Updated January 14, 2021
Guidance, Resources, Grants and Loans for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
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#SupportDownriver
The SWCRC is providing a review of important guidance, grants, loans, and more resources currently available to members of our Downriver business community who have been impacted by COVID-19. Please follow the SWCRC on Facebook as we provide more information. Be safe and healthy.
Please note: Some listed funding opportunities and information have expired, and are listed as historical reference only.
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UPDATED AS OF JANUARY 14, 2021: SBA ANNOUNCES PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM TO REOPEN WITH SMALL LENDERS ON JAN. 15, AND ALL LENDERS ON JANUARY 19
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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will reopen with small lenders on Friday, January 15, and with all lenders on Tuesday, January 19 for new borrowers and certain existing borrowers. This applies to both first and second draw loans. For companies interested in applying for a new PPP loan, we strongly urge that you promptly consult with your financial institution and tax advisor to ensure you have the latest information as elements are still evolving, and are prepared to act as the loan funds become available.
According to the SBA's announcement, "The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 9 am ET. The portal will fully open on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 to all participating PPP lenders to submit First and Second Draw loan applications to SBA."
Click the below button to review our recent update providing details on the new PPP, including the 2nd draw program for businesses that took the first PPP, and SBA EIDL Programs.
PPP applications will be completed with your SBA approved lender. The SBA has provided application forms to review on the Paycheck Protection Program Webpage. The SBA Paycheck Protection Program webpage also provides a "Lender Match" to help connect businesses with lenders in their community.
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Congress has passed a 4th pandemic relief bill of $900 billion, providing an additional $284 billion in funds to the U.S. Small Business Administration for a "second draw" of PPP loans, and $20 billion in additional funding for the SBA EIDL program, available for the “hardest-hit” small businesses.
Paycheck Protection Program Details:
Congress has renewed funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), for first time applicants and those who are seeking a "second draw" in the latest pandemic relief bill. The PPP provides small businesses with funds to pay operational expenses such as payroll costs including benefits. The PPP loan will be available until March 31, 2021, or until the program funding has been exhausted. New in this version of the PPP, $35 billion is set-aside for first time borrowers and $15 billion is set aside for employers with 10 or fewer employees or for loans less than $250,000 for entities located in a low-income neighborhood. More information is located on the updated PPP Guide HERE.
Application Process:
As in the original PPP, it is anticipated that applicants will apply for the PPP via an SBA approved lender. Upon the opening of the new PPP, a list of SBA approved lenders and program information will be provided at the SBA's PPP webpage HERE.
Eligible Expenses Have Been Expanded in the New PPP:
Standard Operational Expenses: Costs incurred or expenditures made between the date of the origination of the loan and ending on a date of your choosing that is between 8 and 24 weeks after origination for: (a) payroll costs, (b) qualifying mortgage interest or rent obligations, (c) covered utility costs, (d) covered operations costs, (e) covered property damage, (f) covered supplier costs, and (g) covered worker protection expenditures; or
Payroll costs for the same period divided by 0.60 (this serves as a cap on the total loan forgiveness to ensure that at least 60% of the total amount forgiven is for payroll costs).
“operations expenses” defined as payments for business software and cloud computing services and other human resources and accounting needs that facilitate business operations;
“supplier costs” defined as payments to a supplier for goods that are essential to the operations of the borrower pursuant to a contract or purchase order in effect before the PPP loan is disbursed or with respect to perishable goods, in effect at any time;
“worker protection expenses” defined as operating or capital expenditures to comply with public health guidance related to COVID-19, including things like drive-through windows and sneeze guards and the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE); and
“covered property damage costs” defined as costs related to property damage or looting due to public disturbances in 2020 that are not covered by insurance or other compensation.
Loan Forgiveness: The 2nd round of PPP loans will include a simplified forgiveness application. For loans of $150,000 or less, the loan forgiveness application will be a 1 page document. As in the original PPP, not more than 40% of the forgiven amount can be for non-payroll costs, (60% must be on payroll costs) which may limit how much of your loan can be forgiven. The period for which expenses count toward loan forgiveness will begin on the date of loan origination and end on a date of your choosing that is between 8 and 24 weeks after origination. More information on calculating loan forgiveness is found on the Guide in Section 2, HERE, and the original PPP Loan Forgiveness Guide HERE.
