SMALL BUSINESS LOANS, PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
By: Miranda Jones, Executive Director
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Currently the entire world is in a state of uncertainty. Our small businesses owners are being inundated with information from the SBA with multiple types of loans. We have heard from many business owners on what their plan of action is with these SBA loans and the answers are across the board. Whether you have already applied, or do not know where to start, there are many resources available that you can use to formulate the best plan for your business moving forward.
The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. There are many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain nonprofits and other employers.
Struggling to get started? The following questions might help point you in the right direction.
Do you need:
• Capital to cover the cost of retaining employees?
Then the Paycheck Protection Program might be right for you.
CLICK HERE
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A quick infusion of a smaller amount of cash to cover you right now
?
You might want to look into an Emergency Economic Injury Grant.
CLICK HERE
• To ease your fears about keeping up with payments on your current or potential SBA loan?
The Small Business Debt Relief Program could help.
• Just some quality, free counseling to help you navigate this uncertain economic time?
The resource partners might be your best bet.
This guide provides information about the major programs and initiatives that are available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs. To keep up to date on when these programs become available, please stay in contact with your local Small Business Administration (SBA) District Office.
Download SBA Guide HERE
Remember, we are not the experts. Please contact your local lender and account to ask specific questions regarding your business’s needs. We can provide you with the resources you may need, do not hesitate to reach out. We are here with you and for you. We are Stronger Together!
The following links may help provide insight and valuable information:
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MARCH NEW CHAMBER MEMBER
- Vic Smith, Individual Membership, Galion, Ohio
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You are all invited to join us on a conference call with Senator Brown and the Small Business Administration (SBA) On
Thursday, April 9th at 9:30 AM
. Senator Sherrod Brown will be hosting a Conference Call with Gil Goldberg, District Director of the SBA's Cleveland District Office on resources available to Ohio businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would be an opportunity for you to get answers to your questions. The SBA director and staff will be able to get into great details.
Please use the link to register for the call:
You have to
RSVP
to gain access.
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We miss you! We miss our interaction and engagement with our community and our our members. Please join us on Wednesday, April 15th at 5:30pm for our first ever ZOOM Chamber After Hours "Distancing" Social. Click the link in the Facebook event to log on.
Join us in this Zoom meeting to catch up with others and to stay informed on local businesses.
Topic: Online Chamber After Hours Meeting
Time: Apr 15, 2020 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 451 880 571
Password: 333896
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For Chamber Chat - we will be "Staying at Home". Click on the ticket area and join us with ZOOM. We will have a "Virtual Chamber Chat" at 8am on Wednesday, May 6th.
Chamber Chat is a monthly networking event that is free and open to all. Each month we have a different topic, activity or speaker. Chamber Chat is a great chance to meet other decision makers in the area in a relaxed setting
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We have been directed by BWC to CANCEL our May 21 safety council meeting.
As with March and April, you will receive one (1) attendance meeting credit for May.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Take care and stay safe!!
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Avita Adds Telehealth To Keep Patients At Home and Safe:
BUCYRUS / GALION / ONTARIO – April 3, 2020 –
In an effort to protect patients, Avita Health System is now offering Telehealth video appointments to help keep patients in their homes and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The need for patients to see their medical providers for treatment not related to COVID-19 is continuous,” explains Jerry Morasko, President/CEO of Avita Health System. “Our patients still have existing and new health conditions that need treated and medications that need refilled.”
Telehealth offers virtual health services, including routine office visits, consultations, and treatment by medical providers. Appointments are conducted face-to-face using video technology from a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Avita is providing telehealth for many of its primary care and specialty clinics, pharmacy, walk-in clinics, medication management, and nutrition therapy. Patients are walked through the set up process by Avita’s team of experts and are provided simple instructions to ensure utilization by as many patients as possible.
Read Full Press Release
HERE
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Iron Vault Distillery Helps by Making Hand Sanitizer:
GALION — The owners of the Iron Vault Distillery have taken it upon themselves to help others during these uncertain times by making much needed hand sanitizer for people in the community.
John Bassett, one of the owners of the distillery at 134 Harding Way West, said they normally make vodka, gin, moonshine, white rum, aged rum, bourbon and a couple other specialty drinks. However, within the past two weeks they have also taken to making the difficult to find hand sanitizer.
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Emmanuel's Bread & CBP Enterprises to Host a Temporary Drive Thru Food Pantry:
Crestline, OH: Friends, we are excited to announce that we have partnered with CBP Enterprises in Crestline to host a temporary drive through food pantry to help those in need during these unprecedented times. Below are the details of the drive through pantry:
When:
Fridays (starting 4/10/20) - end date TBD
Time:
11AM - 2PM or until food runs out (whichever is sooner)
Where:
101 W. Bucyrus Street (pull around back door - across from Stats Sports Bar and wait in vehicle for volunteer to load your bag)
Details/Instructions:
All food will be placed directly in the cars by Emmanuel's Bread/CBP Enterprises and our volunteers. Drivers should not exit the vehicles under any circumstances to ensure we are keeping all volunteers and those picking up food safe. Each car will be provided one bag/box of food (regardless of family size) and registration is not needed. Cars may return every Friday for more food (no monthly limit). Unfortunately, due to food limits at all the stores, we are unable to accommodate specific food requests or dietary restrictions. If you are unable to use any of the items in your bag, please feel free to share them with someone else in need who is able to use them.
