A message from the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our lives and the way we do business. We’ve learned how to remote work and come together as a community. First and foremost, our members are at the top of our minds and we wanted to let you know our next steps as we navigate this “new normal.”
- We are in constant communication with our federal, state, and local officials each. As information is continually updated regarding new funding sources and information, we want the needs and issues of our membership to be heard.
- We are working with our local restaurants and retailers to provide a comprehensive list of takeout, delivery, and gift card options. You are a critical part of the lifeblood of our community and we want to do everything in our power to amplify your services.
- From March 17 through May 21, we hosted 45 Daily Action Calls full of with local experts, service providers, and officials to provide guidance, support, and direction. Our full archive can be found here.
- As we begin to phase back into our lives and work, we will continue to be here for you. Please check out our Small Business Restart Guide. We’ve put together a checklist, some helpful links, posters for your workplace, and links to our member businesses providing PPE, cleaning supplies and services, and everything you need to get back to work safely.
We believe in the strength of Greensboro and are here for you. Please reach out with any questions and needs you may have. We have set up a simple survey to capture these and be distributed to the right person on our staff.
Public use of our offices are suspended until further notice. A complete list of Chamber virtual events can be found here.
Resources (Click to see more)
Visit our Vaccine Resource Page: greensboro.org/vaccine.
Get Vaccinated
Currently the Guilford County Division of Public Health is scheduling vaccine clinics for individuals 65 years of age or older. Text GC19 to 888777 to subscribe for updates via a text message opt-in system.
We’ve put together a checklist, some helpful links, posters for your workplace, and links to our member businesses providing PPE, cleaning supplies and services, and everything you need to get back to work safely.
Click here to visit our Restart Guide.
Additional calls scheduled for Q1 2021
Jan. 13 – PPP Round 2
Feb. 3 – Vaccine 101
From March 17-May 20, the Chamber held daily Zoom calls to keep our members and the greater Greensboro community abreast of the latest updates related to COVID-19 and quarantine life.
Click here to explore the archives.
CARES Act Breakdown
A presentation from the US Chamber of Commerce on the major provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security Act – or CARES Act.
City of Greensboro
Greensboro-specific announcements, cancelations and other updates related to COVID-19.
Cone Health: Thriving During A Crisis
Mindfulness and grounding exercises, coloring pages, mood-boosting foods and more.
Employment Law Changes
Effective April 2, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act mandates paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave and enhanced unemployment compensation benefits.
Click here for downloadable workplace posters from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Essential Businesses
Effective Monday, March 30 at 5 p.m., Gov. Roy Cooper has issued a statewide Stay-At-Home order for non-essential businesses. Please check Section 2: Essential Businesses and Operations in the Stay-at-Home order to see if you are considered to be essential. If a company is essential they do NOT need any type of paperwork for their employees to go to work.
If a company is uncertain if they are essential, they may make an essential business request with the NC Dept. of Revenue here: https://www.ncdor.gov/home/ncdor-actions-covid-19/covid-19-essential-businesses.
If a company made a previous request to be considered an essential business it is not valid and they must make a new request with the Department of Revenue. Again, a company who is unsure if they are considered essential per the Stay-at-Home order, they must make this request through the new process in the essential business link above in order to get an official State decision.
Family Forward NC Rapid Response Program
Rapid Response offers no-cost access to HR experts to assist employers in identifying industry-appropriate, family friendly workplace benefits during re-opening and to help employers and working parents build resilience during and after the COVID crisis.
Fox Rothschild Resources by Topic
Webinars and dozens of articles on industry-specific relief.
NC Business Relief Resources
From the Economic Development Partnership of NC Resources.
NC Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Resource Guide
Business continuity planning, best practices, employment law FAQ and more.
Posting & Finding Jobs
Guilford Works has an online jobs directory for those seeking employment. Employers can post jobs here.
PPP Loan Forgiveness
A guide from the Small Business Administration.
Ready.Gov Disaster and Emergency Resources
Disaster planning for businesses.
Reopen Guide from Economic Development Partnership of NC
A list of business relief resources.
Taxes
Federal: The IRS has automatically extended payment deadlines until July 15, 2020, with some exceptions. The filing deadline is still April 15.
State: The North Carolina Department of Revenue is providing relief to certain taxpayers that failed to timely obtain a license, file a return, or pay a tax with a due date between March 15, 2020 and March 31, 2020.
Thriving in the New Normal
Advice from Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP.
US Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Response Toolkit
Guides for employment law changes, workplace safety information and other resources.
Unemployment Insurance
As an employer you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is a federal program that provides temporary payments to people in a federally declared disaster area whose employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster. Business owners that are self-employed, a farmer, or a commercial fisherman, who is unemployed as a direct result of the disaster may be eligible. For more information go to https://des.nc.gov/; Phone: 888-737-0259.
NC Small Business Center Network Resources
Free, one-on-one business counseling to help you find the best path forward. The SBCN also offers a wide range of educational webinars on everything from sales and marketing to supply chain management.
US Small Business Administration Guidance & Disaster Loan Information
North Carolina small businesses and private nonprofits are now eligible to apply for the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. The working capital loans of up to $2 million can provide vital economic support to small businesses and nonprofits to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program
The Golden LEAF Foundation is providing bridge loans of up to $50,000 with six months of no interest and no payments. These loans are intended to support businesses until they are able to secure an SBA loan or other long-term assistance.
Carolina Small Business Development Fund Disaster Recovery & Resiliency Kit
Save Small Business Fund
Small businesses employing 3-20 people and located in an economically vulnerable community are eligible for $5,000 grants from the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
Funding Options
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) are regulated like banks but these are nonprofits, focusing on helping small, community businesses.
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- Thread Capital (NC Rural Center) – 919-212-4950, connect@threadcap.org
- Carolina Small Business Development Fund (formerly The Support Center) – 919-803-1437. Veterans can obtain a loan with no money down.
- Self-Help Credit Union – 800-476-7428. Special lending for childcare locations.
- Carolina Community Impact, Inc. – 919-861-5321, swolford@ccifund.org. Backed by Community Loan Center of NC Triangle.
- NC Community Development Initiative – 919.828.5655. Has great market research information too.
Duke’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship has a searchable database of global, national and regional capital sources. You can also add to the database.
Manufacturing Forum
Post requests, share availability for supplies, post inquiries about the manufacturing capacity of a facility and/or announce that you are producing a new medical product.
Supply Chain Disruptions
Visit this database of products made or manufactured here in NC. You can also add your products to the list.
Import/Export Information
Contact the Raleigh Regional Office of the US Department of Commerce at 919-281-2750 or the Charlotte US Customs Office at 704-329-6100.
Guidance for Producers of Critical Medical Equipment and Supplies
The Economic Development Partnership of NC has created a comprehensive guide for manufacturers looking to pivot their products and production, add contacts, and gather information.
At the beginning of the pandemic in March, we sourced a guide of local restaurants and retailers. Please continue to use this list as you make choices to shop local and help support our local small businesses.
Click here for a list of local restaurants and retailers that remain open for takeout, delivery and online shopping.
Click here for a list of our members offering services and resources to those affected by COVID-19.
Please check out our calendar for all our upcoming virtual events.
Use of our conference rooms is on hold and we are not accepting reservations until further notice.