Eligibility: Limited to small businesses with 300 or fewer employees. The maximum PPP loan will be $2 million, compared to $10 million in the first round of the PPP in the spring of 2020. The replenished PPP program now includes eligibility for 501 (c) 6 non-profit organizations with specific limitations, local news media organizations, and housing cooperatives.
2nd Draw PPP Funding: Employers who received the original PPP loan are eligible for a 2nd draw, up to $2 million. Employers must have 300 or fewer employees, and must show a greater than 25% gross revenue loss in any quarter in 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019.
Formula to Calculate your Draw Amount: The maximum loan amount is the average monthly payroll costs for the entity during the 12 months prior to the loan or, at the election of the borrower, 2019 multiplied by 2.5 (or 3.5 for employers in the accommodation and food service industry).
Seasonal employers utilize average monthly payroll costs for a 12-week period between February 15, 2019 and February 15, 2020. A loan may not exceed $2 million.
PPP Tax Policy: According to the Bill, PPP revenue will not be taxable in the new PPP program.
Employee Retention Tax Credit Expansion: The provision will extend and enhance the employee retention tax credit, a payroll tax credit aimed at encouraging businesses to hold on to their workers. The new law significantly expands the employee retention tax credit beginning on January 1, 2021. The credit expires on June 30, 2021. The prior credit was 50% on $10,000 in qualified wages for the whole year (or a maximum of $5,000 per employee). The new credit is 70% on $10,000 in wages per quarter (or a maximum $14,000 per employee through June 30th). More information is located in Section 4 of the PPP Guide HERE.
Grant Program for Live Event Venues: The law creates a new $15 billion grant program for eligible live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, museum operators, motion picture theatre operators, or talent representatives that have experienced at least a 25% drop in revenue.
Grants are equal to the lesser of $10 million or 45% of gross earned revenue in 2019. Grants must be used for specified expenses such as payroll costs, rent, utilities, and personal protective equipment.
If you receive a grant you may not apply for a new PPP loan. More information is expected to be announced from the SBA, including application guidance.
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Details of the Relief Bill:
Stimulus checks: A second round of direct payments to Americans. The payments will be up to $600 per adult and per child.
Unemployment benefits: Two expiring CARES Act programs, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which made benefits available to the self-employed and gig economy workers, and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which provided additional weeks of benefits, were extended for 11 weeks. That timeline will set another key deadline to stop the programs from expiring in early March. In addition, Congress will add $300 to all weekly unemployment benefits. Workers who rely on multiple jobs and have lost income will also be eligible for a weekly $100 boost as well.
Support for small businesses: The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which provided distressed small businesses with forgivable loans to keep them afloat and leave employees on the books, receives a 2nd round of funding of $284 billion. Businesses that already received a PPP loan will be eligible to get a second one under the new terms. Some of the PPP funds will be set aside for the smallest businesses and community-based lenders. The bill also provides $20 billion in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) grants for smaller businesses.
The deal provides $9 billion in emergency Treasury capital investments for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions, financial institutions that largely cater to minorities, as well as an additional $3 billion for CDFIs through a Treasury fund.
Housing assistance: The bill extends the eviction moratorium that is set to expire at the end of the year through the end of January. The legislation includes $25 billion for rental assistance to families facing eviction. Eligible renters would be able to receive assistance with rent and utility payments, and bills that have accumulated since the start of the pandemic, by applying with entities that state and local grantees chose to administer the program. Additionally, the bill includes an enhancement of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit to increase the supply for affordable housing construction.
Education: The bill includes several provisions relating to elementary, secondary and higher education. It would provide $82 billion of funds for schools and colleges to help them reopen classrooms and prevent virus transmission. It also includes an expansion of Pell Grants. A summary from Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that the expansion would allow 500,000 people to become new recipients of the grants and 1.5 million students to get the maximum benefit.
Testing: The agreement includes $20 billion for the purchase of vaccines, $8 billion for vaccine distribution, $20 billion for states to conduct testing and $20 billion in extra federal relief for health care providers.
Federal Reserve: The deal will return Fed authority to what it was under Section 13(3) of the Federal Reserve Act before the pandemic struck. Specifically, new language will close four Fed lending facilities: the Primary Market Corporate Credit Facility, the Secondary Market Corporate Credit Facility, the Main Street Lending Program and the Municipal Credit Facility.
Unspent funding for those programs under the CARES Act will be repurposed.
Nutrition Assistance: The deal directs $13 billion to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), and to child nutrition benefits to pay for a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits.
