COVID-19 Business Resources
Business/Nonprofit Resources and County Assistance
We understand that many businesses in Lenawee County have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past few months, there have been many new programs designed to help your business evolve quickly with these changing circumstances.
We’re here to help you in any way possible in hopes that your business can survive this pandemic. We can be your one-stop guide to assess your unique needs and provide the information, programs, and guidance you need to help your business through to the other side of this crisis.
Contact
Timothy S. Robinson
Director of Operations
517-265-5141
Tim@LenaweeNow.org
Grant Funding Available for Michigan Restaurants and Bars
Restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments across Michigan hard hit by COVID-19 are encouraged to apply for $28.6 billion in federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund direct relief being provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration under the American Rescue Plan.
Registration for the funding will begin on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT with the application itself opening on Monday, May 3, 2021, at noon EDT.
For more information on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, visit sba.gov/restaurants or in Spanish at sba.gov/restaurantes.
American Rescue Plan Tax Credits to Provide Paid Leave to Employees Receiving COVID-19 Vaccines
Eligible employers, such as businesses and tax-exempt organizations with fewer than 500 employees and certain governmental employers, can receive a tax credit for providing paid time off for each employee receiving the vaccine and for any time needed to recover from the vaccine. For example, if an eligible employer offers employees a paid day off in order to get vaccinated, the employer can receive a tax credit equal to the wages paid to employees for that day (up to certain limits).
The additional details, provided in a fact sheet released today by the IRS (and available in English and Spanish), spell out some basic facts about the employers eligible for the tax credits. It also provides information on how these employers may claim the credit for leave paid to employees related to COVID-19 vaccinations.
For more details on how the paid leave tax credits from the American Rescue Plan will work for employers to enable employees to get vaccinated and recover from after-effects of vaccination, as well as for other purposes, see the snapshot also released today by Treasury.
Treasury Department – Paid Leave Tax Credit
IRS – Paid Leave Tax Credit (English)
IRS – Paid Leave Tax Credit (Spanish)
SBA Announces Official Restaurant Revitalization Fund Application and Guidelines
The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
SBA has issued further guidance on their website which can be found here: www.sba.gov/restaurants.
SBA is currently offering PPP loans until May 31, 2021
On February 24, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. ET, SBA established a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees. This gave lenders and community partners more time to work with the smallest businesses to submit their applications, while also ensuring that larger PPP-eligible businesses still had plenty of time to apply for and receive support before the program expires on May 31, 2021.
SBA also made four additional changes to open the PPP to more underserved small businesses than ever before, publishing an Interim Final Rule and new FAQ with this detail on March 3, 2021.
To learn more, click here.
SBA COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan Deadline Extended
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for the COVID-19 Pandemic disaster declaration has been extended to December 31, 2021, pending the availability of funds. Every eligible small business and nonprofit is encouraged to apply to get the resources they need.
For more information, click here.
Weatherization Grants Available for Small Businesses
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) is providing federal CARES Act funds to help qualifying small businesses to 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.
For more information, click here.
Download the Weatherization Grant Flyer
NEW – Employee Retention Credit
In March, The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service launched the Employee Retention Credit, designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19.
The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes equal to 50 percent of the qualified wages an eligible employer pays to employees after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021. Eligible employers can get immediate access to the credit by reducing employment tax deposits they are otherwise required to make. Also, if the employer’s employment tax deposits are not sufficient to cover the credit, the employer may get an advance payment from the IRS.
For more information, click here.
Michigan Agricultural Safety Grants – Still Available!
The CARES Act Agricultural Safety Grant Program is still open and there is still funding available. In addition, $1.5 million has been set aside specifically for small farms.
The $15 million Michigan Agricultural Safety Grant Program will provide economic assistance for Michigan farms and agricultural processors to mitigate risks of the COVID-19 virus across the state’s food production industry. Grants will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis with $10 million total available for agricultural processers and $5 million available for farms. Applications will be processed by Michigan-based GreenStone Farm Credit Services, one of America’s largest rural lenders.
Applications information is available at michiganbusiness.org/agsafety
COVID-19 Workplace Safety Resources
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has a one-stop-shop resource to help you navigate workplace safety guidance as businesses remain open amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visit Michigan.gov/
USDA to Provide $1B in Loan Guarantees for Rural Businesses and Ag Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under USDA Business & Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/mi
Size Up – Small Business Data Support Platform
This small business data tool was launched to make it easier for local small businesses in the Detroit Region or people thinking of starting a small business to safely access virtual data. The SizeUp tool gives business intelligence and market research to companies so they can make smarter decisions through data. Use this free tool to analyze competitive benchmarks, find customers, suppliers, and competitors, and pinpoint the best locations to advertise.
Visit the Detroit Regional Partnership’s website for more info.
Work Share Program
Restart. Retain.
