204 West Montgomery St., Mount Vernon, WA 98273www.skagit.org, 360-336-6114, office@skagit.org

COVID-19 Resource Guide

For Businesses & WorkersLast Update: May 28, 2020

CONTACToffice@skagit.orgwww.skagit.org

Duringthishealthandresultingeconomiccrisis,SkagitCountybusinesses—alongwiththoseintherestofthestate,countryandworld—havefacedunprecedentedadversity.Therehavebeenforcedclosures,layoffs,scaled-downoperations,can-celedeventsandcontracts,illnesses,andeverythinginbetween. Butthroughtheseuncertainanddifficulttimes,onethingisapparent:theSkagitCountybusinesscommunityandresidentsareuptothischallenge. Theexamplesofinnovation,problem-solving,civic-mind-edness,andcollaborationhavebeenapparentthroughourdailyinteractions,socialmedia,newsstories,andmore. EDASC’sNo.1priorityfortheforeseeablefuturewillbehelpingtheSkagitCountybusinesscommunitynavigatethispublichealthandeconomiccrisis.Therefore,EDASCwillcontinueprovidingthelatestCOVID-19resourcesandupdatesrelevanttobusinessesandworkers. ThisCOVID-19ResourceGuideForBusiness&Workerswillberegularlyupdatedandre-uploadedonourwebsiteasnewresourcesbecomeavailable.Thelatestversionofthisdocu-mentcanbefoundonourCOVID-19Resourcespageonourwebsite. Thisisanunprecedentedtimefromapublicandbusinesshealthperspective,andithasbeenhearteningtoseehowourwonderfulcommunityhasbandedtogethertosupportoneanotherwhilemaintainingsocialdistancingpolicies. KnowthatEDASCwillcontinuetobeheretohelpyouwithyourbusinessneedsandconnectyouwiththeexistingandtheever-wideningselectionofnewbusinesssupportresourc-esrelatedtotheCOVID-19outbreak.

Warmregards,

JohnSternlichtEDASCCEO

Skagit County is up to this Challenge

2 skagit.org

Message from the CEO

John SternlichtEDASCCEO

https://www.skagit.org/covid-19-resources-for-businesses-employees

BUSINESSESFinancial Support

Loans

SBA Disaster Loans: TheU.S.SmallBusinessAdministrationisofferinglow-interestloansforworkingcapitaltosmallbusinessessufferingsubstantialeconomicinjuryasaresultofCOVID-19.Theseloansmaybeusedtopayfixeddebts,payroll,accountspayableandotherbillsthatcan’tbepaidbecauseofthedisaster’simpact.Theinterestrateis3.75%forbusinessesand2.75%fornonprofits.

Skagit County Loan Fund:AreyouaSkagitCountysmallbusinessexperiencingseveredisruptionsfromCOVID-19?ThisemergencyloanprogramthroughtheNationalDevelopmentCouncilprovidesfinancialreliefwithaccessible,low-interest,deferredloansupto$25,000forworkingcapital.Theinterestrateis2.44%.Formoreinformation,contactMelissaLaFayetteatmlafayette@ndconline.org.

Lender Match:Thisno-costprogramisanonlinereferraltoolconnectingsmallbusinesseswithSBA-approvedlenders.ThisisagoodalternativetoanSBADisasterLoanbecauseithasamuchquick-erturnaround.SBAofficialssaytheycanapproveloansunder$350,000inamatterofdays.

Paycheck Protection Program:Thisprogram,whenimplemented,willprovideadirectincentiveforsmallbusinessestokeeptheirworkersonpayrollbyprovidingeachsmallbusinessaforgivableloanupto$10millionforpayrollandcertainotherexpenses,accordingtotheU.S.SmallBusinessAdministra-tion.Ifallemployeesarekeptonpayrollforeightweeks,theSBAwillforgivetheportionoftheloansusedforpayroll,rent,mortgageinterest,orutilities.Upto100percentoftheloanisforgivable.

SBA Micro Lender Program: TheU.S.SmallBusinessadministrationhasmicrolendingpartnerswhereloansofferedrangefrom$500to$50,000.TheSBAprovidesfundingtothesemicrolendingpartnerswhothenre-lendthismoneytoqualifiedsmallbusinesses.TheactiveSBAmicrolendersintheareaincludeBusinessImpactNorthwest,Ventures and MercyCorpsNorthwest.

Grants

Anacortes CDBG Small Business Grant:TheCityofAnacorteshasdevelopedanemergencyreliefpackageforsmallbusinessesinjeopardyasaresultofCOVID-19publicsafetymeasures.

Business for All: Thisgrant,poweredbyHelloAlliceinpartnershipwithVerizon,provides$10,000emergencyCOVID-19grantsforsmallbusinessesincrisis.