Transportation: $45 billion for transportation, including $16 billion for another round of support for airlines, airline employees and contractors, $14 billion for transit systems, $10 billion for highways, $2 billion for intercity buses, $2 billion for airports and $1 billion for Amtrak.
Surprise medical bills: The legislation includes provisions to end the practice of surprise medical billing. It would hold patients harmless from surprise bills, including from air ambulance providers and prohibit out-of-network providers from “balance billing” unless they give patients 72-hour notice of their network status and an estimate of the charges.
Tax provisions: The bill would allow taxpayers to use their 2019 income for purposes of claiming the earned income tax credit and child tax credit, two credits that benefit low- and middle-income households. This will allow households where people lost jobs or income in 2020 to be eligible for credits or receive larger credits, because the credit amounts phase in with income.
The Bill boosts the tax deductibility of business meals for two years.
The Bill does not include federal liability protections for employers, nor relief for state and local government.
Below is a link to the entire bill to fund the U.S. Government in 2021, titled the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which includes the $900B Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act in Division M of the bill.
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SBA ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER (EIDL) LOANS |
Updated 12/22/2020: The recent federal relief bill provides $20B in new funding for the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The $10,000 emergency cash advance grant portion of the EIDL loan will be reopening. Priority for the full amount of the EIDL grant will be given to small businesses with less than 300 employees, located in low-income neighborhoods, who have experienced a 30% reduction in gross receipts during any 8-week period between March 2, and December 31, 2020 compared to a comparable 8-week period before March 2. If you meet this description and received a grant that is less than $10,000 you can reapply to receive the difference.
The EIDL funds are not meant to replace lost profit. The funds are designed to be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Please review the details and qualifications of this loan program HERE.
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Program Information
Small businesses who have been impacted by COVID-19 seeking loan funding to help with operational expenses will need to apply for loan funding ONLINE. The official link to access the loan application is located HERE.
Small businesses in qualifying areas will be able to access low-interest loans through the SBA, with an interest rate of 3.75% for businesses, and 2.75% for nonprofits. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay. No collateral is required for loans of $25,000 or less. For loans of more than $25,000, general security interest in business assets will be used for collateral instead of real estate.
Changes to SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs)
• Eligible applicants for an EIDL loan can receive an emergency cash advance of up to $10,000
• Loans can be made based solely on credit scores.
• Loans available to all non-profits, including 501(c )(6)s.
• Loans below $200,000 can be approved without a personal guarantee.
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Updated September 1, 2020: IRS ISSUES GUIDANCE ON DEFERRING CERTAIN EMPLOYEES SOCIAL SECURITY PAYROLL TAXES - PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER AND 3 PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUMS FOCUSING ON ADDRESSING ONGOING NEEDS RESULTING FROM HARDSHIPS BROUGHT ON BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
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President Donald Trump took a series of presidential actions, signing an executive order and 3 presidential memorandums on August 8 providing relief and addressing ongoing hardships resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first presidential memorandum continues federal unemployment benefits for those impacted by job loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic by $300 per week, with an additional cost share of $100 by the State for a total of $400 per week. The president instructs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to extend unemployment compensation utilizing the Department of Homeland Security's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) of $70 billion, and calls on the states to utilize the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) allocated to states in the federal CARES Act for a cost share contribution toward the extended unemployment benefit. The memorandum mentions that $80 billion remains to be used within the CRF. The president states in Section 2 of the memorandum: "I am directing up to $44 billion from the DRF at the statutorily mandated 75 percent Federal cost share be made available for lost wages assistance to eligible claimants, to supplement State expenditures in providing these payments. At least $25 billion of total DRF balances will be set aside to support ongoing disaster response and recovery efforts and potential 2020 major disaster costs." The "Assistance Program for Lost Wages" via Department of Homeland Security other assistance funding, is to be administered by FEMA. In order to implement the program, a governor must request the program grant from FEMA and agree to the cost sharing requirement, and the program must be administered in conjunction with the State's unemployment insurance system. The program remains in effect nationally until the DRF reaches a balance of $25 billion, or until December 6. 2020, whichever comes first.
UPDATED: The second presidential memorandum instructs the Department of Treasury to defer the payment of certain employee payroll tax obligations for the period between September 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020. The rule applies for employees who are compensated less than $4,000 per biweekly pay period. The memo further instructs the Treasury Secretary to "explore avenues, including legislation, to eliminate the obligation to pay the taxes deferred pursuant to the implementation of this memorandum." Trump said that he hoped to forgive the deferred payroll taxes and make permanent payroll tax cuts if he is reelected in November. On August 28, the IRS issued guidance, notice 2020-65 relating to this memorandum. The guidance can be viewed HERE. Further tax relief resources from the IRS are located HERE.
