of educational programs and services—is partnering with companies around the world to provide free college courses, professional training, and test prep programs to assist employees impacted by the coronavirus crisis.
Free resources include:
Online Courses – Employees can choose from 25 free for-credit courses offered by Purdue University Global in a range of subjects, including career and professional development, health and wellness, business and management, information technology, data literacy, and cybersecurity.
Industry Credentials – Kaplan Professional is also offering free online programs that lead to two financial industry-recognized credentials: Securities Industry Essentials (SIE), a new, introductory-level FINRA exam for prospective industry professionals, and Wealth Management Specialist (WMS), which offers individuals an overview of the most critical concepts in financial planning and wealth management.
Test Prep – Kaplan Test Prep is offering one month of free access to SAT® Prep On Demand, which provides a flexible, expert-led course, over 50 instructional videos, and more than 1,000 practice questions and quizzes throughout each lesson. Additional free seminars include an overview of the GED, HiSET, and TASC tests, how to apply for high school equivalency, and a guide for applying to graduate school for individuals thinking of earning an advanced degree. Kaplan Test Prep’s data science training unit, Metis, is offering a free corporate training series, Introduction to Python, and Kaplan’s iHuman Patients® unit is making a virtual simulation COVID-19 case study available for free for physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners in training.
We are committed to helping affected employees use this period when they are not working to acquire valuable skills for the workplace. Please share this link or visit Opportunity.Kaplan.com with affected employees so that they can learn more or sign up.
Constant Contact is offering Small Business Support Kits
The Small Business Support Kit is designed to help businesses understand options and strategies to endure the current environment while also planning for the future of your business.
State Business Loan Program Reaches Maximum; New Loan Program Created to Help Businesses
The COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program created by the Commonwealth Financing Authority last week has reached its maximum level of funding and will no longer accept new applications. However, a new federal program will offer loans that can be forgiven to help affected small businesses and self-employed individuals cover operating costs during the pandemic.
The new Paycheck Protection Program will offer loans to cover payroll costs, mortgage interest, rent and utility costs over an eight-week period. No more than 25 percent of the loan may cover anything other than payroll costs, and loan payments will be deferred for six months for any amount that is not forgiven. Businesses must maintain their number of staff and level of payroll and quickly rehire any recently displaced employees in order to qualify for loan forgiveness.
The program is open to small businesses, veterans organizations, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals and independent contractors, so long as each entity has 500 or fewer employees.
The application period for small businesses and sole proprietors will open on April 3. Self-employed individuals and contractors can apply starting on April 10. Applications are available here.
More details about the program are available here.
Friday, April 3 Deadline for Businesses to Apply for Waiver from Closure Order
The Wolf Administration has set a deadline of 5 p.m. Friday for Pennsylvania businesses to apply for a waiver from the governor’s closure order.
Gov. Wolf ordered all businesses not deemed life-sustaining to close their physical locations as of 8 p.m. on March 19 to slow the spread of COVID-19. My Senate colleagues and I have urged Governor Wolf to be more open and transparent about the decision-making process on these waivers.
Companies that believe they should be considered a life-sustaining-business can apply for a waiver here. Find answers to common waiver questions here.
April 2 Coronavirus Update from Rep. Paul Schemel
Pennsylvania received a “major disaster” declaration from the federal government this week, making the Commonwealth eligible for additional funding support for state, county and municipal governments and certain nonprofits.
Under the declaration, eligible entities can receive reimbursement for up to 75% of eligible expenses related to the response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Eligible expenses can include but are not limited to costs associated with paying overtime, or materials and equipment purchases. The declaration also provides direct federal assistance, which provides federal materials and supplies to support state and local response efforts.
According to administration officials, staff from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency will reach out to potential applicants to review the application process and necessary documentation. As the response period for the COVID-19 outbreak is continuing, the process will take weeks. All reimbursements are handled electronically.
