COVID-19 For Businesses

1. A great resource for small business recovery assistance in Washington State: www.smallbizhelpwa.com/
2. WA State coronavirus response  — the main state information and resource site
3. WA State Employment Security Department (ESD) provides options to help you retain your employees.
4. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is still accepting applications for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).(extended through 12/31/21)

These programs change rapidly. See our Facebook page for our most recent information.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 passed into law on 12/28/20 and renews programs like PPP and EIDL, and adds and enhances funding available to restaurants, bars, hospitality, and venues.  For our comprehensive summary go here:

https://www.sanjuansedc.org/stimulus-package-update/

CARES ACT: The CARES Act passed into law on 3/27/20, and created new programs including:

• The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  You can download the Forgiveness Application to convert all or some of the loan to a grant here.  Updated FAQ here.

• The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is available to qualified small businesses and non-profits including agricultural businesses.  The EIDL Advance (grant) portion ended on 6/12/20.

• Express Bridge Loans from SBA, which enable small business who already have a relationship with an SBA lender to access a loan up to $25K quickly, while waiting for funding to come from your EIDL loan.  Please ask your lender about this option.

• Governor’s “Safe Start” plans and general guidance for reopening can be found here.  Industry-specific guidance documents are updated regularly here.
• AWB’s “Rebound & Recovery” website helps businesses source Personal Protective Equipment from local Washington PPE manufacturers, and find guidance and other resources to prepare for reopening. If your business makes PPE you can sign up here as well. Details at the link: https://www.reboundandrecovery.org
• The WA State Risk-Assessment Dashboard can be found here.
• Information for employers for workplace safety guidance can be found here.
• Is your business or job considered an essential business or job? Find out here.
• Do you think your workplace, job, or business qualifies as an essential business or job?  Use this form.

• Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD)

  (updated 8/24/20)  Guide for Self-Employed / Independent Contractors / Sole Proprietors  can be downloaded here.

  Guide for real estate professionals can be found here**:

  https://www.warealtor.org/docs/default-source/coronavirus/esd-wr-faqs-042720.pdf

  (**please note: this document is published by WA Realtors and is not affiliated with the EDC.  EDC makes no warranty as to the veracity of the information contained within.)

  Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) from WA State is available to people who normally do not qualify for UI.  Apply now.  The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC was the $600 / week) expired on 7/25/20 and is not scheduled to renew.

  1. Consider SharedWork: If you are able to reduce staff hours rather than laying people off, we highly recommend considering SharedWork. This program allows you to reduce staff hours 10-50% and have Unemployment Insurance provide partial wage replacement against those reduced hours. You can learn more and apply here.  The CARES Act covers 100% of the costs so it won’t impact your experience rating.
  2. Prepare your staff for the process: Here is a resource center where you’ll find a template letter for you to use to send to your employees, webinar sign-up information and other tools for your employees you intend to lay off due to COVID-19.
  3. Emphasize these four steps:
  1. 1. Stay up to date. If you haven’t already, please sign up for ESD’s COVID-19 action alerts. You can do so on the agency’s COVID page.  We send out updated information and instructions through this channel.
     2. Check your eligibility. Learn more about your eligibility and when to apply for benefits using this eligibility checker.
     3. Get ready to apply. Download the application checklist.
     4. Set up your account. Watch this tutorial video to set up your account correctly. It is nine minutes long but will likely save a lot of time.

  Go to ESD.WA.GOV and check out our COVID-19 information section. There, you’ll find FAQs for employees and businesses, preparation checklists and more.

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  • If you have to close your business, ESD provides resources for retraining workers and for people seeking work, such as WorkSource. ESD is also currently hiring to deal with the surge in applicants.
  • Paid Sick Leave (PSL): Effective 4/1/20 through 12/31/20, FFCRA provides up to two weeks of payment for employees who qualify. PSL is not available for layoffs due to lack of work. It is designed for employees who are unable to work for COVID-19 related reasons, like the Governor’s order to stay at home. If you can’t offer your employees work due to a lack of business, they can’t get PSL.  
    • As of 3/31/20, claimants cannot receive PSL and unemployment benefits in the same week.  
    • Full time employees can receive up to 80 hours of PSL.  
    • To calculate available PSL for part-time employees, visit U.S. Department of Labor’s website.  
    • PSL is not retroactive.  
  • Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
    • See how Paid Family Medical Leave could help you and your employees.
    • There is still time to make sure that you and your employees are covered in case we face problems beyond the current shutdown. See their page for employers.
    • Sole proprietors and contractors can inexpensively opt into the state Family and Medical leave act, potentially accessing up to $12,000 in benefits starting July 1 should you or a family member contract COVID or other serious illness
    • The state’s Paid Family Medical leave does have programs for the self-employed although access to benefits does not start immediately.
    • Have questions? Check out: COVID19 and paid family medical leave.
  • Labor & Industries:  See their page with information about COVID19 and workers’ comp.  As of 4/1/20 L&I has workers’ comp premium payment delay options available to employers, put in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Go here for more information; you must contact them directly.

Federal

• Reimbursement to employers for paid leave for certain COVID-19 related circumstances (e.g. quarantine, child care needs, etc).
• IRS:  Employee Retention Tax Credit — 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 and is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll.   Wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before Jan. 1, 2021, are eligible for the credit. Employers can be immediately reimbursed for the credit by reducing their required deposits of payroll taxes that have been withheld from employees’ wages by the amount of the credit.
• update 5/7 – IRS has published an updated FAQ on Employee Retention Tax Credit here.

State

The WA Department of Revenue (DOR) will work with businesses to provide extensions or penalty waivers for businesses that cannot pay their taxes on time due to COVID19. This requires contacting the DOR: 360-705-6705. Please see the DOR’s page on their relief efforts.

San Juan County:

• County COVID19 main page: https://www.sanjuanco.com/1668/2019-Novel-Coronavirus
• Posters can be downloaded and printed here.

Washington State:

• WA Department of Health recommendations for businesses: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus.
• and Workplace reommendations:  https://www.doh.wa.gov/Coronavirus/Workplace

National:

• Center for Disease Control (CDC):  https://www.cdc.gov/
• CDC specific guidance for businesses: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html