“If I win, I may extend and terminate,” Trump said. “In other words, I’ll extend it beyond the end of the year and terminate the tax.”
The third presidential memorandum provides student loan payment relief, by deferring all Department of Education held student loan payments and waiving interest until December 31, 2020.
The Executive Order aims to minimize evictions from federal housing by instructing the Treasury Department and Housing and Urban Development Department to identify available federal funding and "take action" to assist renters and homeowners facing hardship as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
It is believed that the President's memorandums on unemployment benefits and payroll tax deferrals may face legal challenges in the coming days.
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CONGRESS PASSES PPP FORGIVENESS REFORM TO INCLUDE 24 WEEKS OF FORGIVABLE OPERATIONAL CAPITAL - GUIDANCE FROM TREASURY ON PPP FORGIVENESS |
Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act Approved by Congress: On June 3, 2020, Congress passed and sent to President Trump new reforms to the PPP loan, known as the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act. PPP information is located on the SBA's website HERE, and the bill can be viewed HERE. Provisions within the legislation include funding from the PPP loan being forgivable on qualifying expenses for up to 24 weeks, up from the original 8 week period. Also, the Act reduces the percentage of a PPP forgivable loan that must be applied toward payroll to 60 percent, down from the original 75 percent. The other 40 percent of the loan can be used on expenses such as mortgage interest, utilities and rent. Further, the Act will also allow the loan period to be extended. Under the initial plan, the loan would have been a 2-year loan at 1% interest rate. This has been extended to up to 5 years. Further, the Act allows borrowers to defer the employer share of Social Security taxes (6.2%), regardless of whether the borrower receives forgiveness or not. 50% of deferred Social Security tax would be due in 2021, with the other 50% due in 2022.
US Chamber PPP Loan Forgiveness Guidance: Under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), loans may be forgiven if borrowers use the funds to maintain their payrolls and pay other specified expenses. Click here to download a step-by-step guide from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to calculate your loan forgiveness amount, navigate record-keeping requirements, and determine repayment terms on amounts not forgiven. Also, click HERE to view the recent step-by-step video guidance from the U.S. Chamber. Further, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched a new digital resource center , providing at a national level industry specific guidelines to reopening and a small business reopening "playbook."
SBA & Treasury Guidance: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, released an application form for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness along with instructions for completing the form. This form is provided for informational purposes. Businesses should consult with their CPA when preparing the PPP loan forgiveness application. View the sample form and instructions HERE . Note: Your lender will have specific documents and instructions for the PPP loan forgiveness application.
PPP Fraud Concerns and Required Certification: In recent weeks, and in response to significant public pressure, the SBA and Treasury have determined that certain companies should not receive the benefits of PPP loans for which they qualified under the law. As a result, the SBA has advised that “all borrowers should review carefully the required certification” that current economic uncertainty makes the loan necessary after taking into account their current business activity and access to other sources of liquidity. As an incentive for companies who are unable to make the good faith certification of necessity to repay the loans, the SBA created a “safe harbor” to provide that borrowers would be deemed to have met the necessity certification requirements if the loans were repaid in full on or before May 7, 2020, and the deadline for the repayment safe harbor was subsequently extended to May 14, 2020. As additional incentive for companies to repay PPP loans during the safe harbor, the federal government has indicated that it will investigate PPP borrowers and may pursue criminal investigations in cases in which certifications on the loan application are determined to be fraudulent. On April 29, 2020, more than one month after the CARES Act was signed into law, the SBA announced that it intends to review (i.e., “audit”) all PPP loans of more than $2M, along with other loans, “as appropriate.” One key motivation for such audits is the government’s view that the benefits of the PPP should not be afforded to companies that have alternative sources of liquidity to fund ongoing operations “in a manner that is not significantly detrimental to the business.”
Borrowers with loans of or under $2 Million: As of May 27, 2020, the U.S. Treasury has released new guidance via FAQ. Under the new FAQ, borrowers of $2 million or less will be deemed to have made in good faith the required certification concerning the necessity of this loan. In Question #46, the FAQ specifically spell out that most businesses with loans below this level are “less likely to have had access to adequate sources of liquidity in the current economic environment than borrowers that obtained larger loans.”
