May 20th COVID-19 Toplines from Senator Merkley’s Office

The Latest from Senator Merkley:

·Standing up for students: Senator Merkley joined a bipartisan groupof 27 Senators, is urging Senate leadership to include robust funding for America’s schools, educators, and students in the next round of coronavirus relief funding.

·Protecting America’s farmworkers: Senator Merkley is leading a group of fellow senators in urging Senate leadership to establish and enforce adequate protections for America’s farmworkers—whose essential work enables families across America to keep food on the table during the coronavirus crisis. The letter comes as reports highlight farmworkers’ critical need for additional health and safety safeguards to protect themselves, their families, other workers, and the stability of the food supply amid the pandemic.

Helpful Resources from Senator Merkley’s Coronavirus Website:

You can see the regularly updated information the Senator and his team are posting about COVID-19 by visiting his website.

Helpful Resources from Senator Merkley’s Operation: Main Street Economic Recovery Hub:

Senator Merkley’s COVID-19 economic recovery hub webpage includes regularly updated information he’s posting there for small businesses and non-profit organizations.

No updates in today’s running list of resources but please feel free to share the following funding opportunities with people in your region who may be interested:

·Information from the US Economic Development Administration about COVID-19 related funding opportunities

·FDIC’s webinar about Consumer Protection for Native Americans in the Age of COVID-19 on May 28th

·Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s COVID-19 Emergency Response for Suicide Prevention Grants application (due May 22nd)

5/19 Email from Summer Matteson, Econ. Dev., Curry County
We hope that is going well and ask that you let us know if we can help in any way.

·A reminder that you can purchase PPE at cost from SOWIB: https://www.sowibsupply.com/

·SOU webinar on how to account for your PPP forgivable loan with measures on how to reduce compliance burdens, and simplify the process for borrowers. Plenty of time for Q&A:

·REGISTER HERE FOR THIS FREE WEBINAR: June 1, 2:00PM to 3:00PM -- Accounting for Recording and Reporting Your PPP Loan Webinar

·Helpful summaries of what life is supposed to look like in Phase 1, from Travel Oregon: https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/what-reopening-oregon-means-for-you/

·OPB reopening outlook: https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-coronavirus-reopen-questionandanswer/

·This digest is a compilation of information and resources related to employment, commerce and economic development issues surrounding COVID-19. There are numerous online resources for those seeking health-related information, including daily COVID-19 updates from the Oregon Health Authority at https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19.

·The Small Business Administration and Department of Treasury released Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness applications. Borrowers can find instructions and the PPP loan forgiveness application here.

·Oregon State Parks has a new tool for Oregonians on how and where to recreate outdoors as some areas reopen. Some state parks are now open for limited day-use, while all overnight camping remains closed. View the status of parks and recreation facilities here

5/14/20 - Email received from Merkley Press Office:
Good afternoon: I wanted to update you on Sen. Merkley’s efforts to get desperately needed relief to small businesses in Oregon.

Sen. Merkley today detailed new legislation that would expand the existing work share program, allowing employers to share their payroll costs with the federal government while receiving grants to help cover other fixed costs, like rent, and needs for reopening safely, like cleaning and protective equipment. This bill is based on feedback Sen. Merkley has heard from you and other small businesses across the state—so thank you for connecting with our office.

Click here for a link to the press release and a Facebook message from Sen. Merkley.

Thanks!

###

News Release . . .

United States Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2020

Contact: Sara Hottman (Merkley) – 503-326-3386

Merkley, Colleagues Announce New Work Share Proposal to Help Employers and Workers Weather the Storm

Unemployment numbers out today show nearly 36.5 million Americans have filed for unemployment since early march

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), today announced new legislation to help small businesses, nonprofits, and workers weather the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and support a safe reopening.

On a press conference call,the senators laid out the details of their proposal, the Rebuilding Main Street Act, which would expand the existing work share program to allow employers to share their payroll costs with the federal government, while receiving grant help to cover other fixed costs like rent and needs for reopening safely like cleaning and protective equipment.

Employers and workers across the country are reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic shutdown. While Congress worked to pass four bipartisan legislative packages, large segments of the workforce and business sectors have not benefitted from the economic relief programs.

“Throughout this pandemic, I’ve been in frequent touch with small business owners and workers in every corner of Oregon, and what I’ve heard time and time again is the need for flexibility and financial support as they work to re-open their business,” said Merkley. “Any effort to rebuild our economy must happen from Main Street up, not Wall Street down.”

The senators’ proposalencourages and expandswork sharing—an existing program supported by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that helps participating employers avoid layoffs by instead reducing the hours of their employees. The plan allows employers to scale their workers’ hours down—or up—with unemployment insurance funded by the federal government making up the difference. Instead of turning unemployment insurance on or off, it acts like a dimmer for businesses willing and able to keep employees on, just not at full time or salary.

