As a business leader, or employer of any type in North Carolina, you’re facing new challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. EDPNC is here to help you navigate these unique economic challenges in the days ahead.
Download North Carolina’s Business Resources During the Pandemic
Although many North Carolina employers are now back in business during the pandemic, it isn’t business as usual. And it won’t be for some time. Companies have implemented measures to protect their workers and the public from the spread of the virus. They are turning to several resources to help manage operations during the “new normal.” The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina lists some of those resources below, emphasizing that businesses always need to follow protocols set by the governor and local and state health officials.
EDPNC Small Business Advisors staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. Our staff will connect your business to the appropriate organization for assistance. All inquiries will receive a response from a confidential business counselor within three (3) business days. “Se Habla Español.”
The Governor’s Multi-Phase Plan. North Carolina is taking a multi-phased approach – based on data from testing, tracing, and trends and in consultation with members of the business community – to lift restrictions in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and save lives. Click here to learn more about restrictions currently in place.
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Businesses can find the latest information on COVID-19 in N.C. by visiting the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website. The site includes links to specialized advice for specific industries including meat and poultry processing and others.
State Interim Guidance for Restaurants. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has issued interim guidance for restaurants reopening under the governor’s phased approach to lifting business restrictions. The guidance will help restaurants reduce the spread of COVID-19 in their communities.
National Restaurant Association Guidance. The National Restaurant Association has provided this operating guide on best practices and procedures for restaurants.
Count on Me NC Initiative. The NC Restaurant and Lodging Association has joined with industry, academic and state partners including Visit NC on the Count On Me NC public health initiative. The campaign provides a free, evidenced-based training program that guides restaurants, hotels, attractions and other businesses on best practices for North Carolina’s reopening. It will also direct consumers to look for certificates and logos indicating that a business has completed the voluntary training. Read the press release here.
Protecting Your Business from COVID-19. This guide from the National Institute of Standards and Technology can help businesses prepare for the impacts of COVID-19 and protect their facility and employees from exposure.
CDC Posters and Flyers for Your Business. This link provides free downloadable materials you can print and display in your workplace. They were developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support COVID-19 safety recommendations and are available in multiple languages.
EPA Information on Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website provides helpful information that includes a list of disinfectants that meet EPA standards for use against the virus.
Responding to a COVID-19 Exposure at Your Business. Businesses can download this checklist of what to do if they suspect a COVID-19 exposure has occurred at their facility. The advice is based on CDC recommendations. The business should be sure to refer to North Carolina state recommendations as well.
OSHA Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed the 35-page “Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19,” which can be downloaded here.
OSHA Record–Keeping Requirements for COVID-19. This link highlights OSHA standards and directives (instructions for compliance officers) that may apply to worker exposure to COVID-19.
CDC’s “Plan, Prepare, and Respond” Site for Businesses: This CDC website offers many helpful links, including updated guidance to help prevent workplace exposure, a page answering common questions from businesses, and more.
Operation Open Doors Checklist for Retailers. The National Retail Federation has issued a checklist for reopening, encouraging retailers to work with their legal and financial advisers to adapt recommendations to their specific circumstances.
NC Retail Merchants Association Website. This website updates regularly to provide industry-specific information for North Carolina retailers managing operations during COVID-19, including webinars, signage to display, details on requirements vs. recommendations, and more.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Website. The FDA’s Food Safety and Coronavirus Disease website has a wealth of information regarding food safety for consumers as well as businesses and workers in farming and in food production, processing, and retail settings.
U.S Department of Agriculture Website. The USDA website has a list of frequently asked questions related to COVID–19, operations of the USDA’s Animal, Plant and Health Inspection Service, and more.
Family Forward NC COVID-19 Rapid Response Program. Family Forward NC offers Rapid Response – no cost access to HR experts to assist employers in identifying industry-appropriate, family-friendly workplace benefits during re-opening/retooling. These supports help employers and working parents build resilience during and after the COVID crisis. Rapid Response focuses specifically on the manufacturing and hospitality industries, but recommendations and tools can apply to other industries as well.
