Find Help for Your Business
These local, state and federal resources are available to support businesses with information and resources to help small businesses plan for and respond the pandemic. Take the Business Impact Survey, access information on loans, and get answers to important human resources questions.
There are a number of resources to help workers affected by COVID-19. These include partial wage replacement benefits (full and part-time including for non-profits), industry specific assistance, IRS tax changes, and more and are updated as new information is received.
The Carroll Chamber seeks to provide access to recommendations, regulations, services and expertise to its members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this mission remains constant. Prior to acting, members should consult their own professional advisors for information and counsel specific to the individual and unique situations faced by organizations, individuals and corporations. The opinions, interpretations and recommendations of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce are informational only and should not be relied upon by the recipient as legal or professional advice. The Carroll Chamber makes no representation as to the accuracy or reliability of the content contained herein. Users of this information accept any and all risks associated with the use of such information and agree that the Carroll County Chamber has no liability to user.
Carroll Chamber Resource Directory– a quick compilation of resources published by our community partners and updated as new information is provided.
US and Georgia Department of Labor
In response to the development of COVID-19, the GDOL is temporarily suspending in person requirements for services provided by this agency. In accordance with Governor Kemp’s recommendation, the GDOL is providing online access to unemployment services, partial claim access for employers and other reemployment services. If a claimant does not have access to the internet, the GDOL is providing assistance for filing a claim by phone by contacting their local career center. To file a claim via phone, claimants will need to expect lengthy wait times due to the time it takes to properly process the filing of a claim.
- Emergency Rule 300-2-4-0-5 – The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) has adopted an emergency Rule 300-2-4-0.5 Partial Claims, effective March 16, 2020. The rule mandates all Georgia employers to file partial claims online on behalf of their employees for any week during which an employee (full-time/part-time) works less than full-time due to a partial or total company shutdown caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Any employer found to be in violation of this rule will be required to reimburse GDOL for the full amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid to the employee.
Filing partial claims results in your employees receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefit payments faster, usually within 48 hours for claims filed electronically. Employees for whom you file a partial claim are NOT required to report to a Georgia Department of Labor career center, register for employment services, or look for other work. Reemployment support services can be accessed online. - How to file an unemployment claim and How Employers File Partial Claims
- Practical Claims Online Filing Instructions (pdf)
- FMLA Questions – US DOL
- DOL Answers Questions on FLSA Compliance during the Coronavirus Pandemic
US Small Business Administration
Links to information on small business products and loans, guidance on access to capital and the local assistance directory
- Guidance for Businesses and Employers
- Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program – The US SBA is now available to the entire state of Georgia. SBA is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Georgia small businesses including private non-profit organizations of any size, suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19. These loans can provide vital economic support to help small businesses overcome temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 2.75 percent, SBA offers loans with long term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Please note the following:
- Applicants may apply online https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
- Applicants are applying for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program so they must select the Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Option.
- SBA EIDL Training Session in Video on YouTube
- Click here for a PDF that explains the Three Step Loan Process.
- Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster disaster assistance.
- Deadline to apply is December 18, 2020
- Paycheck Protection Program PPP– prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.
- Access to Capital
- Lender Match
- SBA Express Bridge Loan information.
- A Guide to the SBA’s Size Program and Affiliation Rules– in order to be eligible for certain federal program and certain federal contracts and subcontracts, you must be a small business concern. Size regulations are used to determine eligibility for all SBA and Federal programs.
- Local Assistance – UWG Small Business Development Center. Todd Anduze is the local area director (678) 839-5082 | 105 Adamson Hall, Carrollton, GA 30118 | [email protected]
Internal Revenue Service- has temporarily closed all Taxpayer Assistance Centers and discontinued face-to-face service throughout the country until further notice.
- IRS is extending the April 15th filing and payment deadline until July 15, 2020, for individuals who have a 2019 tax balance due of $1 million or less per return and who file a return or an extension form with the IRS by April 15th. Extension doesn’t apply to all penalties such as for underwithholding. Please check with your tax advisor for more information on exceptions on extensions. For more info check the IRS website as information is fluid and can change. Check news releases on irs.gov.
- On March 20, IRS and DOL announced that small and midsize employers can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees. Click here for more information.
- High Deductible health plans can cover coronavirus costs
- Filing and Payment Deadlines Questions & Answers
Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA) – an association for professional fellowship, business opportunities, innovation, regulatory expertise and market data.
Resources for Small Businesses Impacted by Covid-19– includes congressional actions as well as SBA Bulletins, Securities and Exchange Commission Bulletins, and Federal Reserve Bulletins.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- Passed by Senate on 3/14; by House on 3/18 and signed by President Trump and became law on 3/18/2020.
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act – under text tab
- Summary
- Webinar: Families First Coronavirus Response Act- An Update for Employers from Husch Blackwell presented by Austin Chamber of Commerce
Other Resources
- US Chamber of Commerce
- Coronavirus Response Toolkit
- Workplace Tips for Employers
- Guidance for Employers
- State and Local Policy Tracker (local is not always updated timely).
- Corporate Aid Tracker – details how business of all sizes and sectors are stepping up to combat the virus. Corporate donations, both cash and in-kind, to support medical professionals and non-profits currently exceed $418 million.
- Resilence in a Box- developed in partnership with the UPS Foundation, this box is based on best practices and designed to educate business leaders on disaster preparedness and business resilience.
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce
- US Department of Agriculture
- Georgia Department of Community Affairs
- Restore Your Economy
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- National Association of Manufacturers
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Department of Homeland Security
- GCN- Nonprofit Guide To COVID planning
- SCORE
- The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)- has answers to common questions regarding coronavirus and HR.