It is important for PPP borrowers to review this new guidance in preparation for loan forgiveness. Potential for Fraud: For small businesses that borrowed funds under the PPP, if the federal government determines that there has been a false certification, the company or individual signing the certification could face serious civil and, potentially, criminal charges related to this “fraud.”
Documentation of Necessity or Repayment of PPP Loan: Any business that borrowed PPP loan funds should consider whether, and how, it can document compliance with the CARES Act necessity “certification” requirements. A meaningful review of necessity for PPP loans is recommended for all borrowers, and could prove to be absolutely critical for any borrower that: is publicly traded; is a United States subsidiary of a foreign parent; has access to other sources of liquidity; or is a borrower of more than $2M. Unless the full loan is repaid by May 14, every such borrower should be prepared for an SBA audit of both its PPP loan application, and its uses of PPP loan funds.
PPP loan forgiveness guidance on employees refusing offer of work: What happens if you call back laid-off employees and they are reluctant or refuse to return to work?
The Small Business Administration (SBA) and Department of Treasury recently answered this question in their PPP Frequently Asked Questions. While promising to issue a formal rule, the FAQ states the following:
Question 40: Will a borrower’s PPP loan forgiveness amount (pursuant to section 1106 of the CARES Act and SBA’s implementing rules and guidance) be reduced if the borrower laid off an employee, offered to rehire the same employee, but the employee declined the offer?
Answer: No. As an exercise of the Administrator’s and the Secretary’s authority under Section 1106(d)(6) of the CARES Act to prescribe regulations granting de minimis exemptions from the Act’s limits on loan forgiveness, SBA and Treasury intend to issue an interim final rule excluding laid-off employees whom the borrower offered to rehire (for the same salary/wages and same number of hours) from the CARES Act’s loan forgiveness reduction calculation. The interim final rule will specify that, to qualify for this exception, the borrower must have made a good faith, written offer of rehire, and the employee’s rejection of that offer must be documented by the borrower. Employees and employers should be aware that employees who reject offers of re-employment may forfeit eligibility for continued unemployment compensation.
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REVIEW: CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT
(CARES ACT) SUMMARY
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Small Businesses
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Paycheck Protection/Forgiveness For Small Business Loans for Keeping Employees: The bill creates a “paycheck protection program” for small employers, self-employed individuals, and “gig economy” workers, with $350 billion (original amount) to help prevent workers from losing their jobs and small businesses from going under due to economic losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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How much can a small business receive? Small businesses can receive their average monthly payroll expenses x 2.5. The “Paycheck Protection Program” would provide 24 weeks (updated June, 2020) of cash-flow assistance through 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to small employers who maintain their payroll during this emergency. If the employer maintains payroll, the portion of the loans used for covered payroll costs, interest on mortgage obligations, rent, and utilities would be forgiven, which would help workers to remain employed and affected small businesses and our economy to recover quickly from this crisis. This proposal would be retroactive to February 15, 2020, to help bring workers who may have already been laid off back onto payrolls.
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Eligibility: Small businesses as defined by SBA size standards (generally up to 500 employees, but up to 1,500 employees depending on the sector and certain sectors are based on revenue). Businesses in the Accommodation and Food Services Sector (NAICS Code 72) are eligible with up to 500 employees at each location. 501 (c)(3) non-profits with fewer than 500 employees. Sole proprietors, the self-employed, and independent contractors.
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Regulatory Streamlining: SBA’s standard “no credit elsewhere” test is waived. Loan applications are available through SBA approved lenders. No personal guarantee or collateral required. Lenders defer fees, principal, and interest for no less than 6 months and no more than 1 year.
- Small Business Contractors Also Get Protection: Federal agencies would be required to extend contract performance periods and promptly pay small business contractors impacted by COVID-19.
- Debt Relief: For six months, SBA is required to pay all principal, interest and fees on all existing SBA loan products including 7(a), Community Advantage, 504, and Microloan programs for six months.
- Changes to the current SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs)
- Loans can be made based solely on credit scores.
- Loans available to all non-profits, including 501(c )(6)s.
- Loans below $200,000 can be approved without a personal guarantee.
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Borrowers can receive $10,000 cash advances that can be forgiven if spent on paid leave, maintaining payroll, increased costs due to supply chain disruption, mortgage or lease payments, or repaying obligations that cannot be met due to revenue losses. (Updated to $1,000 per qualifying employee up to $10,000.)