Emergency Economic Injury Grants:Thesegrants,providedthroughtheU.S.SmallBusinessAdmin-istration,provideanemergencyadvanceofupto$10,000tosmallbusinessesandprivatenonprofitsharmedbyCOVID-19withinthreedaysofapplyingforanSBAEconomicInjuryDisasterLoan(Page3).

Save Small Business Grants:TheU.S.ChamberofCommerceFoundationhaslaunchedtheSaveSmallBusinessFund,agrantprogramprovidingassistancetosmallbusinessesownersimpactedbythecoronaviruspandemic.

3 skagit.org

https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/https://www.skagit.org/media/userfiles/subsite_26/files/Skagit%20County%20Emergency%20Loans%20-%20Information%20Sheet.pdfhttps://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/lender-matchhttps://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-programhttps://businessimpactnw.org/https://www.venturesnonprofit.org/https://www.mercycorpsnw.org/https://www.anacorteswa.gov/1223/CDBG-Small-Business-Stabilization-Granthttps://businessforall.helloalice.com/http://www.savesmallbusiness.com/

BUSINESSESFinancial Support

Grants Continued

Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grants: Update4/9/20:EDASCisnolongeraccept-ingapplicationsforthisgrant. Upto$5millionfromTheGovernor’sStrategicReserveFundwillbeusedtoprovideupto$10,000grantstosmallbusinessestohelppreventclosureduetoCOVID-19.TheStateDepartmentofCommercewillcoordinatetheapplicationprocesswithyourlocaleconomicdevelopmentorganization.

Skagit Valley Disaster Relief Fund:ThisfundwascreatedbytheSkagitCommunityFoundationincollaborationwithEDASCandUnitedWayofSkagitCountytosupportandhelpsustaincharitableorganizationsandagenciesastheyworktodirectlyaddresstheCOVID-19pandemicanditsimpactsontheSkagitValley.Toapplyforthefund,contactskagitrecoveryfund@skagitcf.orgwithanswerstotheapplicationfoundonthefund’swebpage.

Skagit Publishing Community Grant Program:SkagitPublishinghasestablisheda$500,000grantfundtoassistlocallyownedbusinesseswithmatchedadvertisingduringthischallengingsituation.ThegrantisgoodthroughJuneandisrestrictedtoSkagitCountybusinesses.

Social Justice Fund Northwest’s Rapid Response Grants: PerSocialJustFundNorthwest’swebsite,theRapidResponseGrantsaresmallprojectspecificgrantsof$2,000tohelpgrassrootsorganizationsrespondquicklytothechangingpoliticalclimate.

Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund: Thesegrantsofupto$10,000offerhelpforsmallbusinessestofillurgentfinancialgapsuntiltheycanresumenormaloperationsoruntilothermorepermanentfinancingbecomesavailable.ThedeadlineforthefirstroundofgrantsisApril4,8:59PST.TheseconddeadlineisMay20.Apreferencewillbegiventoentrepreneursofcolor,women-ownedbusinessesandotherenterprisesinhistoricallyunderservedcommunities.

4 skagit.org

A Note on lenders and landlords

Lendersandlandlordsmaybeinapositiontoproviderelief.Manylargemortgagelendersareofferingprogramstomovecurrentmortgagepaymentstotheendofaloanwithoutpenalty.Banksmaydothesameforsimpleloans.Somelandlordscanhelp,especiallyastheythemselvesreceivemortgageflexibilityfromlenders.Contactyourlenderorlandlordtoseewhattheycanoffer.

http://startup.choosewashingtonstate.com/covid-grants/https://www.skagitcf.org/skagit-valley-disaster-relief-fund.htmlhttps://www.goskagit.com/grants/https://socialjusticefund.org/grants/types-of-funding/#accordion-RapidResponsefundingcriteriahttps://www.lisc.org/covid-19/verizon-small-business-recovery-fund/

5 skagit.org

BUSINESSES

Insurance

State Office of the Insurance Commissioner:Asanemployer,ifyouhaveboughtthecorrectendorse-ments,insurancepoliciesmaycovercanceledeventsorbusinesslosses.ContacttheStateOfficeoftheInsuranceCommissionerat1-800-562-6900orgototheirwebsiteformoreinformation.

Business Interruption Insurance:ChmelikSitkin&Davisisprovidinginformationforbusinessesthathavebusinessinterruptioninsuranceandwhattodoifyourbrokerhastoldyouthatitwillnotcoveryourlostbusinessincome.

Tax

Federal:TheIRShascreatednewwaystohelptaxpayers,businessesandotheraffectedbyCOVID-19.Thispagewillbecontinuallyupdated.Oneimportantupdate:AlltaxpayerswhofileandpaytheirFed-eralincometaxesonApril15,2020,areautomaticallyextendeduntilJuly15,2020.