In return, those businesses receive a grant for some of the costs of weathering this crisis and reopening once it’s safe to do so.

For a full summary of the Rebuilding Main Street Act, click here.

###

5/14/20 Email from Shaun Gibbs, E.D., South Coast Development Council:
...Also, we are still trying to collect surveys from businesses in the region. SCDC eblasted to approx. 2500 regional business emails, and we have received a decent response, but we need more. These responses will be aggregated with CCD Business and their application to Business Oregon for potential matching grant dollars of $200,000. Please share with businesses and tenants if possible.

“Southern Oregon Coast regional economic development partners have put together a simple google form/survey meant to gauge the impact of SBA programs, such as the EIDL and PPP, for businesses and organizations located in Coos, Curry, and Douglas Counties. The focus of this survey is to help us identify gaps of businesses/orgs who were not successful with the CAREs act programs, so resources such as potential Business Oregon matching grant dollars.

Please take 5 minutes to fill out the survey - https://forms.gle/RtGyMRiQE1sbEVHB8”

5/8/20 Email from Curry County Econ. Dev.
The President signed a new Executive Order promoting American seafood competitiveness and economic growth. This Executive Order will propel the United States forward as a seafood superpower by strengthening the American economy; improving the competitiveness of American industry; ensuring food security; providing environmentally safe and sustainable seafood; supporting American workers; and ensuring coordinated and transparent federal actions.

Specifically, the Executive Order calls for the expansion of sustainable U.S. seafood production through:

*More efficient and predictable aquaculture permitting

*Cutting-edge research and development

*Regulatory reform to maximize commercial fishing

*Enforcement of common-sense restrictions on seafood imports that do not meet American standards

Final sector guidance documents

Guidelines Regarding Face Covering Use in Public:

https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le2288K.pdf

Phase One Reopening Guidance for the Public:

https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le2342D.pdf

Sector Guidance: RETAIL:

https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le2342A.pdf

Sector Guidance: RESTAURANTS/BARS/BREWERIES/TASTING ROOMS/DISTILLERIES:

https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le2342B.pdf

Sector Guidance: OUTDOOR RECREATION:

https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le2342E.pdf

Sector Guidance: PERSONAL SERVICES:

https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le2342F.pdf

General Guidance for Employers:

https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le2342C.pdf

The Governor’s Office, in cooperation with local Chambers of Commerce, is offering a series of webinars to help small business owners understand the guidelines for the first phase (Phase 1) of re-opening businesses despite the continued risk of COVID-19 transmission.

(The written version of the information that we will review is available on the OHA website at: https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19. Look for “OHA Guidance and Rules” beneath Governor’s Orders and OHA Guidance about half-way down the page.)

Each webinar will include:

¨A review of the time-line (it is likely that counties in Southern Oregon will be entering Phase 1 on May 15)

¨A review of general business guidelines

¨A review of guidance for your specific industry sector

¨An opportunity to ask questions (and perhaps get answers!)

The webinars will be offered on Tuesday, May 12th.

9 AM: Re-Opening Retail

10 AM: Re-Opening Restaurants/Bars/Tasting Rooms

11 AM: Re-Opening Personal Services Businesses (hair and nail salons, massage, tattoo parlors, etc.)

Webinar access information:

Topic: Re-Opening Retail

Time: May 12, 2020 09:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

https://zoom.us/j/91667563867

Meeting ID: 916 6756 3867

One tap mobile

+16699006833,,91667563867# US (San Jose)

+12532158782,,91667563867# US (Tacoma)

4/30/20 - Email received from Oregon State Chamber of Commerce: The following are draft documents of the general guidance for the Phase 1 reopening of Oregon put together by the Governor's office. General guidance for the public General employer guidance Sector guidance - Childcare Sector guidance - Retail Sector guidance - Restaurant It is important that businesses provide feedback on this guidance. To provide feedback on this guidance, please email yourRegional Solutions staff representative, yourlegislator, and copyJessica Chambers.

Email from Amy Amrhein, Office of US Senator Jeff Merkley:
Will have a press release about this shortly, but wanted to give you a heads up…

$250 billion for PPP

• $60 billion additional for PPP targeting unbanked and underserved small businesses, including $30 billion set aside for CDFIs, minority depository institutions, and the smallest community banks and credit unions
• $50 billion for EIDL
• $10 billion for EEIG
• $75 billion for additional funding for hospitals and other providers
• $25 billion for testing

AMY AMRHEIN, Southern Oregon Field Representative

Office of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley

10 S. Bartlett St. #201 Medford, OR 97501

Tel: 541-608-9102

amy_amrhein@merkley.senate.gov

For coronavirus information and updates, visit Senator Merkely’s resource page, https://www.merkley.senate.gov/coronavirus. For small business resources and information, visit Senator Merkley’s economic recovery page: merkley.senate.gov/mainstreet.

