The Following Topics are covered in this e-news bulletin…
- Register for May 4th Financial Wellness Presentation by Atlantic Union Bank
- New Reductions in VA COVID Restrictions Take Effect On May 15th
- Restaurant Revitalization Fund Applications Available Now
- Applications Available (Round Two) For NRV Small Business Resiliency Grant
- Housing in the New River Valley Session 1: The Regional + Local Housing Study
- Small Business Development Center Webinar and Virtual Conference
- Listing of Local Retail and Food Business Hours Available on Chamber Website
Register for May 4th Financial Wellness Presentation by Atlantic Union Bank
Floyd Businesses, this presentation is an excellent resource for your employees. Please let them know about this presentation. Registration link in flyer below is not clickable in this email, to register, click on this link: https://atlanticunionbank.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YykzUApbTISX2AODCyFzGg
To learn more about Solutions Banking, click on this link: https://floydchamber.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Solutions-Banking-Jennifer-Huffman.pdf
New Reductions in VA COVID Restrictions Take Effect On May 15th
Sports and entertainment venues in Virginia may begin to operate with expanded capacity, and social gathering limits will increase beginning Saturday, May 15th. The Commonwealth will continue to mandate mask-wearing and social distancing, even as commercial restrictions are further eased. Key changes in the Sixth Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two will go into effect in about three weeks and include:
- Social gatherings: The maximum number of individuals permitted in a social gathering will increase to 100 people for indoor settings and 250 people for outdoor settings. Social gatherings are currently limited to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
- Entertainment venues: Indoor entertainment and public amusement venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity or 1,000 people, up from 30 percent capacity or 500 people. Outdoor venues will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity—up from 30 percent—with no specific cap on the number of attendees.
- Recreational sporting events: The number of spectators allowed at indoor recreational sporting events will increase from 100 to 250 spectators or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less. Outdoor recreational sporting events will increase from 500 to 1,000 people or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less.
- Alcohol sales: Restaurants may return to selling alcohol after midnight, and dining room closures will no longer be required between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
The full text of Sixth Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two and Order of Public Health Emergency Nine is available here. Updated guidelines for specific sectors can be found here.
There have been minor changes to the existing mitigation measures that have already gone into effect, including increased accommodations for cross-country events, school-based fine arts performances, and expanded access to bar seating in restaurants with strict social distancing. These changes are reflected in the current Fifth Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two available here
Restaurant Revitalization Fund Applications Available Now
From the Small Business Administration (SBA) website…
The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. 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. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
Eligible entities who have experienced pandemic-related revenue loss include:
- Restaurants
- Food stands, food trucks, food carts
- Caterers
- Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
- Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars
- Bakeries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
- Brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
- Breweries and/or microbreweries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
- Wineries and distilleries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
- Inns (onsite sales of food and beverage to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
- Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products
It is a good idea to check Cross-program eligibility on SBA COVID-19 relief options. (click on link for details)
You can apply through SBA-recognized Point of Sale (POS) vendors or directly via SBA in a forthcoming online application portal: https://restaurants.sba.gov. Participating POS providers include Square, Toast, Clover, NCR Corporation (Aloha). If you are working with Square or Toast, you do not need to register beforehand on the https://restaurants.sba.gov application portal.
Registration with SAM.gov is not required. DUNS or CAGE identifiers are also not required.
If you would like to prepare your application, view the sample application form. You will be able to complete this form online. Please do not submit RRF forms to SBA at this time. SBA Form 3172
Registration for the SBA application portal will begin on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 am ET. Applications will open on Monday, May 3, 2021, at noon ET.
During the Days 1-22 Priority Period, SBA will accept applications from all eligible applicants, but only process and fund priority group applications.
During this period, SBA will fund applications where the applicant has self-certified that it meets the eligibility requirements for a small business owned by women, veterans, or socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
Then, Days 22 though funds exhaustion, SBA will accept applications from all eligible applicants and process applications in the order in which they are approved by SBA.
For additional information, visit: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund
Applications Available (Round Two) For NRV Small Business Resiliency Grant
New River Valley Small Business Relief Program for Floyd Businesses, large and small, and tourism and non-tourism businesses that have not received funds in Round 1 and meet the eligibility criteria.
Funds of up to $15,000 are being provided to businesses to help offset business impacts during the pandemic. Applications will be accepted now through Friday, May 21.
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
- Each business must complete and submit an application attesting to information and guidelines.
- Up to $15,000 per business for rent or mortgage, eligible supplies, or equipment, from March 12, 2020 to the application date.
- Only one (1) award per business establishment/location will be awarded.
- Copies of receipts or paid invoices for eligible expenditures must be presented in order to obtain funding.
- Funds will not be awarded for specific expenses already covered by funds received from other sources.
- Applications will be accepted now and awards will be made until funds are exhausted.
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES
Funds must be expended in compliance with strict state and federal laws. The aim of the program is to help businesses meet their long-term goals by adjusting to COVID-19 demands.
To be eligible, an applying business must meet all of the following:
- Principal place of business is located in one of the following: Floyd County and town within, Giles County and towns within, Montgomery County except for Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Pulaski County and towns within.
- Business is locally or regionally owned and must be located in the New River Valley.
