ACEnet facilities, including the Food Ventures Center in Athens & the Food & Farm Enterprise Center in Nelsonville are and will remain open until further notice. ACEnet staff is available (remotely) for our various business counseling services. Please email your needs to LeslieS@acenetworks.org and you will be connected with a staff member who can assist you. We will continue to update this page with Covid-19 Relief Resources for Small Businesses, Individuals & Nonprofits as they become available.

 

Federal Resources for Small Businesses & Nonprofits

The Paycheck Protection Program

The Paycheck Protection Program is designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll by providing each small business a loan up to $10 million for payroll and certain other expenses.If all employees are kept on payroll for eight weeks, SBA will forgive the portion of the loans used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. Up to 100 percent of the loan is forgivable. If employees are laid off, the forgiveness will be reduced by the percent decrease in the number of employees. For more info: Paycheck Protection Program

Also, Here is a toolkit for non-profits trying to navigate the Paycheck Protection Program: https://fmaonline.net/ppptoolbox/

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act

The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. Guide to the CARES Act

Health Insurance Premium Grace Period

Health insurers are required to provide the option of deferring premium payments(opens in a new window), interest free, for up to 60 calendar days from each original premium due date. This means that employers can defer their premium payments for up to two months, giving them some relief on costs, while keeping their employees insured. Ohio Department of Insurance

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program

This loan fund has been re-opened for FARMERS AND RANCHERS ONLY who have been economically impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19.They may now apply for a low-interest loan of up to $10,000 to help pay for fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. You can apply here: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/ (recommended), or by calling 1-800-659-2955 to have an application mailed to you.

To expedite the application process, applicants should have ready complete copies of their most recent federal income tax return and a completed and signed IRS Form 4506T, which authorizes the release of tax information. Additional information to have available would be a schedule of liabilities, personal financial statement, monthly sales figures, a current year-to-date profit-and-loss statement, and a year-end profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet for that tax year if the most recent federal income tax return has not been filed.

Coronavirus and Unemployment Insurance Benefits

An executive order issued by Governor DeWine expands flexibility for Ohioans to receive unemployment benefits during Ohio’s emergency declaration period. Unemployment benefits will be available for eligible individuals who are requested by a medical professional, local health authority, or employer to be isolated or quarantined as a consequence of COVID-19, even if they are not actually diagnosed with COVID-19. In addition, the waiting period for eligible Ohioans to receive unemployment benefits will be waived. For more information & to apply for unemployment benefits: http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/CoronavirusAndUI.stm

JobsOhio Resources

JobsOhio is committed to supporting the well-being of Ohio businesses, especially now as they navigate the changing landscape created by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). JobsOhio Resource Page

 

Local Resources

Ohio Supports Local Carry-Out & Online Sales

Ohio has launched a new website to promote local retailers and restaurants during this pandemic to help businesses that offer on-line sales or carry-out food/beverage. Businesses can register themselves here: https://ohio.org/SupportLocalOhio/

Local Relief Efforts

The COVID-19 Athens County Response Fund is closed.

 

Resources for Food & Retail Businesses

How to Talk To Landlords About COVID-19

Until the government orders a rent freeze, here’s how restaurant/retail owners should talk to landlords about COVID-19. The article may be from Eater, but the advice is good for any brick & mortar business. How To Talk To Landlords

Webinar: Curbside for Full Service Restaurants

Curious how to start offering curbside, or just want to get better at it? The Texas Restaurant Association has this webinar to help you out: https://tinyurl.com/webinar-curbside-full-service

ServSafe Free Food Handlers Course & Assessment

Now through April 30, get the essential training every restaurant and foodservice worker needs to keep guests and themselves safe for free. This offer includes both the online training and assessment. For more information & instructions: ServSafe Food Handlers Course

Covid-19 & Food Service Businesses

To all restaurants & food service operators still in operation:  ServSafe and the National Restaurant Association have recorded a webinar regarding appropriate response measures to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topics include:

  • The latest developments related to the Coronavirus.
  • How to prepare restaurants for virus prevention.
  • Answers to the Frequently Asked Questions from the industry.