Email from Summer Matteson, Curry County Econ. Dev.
The SBA has reached its cap on the EIDL and PPP lending options for the COVID-19 crisis and applications are closed for the time being. While we look for an additional surge of funding to become available, here is a list of items you will want to have prepared before you apply:

·Create a forecast

·Examine your expenses

·Assess staffing needs

·Forecast your cash

·Apply for a loan

·A visual is attached

Relief Grants and Funds

·$38 million dollars in child care development block grants:

https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-over-38-million-in-child-care-development-block-grants-2020

·Currently, CCD has been able to set aside $200,000 with approval from EDA of their revolving loan funds for this COVID-19 loan program. Information about the loan program is attached and can be found at the CCD website:

https://www.ccdbusiness.org/ccd-covid-19-loan-program/ An example of a loan/grant to a small business would be, a business request of $20,000 to address issues created for the COVID-19 pandemic.

oCCD Loan for $15,000

oPotential grant for $5,000 (For jobs retained, created or health industry related.)

oGrant contributions could be allocated to businesses in your specific district/service area if so desired.

·Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs and Small Business Association Micro Loan Program: OAME and SBA's microloan program is available during this time:

https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/ORDOT/2020/04/14/file_attachments/1427314/OAME%20SBA%20Microloan%20Program.pdf

·Immigration & Refuge Community Organization: https://irco.org/news-and-press/covid-19-resources.html

·Ports with an existing loan through Business Oregon, you may be eligible for relief: https://www.oregon4biz.com/assets/docs/portReliefCOVID19.pdf

·Another round of Layoff Aversion funds has been released to the workforce investment boards. These grant funds are not a good source for wage replacement, but can assist with purchasing supplies and/or equipment to allow continued business operations and avoid layoffs. For Coos/Curry/Douglas, contact SOWIB: https://www.sowib.org/covid-19

• DEQ grant for reuse/recycling businesses: https://go.usa.gov/xvkzt

• Trove of documents on SBA Economic Injury Disaster Lending: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s6jdu3wnsbkjatv/AADPzpTJi2HEQJB68zgkaHhFa?dl=0

Resources and Educational Opportunities

·The American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLA Foundation) and the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF) are both offering complimentary access to several food safety and professional development online courses: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bFXhb00llnw2_pW1YntFbgZV6J86AycD/view

• U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a description of programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide: https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/USDA_COVID-19_Fed_Rural_Resource_Guide.pdf

California, Washington and Oregon Announce Western States Pact

West Coast States Agree Region Will Move Toward Reopening Based On Health Outcomes

Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced an agreement on a shared vision for reopening their economies and controlling COVID-19 into the future.

Joint statement from the Governors:

COVID-19 has preyed upon our interconnectedness. In the coming weeks, the West Coast will flip the script on COVID-19 - with our states acting in close coordination and collaboration to ensure the virus can never spread wildly in our communities.

We are announcing that California, Oregon and Washington have agreed to work together on a shared approach for reopening our economies - one that identifies clear indicators for communities to restart public life and business.

While each state is building a state-specific plan, our states have agreed to the following principles as we build out a West Coast framework:

Our residents' health comes first. As home to one in six Americans and gateway to the rest of the world, the West Coast has an outsized stake in controlling and ultimately defeating COVID-19.

Health outcomes and science - not politics - will guide these decisions. Modifications to our states' stay at home orders must be made based off our understanding of the total health impacts of COVID-19, including: the direct impact of the disease on our communities; the health impact of measures introduced to control the spread in communities-particularly felt by those already experiencing social disadvantage prior to COVID-19; and our health care systems' ability to ensure care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This effort will be guided by data. We need to see a decline in the rate of spread of the virus before large-scale reopening, and we will be working in coordination to identify the best metrics to guide this.

Our states will only be effective by working together. Each state will work with it's local leaders and communities within its borders to understand what's happening on the ground and adhere to our agreed upon approach.

Through quick and decisive action, each of our states has made significant progress in flattening the curve and slowing the spread of COVID-19 among the broader public. Now, our public health leaders will focus on four goals that will be critical for controlling the virus in the future.

• Protecting vulnerable populations at risk for severe disease if infected. This includes a concerted effort to prevent and fight outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
• Ensuring an ability to care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This will require adequate hospital surge capacity and supplies of personal protective equipment.
• Mitigating the non-direct COVID-19 health impacts, particularly on disadvantaged communities.
• Protecting the general public by ensuring any successful lifting of interventions includes the development of a system for testing, tracking and isolating. The states will work together to share best practices.

