Below you will find COVid-19 resources for both employers, employees and general members of the community. The Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce wants to do whatever we can to assist the local business community and our community as a whole during this time. The measures being used to deal with this virus are unprecedented. We also completely understand that working together is the best way to address our common challenges.

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Governor Mike Parson has applied for access to Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program through the Small Business Administration. If approved, the program would offer up to $2 million in low-interest loans for small business affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Unlike loans through this program for other disasters, COVID-19 related assistance will be available statewide.
You can find more information about the requirements for the state to qualify for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program here.

SBA approves disaster declaration for Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY – The U.S. Small Business Administration approved Missouri’s request for assistance through the federal agency’s disaster loan program. This move makes low interest disaster loans available to small businesses and private non-profits severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for each affected small business or non-profit. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

Process for Accessing SBA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Lending

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA today makes loans available statewide to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Applicants will be able to apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent.

SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 21, 2020.
For additional information, please visit the SBA disaster assistance website at SBA.gov/Disaster.

For program questions or assistance in completing the application online, businesses can contact the SBA Customer Service Center directly at 1-800-659-2955 or create an online appointment by following this link to the Small Business Development Center.

The Missouri Department of Labor has a dedicated web page to breakdown the resources available for businesses and employees regarding the impact of COVID-19.

Unemployment Resources: Employers

The Missouri Department of Labor has assembled several links and videos to help employers make informed decisions during this difficult period. The resources listed below do not replace the comprehensive information available on the Department of Labor website but rather represent information commonly requested by employers.

• Filing a Contribution & Wage Report
• Shared Work Program - a lay-off aversion program
• Filing a Mass Claim - Expedite filing multiple claims for your employees.

Tax representatives are also available for employers M-F 8:00 am-5:00 pm by calling 573-751-1995 or by email at esemptax@labor.mo.gov.
You can also find information on worker's compensation and discrimination.

EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION TEAM (ETT)

Managing staffing reductions and layoffs can be a grueling experience. The decision to lay off employees is one no employer wants to make. However, when layoffs do occur, it’s good to know you have a support team ready to meet with affected workers and offer assistance.

The Employment Transition Team (ETT) is available at no cost to businesses and affected workers. As part of the ETT, a Regional Workforce Coordinator and local workforce system staff are available to provide guidance to employers and reemployment services for affected employees.

Contact the Missouri Job Center or call the State number at 1-800-877-8698.

Unemployment Resources: Employees

If this is your first time filing for unemployment please watch this video on unemployment basics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=195&v=76S-V4qk4U4&feature=emb_title

File for unemployment

Citizens seeking unemployment insurance (UI) are directed to use the Department of Labor and Industrial Relation’s UI hotline 1-800-320-2519 or visit uinteract.labor.mo.gov.

JOB CENTER RESOURCES

All Job Centers are closed to in-person services, but will continue to be staffed through March 27, at which time service delivery methods will be re-evaluated. Signs have been posted on the doors of the closed Job Centers directing customers to call 1-888-728-JOBS (5627) or go online to jobs.mo.gov to access resources until further notice.

Missouri Job Centers are offering reemployment services to those laid off due to the COVID-19 situation. Those services include:

Resume and interview preparation as well as assistance with job searching.

The Job Centers also offers training assistance to those that qualify.

Support for unemployment insurance claimants will continue to be provided by telephone or online. Job Center staff are prioritizing services to meet the increased unemployment requests.

Visit the Department of Labor website for more information.

The CDC has information for businesses and employers including an Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers and Cleaning and Disinfection guidelines.

Advice includes:

• Actively encourage sick employees to stay home
• Perform routine environmental cleaning
• Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees

Visit the CDC website for more information.

Additional Employer, Employee and Community COVid-19 Resources

If you have found resources that were helpful to your business or family in general, please contact us. We would be happy to share them with fellow members and all of those in our community. Hopefully we will be moving beyond this soon and get Pleasant Hill back to the caring and vibrant community we all know and love.