State:ThestateDepartmentofRevenueisofferingextensionsontaxfilingsandcertainlatefees,aswellasreschedulingauditsandmoretimetofileorrenewabusinesslicense.Contactthedepartmentat360-705-6705formoreinfoorvisittheirwebsite.

Utilities

Cascade Natural Gas:CNGannouncedMarch17thatitwillnotbedisconnectingcustomersfornon-paymentduringthistimeandwillcontinuetoworkwithcustomersonpaymentplanoptions.TheyhavealsoimplementedplanstoprotectemployeesfromexposuretoCOVID-19.

Puget Sound Energy:PSEannouncedtheywillnotbedisconnectingcustomersfornon-paymentduringthistime.Theyalsoreceivedapprovetowaivelatefees.Theywillworkwithcustomersonoptionssuchaspaymentplansandchooseanewbillduedate.Itsemployeesarerequiredtomaintainsocialdistancingwhileworkinginthefield.

Skagit Publict Utility District:SkagitPUDhassuspendedallwatershut-offsduetodelinquentpay-ment,accordingtoitswebsite.Customersconcernedabouttheirabilitytiopaytheirbillshouldcon-tacttheSkagitPUDCustomerServiceteamat360-424-7104.

Financial Support

Manufacturers: Find out how you can help fill shortages of needed equipment

Thestateandcountyarelookingtofillshortagesofpersonalprotectiveequipment(PPE), infection-controlproductsandotherdesperately-neededproducts.Tolearnmoreaboutstateneeds,visitthispage.Tolearnaboutcountyneeds,contactEDASCatoffice@skagit.org,orSkagitCountyEMS’sHansKahlathkahl@co.skagit.wa.us.

https://www.insurance.wa.gov/https://chmelik.com/business-interruption-insurance-for-covid-19-claims/https://www.irs.gov/coronavirushttps://dor.wa.gov/about/business-relief-during-covid-19-pandemichttps://www.cngc.com/https://www.pse.com/https://www.skagitpud.org/news/helping-with-hardships/https://coronavirus.wa.gov/how-you-can-help

6 skagit.org

Business Guidance

Federal

FEMA Starter Kit for Workshop on Reconstituting Operations: FEMAhasdevelopedanExerciseStarterKitwithsampledocumentsyourorganizationcanusetoconductyourownplanningworkshoptonavigatethecomplexitiesofreturningtofulloperationsduringthecoronavirusdisease(COVID-19)pandemic.

SBA Guidance and Resources: TheU.S.SmallBusinessAdministrationhasapageprovidingguidanceforsmallbusinessesimpactedbythespreadofCOVID-19,aswellasloanresources.

SBA Export Working Capital Program:Forexporters,theU.S.SmallBusinessAdministration’sExportWorkingCapitalProgramcanhelpsmallbusinessesgainaccesstocapital.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Survival Resources:TheU.S.ChamberofCommercehascompiledaresourcelistdesignedtohelpyourbusinesssurvivetheeconomiccrisiscausedbytheoutbreakofCOVID-19.Resourcesincludearesponsetoolkit,loaninformation,smallbusinessadvisingservices,bankandcreditinformation,federalassistance,taxreliefandmore.

State

Association of Washington Businesses:AWBisofferingno-costweeklywebinarsforemployersfea-turinghigh-levelspeakers.

COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers: TheGovernor’sofficeisprovidingre-openingguidanceforindustriesandsectors.

Impact Washington:ImpactWashingtonisanonprofitprovidingconsultingandtrainingservicestoWashingtonstatemanufacturers.

State Export Assistance:TheStateDepartmentofCommerceoffersbusinessesanexperiencedtradeteamthatprovidesarangeofsupportservices.

State Department of Labor and Industries:L&I’sconsultationprogramoffersconfidential,no-fee,professionaladviceandassistancetoWashingtonbusinesses.Theseservicescanhelpyoufindandfixhazardsinyourworkplaceandstrengthenyoursafetyprogram.

SCORE Advising: SCOREoffersno-costsmallbusinessadvisingforbusinessownersandentrepre-neurs.Call360-685-4259tomakeanappointment. WSBDC Advising:TheWashingtonSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenterprovidesno-costconfidentialbusinessadvising.Togetstart,createanSBDCaccounthere.ThencontactEDASC’sin-houseSBDCAdvisorCindyBrooksatcindy.brooks@wsbdc.org.

BUSINESSES

https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/188077https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resourceshttps://www.sba.gov/content/financing-your-small-business-exports-foreign-investments-or-projects-0https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/small-business-resources-for-surviving-coronavirushttps://www.awb.org/1/?cid=741https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources/covid-19-reopening-guidance-businesses-and-workershttps://wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/signuphttps://www.impactwashington.org/about.aspxhttps://www.commerce.wa.gov/promoting-washington-state/export-assistance/https://lni.wa.gov/safety-health/preventing-injuries-illnesses/request-consultation/https://bellingham.score.org/https://wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/signuphttps://wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/signup

Business Guidance

BUSINESSES

7 skagit.org

WSBDC Business Survival Strategies:Informationforsmallbusinessestotakeinresponsetoanbusi-nessinterruption.

