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We Need Your Feedback - The Apopka Area COVID-19 Business Impact Survey
The Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce remains focused on continuing to ensure that additional funding is added into the PPP/EIDL programs to are designed to help our struggling small businesses. According to the SBA data, Florida’s average loan size was about $206,000, and 88,997 Florida small businesses were able to secure a loan in the first round of funding. However, more is needed for our community and in order to continue advocating in the 4.0 round of assistance, we need your feedback. Below is a link to a brief survey. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes and your responses will help guide us as we seek solutions that'll help our business community moving forward.
Click Here to Take the Newest Business Impact Survey.
NEW: Small Business Council Toolkit from the Florida Chamber of Commerce
Our local small businesses are facing unprecedented and challenging times. We all know how disruptive COVID-19 has been to our economy, the business community and our workforce, and the tough decisions as a small business owner you are facing. As part of our goal to meet this challenge head-on by sharing key information and best practices, while providing employers like you with useful resources, the Florida Chamber has created the Small Business Council Toolkit to help ensure small businesses receive the support they need. Click here to learn more.
Demo PPP Portal for Small Business Owners Considering Applying for the Paycheck Protection Program/CARES Act
Our former Orange County Commissioner and local business owner Rod Love, has graciously created a demo PPP portal to reduce the anxiety for our local small business owners who are considering applying for the Paycheck Protection Program/CARES Economic Relief. Thank you so much Commissioner for sharing this information and we are proud to have you and your company Community Synergy Group, Inc. as a apart of the Apopka Area Chamber of Commerce. Click here to begin the demo portal.
Frequently Asked Questions - COVID-19 & CARES Act from US Senator Rick Scott
On April 13, U.S. Senator Rick Scott released a very comprehensive document with your questions answered on COVID-19 and updated details on many of the relief programs, that are now available to businesses and individuals. You can find the entire PDF here.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Guide
The CARES Act expanded the Small Business Administration’s long-standing Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program(EIDL), which includes $10,000 grants for eligible applicants. The EIDL program was created to assist businesses, renters, and homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters.
NEW: Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
The CARES Act created a new employee retention tax credit for employers who are closed, partially closed, or experiencing significant revenue losses as a result of the COVID-19.
Small Business Emergency Loan Guide
The U.S. Chamber’s Coronavirus Small Business Emergency Loan Guide, first issued last week, outlines the steps small businesses need to take to access much-needed Payroll Protection Program(PPP) funds. The guide now includes important information including key dates as the government moves toward implementation. Recently, the Treasury Department issued more details on this paycheck protection program and a loan application available for download.
Starting Friday, April 3, small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply for loans. Starting April 10, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply for loans.There is a funding cap, so the Treasury Department recommends applying as soon as possible.
The English guide is available here.
A Spanish language guide is available here.
Apply for Relief - U.S. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
If you have suffered substantial economic injury and are one of the following types of businesses located in Florida (which is now declared a disaster area), you may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan:
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Small Business
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Small agricultural cooperative
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Most private nonprofit organizations
Substantial economic injury means the business is unable to meet its obligations and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. EIDLs provide the necessary working capital to help small businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster.
The SBA can provide up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Your loan amount will be based on your actual economic injury and your company's financial needs, regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
The interest rate on EIDLs will not exceed 4 percent per year and the term of these loans will not exceed 30 years. The repayment term will be determined by your ability to repay the loan.
EIDL assistance is available only to small businesses when SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere and a business may qualify for both an EIDL and a physical disaster loan. The maximum combined loan amount is $2 million.
To apply for an EIDL, please visit the SBA disaster assistance loan website.Apply for Relief - U.S. Small Business Administration Physical Disaster Assistance Loans
The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. To apply for a SBA Disaster Assistance Loan, please visit https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.
Apply for Relief - Short Time Compensation Program for Employers
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity administers a short-term compensation program which helps employers retain their workforce in times of temporary slowdown, by encouraging work sharing as an alternative to layoff.
The program permits prorated reemployment assistance benefits to employees whose work hours and earnings are reduced as part of a Short Time Compensation plan to avoid total layoff of some employees.
If you are an employer interested in this program, please visit http://www.floridajobs.org/office-directory/division-of-workforce-services/reemployment-assistance-programs/short-time-compensation-program-for-employers.
DBPR Renewal Reprieve - Suspension of Professional Licenses, Permits, Registrations, etc.
The Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an emergency order suspending renewal deadlines for all department-issued licenses, permits, registrations, or certificates that are set to expire in March or April 2020. Late fees will not apply to licenses renewed during this extension period. Additionally, if there are requirements that people have to complete continuing education hours to renew their professional licenses, those will also be suspended for 30 days from the existing renewal deadline.
For more information on other emergency actions and other operational announcements during this state of emergency, please visit myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/emergency.
Coronavirus Prevention Customizable Flyer for Businesses (Please open this file in the latest version of Chrome or Edge browser, or Adobe software, to customize.)
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