Unemployment
- Includes $250 Billion to Expand Unemployment Benefits: Provides economic relief and support for workers by making a significant investment in unemployment benefits.
- Unemployment Benefits for More Americans: Makes sure self-employed and independent contractors can receive unemployment during the public health emergency. The bill also includes support to state and local governments and nonprofits so they can pay unemployment to their employees.
- More Money for a Longer Period for More Workers: Makes benefits more generous by adding a $600/week across-the-board payment increase through the end of July. In addition, for those who need it, the bill provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits beyond what states typically allow.
- Temporary Provisions: The expansion in unemployment benefits expires at the end of 2020.
Tax
- Includes Tax Rebate Checks - The Senate bill also includes a one-time tax rebate check of $1,200 per individual and $500 per child for those with a valid social security number. There are no earned income or tax liability requirements to receive these rebate checks. The full rebate amount is available for those with incomes at or below $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for head of household, and $150,000 for married couples.
- Provides Another Option for Employers to Keep Connected to Their Employees. Employers of all sizes that face closure orders or suffer economic hardship due to the coronavirus crisis that continue to pay employees that are furloughed may be eligible for a 50% credit on up to $10,000 of wages paid to those employees. This will help workers keep their jobs, help local businesses ride out this storm, and ensure that furloughed workers have jobs to return to.
- Delays Payroll Tax Payments for Employers: Employers would be able to delay the payment of their 2020 payroll taxes until 2021 and 2022, leading to approximately $300 billion of extra cash flow for businesses.
- Restores Supports for Businesses Suffering Losses: The bill also allows businesses to carry back losses from 2018, 2019, and 2020 to the previous 5 years, which will allow businesses access to immediate tax refunds.
Distressed Industries
- Federal Tools to Provide Liquidity: $425 billion for loans, loan guarantees, and investments in support of facilities established by the Fed under 13(3) authority for purpose of providing liquidity to businesses, states, or municipalities through purchasing obligations or other interests directly from issuers of such obligations or other interests.
- Loans for Major Industry: Direct lending to the following: $50 billion for passenger airlines, $8 billion for cargo airlines, and $17 billion for businesses critical to “maintaining national security.”
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MANDATORY: UPDATE REQUIRED FOR FEDERAL LABOR LAW POSTERS
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There is currently a mandatory update to federal posters in response to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. During the stay at home order, employers should post it in an intranet or email it to all employees. Once the order is lifted it must be posted through December 31. The Act goes into effect on April 1, 2020. |
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FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT GUIDANCE RELEASED |
Click HERE to obtain a complimentary recording from a recent webinar to assist job providers with navigating the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act. You will need to register for an account with the Michigan Chamber to access the recording.
Click HERE to download the "FFCRA Employee Rights" Poster.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law by President Trump. The bill provides paid leave and FMLA benefits for employees of businesses and government organizations with fewer than 500 employees. The bill provides for reimbursement by way of refundable tax credits of leave expenses to businesses who meet the criteria.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division issued their first level of guidance on how the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) will affect employers and employees. In the text, the DOL makes it clear that they will be issuing further guidance and regulations related to the exemptions for employers with fewer than 50 employees, as well as health care providers—which will we share with you as soon as it becomes available.
The guidance—provided in a Fact Sheet for Employees, a Fact Sheet for Employers and a Questions and Answers document—addresses critical questions, such as how an employer must count the number of their employees to determine coverage, how small businesses can obtain an exemption, how to count hours for part-time employees, how to calculate the wages employees are entitled to under this law, and more.
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FACEBOOK SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE |
Facebook is now offering grants for small businesses throughout the world including right here in the Detroit area. The program can provide funding for the following: "Keep your workforce going strong; Help with your rent costs; Connect with more customers; Cover operational costs."
Up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in more than 30 countries where the social media company operates will be able to receive the grant. To be eligible to apply, your business must:
Have between 2 and 50 employees
Have been in business for over a year
Have experienced challenges from COVID-19
Be in or near a location where Facebook operates
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January 13, 2021: EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR IMPACTED WORKFORCE
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The State of Michigan has announced a new Employee Assistance Grant program made available by Senate Bill 748, and designed to provide support to employees impacted by the MDHHS Gathering and Face Mask Order that took effect on November 18, 2020. The Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation is administering this grant program. The application period will open on January 15, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. and will be available until January 25, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. The grants are not first come, first serve and the application will be open for submissions for the entirety of that 10-day period. The State suggests that all applicants take the time to ensure their application is complete and correct.
