COVID-19 Small Business Grant Application Round 2 Opens August 10th!
The COVID-19
Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program will open its second application window at 9AM on August 10. This will be the final opportunity to apply for the program.
The application window will remain open for 15 business days, closing at 11:59PM on August 28.
Pennsylvania small businesses are encouraged to apply for relief if they:
• Had 25 or fewer full-time employees prior to February 15, 2020
• Have annual revenues of $1 million or less, and
• Were economically impacted by COVID-19
All applications must be made through a
Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in the county where their business is located.
If you already applied during the first application window, you will be notified of your status by August 10. You do not need to reapply in the second round. Qualified applications will be automatically rolled over into this next funding round for consideration.
COVID-19 for Small Businesses
CLICK HERE
"Green Phase"
Bucks County will be going into the “Green Phase” on Friday, June 26th. More businesses may open with restrictions and some restrictions on currently opened will be lessened. More information regarding the impacts of this change can be found on the Governor’s website
HERE
Bucks County Department of Health guidlines at Restaurants during the "Green" Phase:
CLICK HERE
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information and guidance, updated daily at their website. For the most current information:
CLICK HERE
Yellow Phase Outdoor Dining
Beginning June 5, restaurants and retail food service businesses located in counties designated as being in the yellow phase are permitted add dine-in service in outdoor seating areas so long as they strictly adhere to the requirements of the guidance, including maximum occupancy limits:
• Indoor areas, including bar areas, of restaurants and retail food service businesses must be closed to customers except for through-traffic. Non-bar seating in outdoor areas (i.e., tables or counter seats that do not line up to a bar or food service area) may be used for customer seating.
• Customers being served must be seated at a table.
Prohibitions are also included. The following are not permitted:
• Self-service food or drink options, such as buffets, salad bars, condiments, and drink stations.
• Condiments on tables; these must be dispensed by employees upon the request of a customer.
• Reusable menus.
• Refilling food and beverage containers or allowing implements brought in by customers.
Find the governor’s order
HERE
Find the secretary of health’s order
HERE
Find business FAQs
HERE
There are now Corona Virus Testing areas for the public (who has symptoms) to go to and get tested. To see the Map of testing areas;
CLICK HERE
Here is a resource regarding PA Farmers Markets:
CLICK HERE and for Farmers Market Guidance:
CLICK HERE
Effective May 1, 2020, Governor Wolf has authorized the resumption of construction activities within the Commonwealth.
That includes contracts for public works. The Governor has also issued a Guidance for the safe resumption of work:
CLICK HERE
All contractors working on Borough projects will be required to observe the individual requirements of the “Guidance” (ie. masks, social distancing when possible, wash stations).
Unemployment Assistance:
Pennsylvania's new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUE) website for self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, and others not eligible for regular unemployment compensation (UC) will begin accepting applications within the next few days. PUA is included in the new federal unemployment compensation benefits provided by the
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
WHO SHOULD FILE FOR PUA:
Self-employed, Independent Contractors, Gig workers, people without sufficient work history to qualify for regular UC and people who have exhaustd regular UC or extended benefits.
ADDITIONAL $600 PER WEEK:
Individuals collecting PUA benefits will also be eligible for the extra $600 per week from the
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program.
The additional payments will be effective from the week ending April 4, 2020 through the week ending July 25, 2020. It will be backdated and paid in one lump sum and it will be automatic- you don't need to do anything to receive the extra $600.
The following link provides a situation report from Healthcare Ready:
CLICK HERE
Wolf Administration Announces First Round of COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program Funding:
CLICK HERE
Exemption 2020-14 HME:
CLICK HERE
Workplace Safety FAQS:
CLICK HERE
General Waiver of some feed license requirements:
CLICK HERE
SMALL BUSINESS LINKS:
On March 25, 2020, Governor Wolf
announced that the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) authorized the transfer of $40 million to the Small Business First Fund for CWCA. PIDA authorized making $61 million available to provide loans of $100,000 or less to for-profit businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees.
A list of approved projects can be found
here.
PIDA staff continue to review submitted applications for approval and are actively working with DCED’s Certified Economic Development Organizations (CEDOs) to disburse CWCA loan funds at the time of approval. Information on future awardees will be released as it becomes available.
DCED continues to update its website with financial and other
resources.