You may find this FAQs document about “essential” businesses to be helpful.
Other key developments this week related to COVID-19 include the extension of school closures indefinitely, the expansion of stay-at-home orders to more counties and a new end-date of April 30 for those orders.
News about COVID-19 is constantly changing. For real-time updates, please follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RepSchemel. A comprehensive collection of resources, including the state Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is also available at www.RepSchemel.com/Coronavirus. While my district offices are currently closed to in-person service, we remain available to serve you by phone or internet. Please call 717-749-7384.
Notes About the Federal CARES Act
Last week, Congress approved and the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act into law. While this is a federal law, I wanted to share a few highlights:
Unemployment Compensation Update: Benefits for Self-Employed
Many people who are self-employed or working as private contractors are now eligible for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act. PLEASE NOTE: Claims for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program will be filed through the state Department of Labor and Industry; however, the application must be handled separately and is not yet available. As soon as the program is up and running, I will share information about how to apply. You should not file under the current system, as your claim will be rejected.
Economic Impact Checks
The majority of Americans will receive “economic impact” checks to help during these challenging times. Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment. For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds. Single filers with income exceeding $99,000 and $198,000 for joint filers with no children are not eligible. Most will need to take no action to receive the check. Please be aware of any scammers contacting you asking for Social Security or bank account information; do not provide such information. More guidance from the IRS available here.
Assistance for Employers, Small Business
To help small businesses keep their employees and stay open (or reopen), the federal CARES Act creates a “Paycheck Protection” program (PPP) to provide eight weeks of cash-flow assistance through 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses that maintain their payroll. The program is also available to nonprofits and veterans organizations. This loan is available to a variety of business and non-profit entities, but I particularly encourage businesses with employees to consider how the program can help you. In addition to the standard unemployment benefits, laid-off workers will be eligible to receive an additional $600 per week. Although this will be beneficial to laid-off workers, it may make it difficult for businesses to entice their employees back at such time as businesses are in a position to reopen. The PPP may be a more desirable option than laying employees off because it allows a business to keep its employees on the payroll rather than having to be concerned about re-hiring workers. Read more here.
SCAM WARNING
The Office of Attorney General is warning that scammers may try to take advantage of recent news about a federal stimulus check to steal personal information. You are advised not to take unsolicited calls that claim to be about the COVID-19 pandemic or the federal stimulus, and report suspicious emails and calls to the attorney general at scams@attorneygeneral.gov.
Small Business Administration
Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Loan Advance
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000.
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. The loan advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. Funds will be made available within three days of a successful application, and this loan advance will not have to be repaid.
From the Office of Congressman Joyce
As both a former small business owner and a Member of the House Small Business Committee, Congressman John Joyce understands firsthand the challenges that workers and small business owners are facing during this difficult and uncertain time. To help, Congress already has taken action to provide targeted, compassionate relief to these Pennsylvanians during the coronavirus outbreak.
Congressman Joyce is planning to host a conference call for PA-13 small business owners and local community leaders this Friday, April 3, at 1pm to outline the new Paycheck Protection Program and other assistance opportunities,. The details are listed below.
Call In: 877-229-8493; PIN: 119075
Please feel free to share the call-in information with others in the small business community. To RSVP for the call or for any questions, please email Pat Himes or Chad Reichard. As always, you also can reach Dr. Joyce’s office at (202) 225-2431.
From Forbes Magazine: Stimulus Check Guide
From the Small Business Administration with support from the Department of the Treasury: Paycheck Protection Program
From the Office of Congressman Joyce
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers
As provided under the legislation, the U.S. Department of Labor will be issuing implementing regulations. Additionally, as warranted, the Department will continue to provide compliance assistance to employers and employees on their responsibilities and rights under the FFCRA.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses.
Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward.
The administration soon will release more details including the list of lenders offering loans under the program. In the meantime, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued this guide to help small businesses and self-employed individuals prepare to file for a loan.
