Major disaster declared in Oregon, raising federal aid
|
|
On March 29, Oregon became the 18th U.S. state to become eligible for federal emergency aid through a major disaster declaration.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that President Donald Trump approved the
disaster declaration for Oregon, freeing federal emergency aid to supplement Oregon’s fight against the coronavirus. Governor Kate Brown said it was a “first step” but that the state had other pressing needs, including more
personal protective equipment for health workers.
The disaster declaration makes organizations involved in recovery efforts eligible for federal reimbursement of up to 75% of their spending on, among other things, emergency operation and coordination costs; materials to disinfect public facilities; medical sheltering; and the purchase of food, water, medicine and other consumable supplies, including personal protective equipment.
|
|
National distancing measures extended
|
|
President Trump
extended the voluntary national shutdown for a month as sickness and death from the coronavirus pandemic rose in the U.S. Currently, Oregon is under a much stricter executive order issued March 23 by Governor Brown to stay at home, closing many businesses and requiring Oregonians to practice social distancing. The order is indefinite until terminated by the governor. Violations of the order can carry a Class C misdemeanor.
|
|
Low-income Oregonians enrolled in the federal food stamp program will be able to purchase groceries online amid the coronavirus pandemic. All Oregonians enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, will be able to buy food online for delivery from Walmart and Amazon, making it easier for those residents to adhere to social distancing guidelines, the
Oregon Department of Human Services announced
March 26. The move is an expansion of a pilot program that the state rolled out in early March to allow SNAP recipients in Portland and Grants Pass to buy food online.
|
|
NAO listserv for COVID-19
|
|
NAO is launching a COVID-19 listserv forum for nonprofit leaders. Executive directors, board members, and nonprofit staff leading COVID-19 response for their NPOs are invited to join. The objective of this forum is to provide a peer-to-peer communications forum for nonprofit leaders dealing with COVID-19-related issues and challenges for their organizations and communities. To subscribe, send an e-mail with the subject line “Subscribe” to
NAOForumCOVID19+subscribe@groups.io
.
|
|
On
Tuesday, March 31 from noon to 1 p.m. PT, NAO will host an Ask the Expert session with Kendall Clawson, CEO of Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington. The session titled -
COVID-19: Ask the Expert - Funder Response in A Time of Crisis will look at what Oregon and Southwest Washington funders are doing to support nonprofits during this COVID-19 pandemic. She will discuss other plans funders are currently working on. She’ll also share what she’s been hearing in the community and is available to hear back directly from participants on what nonprofits need.
On
Tuesday, March 31 at 12:30 p.m. PT, the networks of the National Council of Nonprofits are hosting a national presentation to help all in the charitable community understand what various provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) mean for nonprofits.
- Mandated paid sick and family leave for employees and refundable payroll tax credits for employers
- Three loan programs for organizations; which program is best for your organization?
- Above-the-line deduction (universal, for all individual taxpayers) for charitable contributions made in 2020
- Employee retention refundable tax credit
- Expanded unemployment and enhanced funding for social support programs
- This 90-minute webinar will share the latest analysis and information for charitable nonprofits, recognizing that multiple federal agencies must write the rules and forms and establish processes for getting money into the hands of nonprofits and for-profits as quickly as possible.
This 90-minute webinar will share the latest analysis and information for charitable nonprofits, recognizing that multiple federal agencies must write the rules and forms and establish processes for getting money into the hands of nonprofits and for-profits as quickly as possible.
Register here
.
|
|
In this particularly trying time, resources are needed and needed fast. Check out the COVID-19 resources page being curated by the Grantmakers of Oregon and Southwest Washington with a list of
Foundation Efforts
to support your work. The page is regularly being updated, so be sure to click refresh in your browser.
Loans Available for Nonprofits in the CARES Act
|
|
|
|
Check back often. The National Council of Nonprofits will be updating this this chart in the days and weeks to come as the SBA and other federal departments provide additional guidance, links, and processes to help nonprofits and others secure the funds they need (always hit “refresh” after following the link to ensure you have the latest updates).
|
|
|
|
New Emergency Order Issued By the Oregon Dept. of Consumer and Business Services
The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services issued a temporary emergency order on March 25, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. It requires all insurance companies to extend grace periods for premium payments, postpone policy cancellations and nonrenewals, and extend deadlines for reporting claims.
Insurance companies must take steps immediately to do the following until the order is no longer in effect:
- Institute a grace period for premium payments on all insurance policies issued in the state
- Suspend all cancellations and nonrenewals for active insurance policies
- Extend all deadlines for consumers to report claims and communicate about claims
- Provide consumers the ability to make premium payments and report claims while maintaining safe social distancing standards
U.S. Department Of Labor Publishes More Guidance for Workers and Employers Explaining Paid Sick Leave, Expanded Family and Medical Leave Benefits
On March 28, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published more guidance to provide information to employees and employers about how each will be able to take advantage of the protections and relief offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) when it goes into effect on April 1, 2020. That information can be found
here.
Alternatives to Layoffs for Employers Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic
As nonprofits navigate their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this
thought piece
by Heather M. Fossity & Sarah I. Hale of Barran Liebman LLP offers some alternatives to consider rather than layoffs. Furloughs, wage reductions and/or reclassifications of employees all offer opportunities for workers to stay with your nonprofit while receiving critical continuing health benefit.
We are all in this together.
To visibly demonstrate this, for some friendly showcasing to help motivate our staffs, and for some NAO bucks redeemable later,
join us as #ORNonprofitsFlattentheCurve and our new question of the week!
Click here for more information.
Like, Follow, Tag @NonprofitOregon
|
|
Jim White
Executive Director
|
|
NAO is currently working with sponsors and funders who support our in-person programs that have been suspended. Many have responded and we want to thank the following SPONSORS and FUNDERS who are supporting NAO’s online COVID-19 events and communications during these challenging times. Their support is vital in helping NAO to bring much-needed resources and information to Oregon’s nonprofits – thank you.
|
|
FRIEND PLUS PARTNER SPONSORS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