Small Business Resiliency Assistance: Thisprogramprovidestechnicalassistanceforsmallbusinessownersfromculturallyandhistoricallydisadvantagedcommunities.Ifyourbusinesshasbeenaffect-edbytheCOVID-19pandemicandyouneedhelpidentifyingnextsteps,youcancontactoneoftheorganizationspartneredforthisprogram.

COVID-19 Business Resources for Washington State:ThestateSmallBusinessLiaisonTeamhasde-velopedalistofCOVID-19resources.

County

COVID-19 Prevention Best Practices:TheCountyandEDASChavecreatedaguideforCOVID-19preventionbestpracticestohelpbusinessessafelyrestart.Itincludesinformationonsocialdistanc-ingintheworkplace,leaningandpersonalprotectionequipment,vendorandcustomerengagement,employeehealth,communications,andmore.

Photo courtesy PACCAR Technical CenterPACCARTechnicalCenterinMountVernonhasbeen3Dprintingmasksanddonatingthemtolocalhospitals.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track/?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A63adbcec-dd34-4662-8e2c-fca4eeb9064e&pageNum=1http://startup.choosewashingtonstate.com/small-business-resiliency-assistance/https://www.business.wa.gov/site/alias__business/1561/covid-19.aspxhttps://www.skagit.org/media/userfiles/subsite_26/files/Business%20best%20practices%20final%205_14.pdf

Federal

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Employee Assistance Funds: TheU.S.ChamberFoundationisofferingtheEmployeeAssistanceFundprogram.Accordingtoitswebsite,theprogramprovidesmanagementservicesforemployerslookingtosupporttheiremployeesduringtimesofhardship.

State

Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Checker:Viewthisfactsheettolearnifyouareeligibleforunem-ploymentinsurance.

ESD Emergency Rules:TheStateEmploymentSecurityDepartmenthasnewemergencyrulesinplacetosupportthoseimpactedbythespreadofCOVID-19.Forexample,workerswhoareillwithCOVID-19canqualifyforbenefits.Also,workersexposedandquarantinedwhilethebusinessremainsopencannowqualifyforunemploymentinsurance.HerearealistofESD-relatedresources:• Unemploymentbenefitscharts• WorkersaffectedbyCOVID-19FAQ• Paidsickandsafeleave and COVID-19FAQs• Unemploymentinsurance• Paidfamilymedicalleave and COVID-19FAQs• WorkersCompensationFAQS and application• Standbyisaprogramenablingemployerstolayoffworkerswithaplantorehirethem.

Financial Support for Workers: TheStateDepartmentofFinancialInstitutions providesalistoffinan-cialresourcesforconsumersimpactedbyCOVID-19.Itincludesunemploymentassistance,aswellasresourcesforpayingcreditcards,mortgages,rent,andstudentloans.

SharedWork Program:SharedWorkisavoluntarybusinesssustainabilityprogramofferedbytheStateEmploymentSecurityDepartmentthatenablesbusinessestoretainemployeesatreducedhours.

Layoff assistance for workers and businesses: ThestateEmploymentSecurityDepartmenthasawebpagededicatedtolayoffassistanceforbothworkersandbusinesses.

Job seeker help:VisitWorkSourceforavailablejobsortopostavacancy.

BUSINESSES & WORKERSSupport for Workers

8 skagit.org

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/article/employee-assistance-fundshttps://esdorchardstorage.blob.core.windows.net/esdwa/Default/ESDWAGOV/Unemployment/UIEligibilityChecker.pdfhttps://esd.wa.gov/https://esdorchardstorage.blob.core.windows.net/esdwa/Default/ESDWAGOV/newsroom/COVID-19/covid-19-scenarios-and-benefits.pdfhttps://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/leave/paid-sick-leave/https://lni.wa.gov/agency/outreach/paid-sick-leave-and-coronavirus-covid-19-common-questionshttps://esd.wa.gov/unemploymenthttps://paidleave.wa.gov/https://paidleave.wa.gov/coronavirus/https://lni.wa.gov/agency/outreach/workers-compensation-coverage-and-coronavirus-covid-19-common-questionshttps://lni.wa.gov/claims/for-medical-providers/filing-claims/filefast-report-of-accidenthttps://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/temporary-layoffshttps://dfi.wa.gov/coronavirus/financial-resourceshttps://www.esd.wa.gov/SharedWorkhttps://www.esd.wa.gov/newsroom/layoff-assistancehttps://seeker.worksourcewa.com/

office@skagit.org360-336-6114www.skagit.org

204W.MontgomerySt.MountVernonWA98273