Supporting Your Business is Our Business!
February 26, 2021
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In case you missed it, the U.S. Chamber's Neil Bradley and CO—'s Jeanette Mulvey hosted The White House's National Economic Council Deputy Director Bharat Ramamurti to discuss the latest details on PPP for small businesses, specifically focused on businesses with fewer than 20 employees.
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Biden Administration Takes Steps to Promote
Equitable Access to SBA Relief
On Monday, February 22, President Biden announced the following changes to SBA's coronavirus relief programs to ensure equity:
Specifically, on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 9 am ET, SBA will establish a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees. This will give lenders and community partners more time to work with the smallest businesses to submit their applications, while also ensuring that larger PPP-eligible businesses will still have plenty of time to apply for and receive support before the program expires on March 31, 2021.
SBA also announced four additional changes to open the PPP to more underserved small businesses than ever before. While these changes are being implemented, SBA will work with community partners to improve the emergency relief “digital front door” and conduct extensive stakeholder outreach. And, SBA will strengthen its relationships with lender partners to advance equity goals, deliver funding efficiently, and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. SBA will:
o Allow sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these categories of applicants;
o Eliminate an exclusionary restriction on PPP access for small business owners with prior non-fraud felony convictions, consistent with a bipartisan congressional proposal;
o Eliminate PPP access restrictions on small business owners who have struggled to make student loan payments by eliminating student loan debt delinquency as a disqualifier to participating in the PPP; and
o Ensure access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawful U.S. residents by clarifying that they may use Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for the PPP.
A critical goal from Congress for the latest round of PPP was to reach small and low- and moderate-income (LMI) businesses who have not received the needed relief a forgivable PPP loan provides. Congress set a $15B set-aside for small and LMI first draw borrowers. With existing policies, the current round has only deployed $2.4B to small LMI borrowers, in part because a disproportionate amount of funding in both wealthy and LMI areas is going to firms with more than 20 employees. The less than 20 exclusivity period combined with the changes to expand access for sole proprietors, ITINs, returning citizens, and student loan debt will help us achieve Congressional goals.
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SBA Paycheck Protection Program Resources
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP):
1. Find a lender:
2. Identify a loan:
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First Draw PPP Loans: If you have not received a PPP loan before, First Draw PPP Loans are available to you.
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Second Draw PPP Loans: If you have previously received a PPP loan, certain businesses are eligible for a Second Draw PPP Loan.
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Employee Retention Tax Credit Facts and Resources
Here’s How Your Business Can Take Advantage of a Generous Tax Refund
If you are a small business owner, you may be eligible to take advantage of the recently expanded Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). This refundable, advanceable tax credit is available for wages paid in 2020 and in the first two quarters of 2021.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), a new federal law enacted in December, extended and expanded the ERTC to offer substantial savings to any eligible small business owner. For Q1 and Q2 2021, the ERTC offers savings of up to $7,000 per employee, per quarter, and an annual max of up to $14,000 per employee, while for 2020, the program offers $5,000 per employee.
The tax credit is available to small businesses (100 or fewer employees for 2020, 500 or fewer employees for 2021) that experienced a government shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as any business that saw a substantial drop in gross receipts compared to the same quarter in 2019 (50% or greater drop in 2020, 20% or greater drop in 2021).
You can also take advantage of the ERTC in addition to first-round and second-round Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. The only restriction on using these programs together, is that you cannot claim ERTC refunds on wages paid by a PPP loan.
Read the entire article here. |
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PA House Republican Caucus
Economic Recovery Business Survey
Please take a moment and complete the survey at the link below. The PA House Republican Caucus wants to hear from you. Business owners are in the best position to provide their legislators with honest solutions on how they can help them get back to a profitable business and move Pennsylvania’s economy forward. Representative Irvin and his colleagues look forward to hearing how they can help you.
The link to the survey is http://www.pahousegop.com/businesssurvey. The survey will be accessible for 30 days. House Policy Committee Staff will be reviewing the responses to the survey and compiling a list of the solutions business owners want them to act upon. The Policy Committee will also examine the possibility of hearings on ideas generated from the survey and ideas put forward by the task force.
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Use the above link to find vaccination locations and their contact information.
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Member Restaurant Information
We are are providing the following to make it easier to support local restaurants. Click the restaurant name to view their menu. Those in bold are offering curbside pickup.
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Support Local
Click the graphic for the latest restaurant information.
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Looking for more ways to promote your business?
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Last year’s Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce map was so popular that it SOLD OUT and supplies ran out early. This year, an additional 1,000 copies will be printed to meet the demand for this go-to full-color map, bringing the total copies distributed to 6,000. Reserve your space today before it is gone and get access to visitors and residents alike. Contact Centre Publications at 800-200-5375. |
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Targeted EIDL Advance
COVID-19 Targeted EIDL Advance was signed into law on December 27, 2020, as part of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act. The Targeted EIDL Advance provides businesses located in low-income communities with additional funds to ensure small business continuity, adaptation, and resiliency.
Advance funds of up to $10,000 will be available to applicants located in low-income communities who previously received an EIDL Advance for less than $10,000, or those who applied but received no funds due to lack of available program funding.
Applicants do not need to take any action at this time. SBA will reach out to those who qualify.
SBA will first reach out to EIDL applications that already received a partial EIDL Advance (between $1,000 - $9,000). Applicants will be contacted directly by SBA via email in the coming weeks with instructions to determine eligibility and submit documentation.
More information can be found here.
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U.S. Chamber Pandemic Relief Resources:
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Pandemic Webinar Recordings - You can view the Chamber’s webinars explaining the new pandemic relief bills from late December and early January. They've uploaded the recording from this week here, plus the accompanying slides here, and you can find the recording from our December discussion here.