- Has 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (40 hours/week.) at the application date.
- Business was operational by March 12, 2020 and is realizing a direct negative impact from COVID-19 (e.g. revenue loss, reduced sales, closure or suspended operation, employment decline, or business interruption).
- Has eligible expenses not already covered by other CARES funding or any other support funding source (e.g. PPP, local COVID-related grants, Rebuild Virginia grants, etc.)
- Must be current on all fees, permits and taxes as of March 12, 2020
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES:
- Rent or mortgage payments (up to 6 months’ worth, between March 12, 2020 and application date)
- Expenses paid that were directly related to COVID-19, from March 12, 2020 through application date
- Equipment purchased since March 12, 2020 to maintain business to help business maintain social/physical distancing
- PPE Expenses for employees or customers, purchased since March 12, 2020 and used in place of business to sustain business operations
- Technology or subscriptions to assist navigating the ongoing public health situation up to $2,000
- Cleaning or maintenance supplies or services
INELIGIBLE EXPENSES (See attached info sheet for details)
Options TO APPLY:
- Access ON-LINE Application HERE **PREFERRED** or
- Email a completed application (attached) with supporting documents to: tourismdirector@floydcova.org or
- Drop off print copy of application & supporting documents at Tourism Office (Visitor Center) 109 East Main St, or County Admin Office
INFORMATION PAGE – https://visitfloydva.com/new-river-valley-small-business-relief-program/
Housing in the New River Valley Session 1: The Regional + Local Housing Study
Housing is an important resource and challenges with available, affordable, and accessible housing impacts everyone, including local businesses. As part of the NRV’s Livability In Action Series, a Regional + Local NRV Housing Study was presented in a webinar last Friday. The information is available by clicking the following link: The Regional + Local Housing Study Website. The website includes a Consumer Report broken out by chapter, a Detailed Report with regional and locality profiles, and specific regional and local strategies.
Register for the Session 2 on May 25th Session that covers the NRV Housing Resource Guide
The NRV HOME Consortium, together with more than a dozen partners, has recently updated two resource documents with 1) information on the location of affordable and/or accessible rental housing and 2) a wide range of housing and human service providers in the region. This session will provide an overview of both resource documents, followed by questions and discussion. To register, visit: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ehtga0vae70febdb&oseq=&c=&ch=
Small Business Development Center Webinar and Virtual Conference
Restaurant Revitalization Fund – Everything you need to know
Saturday, May 1, 2021, 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM via Zoom. FREE
“Calling all Restaurants, Food Trucks, Bakeries, Caterers, Bars, Saloons, Lounges, Taverns, Bakeries, Tasting Rooms, Breweries, Wineries, Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (e.g. coffee shops, ice cream shops), Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (e.g. coffee shops, ice cream shops),. Now available for businesses that opened in 2020 or 2021 or that are not even open yet! Join us for a Restaurant Revitalization Fund – Everything you need to know virtual webinar. We will review the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, eligibility, requirements, the application, and more.”
Click here to Register Online For more information, email: hello@roanokesmallbusiness.org
| Small Business Week Virtual Conference – Focusing on Recovery, May 3 | 8:30 AM EST
“Join other small business owners and entrepreneurs for this chance to learn valuable information to help your business recover and grow. Meet and network with other like-minded professionals in our virtual online conference center. Choose the sessions that interest you the most in the morning. The topics were chosen to help you move your business forward in the coming months. Our expert speakers will share insights, best practices and know how that can make sure you’re ready to get back on track as things begin to return to “new normal” later this year. You will be able to pick between two sessions in each morning time slot. Then we will all gather in the Main Hall for a panel discussion with three local Loudoun business owners.” A preview of the topics… Session 1, 9:00am (you will pick one): · SBA Loan Programs to Finance Recovery. Speaker: Rod Johnson, Washington DC District Office of the SBA · Identifying New Opportunities for Growth. Speaker: Josh Green, Director, Virginia Innovation Commercialization Assistance Program (ICAP) Session 2, 10:15am (you will pick one): · Can Federal Innovation and Technology Grants Help You Grow? Speaker: Robert Brooke, Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) · Grabbing Customer Attention in a Crowded Digital World. Speaker: Mary Noyce Joynt, Loudoun Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Main Hall – Keynote Panel Discussion, 11:30am (everyone attends): “Pivoting in the Real World” Stories of change from three local Loudoun business owners. Panelists: Tony Stafford, Owner of Ford’s Fish Shack. Krista Woods, Owner of GloveStix. Justin Dobson, Owner of Comfenergy. Moderated by Eric Byrd, Manager Loudoun SBDC. |
Listing of Local Retail and Food Business Hours Available on Chamber Website
Your chamber has posted on the chamber website a listing of local retail and food business hours. There are four lists, separate lists of hours by day – Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and a master listing of hours for all week. Our chamber administrative assistant, Resa Mattson, and our Visitor Center SCSEP participant, Louise Loveland, worked to develop this listing. Please note that hours will be updated on a weekly basis so the lists are a snapshot of current hours as of the date posted. Please let us know of changes in hours that should be listed. You can find the list by visiting the following link: https://floydchamber.org/resources-for-residents/