Businesses seeking further guidance and clarification from DCED can also contact its customer service resource account at ra-dcedcs@pa.gov. For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, Pennsylvanians should follow this link:
CLICK HERE
Governor Wolf Announces Financial Assistance Available to Small Businesses
CLICK HERE to view the links to help small businesses.
FOOD ASSISTANCE:
Governor Wolf Urges USDA to Waive Food Assistance Eligibility Requirements
CLICK HERE to view the full letter from Governor Wolf.
Follow this link from Bucks County Emergency Services about feeding Pennsylvanians:
CLICK HERE
Major precautions to reduce risks of spreading COVID-19, those out of work, those who rely on college meal plans, school meals to feed their children, and those who are isolated may not know where to turn for food.
IF you are out of work without pay, you are eligible to receive food sourced from the state and federal government from a food bank or food pantry in Pennsylvania. This includes service workers who are unable to get shifts or hourly wage employees of non-essential businesses that have voluntarily closed due to COVID-19 mitigation. You will be asked to verbally complete a
Self-Declaration of Need form, as signatures have been temporarily waived due to COVID-19.
You will be asked to provide your household size and weekly income level as of the day you apply.
Complete income guidelines can be found at agri
culture.pa.gov
FOOD BANKS ARE OPEN and delivering food to many agencies, including pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens. Please call or visit the website of your regional food bank to be directed to agencies in your community. Many food banks are also doing special drive-through distributions. Please call for more information.
You can find a food bank near you:
Contact the following
Feeding Pennsylvania and
Hunger-Free Pennsylvania member banks to find out about food assistance services being offered in your county.
Bucks County Opportunity Council Inc. Serving Bucks County
Philabundance Serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.
If you can't leave your house because you are under isolation or quarantine, contact your local food bank to see if they have options to deliver food. If you are concerned about potential exposure, there are steps you and food banks can take to limit risk. The PA Department of Agriculture sent
guidance to all food banks encouraging them to follow best practices to limit risk of exposure.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education offers information on accessing meals on its
website
All Bucks County Schools will be closed indefinitely as part of precautionary measures.
For more information:
CLICK HERE
For the most up to date Corona Virus information related to Bucks County follow this link:
CLICK HERE
Governor Tom Wolf ordered all restaurants and bars to close their dine-in facilities at 12:01 AM on Monday, March 16 in Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties for 14 days to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Businesses that offer carry-out, delivery and drive-through food and beverage service may continue to do so, but eating and drinking inside restaurants and bars is temporarily prohibited. For more information:
CLICK HERE
Due to Governor Wolf's Proclamation of Disaster Emergency announced on March 14, 2020 and the public health emergency surrounding the Coronavirus, known as COVID-19, Dublin Borough Hall and the Dublin Police Department Building are temporarily closed to members of the public, effective Monday, March 16th. For the time being, members of staff are continuing to work in the Borough office and are available to help members of the public via phone, fax and email. Limiting access to the Borough building is a pre-emptive move meant to help slow the spread of the virus, and to keep staff and essential personnel healthy and able to provide services to the public. Residents and visitors are asked to use phone, fax or email to contact Borough staff. There will be no interruption to Trash, Police or Fire Department services at this time.
Governor Wolf Requests Disaster Declaration for Small Businesses and Non-Profits to Obtain Loans.
Governor Tom Wolf requested that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) implement an SBA disaster declaration to provide assistance in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans for businesses and eligible non-profits in all 67 counties in PA.
SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can't be paid because of the disaster's impact.
The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profit is 2.75%.
SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower's ability to repay.
The application process will be online. Details on how to apply, as well as deadlines, will be established once the governor's request is granted.
In addition to making sure this federal funding for small business assistance is available, the Wolf Administration is working with the General Assembly to make sure state funding is available for small business assistance too. Small business can apply through the Small Business First Fund (SBD), an existing PIDA loan program.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information and guidance, updated daily on their website. Please click on this link for the most current information:
CLICK HERE
Additional information, including a Daily Covid-19 Report, is available at the PA Department of Health. Please click this link for their most current information:
CLICK HERE
The CDC has created a number of helpful information sheets about COVID-19 and the best ways to protect yourself and your family.
CLICK HERE for these resources, and browse the links listed below. Remember:
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
What you need to know aboiut coronavirus disease and what to do if you are sick:
CLICK HERE
Shared Facts about COVID-19:
CLICK HERE
Stop the spread of germs and symtoms of the coronavirus:
CLICK HERE