COVID-19 doesn't follow state or national boundaries. It will take every level of government, working together, and a full picture of what's happening on the ground.

In the coming days the governors, their staff and health officials will continue conversations about this regional pact to recovery.

Message from Oregon State Representative, David Brock Smith:

Hello Oregon Ports & Small Businesses,

Below and attached you will find useful links regarding Small Business Assistance. Please feel free to forward this information on.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to our office via email if you need further assistance.

COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application:

https://covid19relief.sba.gov/?fbclid=IwAR2IJWeW5VOIF-BTXjNtz2FK0q0iU5NrM4g6EbCRQqRzd4ZamAjYTjABVDk#/

Small Business Resource Navigator:

https://www.oregon4biz.com/Coronavirus-Information/?fbclid=IwAR19aF-raXanqUV27B1IRb2c4IF8QFL6x25ZBJDjVE4TxAoM-hJev7LUFjE

State of Oregon COVID-19 Business Impact Survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NZYJBLV?fbclid=IwAR08lAs0H5jR0huRVCunrrU5OM8bXwXFNqKZnkGBbpUs6meDmj-ydc_Td6A

Best,

David Brock Smith

Oregon State Representative

4/8/20 Message from Summer Matteson, Curry County Economic Development:
Today, Senator Merkley expressed alarm that PPP funding was not reaching the small, Main Street businesses, especially minority-owned firms, that Congress intended. The $349 billion forgivable loan program, which was included in Congress’ most recent coronavirus relief legislation, is designed to provide much-needed relief to American businesses dealing with the severe economic impacts of the pandemic. Today we learned there has been a backlog building with applications for the SBA PPP program. A temporary suspension of applications has been made until lenders gain capacity for catching up.

If you have yet to apply for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan, please visit: https://bizcenter.org/covid-19/ or email the director at: john.bacon@socc.edu

The latest updates

CARES Act support for local governments. The Budget and Management Office of the State of Oregon is still working through the dozens of different funding streams embedded within the CARES Act. Once that is complete, the State will turn to developing a plan for how to handle the State/Local Fiscal Stabilization Fund. For more information, see: The Coronavirus Relief Fund (CARES Act, Title V): Background and State and Local Allocations

Travel Oregon has compiled state and national data on how COVID-19 has impacted the travel and tourism industries. The report will be updated weekly and is available here.

The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis has a new blogpost on unemployment insurance claims. Initial claims last week set new records at the state and national level, with 92,700 claims received statewide last week.

The U.S. Small Business Administrations has FAQs regarding participation of faith-based organizations in the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.

Good resources and information

Are you an essential employee in need of childcare? https://orm.naccrraware.net/orm/ormSearch

Some resources for non-profits from a coalition of tech companies - https://www.impactcloud.org/covid19

When can we START to get back to normal? This New York Times piece is helpful in understanding how/when we may begin to lift restrictions (which will be a gradual, phased process): https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/upshot/coronavirus-four-benchmarks-reopening.html

Food banks in Curry County: https://89066abf-ee61-4039-990e-29fd6d464398.filesusr.com/ugd/d6707a_5c76442d7e524d43943d0b41c647acec.pdf

Don’t miss out in sharing how this pandemic has affected your business. The State is listening: https://industry.traveloregon.com/opportunities/marketing-co-ops-toolkits/toolkits/covid-19-toolkit/survey-opportunities-data/

SCDC and regional partners are working with CCD Business Development to raise funds for their COVID-19 loan/grant fund to help small businesses. If you are interested in donating to this small business fund and would like more information please send me an email. The mission is to raise additional funds to add an element of loan forgiveness/grants to the CCD loan program. Currently, CCD has been able to set aside $200,000 with approval from EDA of their revolving loan funds for this COVID-19 loan program. Information about the loan program is attached and can be found at the CCD website - https://www.ccdbusiness.org/ccd-covid-19-loan-program/

An example of a loan/grant to a small business would be, a business request of $20,000 to address issues created for the COVID-19 pandemic. The business needs funds to cover operating expenses or to purchase a piece of equipment to retool their operations. (Like a distillery now producing hand sanitizer.)

CCD Loan for $15,000

Potential grant for $5,000 (For jobs retained, created or health industry related.)

Grant contributions could be allocated to businesses in your specific district/service area if so desired.

This will be a great tool for our region and our small businesses if we can help raise more funds to pull together and make these resources available. If you(utilities, banks, etc.) would like to donate please let us know.

Many of the events in town are being Cancelled or Rescheduled. We are making every attempt to update the Event Calendar, but we are not always made aware when an event is Cancelled or Rescheduled. Thank you for all your patience.

Slideshow

Scrolling.2

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events