Assistance for Business Owners, Organizations, and Employees

The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have. This guide provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs, as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA. Click here the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Guide and Checklist for the CARES Act

On April 24, 2020, Congress has approved a bipartisan relief package that immediately increases the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds by $310 billion. This fund ran out of money last week and is now being replenished. The bill would provide $62 billion for salaries and expenses and for loan programs of the Small Business Administration. That amount includes $10 billion for economic injury disaster loans.

 To apply for this round of funding, talk to your lender, (if you do not have a lender, click here to find one) the Small Business Development Center, or the Kansas Department of Commerce chat team (available 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday).

Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas

On May 4, 2020, Governor Laura Kelly lifted the statewide “Safer at Home” order and allow Kansas communities to begin phased reopening by issuing a statewide executive order (EO) to begin Phase One of the “Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas”.

The State will set the regulatory baseline in each phase of this framework, with Kansas local governments retaining authority to impose additional restrictions that are in the best interest of the health of their respective residents, consistent with the decentralized public health system outlined in Kansas law.

You can read more about the plan here.

Johnson County Task Force

The Johnson County COVID-19 Recovery Planning Task Force completed its phasing plan. 

Task Force Documents

To submit a comment or question to the task force, please visit their Contact Us page, scroll to the bottom, and fill out the email form.

Industry-Specific Resources

For office-based businesses: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for General Office Settings 

For restaurants: CDC’s Reopening Decision Tree for Restaurants and Bars and the National Restaurant Association’s Reopening Guidance

For retailers: National Retail Federation’s Operation Open Doors

For home service providers: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for At-Home Service Providers 

For construction businesses: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for Construction Environments 

For gyms and fitness facilities: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for Gyms and Workout Facilities 

For hair and nail salons: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for Hair and Nail Salons

For childcare programs: CDC’s Reopening Decision Tree for Childcare Programs

For camps and youth programs: CDC’s Reopening Decision Tree for Camps and Youth Programs

For schools: CDC’s Reopening Decision Tree for Schools

For lenders: PPP Form 1502 Released for Lenders’ Fees & Reporting Requirements

Small Business-Specific Guidance

Ready To Reopen: A Playbook For Your Small Business

Download this step-by-step guide to help your company reopen safely and keep employees and customers healthy and informed as restrictions lift across the country. The playbook includes safety and sanitation guidance, communications advice, and other best practices information. 

Read the latest reopening content from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

5 Experts on How to Manage Employees Through Difficult Times

4 Business Owners on How They’re Reopening Their Businesses Post-Coronavirus

Expert Advice on How to Support Your Employees During a Crisis

3 Trend Forecasters on the Business World After Coronavirus

Economic Recovery Reading List

NEJC Chamber will continue to support our member businesses just as you support the communities you serve. As you start to think about what recovery looks like for your business, here is a reading list of helpful recovery resources:

Funding Resources

Local Resources

Kansas Small Business Development Center at Johnson County Community College

This resource guide from the Kansas Small Business Development Center at Johnson County Community College will help you plan and answers frequently asked questions regarding COVID-19 and your business. You can access it by clicking here. 

State Resources

The Kansas Department of Commerce is working closely with the Kansas Department of Emergency Management (KDEM) to complete the required steps for requesting an SBA (Small Business Administration) Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration. As part of this process, KDEM needs to obtain information from small businesses that have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of the COVID-19 disaster.

To find out more about how to apply for SBA Coronavirus Assistance through the Kansas Department of Commerce, click here.

Rapid Response for Laid-Off Workers

If your company is facing a permanent layoff of workers, contact Shelly Thompson at shelly.thompson@ks.gov

Kansas Department of Labor

KDOL has posted a site with COVID-19 Response Resources.  https://www.dol.ks.gov/covid19response

Displaced workers can file for Unemployment Insurance at www.getkansasbenefits.gov .  They can also call 800-292-6333.  The call center is experiencing a high volume of calls, so filing online is the fastest way to get benefits. 

Federal Resources

To find a nearby lender eligible to issue a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program, click here.

For more information visit the Small Business Administration’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) webpage.

The Department of Labor has designed a poster in response to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act for all covered employers to hang and distribute in their workplace with their other employment law notices. Information about the policies can be found here and the poster can be found here.

