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 EDPNC’s COVID-19 Business Relief Resource Guide
BLNC staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. BLNC 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.”
NEW Protocol for Essential Business (3-27-2020):
Effective Monday, March 30 at 5 p.m. Governor Cooper has issued a state-wide Stay-At-Home order for non-essential businesses. The lists of essential businesses are much more extensive than earlier orders. Please check the list in the link above first to see if your business is essential. If your company is essential, you do not need any type of paperwork for your employees to come to work.
If your company is uncertain whether it is essential, you may make an essential business request with the N.C. Dept. of Revenue here.
If a company made a previous request to be considered an essential business, it is not valid and you must start again. Again, a company must ask with the new process in the essential business link above if the company is not sure and wants to get an official State decision. If you make a request to NCDOR, you may continue to operate until the request is acted upon.
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:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Record-Keeping Requirements for COVID-19
This link highlights OSHA standards and directives (instructions for compliance officers) and other related information that may apply to worker exposure to novel coronavirus, COVID-19
Food Safety Guidance, NC State University, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Member
FAQ on COVID-19 and Food Safety, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Protecting Your Facility, MEP Network
Best practices for protecting your facility and employees from exposure.
Responding to Exposure in your Facility, MEP Network
Serves as a checklist for what you should do if you suspect a COVID-19 exposure has occurred at your facility.
Posters and Flyers to Post in Plant, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Printable material to post internally and externally for continued operations.
Manufacturing Surface Disinfectant List, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Information on Disinfectants to use against COVID-19
Enterprise Risk Management, NCSU Poole College of Management
Using ERM Principles to Help Navigate Risks Triggered by COVID-19
NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery loans
In response to the unique economic challenges of COVID-19, a consortium of public, private and nonprofit partners have come together and launched an innovative recovery-lending program to support entrepreneurs like you and stabilize North Carolina’s small business sector. Applicants are encouraged to apply for the NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loans online.
U.S. Small Business Administration
The SBA has approved N.C. Governor Roy Cooper’s request for a disaster declaration. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in modified and additional Small Business Administration resources to help N.C. small businesses, small aquacultural businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and/or most private nonprofit organizations. Applicants are encouraged to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loans online.
Paycheck Protection Program
The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries due to the effects of COVID-19. Sign up for more info!
COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund
United Way Worldwide has announced that it has established the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund to support affected communities and help the most vulnerable populations receive critical financial and social service support during the global crisis.
919.814.0400 or Toll-Free: 800.562.6333 (Choose Option 2 – Business Services)
DWS_BusinessServices@nccommerce.com
Business Edge is a series of layoff aversion strategies and activities designed to help North Carolina employers prevent or minimize job losses. Through Business Edge, workforce partners collaborate with business leaders to assess the needs of, and options for, “at-risk” firms, and to deliver services that address those needs.
N.C. Division of Employment Security
888.737.0259
If you have lost your job or been laid off, file an Unemployment Insurance (UI) claim. New changes to the state’s unemployment system have occurred due to the current impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus in North Carolina. COVID-19 specific information is here. It has information for both employers and people seeking unemployment benefits.
Federal Coronavirus Tax Relief
The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have announced that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax.
N.C. Department of Revenue Special Penalty Relief
N.C. Department of Revenue recently announced that they will extend the April 15 tax filing deadline to July 15 for individual, corporate, and franchise taxes to mirror the announced deadline change from the Internal Revenue Service. In addition to the filing extension, the NCDOR will not charge penalties for those filing and paying their taxes after April 15, as long as they file and pay their tax before the updated July 15 deadline.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires certain employers to provide their employees with expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020. More details are available here, including FAQs.
N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services: COVID-19 Recommendations for Businesses and Employers
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
N.C. Dept. of Agriculture: Agricultural Industry Update