Employees working in the following industries qualify:
- Restaurants
- Hotels, Motels, Bed & Breakfast, Resorts
- Bars
- Food Trucks
- Bowling Alleys
- Theaters
- Nightclubs
- Golf Courses
- Banquet Halls
- Caterers
- Casinos
- Cafeterias
- Other impacted industries
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MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE APPROVES $465M FOR SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF, EXPANDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS AND MORE. |
Small businesses forced to shut down because of the government's COVID-19 restrictions will be able to take advantage of $55 million in "survival grants," under a Bill passed by the Michigan Legislature. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation will grant the funding to the state's 15 local economic development corporations for distribution. The SWCRC will provide more information once the application procedures are announced.
The bill also puts $220 million into covering expanded unemployment benefits for 26 weeks, as opposed to the regular 20 weeks until the end of March. The Department of Treasury will be charged with putting together the $45 million program.
More details in the package include:
- $55 million to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
- Grants of up to $20,000 will be made available to small businesses across the state that need support this winter.
- The relief bill also includes $3.5 million for grants of up to $40,000 each for live music and entertainment venues
- $45 million in direct payments to workers who have been laid off or furloughed as a result of the virus, with a direct focus on restaurant and hospitality workers.
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CLOSED (For Review Only): Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiative to provide $10 million in grants for COVID-19 recovery efforts
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The grant application for small businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount up to $15,000 per eligible business on a "first-in" bases. Grant funds will assist eligible small businesses directly impacted by COVID-19 meet urgent working capital needs including payroll expenses, rent or mortgage payments and utility expenses in the following industries:
-Restaurants, bars and other food and beverage service providers
-Travel and tourism destinations including lodging providers
-Live event venues and movie theaters
-Conference and meeting facilities
-Ice skating rinks, indoor water parks and bowling centers
-Gyms and fitness centers
Businesses must indicate on the application that they’re in compliance with State health orders and regulations, and MEDC officials said they’ll do periodic selective monitoring of some applications to make sure they’re not violating pandemic orders.
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CLOSED (For Review Only): SMALL BUSINESS WEATHERIZATION GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE FROM MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND SBAM
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The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) is providing federal CARES Act funds to help qualifying small businesses expand their capacity by adding weatherized, temporary outdoor facilities.
Who is eligible? Commercial firms and nonprofits with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees in these industries:
- Restaurants and/or bars
- Banquet centers
- Retail stores
- Gyms and fitness centers
- Local governments, including cities, townships, villages and counties that provide common space for businesses
- Commercial property owners who provide common space for tenants
Grants will be awarded to eligible businesses on a first-come, first-served basis with special consideration given to awarding at least 10 grants in each of Michigan’s prosperity regions.
Here are some projects that would qualify for this grant:
- Temporary structures, such as canopies, igloos and tents, to cover outdoor seating
- Portable heaters
- Outdoor furniture and tableware
- Outdoor cooking equipment
- Fencing; dividers such as planters, hangings, or Plexiglas panels
- Sanitizing supplies and equipment
- Security devices
- Electronic menu access
- Upgrades necessary to increase capacity for carryout and delivery service
- Delivery charges and labor for installation.
All funds must be used in support of weatherization of outdoor capacity expansions. Construction of permanent structures is not an allowable use.
Applications open on November 18. For more information, and the application, click the following link.
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UPDATED WEBINARS AVAILABLE: WEBINARS AND SEMINARS TO ASSIST THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITH NEW LAWS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS
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There are several webinars with our key partners at the SBA, SCORE, US Chamber, Michigan Chamber and more that are being made available to help our business community navigate business operations and the many new laws and executive orders coming out. Please follow the SWCRC on Facebook as we post these opportunities for Downriver entrepreneurs and job providers.
The Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber is very grateful for our friends and key partners at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, who have now made all COVID-19 related resources available to our membership FREE OF CHARGE for the time being. In this crises we must all come together and we thank the Michigan Chamber for their tremendous leadership and partnership. Businesses will be required to create an account to login to these resources. Complimentary webinars are now available to our membership covering the following topics:
Sweatpants and Laptops: Dealing with Remote Work and Legal Concerns
What Employers Need to Know about Families First Coronavirus Response Act
Unemployment Benefits During COVID-19
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EMPLOYERS CONTEMPLATING POTENTIAL LAYOFFS |
The State of Michigan and Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity Director Jeff Donofrio have provided critical guidance to employers contemplating potential layoffs.