Manufacturers interested in pivoting to PPE (gowns, masks, gloves, etc.) can contact the Carolina Textile District (CTD) for help in transitioning their production to prototype and producing medical supplies during the COVID-19 crisis. They should also register their business with the NC Manufacturing Extension Partnership by clicking here.
Find the Manufacturer or Supplier your business needs at ManufacturedNC:
NCMEP EAP. The N.C. Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) is a network of nine North Carolina organizations that provide services designed to enhance the productivity, innovative capacity and technological performance of smaller manufacturing companies. Through CARES Act funding, NCMEP launched the Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) to provide services that support manufacturers’ ability to respond to the coronavirus and improve their competitiveness as the marketplace adapts to the coronavirus disruption. To participate in the EAP, manufacturers first must take this online survey.
Increasing Meat Production, Efficiency and Capacity (IMPEC) Grant Program (Phase 3). The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has opened the application period for the third phase of its Increasing Meat Production, Efficiency and Capacity (IMPEC) grant program. This program is geared to independent state meat and seafood processing facilities that contract with independent livestock producers or seafood harvesters to process animals or seafood and must be state or federally inspected or produce further processed meat products under state or federal inspection or be a USDA inspected processor of shelf-stable meat or meat products.
Recipients must match $1 in funds or services for every $2 in grant funding. The grant application and required forms can be downloaded from the NCDA&CS website. Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by close of business May 14.
Paycheck Protection Program.
The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is currently offering PPP First Draw Loans for first-time program participants and PPP Second Draw Loans for certain businesses who have previously received a PPP loan. The application deadline for both programs is May 31, 2021.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration offers the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program to all eligible small businesses and nonprofits experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19. The loans can be used to cover payroll and inventory, pay debt or fund other expenses. The loan’s affordable terms include a 3.75% interest rate for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profit organizations and an automatic deferment of one year before monthly payments begin. Click here for more information.
USDA Rural Business Loans
The USDA is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers ineligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under the USDA Business & Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program. Borrowers should inquire with their lender. Lenders interested in participating should contact their USDA Rural Development state office.
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) Program
The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.
Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Established under the American Rescue Plan, the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) provides a total of $28.6 billion in direct relief funds to restaurants and other hard-hit food establishments that have experienced economic distress and significant operational losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The RRF seeks to provide non-repayable funds to eligible food service businesses. Such applicants include restaurants, food stands, food trucks, food carts, caterers, bars, saloons, lounges, taverns, and snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars. In addition, provided at least one third of total sales are onsite sales to the public, eligible applicants also include bakeries, brewpubs, breweries/microbreweries, wineries, distilleries, and inns. Finally, licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products are also eligible.
This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Funds must be used for allowable expenses by March 11, 2023. Applications are now being accepted online at https://restaurants.sba.gov.
Paid Leave Tax Credit for Vaccines. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 allows small and midsize employers, and certain governmental employers, to claim refundable tax credits that reimburse them for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave to their employees due to COVID-19, including leave taken by employees to receive or recover from COVID-19 vaccinations. The ARP tax credits are available to eligible employers that pay sick and family leave for leave from April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. For more Information see the Internal Revenue Service’s fact sheet.
Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection Program. The U.S. Department of Transportation is launching the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Protection (AMJP) program and is urging eligible small businesses in North Carolina and across the country to immediately begin preparing for the application process. The program, created under the American Rescue Plan, will help eligible aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, and repair businesses pay up to half of their compensation costs for certain categories of employees, for up to six months. In return, the business must make several commitments, including not to involuntarily furlough or lay off employees within that group during the same period.
Thousands of businesses are expected to benefit from the program that will provide up to $3 billion in grants. Businesses can learn more about the steps they should take now to prepare for applying for assistance.
A free online course is available, teaching the basics of starting, running, and growing a business. It is open to anyone, anywhere. The Brian Hamilton Foundation’s course covers business ideation, marketing, selling, customer service, and more. Learn how to break through the fear of failure to become your own boss. Sign up and learn more at brianhamilton.org/starter-u.
And as always, please feel free to contact our team of small business advisors at 800-228-8443 with any questions you have about starting a business in North Carolina.
N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services: COVID-19 Recommendations for Businesses and Employers
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Guidance for Businesses and Employers
N.C. Dept. of Agriculture: Agricultural Industry Update