Feel free to pass along to other restaurant and food-service operators in our community and beyond. You can view this webinar here: https://tinyurl.com/Coronavirus-and-Food-Service

Liquor Buyback Program for Bars/Restaurants

If you own a bar and/or restaurant and you stocked your business with alcohol for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and NCAA basketball tournament games, you can reach out to the Liquor Enterprise Service Center at 1-877-812-0013 or e-mail OhioLiquorInfo@com.ohio.gov for information on a one time liquor buyback.

 

Resources for Artists

Artists Thrive

Artists Thrive has compiled a fairly comprehensive list of hundreds of opportunities that have been identified for relief for artists and arts organizations. Artists Thrive Master List. They have also created a webpage with ideas, creative responses & a variety of ways artists are responding to this crisis: https://artiststhrive.org/covid-19

Americans for the Arts

Americans for the Arts has many resources, relief funds & financial assistance opportunities listed on their website: Relief Funds and Financial Assistance.

Government Support for Creative Professionals Impacted by COVID-19

The Dramatists Guild has provided a flowchart from the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industry Coordinating Committee (AEMI) to provide initial guidance on how to access the expanded unemployment insurance benefits (and additional information). AEMI Flowchart & Information

COVID-19 & Freelance Artists

This website provides an aggregated list of free resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines. Resources for Freelance Artists

FreshArts Emergency Funding

FreshArts has provided a list of emergency funding opportunities for artists. FreshArts Emergency Funding Opportunities

 

Resources for Farmers

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program

This loan fund has been re-opened for FARMERS AND RANCHERS ONLY who have been economically impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19.They may now apply for a low-interest loan of up to $10,000 to help pay for fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. You can apply here: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/ (recommended), or by calling 1-800-659-2955 to have an application mailed to you.

To expedite the application process, applicants should have ready complete copies of their most recent federal income tax return and a completed and signed IRS Form 4506T, which authorizes the release of tax information. Additional information to have available would be a schedule of liabilities, personal financial statement, monthly sales figures, a current year-to-date profit-and-loss statement, and a year-end profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet for that tax year if the most recent federal income tax return has not been filed.

Farmer Relief $1000 Mini-Grants

The American Farmland Trust Farmer Relief Fund is closed.

ServSafe Free Food Handlers Course & Assessment

Now through April 30, get the essential training every restaurant and foodservice worker needs to keep guests and themselves safe for free. This offer includes both the online training and assessment. Aimed at food service workers, but certainly relevant to home-based processors and any farmers doing delivery or curbside pick-up: For more information & instructions: ServSafe Food Handlers Course

Community Farm Alliance

This CFA page is being updated as new information and resources arise: Community Farm Alliance Resources

Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS)

Farm Employers Labor Service is presenting a second webinar regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response (FFCRA) Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). For more information and to see the resources from their first webinar: FFCRA FMLA Expansion & PSL Mandate

CARES Act for Food & Agriculture

The CARES Act provides a number of food and agriculture-related benefits, including funding to ensure children and low-income families have continued access to nutritious, affordable food and to ensure farmers have the financial resources they need to offset the more immediate economic impacts of the virus. What’s in the CARES Act for Food and Agriculture

 

Misc. Resources & Resources for Working Remotely

Communications & Information Sharing Solutions for Staff Working Remotely

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in the communities where we live and serve, organizations are encouraging their staff to work remotely if possible. While a planned transition to a remote workforce would typically be staged over time, one may need to be implemented quickly in this scenario. Because the current situation is changing so rapidly, the resources TechSoup is providing (most of which are FREE) are options that can be implemented relatively quickly, with little to no external IT support needed to do so and with a focus on remote communications and information sharing solutions. https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/nonprofit-resources-for-remote-work-during-the-covid-19-outbreak

Ohio CDC Association Resources for Community Development

The Ohio CDC Association website is listing and linking to resources that can help members around the state. Resources include webinars, fact sheets, slides and news. https://www.ohiocdc.org/covid19-resources

Community Update by ACEnet Programs & Communications Coordinator, Meggan Loveland