Information from our Elected Officials

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran – Coronavirus Information & Resources

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts – Coronavirus Page

U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids – Coronavirus Resource Center

Recently Unemployed

Workforce Partnership is committed to building a workforce development system that meets the needs of both job seekers and employers throughout the Kansas City area. We operate a network of career centers in Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties offering professional expertise and funding resources to employers and eligible job seekers. 

Being unemployed is temporary and is the perfect time to network and retool for your next career. People who use our services find employment faster than those who go it alone.  The workplace is constantly changing and how you search for a job is constantly evolving.  Workforce Partnership is there to supply you new tools to help reach your career goals. 

If you are filing for unemployment benefits through the State of Kansas, the following video tutorials may be of help to you. Through this link, you will find guides for claimants on applying for benefits, what to do after filing your initial claim, information about the My Reemployment and RESEA programs, and the appeals process.  Tutorials on Unemployment Benefits

Information for our Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofit Connect

Nonprofit Connect recognizes the coronavirus outbreak is impacting the Kansas City nonprofit community, and they aim to support your organization during this time of crisis. That’s why they have provided this list of considerations and resources for local nonprofits to be prepared, and are updating the list daily. You can access the list here. 

COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund established for 501(c)(3) Organizations
A group of foundations, corporations, organizations and individuals – including the United Way of Greater KC and the Mid-America Regional Council – has joined together to respond to the urgent needs of Kansas City 501(c)(3) organizations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This group has established the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund that will focus on urgent health and human service needs, where the community needs are highest.  The coordinating organizations, led by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Kansas City, LISC Greater Kansas City (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) and MARC (Mid-America Regional Council) have set an initial goal of $10 million, and hope to exceed that as community needs require.

Additionally, the Hall Family Foundation and the Sunderland Foundation have partnered on a challenge grant to match donations to the Fund up to $5 million. The coordinating organizations hope the potential grant will be a catalyst for the community to give, and strongly encourage everyone who has the means to donate to the fund.

The fund will support relief efforts in the Greater Kansas City area, including Johnson County in Kansas. Grants will be made to 501(c)(3) public charities and public organizations.

For more information about the fun or to make a donation to the fund, visit here.

Information for our Member Restaurants

***UPDATE***
Due to the overwhelming initial response, the State of Kansas regrets to announce that all of their initial funds available through the HIRE Fund have been allocated at this time. However, they are keeping our form open and will continue to collect information from Kansas hospitality businesses on the losses they are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

APPLY HERE

By filling out the form, you can help us assess the need across our state, which we will work to communicate with officials at the state and national levels. We are grateful for your participation and willingness to share this information with us, and we plan to reach back out to you if, and when, new resources become available. In the meantime, we also recommend you consider applying for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Relief Loans, which have recently been made available to all 105 counties in Kansas. 

We are all in this together. The Kansas Department of Commerce stands ready and willing to support the business community all across our state. Though we all face a period of uncertainty about how we will move forward in the coming weeks and months, it’s important to know that we will move forward, and we will do so together.

Other Useful Tips

Customer Communications

Step one: make sure you are. Communicate your office hours and have those may have changed, and let folks know the precautions you’re taking–and that you expect them to take–to protect themselves and your employees. 

Update Your “Google My Business”
(Source: Google)
Update: In light of the current COVID situation, Google says that it is sending support staff home. As a result, there will be some limitations and delays in support for Google My Business.

Let your customers/clients know your business hours, make sure your phone number is correct and post a bit about your business and how you’re helping folks navigate the outbreak. And if you aren’t fully repped online, now is definitely the time. 

  • If your hours of operation have changed, edit your Business Profile on Google.

  • Use Posts to communicate information directly on your Business Profile on Google, like special offers or inventory updates.

  • Consider setting an email auto-reply with answers to frequently asked questions.

More Resources from Google
(Source: Google)
Here are more tips and recommendations from Google to help you navigate this for your employees and customers.

Coronavirus Response Toolkit
(Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
Find sharable graphics based on the CDC’s latest guidance for businesses and employees. We encourage you to share these assets on social media, websites, and other channels, and send them to your colleagues and employees. 

Communicating through the Coronavirus Crisis
(Harvard Business Review)
HBR has created a step-by-step guide through crisis communications. 

Responding To Coronavirus: A Playbook For Marketing And Communications
(Source: Forrester)
What role should marketing and communications leaders play in the development of a response? What are the most critical actions to take now?

Utility Information

As always, the NEJC Chamber is here to help. If you need our assistance please call us at (913)262-2141 or reach out via e-mail at info@nejcchamber.com. 

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