Michigan’s Work Share program allows employers to restart their business and bring employees back from unemployment. Employers can bring employees back with reduced hours – while employees collect partial unemployment benefits to make up a portion of the lost wages. Employers can also retain their current workforce and are given the flexibility to choose which of their employees are part of a Work Share plan. Learn More
Need further convincing on how this program is helping employers restart their business and retain their employees?
Check out the recent article published on Money.Com
New Loan Fund for Small Businesses Impacted by Covid-19
Lenawee County Health Practices
Stay updated on the Lenawee County COVID-19 outbreak by clicking here.
Sector and Protocol-Specific Guidance
These resources were developed by the Michigan Economic Recovery Council. The industry-specific guides are designed for employers of all sizes to implement directives issued by the state in returning safely to in-person work.
Sector-specific documents include: Building & Manufacturing, Offices – Retail & Residential, Healthcare & Research, Dining, and Travel & Entertainment
Protocol-specific documents include: Working From Home and Other Policies. View the full list of resources, here.
Federal Paycheck Protection Program Receives Additional Funding
An additional $310 billion was approved on April 24, 2020, that extends the federal Paycheck Protection Program to provide forgivable loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration. The application period for the program is not yet live. However, Michigan businesses are encouraged to keep an eye on MIPaycheckProtection.com to stay up-to-date on application period timeframes, as funds are expected to go quickly.
Learn More Now
The MIOSHA Workplace Improvement to Safety and Health (MIWISH) Grant Program
The MIWISH Grant Program awards qualifying employers a dollar-for-dollar match – up to $5,000 – to purchase safety and health-related equipment and equipment-related training. The goal of the program is to create a safer and healthier work environment and reduce the risk of injury and illness to workers in Michigan.
For more information on this grant and others, click here.
MSF Awardee Relief Initiative
The MSF Awardee Relief Initiative program authorizes emergency relief to businesses and community projects that have previously received grants, loans, or other forms of economic assistance from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Learn More Now
The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) Relief Funding
The new program provides a total of $502,400 in grants to Michigan’s eligible nonprofit arts and culture organizations that have been negatively impacted as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. MCACA, through funding provided by the National Endowment for the Arts through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, will make a total of $502,400 in one-time grants to eligible nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, ensuring broad geographic distribution across Michigan. The funds can be used for salary support (full or partial) for one or more employees; fees for artists and/or contractual personnel; and facility costs, such as rent and utilities.
More information on the Emergency Relief Funds program is available at www.michigan.gov/arts.
Michigan Companies Hiring Now
Michigan companies have an immediate need to fill thousands of critical vacancies to support work during the COVID-19 outbreak, including those in logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, and agribusiness industries. The State of Michigan’s employment search engine – Pure Michigan Talent Connect – provides job seekers and employers with an online portal to post, search, and connect to these job openings.
Thousands of new jobs are being posted each day. Employers looking to hire during the COVID-19 outbreak should use the COVID-19 On-Demand Hiring Intake Form. Learn More Now.
Federal Agencies and Organizations
- SBA Coronavirus Relief Options
- The Small Business Administration’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus
- U.S. Chamber Coronavirus Resources + Coronavirus Response Toolkit
- DoL Guidance for Preparing your workplace for COVID-19
State Agencies and Organizations
- State of Michigan’s COVID-19 Volunteer Website
- MEDC COVID-19 Resources
- Michigan SBDC COVID-19 Resources
- State of Michigan’s Coronavirus Resources for Residents
- State of Michigan’s Coronavirus Resources for Employers and Workers
- Michigan Works! Southeast COVID-19 Resources
- Business Leaders for Michigan COVID-19 Business Response Center
Reviewing HR policies and business practices is highly recommended - Small Business Association of Michigan Coronavirus Resources
Local Agencies and Organizations
Lenawee Now: www.lenaweenow.org
The Lenawee Now board, executive team, and staff working with state, regional, and local resources, and officials to stay informed and share business and workforce-related resources and information.
Lenawee County Government: https://www.lenawee.mi.us/
Lenawee County Information & Resources, Employer Guidance Documents, and Guidance for Businesses: http://www.lenawee.mi.us/932/COVID-19—Business
Adrian Area Chamber of Commerce: https://www.adrianareachamber.com
Lenawee Community Foundation: http://lenaweecommunityfoundation.com/
Funding for basic needs through local non-profit agencies
Other Lenawee Now Recommendations
Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA)
Self-employed workers, gig workers, 1099-independent contractors, and low-wage workers can now apply for federal benefits online. Workers need to use the UIA’s daily filing schedule based on their last names. The UIA will be accepting claims and benefit applications back-dated to reflect the date on which the claimant was laid-off due to COVID-19, beyond the previously established 28-day period ($600 federal payment is only retroactive back to March 28).
Learn more about applying for benefits here.
This customized map displays U.S. national and county-level data for the novel coronavirus, alongside Chmura’s JobsEQ Job Loss Vulnerability Index.