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COVID-19 Key Resources
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The UMA’s Center for Business and Continuous Improvement is gathering information to help Utah manufacturers deal with the latest COVID-19 related information. UMA’s Center exists to directly help Utah manufacturing companies enhance their competitiveness, productivity, and performance.

If you have any questions you would like addressed in future updates, or feedback about this information, please contact the UMA Center Director, Ryan Mecham at ryanm@umaweb.org .
SBA and PPP Updates from Sen. Mike Lee’s Office

As of today, businesses can reach out to their SBA qualified lenders and apply for the Paycheck Protection Program Loans. As a reminder, eligible businesses may apply for loans that are 2.5 times a businesses’ average monthly payroll from 2019 or $10 million, whichever is less. This program is designed to be a direct incentive for businesses to keep their employees on payroll. These loans will be administered by the banks and guaranteed by the SBA. There have been a few issues going on with some banks issuing these loans today, however, from my understanding, most of these issues have been worked out so I encourage you reach out to your bank as quickly as possible. This link from the Department of Treasury explains this program further. 


*Beware of scams that are currently going on. These loans do not have any borrower or lender fees. If you, or a business you represent, are contacted by individuals saying that “for a small fee” or “a small percentage” we can help you get this loan (or something along these lines) the SBA is asking that you reach out to them and make them aware.
National Coronavirus Response: A Road Map to Reopening by American Enterprise Institute

Key Points
  1. This report provides a road map for navigating through the current COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. It outlines specific directions for adapting our public-health approach away from sweeping mitigation strategies as we limit the epidemic spread of COVID-19, such that we can transition to new tools and approaches to prevent further spread of the disease.
  2. The authors outline the steps that can be taken as epidemic transmission is brought under control in different regions. They also suggest measurable milestones for identifying when we can make these transitions and start reopening America for businesses and families.
  3. In each phase, the authors outline the steps that the federal government, working with the states and public-health and health care partners, should take to inform the response. This will take time, but planning for each phase should begin now so the infrastructure is in place when it is time to transition.


This report provides a road map for navigating through the current COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. It outlines specific directions for adapting our public-health strategy as we limit the epidemic spread of COVID-19 and are able to transition to new tools and approaches to prevent further spread of the disease. We outline the steps that can be taken as epidemic transmission is brought under control in different regions. These steps can transition to tools and approaches that target those with infection rather than mitigation tactics that target entire populations in regions where transmission is widespread and not controlled. We suggest measurable milestones for identifying when we can make these transitions and start reopening America for businesses and families.

In each phase, we outline the steps that the federal government, working with the states and public-health and health care partners, should take to inform the response. This will take time, but planning for each phase should begin now so the infrastructure is in place when it is time to transition.

The specific milestones and markers included in the report for transitioning our responses are judgments based on our current understanding, with the goal of facilitating an effective path forward. The epidemic is evolving rapidly, and our understanding of best responses will evolve as well. The broad set of tasks described here requires and will receive high-level, ongoing attention, and it should be updated and refined as additional evidence, context, and insights about the epidemic become available.

To gradually move away from a reliance on physical distancing as our primary tool for controlling future spread, we need:
  • Better data to identify areas of spread and the rate of exposure and immunity in the population;
  • Improvements in state and local health care system capabilities, public-health infrastructure for early outbreak identification, case containment, and adequate medical supplies; and
  • Therapeutic, prophylactic, and preventive treatments and better-informed medical interventions that give us the tools to protect the most vulnerable people and help rescue those who may become very sick.

Our stepwise approach depends on our ability to aggregate and analyze data in real time. To strengthen our public-health surveillance system to account for the unprecedented spread of COVID-19, we need to harness the power of technology and drive additional resources to our state and local public-health departments, which are on the front lines of case identification and contact tracing. Finally, we must expand our investments in pharmaceutical research and development into COVID-19 and promote the rapid deployment of effective diagnostics, therapies, and eventually a vaccine.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Publishes “Coronavirus Emergency Loan: 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 (PPP), 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 has released initial guidelines; they are available at www.treasury.gov. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued this guide to help small businesses and self-employed individuals check eligibility and prepare to file for a loan. 

Small businesses and sole proprietors can begin applying on April 3. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply beginning on April 10.

Addressing the Critical Health Care Supply Shortage Related to COVID-19.

Business Roundtable and the NAM are calling on business and manufacturers to join us—to identify medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and test kits, and production capabilities to save lives and address this pandemic. The data, which we will continue sharing with the federal government and key agencies, will help us locate new sources of existing supplies as well as where new manufacturing capacity can be tapped to address shortages nationwide.

Find the survey here

Some of the questions they will ask include: 
  • What inventory do you have that you would consider making available to health care workers? (It lists PPE, diagnostics and testing, Disinfection consumables, Home equipment, Drugs and medical consumables, and Medical equipment.)
  • Which items do you currently manufacture? (It lists PPE, diagnostics and testing, Disinfection consumables, Home equipment, Drugs and medical consumables, and Medical equipment.)
  • What are the barriers / obstacles you face to significantly increase your production output of the items listed above? 
  • For which of the items listed above could you reconfigure operations to produce in the coming medium term (10 to 90 days).  
If you would like to learn how UMA's Center can help you, please contact
Ryan Mecham, Director of UMA's Center for Business and Continuous Improvement, at ryanm@umaweb.org or 801-557-9105.

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