Guidance for Businesses and Employers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided interim guidance to help businesses and employers plan, prepare and respond to the Coronavirus.
Please click below for recommended strategies for employers at this time. The suggestions will be updated by the CDC as additional information becomes available.
Also available is the U.S. Chamber Foundation's "Resilience in a Box" virtual resource, which includes free information such as a Business Preparedness Checklist, the Top 20 Tips for Business Preparedness, and a Business Disaster Resilience 101 Workbook.
COVID-19 Unemployment Compensation
The state of Pennsylvania has created a Frequently Asked Questions page to address specific questions regarding unemployment. Please click below to view.
Unemployment Update from PA Department of Labor & Industry
Update from the PA Department of Labor & Industry on the Status of Claims processing:
If you opened your claim between March 15 and March 21: We are working quickly to mail a PIN to you so you can file for benefits starting Sunday, March 29, 2020. If you do not receive your PIN by Saturday, March 28, please remember that you may file any day through Friday, April 3, 2020. If you do not receive your PIN in time for you to file by April 3, we will make accommodations for filing and will update these instructions, accordingly.
If you opened your claim between March 22 and March 28: Your first day to file will be Sunday, April 5, 2020. We will update these instructions, accordingly, as we monitor our progress with mail processing.
For Everyone: Mailing PINs is a top priority, so you may have not received your financial determination yet. When you do receive your financial determination and if you detect an error, you may file an appeal at that time.
We are processing all documents as quickly as possible and appreciate your patience during this evolving situation.
The following are resources that provide helpful information you may need to navigate the current situation.
PEMA – Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has numerous resources that explain the outbreak of the coronavirus and how to best get your business prepared:
Overview of the virus along with links for what you should know, situation updates and other information.
Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Contact information: CDC: 800-232-4636 | cdc.gov
PA Department of Health
The PA Department of Health is providing up-to-date information and resources for Pennsylvanians on their website:
The website includes important information that you can share with your employees and also use for your organization.
PA Department of Health: 1.877.PA.Health | health.pa.gov
Resources:
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
The US Senate passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This bill provides, among other things, provisions to address Paid Sick Leave, Paid Family and Medical Leave, and Unemployment Insurance for workers displaced by the ongoing outbreak. Furthermore, it includes provisions to provide diagnostic testing for coronavirus, and bolsters Medicaid and nutrition programs for at risk populations.
SBA Disaster Assistance
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). More information is available below.
PIDA-COVID-19 Working Capital Access (CWCA) Program
The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) Board of Directors took action on March 23rd to make $61 Million available for working capital loans to small businesses across Pennsylvania. Small businesses are defined as for-profit businesses with fewer than 100 employees (WORLDWIDE) at the time of application. Restaurants and other businesses determined to be “most vulnerable” are primary targets of the program. Beyond restaurants, there is no definition of “most vulnerable.” While not specified in the guidelines, the interest rate will be 0% except for Ag Producers, which shall have a rate of 2%.
Loan applications will be available to small business that employ 100 or fewer full time employees, including businesses in the agricultural, service and hospitality sectors. The maximum loan amount will be $100,000 for working capital with a 0% interest rate, subject to the statutory requirement for the agriculture sector, and a term of 3 years.
All applications need to be submitted by and through a certified area loan organization, which in the case of Franklin County is the Franklin County Area Development Corporation (FCADC). Please be advised that the FCADC staff is working remotely, consequently there will likely be some logistical challenges associated with the loan packaging but they will be doing the absolute best that they can.
Loans will be approved on a first in/first approved basis so small businesses must act quickly to access this funding stream.
From PA Chamber Insurance
Disclaimer: Please remember the Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce is not a health official or government official. Our goal is to share information that is accurate and unbiased in a timely manner. Please seek additional information from the linked sources provided.
If you are sick, or feel sick, please contact your healthcare provider and follow their instructions.
For the most updated information, please review the following sources: