Relief Resources for Small Businesses, Individuals & Nonprofits
ACEnet To Remain Open

ACEnet facilities, including the Food Ventures Center in Athens & the Food & Farm Enterprise Center in Nelsonville are and will remain open until further notice. ACEnet staff is available (remotely) for our various business counseling services. Please email your needs to LeslieS@acenetworks.org and you will be connected with a staff member who can assist you.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program 
for Businesses & Nonprofits

Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, and Ohio Development Services Agency Director Lydia Mihalik today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has qualified the State of Ohio for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. (This program is also available to small businesses in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, North & South Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania.)

As a result, Ohio businesses and non-profits economically impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19 may now apply for a low-interest loan of up to $2 million to help pay for fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can't be paid because of the disaster's impact. You can apply here: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ (recommended),
or by calling 1-800-659-2955 to have an application mailed to you.

To expedite the application process, applicants should have ready complete copies of their most recent federal income tax return and a completed and signed IRS Form 4506T, which authorizes the release of tax information. Additional information to have available would be a schedule of liabilities, personal financial statement, monthly sales figures, a current year-to-date profit-and-loss statement, and a year-end profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet for that tax year if the most recent federal income tax return has not been filed.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program

Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants & ad credits to up to 30,000 small businesses to help during this trying time. More details will be released as they become available. 

For more information on this resource:  facebook.com/business/boost/grants
Local Relief Efforts

Rural Action, a 501c3 non-profit, has agreed to be the home for an emergency response fund to be used by local businesses, farmers and community-based organizations in Athens County to address the immediate impacts of this region's coronavirus outbreak, as well as the impacts of mandated closures of local and state institutions.

A committee of individuals from several local organizations and non-profits will make funding decisions. Rural Action will not make those decisions independently, but will be able to accept tax-deductible donations earmarked for this purpose. The committee will proactively identify potential grant recipients, solicit guidance on potential recipients from community advisors, and recommend final awards.

For more information, COVID-19 Athens County Response Fund
Covid-19 & Food Service Businesses

To all restaurants & food service operators still in operation:  ServSafe and the National Restaurant Association have recorded a webinar regarding appropriate response measures to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Topics include: 
  • The latest developments related to the Coronavirus.
  • How to prepare restaurants for virus prevention.
  • Answers to the Frequently Asked Questions from the industry.
Feel free to pass along to other restaurant and food-service operators in our community and beyond. You can view this webinar here: https://tinyurl.com/Coronavirus-and-Food-Service
Communications & Information Sharing Solutions for Staff Working Remotely

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in the communities where we live and serve, organizations are encouraging their staff to work remotely if possible. While a planned transition to a remote workforce would typically be staged over time, one may need to be implemented quickly in this scenario. Because the current situation is changing so rapidly, the resources TechSoup is providing (most of which are FREE) are options that can be implemented relatively quickly, with little to no external IT support needed to do so and with a focus on remote communications and information sharing solutions. https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/nonprofit-resources-for-remote-work-during-the-covid-19-outbreak
Coronavirus and Unemployment Insurance Benefits

An executive order issued by Governor DeWine expands flexibility for Ohioans to receive unemployment benefits during Ohio's emergency declaration period. Unemployment benefits will be available for eligible individuals who are requested by a medical professional, local health authority, or employer to be isolated or quarantined as a consequence of COVID-19, even if they are not actually diagnosed with COVID-19. In addition, the waiting period for eligible Ohioans to receive unemployment benefits will be waived. For more information & to apply for unemployment benefits: http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/CoronavirusAndUI.stm
Liquor Buyback Program for Bars/Restaurants

If you own a bar and/or restaurant and you stocked your business with alcohol for St. Patrick's Day celebrations and NCAA basketball tournament games, you can reach out to the Liquor Enterprise Service Center at 1-877-812-0013 or e-mail OhioLiquorInfo@com.ohio.gov for information on a one time liquor buyback.
Need A Licensed Facility for Processing Meat or Veggies?

Well you're in luck! ACEnet's Food & Farm Enterprise Center in Nelsonville is open for business! Process your meats and/or your veggies for retail, wholesale, etc. in adjacent rooms and take advantage of ACEnet's packaging and labeling space! Contact ACEnet's Food Ventures Coordinator, Adam Kody, for more info! AdamK@acenetworks.org or 740-249-1125
ACEnet's Meat Processing Room
ACEnet Has Available Space!

Are you looking for office space or warehouse space? An entire office building to have to yourself? ACEnet has some openings in both Athens and Nelsonville! For more info & to take virtual tours of our spaces, please visit our website here:
 https://acenetworks.org/available-rental-space/ or click the picture below.

Contact: Larry Fisher - (740) 249-1134 or  LarryF@acenetworks.org
So You Want to Start a Business?

  
The first step is creating a business plan. You can download our free business plan template from our website's home page!

Did You Know?

Did you know that Kroger has a community rewards program much like Amazon Smile? If you sign up for Kroger Community Rewards & designate ACEnet as your nonprofit of choice they'll donate a percentage of the money you spend on groceries to us!

You may need to renew your choice if it's been a while. Go to Kroger Community Rewards and search for ACE NET (needs to have the space), after you choose us, Kroger donates to us every time you shop!
  S upport ACEnet!
Your tax-deductible contribution helps ACEnet expand economic opportunities in the Appalachian Ohio Region! Thank you for your continued interest in and support of what we do here at ACEnet!
Sincerely,
h
Meggan Loveland
Appalachian Center for Economic Networks
94 Columbus Rd,  Athens, OH 45701 
(740) 592-3854
94 Columbus Rd, Athens, OH 45701 
740-592-3854