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PPP Loan Program Re-Opens for First and Second PPP Loans
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans – both first and second loans – have been extended through March 31, 2021 or until funding runs out. First-time PPP borrowers at community development financial institutions may begin submitting applications this week, with second loans and additional lenders soon to follow.
Small businesses must apply for PPP loans through a qualified financial institution, not through the SBA. Both the first and second loans are eligible for forgiveness when the loan’s funds are used according to the terms and conditions of the program.
First PPP Loan
Eligibility:
- 500 or fewer employees (including sole proprietor, independent contractor, or self-employed individual)
- Been in business prior to February 15, 2020
SBA Documents:
Second PPP Loan
Eligibility:
- 300 or fewer employees (including sole proprietor, independent contractor, or self-employed individual),
- 25% or more reduction in gross receipts in Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 of 2020 compared to same quarter in 2019 or 25% reduction in annual receipts in 2020 compared to 2019.
- Used all the funds from the first PPP loan (not required to have applied for forgiveness yet)
- Been in business prior to February 15, 2020
SBA Documents:
Loan Amount Calculation
Loan amount is based on 2.5x the average 2019 monthly “payroll” costs, 2020 monthly “payroll” costs, or measured over the 12 months preceding the loan. Businesses in hospitality and restaurants (NAICS Code 72) are allowed 3.5x average monthly payroll.
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Hometown Heroes Banner Applications Being Accepted
The Huntingdon County Chamber of Commerce and Huntingdon Borough are proud to present the Hometown Heroes Banner Program. This program is a tribute to soldiers from the Huntingdon Borough area who served or are serving our Country in a branch of the military.
Each banner will honor a specific individual. They will be 30 x 60 all-weather banners. They will include his/her photo, branch of service and era of service. Banners will be displayed on poles throughout Huntingdon Borough.
This program is non-political and non-artisan. These banners will serve as a reminder of those individuals who have proudly served our Country. The banner cost will be $150. Banners will be hung before Memorial Day 2021 and remain up until Veteran's Day 2021.
Applications are being accepted between November 1 and March 20. Applications will not be accepted after March 20.
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Partners In Excellence
Platinum
Fulton County Medical Center
Gold
Stern Insurance Agency
Silver
Community State Bank
Mutual Benefit Group
Bronze
Bumgardner & Flasher Oil, Inc.
Orbisonia Hardware, Inc.
Royal
BottomLine Pros LLC
FirstEnergy Corporation
Helpmates, Inc.
Jeff Tate Paving, Inc.
Juniata College
Keller Engineers
Lincoln Caverns, Inc. and Whisper Rocks
McDonald's
MDB Drafting & Design
Stiffler, McGraw and Associates, Inc.
Interested in learning about becoming a Partner in Excellence?
Packages range from $125 to $1,000.
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Virtual "State of the County" Address
March 5, 2021
8:00 a.m.
Make Better Decisions Using
Google Analytics
March 16, 2021
10:30 a.m.
Business After Hours
Huntingdon County Career
& Technology Center
April 14, 2021
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Administrative Professionals Luncheon
Huntingdon Country Club
April 21, 2021
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Highway to Rock!
Beside Lincoln Caverns
May 22, 2021
4:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Business After Hours
Huntingdon Rotary &
Huntingdon County Foundation
Gage Mansion Bed & Breakfast
May 26, 2021
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
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Annual Golf Tournament
Huntingdon Country Club
June 16, 2021
11:30 a.m. Registration
1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start
Business After Hours
Lincoln Caverns
June 24, 2021
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Family Fest & Car Cruise
Huntingdon Presbyterian Church
July 3, 2021
6:00 p.m. Car Cruise
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Family Fest
Sporting Clay Tournament
Shenecoy Sportsmen Club
September 15, 2021
September 22, 2021 Rain Date
2:15 p.m. Registration
3:00 p.m. Shoot
Annual Awards Gala
Huntingdon Country Club
October 7, 2021
5:30 p.m. Reception
6:00 p.m. Dinner
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The 2021 Spring Jam has been canceled. |
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U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Wellbeing in the Workplace: A Practical Guide for Employers
Just recently, the coalition released its Practical Guide for Employers—a toolkit providing actionable steps to help businesses of all sizes take measures to prioritize mental health and emotional wellbeing in the workplace. Click here to view the toolkit.
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Resources from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber continues to create, update, and evolve its various guides and resources.
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Free Re-opening Signage
As Pennsylvania businesses begin to reopen, each business owner will need to examine their operations and make changes to meet public safety guidelines. PASBDC has created signage to address common health concerns. All images are completely free to use, so please share, download, print and distribute as you wish!
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Business Resources
Monitor public health indicators, adjust orders and restrictions as necessary
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Office Hours
Following the Governor's guidance, staff is once again working remotely and only going to the office as necessary. If you need to reach us, please call 814-643-1110 and leave a message for us or email [email protected] or [email protected]
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Huntingdon County Strong:
Business and Community Resources
Click graphic below.
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Quick Connect Coaching Sessions
Weekly, Tuesdays at 8:30 am
Looking for a quick answer to a question related to disaster recovery, reopening, stabilizing, or projecting for growth? Then attend a "Quick Connect" session to get your questions answered. Each week a consultant will address answers related to a specific topic.
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Contact Us
President/ CEO
MacKenzie Huntsman
Program Director
Phone: 814-643-1110
Fax: 814-643-1115
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Looking to start an endowment or to support community efforts? Click the logo above to learn more about the Huntingdon County Foundation. |
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