Note:
This is just a temporary pantry and we are doing it to supplement the increase in food necessity in the area. CAMP will also be reopening this coming Tuesday, April 7th. Individuals may visit both CAMP and the drive through pantry.
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Do you have an anniversary, new associate or employee, sign, or business update? Contact Joe or Miranda at the Chamber Office, 419-468-7737 or email
mjones@galion-crestlinechamber.org
so we can add your business to the Member Spotlight in our next Newsletter.
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Local United Way Community Relief Fund Provides Opportunity to Corporate Donors
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Support United Way of Crawford County's COVID-19 Response Efforts
United Way of Crawford County is mobilizing to make sure that local agencies providing safety net services have the resources they need to respond to the unique consequences of the COVID19 crisis. Non-profits providing emergency assistance, childcare resources, meal delivery & transportation for seniors, mental health counseling, and more are already strained, and we anticipate the need will grow in the coming weeks and months.
Please consider making a corporate donation to the UWNCO Community Relief Fund to help alleviate the immediate and long-term effects of the pandemic on our community and our residents.
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So far 50 million households have responded, and the self-response rate in Ohio is 37.6% (compared to 34.7% nationally). Let's see how our efforts can help to increase those numbers tomorrow! Remember that it has never been easier to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone, or by mail - all without having to meet a census taker.
I received a paper questionnaire in the mail. Can I still respond online?
Yes, you still have the option of responding online. Visit the online questionnaire to begin.
How do I correct a mistake on the online form?
If you feel you have made a mistake, you can return to the online questionnaire and resubmit your information--this means fill out an entirely new census questionnaire, you do not need an ID code. The Census Bureau has procedures in place to resolve duplicate submissions.
I did not receive anything in the mail. How do I respond?
You can still respond online to the 2020 Census even if you did not receive a letter or paper questionnaire. Go to
my2020census.gov
. Select the link that says, "If you do not have a Census ID, click here." It is located below the Census ID login field.
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The Community Foundation for Crawford County is offering funding for non-profit organizations that have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Other than a few grant requests, our Board has decided that this year we will be redirecting our normal grant monies towards alleviating impact from the COVID-19 crisis,” explained Lisa Workman, the Foundation’s President. “This will be our approach until further notice, as we know this event will be occurring in phases and will continue uncovering ongoing emerging needs.” She added that grant applications which had been submitted for the regular grant cycle have been paused indefinitely.
Non-profit organizations located in Crawford County are welcome to submit a grant application to receive relief from the COVID-19 crisis, and this may include funding needed for general operating revenue. Interested organizations should demonstrate that they have already sought funding from the federal government’s CARES Act. The application is brief and can be found at the Foundation’s website, cfcrawford.org.
With the Shelter in Place order affecting income for many Crawford Countians, the Foundation first addressed basic human needs by donating from their Emergency Fund to six local food pantries. Any food pantries in Crawford County needing assistance with food supplies are encouraged to call the Foundation at 419-562-3958.
In addition, the Foundation will be inviting the general public to support the COVID-19 relief with a fundraising effort in May. More information regarding this virtual event will be forthcoming.
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To better meet the increased need for services, we have expanded our call center hours. Individuals needing to reset their PIN or submit an application may call 1-877-OHIO-JOB (1-877-644-6562) toll-free during the following days and times:
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Those needing other assistance with their claims may call 1-877-OHIO-JOB (1-877-644-6562) toll-free during normal weekday business hours.
I know that you are receiving many of the same questions we are, and we want to ensure you have the most up-to-date information to help field these inquiries. Some of the most common questions have to do with when claims become active and confusion over automated notices that are built into our legacy system but that may not apply to recent applicants. Please note:
- All benefits will be retroactive to the date a person became eligible.
- Any delays in processing will not affect a claimant’s total benefit amount.
- If claimants receive automated notices about any of the following, they should IGNORE them:
- Work search
- Training
- School employment
- RESEA/UCRS programs
- Union verification
- OhioMeansJobs
Additionally, there is likely to be confusion over notices generated by the retroactive payment process.
We are emailing the affected claimants directly, but want you to have the information as well.
- To backdate an already established claim, we will need to withdraw the established claim. This means that a claimant will receive a notification that his or her application has been denied. The person may even receive a notice that he or she was overpaid benefits. Claimants should ignore these notices.
- The following day, we will reenter a new application with the proper effective date. A claimant may see a notification that the claim is pending. Any weeks that the person has filed will move to the new claim.
- Claimants will receive a call instructing them how to file any back weeks.
Note that claimants do not need to take any action but will receive the full amount they are owed.
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