The SWCRC is recommending our members and employers if possible to consider temporary leave, rather than terminations. The State has also sent out a very important message urging the same. This notice also provides specific guidelines for employers placing talent on temporary unpaid leave.
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UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FOR EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS IMPACTED BY COVID-19 AND EXECUTIVE ORDER CLOSURES: |
Work Share Program – The Governor’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Executive Order expands the State’s Work Share program. With the plan, rather than being laid off, eligible employees work a reduced number of hours in the work week and receive a portion of weekly unemployment benefits. Employers are encouraged to implement the program that permits employers to maintain operational productivity during declines in regular business activity instead of laying off workers. More information and guidance about Work Share can be found HERE.
It’s important to note that the Executive Order (EO) now allows all employers to take advantage of the program, regardless of whether the employer’s reserve in the employer’s experience account as of the most recent computation date preceding the date of the employer’s application is a positive number.
Unemployment Benefits – Eligibility has been expanded for those impacted by COVID-19 during this crises. Eligible employees should apply for unemployment benefits online at Michigan.gov/UIA or 1-866-500-0017. Further guidance has been released on when applicants should file (found by clicking the "Access Your MiWAM Account" button below). A factsheet on how to apply for benefits for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can be found HERE.
Additional unemployment resources for employees can be found HERE.
The Governor issued Executive Order 2020-76 as of May 6, 2020, rescinding EO 2020-57 addressing unemployment insurance. The new order reaffirms the action of Executive Order 2020-10 and 2020-24 and 57, and strengthens its expansion of eligibility for unemployment benefits and cost-sharing with employers. According to the Executive Order, there is no UI charged to the employer. "Any benefit paid to a claimant that is laid off or placed on a leave of absence must not be charged to the account of the employer(s) who otherwise would have been charged but instead must be charged to the Unemployment Insurance Agency’s non-chargeable account."
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MICHIGAN SMALL BUSINESS GRANT MATCHING FUNDS FOR PURCHASE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING |
The Michigan COVID-19 Safety Grant Program awards small businesses matching funds - up to $10,000 - to decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread through safety and health-related equipment purchased and training in response to COVID-19. The goal of the program is to create a safer and healthier work environment and reduce the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 for Michiganders.
The initial grant application window will be open from Monday, July 27 through Friday, August 7, 2020, with awards given shortly thereafter.
The application can be found at the following link on the page under "COVID-19 Safety Grants."
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ADDITIONAL MEDC CAPITAL RESOURCES |
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) call center stands ready to support businesses looking for assistance through other available state programs. For more information, visit MEDC’s website or call 888.522.0103. The Michigan Small Business Development Center can also provide resources for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Visit their website for additional information.
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NEW: Wayne County Announces Financial Relief for Displaced Workers in Specific Industries Impacted by Recent State Business Restrictions
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The Wayne County Cares Program is designed to help those individuals impacted by the most recent state health orders and restrictions on businesses. This program is for workers in the restaurant, hospitality, entertainment, and group fitness industries who have been impacted by the most recent Michigan "Pause" orders. The program offers financial relief of $500 for impacted workers during these uncertain times. The application went live today, Thursday, December 10 and will close at midnight on Tuesday, December 15. If you are picked and verified as eligible, you will be contacted via email.
Eligibility
-Applicant must reside in the Wayne County
-Applicant must have an annual income in 2019 of $76,265 or below, prior to the COVID-19 crisis. This income threshold is calculated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) using data from 2019. For more information on how HUD calculates this figure please click here; to access a table that specifies the Area Median Income for Wayne County for 2019 please click here and search "Wayne County".
-Applicant should be a current or former employee since March 2020 at one of the following industries affected by Michigan's latest "PAUSE" policy which includes food service, entertainment venues, hospitality, and group fitness.
-If you worked at a restaurant or bar, winery or brewery you must NOT be the owner or manager of the food service establishment
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WAYNE COUNTY COVID-19 HOTLINE |
The Information Center has been partnering with Wayne County Health, Human Services and Veteran’s Services Department to provide the Wayne County COVID-19 Hotline (734) 287-7870.
The Information Center has been working with Wayne County to respond to needs for up-to-date and accurate information about COVID -19 and related important information from Wayne County for Wayne County residents and businesses.
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