COVID-19 Business Resources
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Business hasn't stopped, and your Chamber hasn't either. We are working closely with the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Ohio Chamber Alliance, Small Business Administration and the Ohio Travel Association to advocate in your best interests. We are continually monitoring the impacts of the coronavirus on businesses and our county. We will be updating this site on a regular basis.
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CHAMPAIGN COUNTY BUSINESS OWNERS: Please complete this survey from the CEP, so we get a better idea of how we can be of assistance and advocate for you and your businesses. Thank you! |
Executive Orders
Find a list below of executive orders and updates from Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Health, Champaign Health District and local responses to the COVID-19 outbreak that affect employers.
State of Emergency Declared
Director's Stay-At-Home Order
Prohibiting In-Person Dining at Restaurants and Bars
Closure of all K-12 Schools
Limiting of Mass Gatherings
Cancellation of all Non-Essential Surgeries
Closure of Beauty Salons and Tattoo Parlors
Closure of Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) has the SharedWork Ohio Program, a voluntary layoff aversion program. It allows workers to remain employed and employers to retain trained staff during times of reduced business activity.
Ohio employers may apply if they meet the following criteria:
TechCred Program
The TechCred Program can be utilized by Ohio employers to upskill their employees while they may be unable to perform their typical day-to-day duties. Many of these trainings can be completed online.
TechCred offers employers up to $2,000 in reimbursement for every technology-focused credential earned by an employee, up to $30,000 per employer per round. These technology-focused credentials take a year or less to complete and prepare current and future employees for the technology jobs Ohio employers need.
The current application period is open through March 31 on TechCred.Ohio.Gov. If a business has questions, email Workforce@OWT.Ohio.Gov.
One-Time Liquor Buyback
The Ohio Department of Commerce will immediately begin offering a one-time liquor buyback option to support bars and restaurants. This will especially aid those establishments that have stocked up on high-proof liquor ahead of the St. Patrick's Day holiday for which they now have no use, due to their closure to in-house patrons.
Bars and restaurants wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should return their unopened, high-proof liquor products (obtained within the past 30 days) to the agency where they purchased the product. This opportunity is also extended to those with temporary (F2) permits for events scheduled between March 12 and April 6, 2020.
If a business has questions about this program, they should reach out directly to the Liquor Enterprise Service Center (LESC) at 1(877) 812-0013 or by emailing OhioLiquorInfo@Com.Ohio.Gov
For detailed instructions on how to utilize this program, click here.
Tax Payment Deadline Extension (Updated 3.20.20)
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that the Treasury Department has pushed back both the April 15, 2020 tax filing and payment deadlines by 90 days. This will give businesses and individuals additional time, potentially lessening cash-flow issues that many are facing.
Traditional extensions are still available for those needing more time to file a return. Ohio Chamber members should consult their accountants or tax preparers if they have any questions concerning this announcement.
Full tax payment relief details can be found on the IRS info page.
BWC Delays Premiums
To help businesses facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio BWC is announcing that unpaid insurance premium installment amounts due for March, April, and May for the current policy year can be deferred until June 1, 2020. BWC will consider the issue further as we approach June 1, 2020.
BWC will not refund amounts to employers who have already paid some or all of their premiums that were scheduled to be paid during those months.
Employers that wish to submit payments for March, April, and May are free to do so, but BWC will not lapse (cancel) coverage or assess penalties for amounts not paid because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Find a list below of executive orders and updates from Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Health, Champaign Health District and local responses to the COVID-19 outbreak that affect employers.
State of Emergency Declared
- Declares a state of emergency across Champaign County and Ohio in order to protect the well-being of Ohioans from the dangerous effects of COVID-19.
Director's Stay-At-Home Order
Prohibiting In-Person Dining at Restaurants and Bars
- Restricts the purchase of food, beverages and alcohol at restaurants and bars to carry-out and delivery orders only
- Restriction of on-site consumption is in effect indefinitely
- Chamber creates a comprehensive list of all county restaurants and a central location for menus.
Closure of all K-12 Schools
- All K-12 school buildings will be closed to students until April 3, 2020
- It is up to the administration at each school to determine access to the building for teachers and other staff
- All county schools continue to provide meals for students
Limiting of Mass Gatherings
- Forbids events and gatherings of 50 or more people in a single place at the same time at any confined indoor or outdoor space including bowling alleys, workout facilities, indoor trampoline facilities and waterparks, movie theaters and performance halls, public recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, auditoriums, stadiums, arenas, large conference rooms and meeting halls
- Ban does not include typical office environments, retail or grocery stores, factories, airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and athletic events without spectators
- Order is in effect until it is rescinded, or the state of emergency is lifted
Cancellation of all Non-Essential Surgeries
- To preserve personal protective equipment (PPE), hospital capacity and healthcare resources all non-essential or elective surgeries are canceled, and healthcare providers must remove non-essential individuals from procedure rooms and patient care areas.
- Each hospital or healthcare provider is responsible for establishing internal procedures to comply with the order.
- This order is in effect until it is rescinded or the state of emergency is lifted.
Closure of Beauty Salons and Tattoo Parlors
- On March 18, Gov. Mike DeWine announced he will be issuing an executive order to close all spas, tattoo parlors, barbershops and beauty salons effective at the close of businesses on March 18.
Closure of Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- On March 18, Gov. Mike DeWine announced he will be issuing an executive order to close the majority of Bureau of Motor Vehicle locations effective at the close of business on March 18.
The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) has the SharedWork Ohio Program, a voluntary layoff aversion program. It allows workers to remain employed and employers to retain trained staff during times of reduced business activity.
Ohio employers may apply if they meet the following criteria:
- Have at least two affected employees that do not work on a seasonal, temporary or intermittent basis;
- Are current on all Ohio unemployment insurance reporting, contributions, reimbursements, interest and penalties due;
- Agree to the program requirements.
- More information on SharedWork Ohio, including employer FAQ, can be found on their website.
TechCred Program
The TechCred Program can be utilized by Ohio employers to upskill their employees while they may be unable to perform their typical day-to-day duties. Many of these trainings can be completed online.
TechCred offers employers up to $2,000 in reimbursement for every technology-focused credential earned by an employee, up to $30,000 per employer per round. These technology-focused credentials take a year or less to complete and prepare current and future employees for the technology jobs Ohio employers need.
The current application period is open through March 31 on TechCred.Ohio.Gov. If a business has questions, email Workforce@OWT.Ohio.Gov.
One-Time Liquor Buyback
The Ohio Department of Commerce will immediately begin offering a one-time liquor buyback option to support bars and restaurants. This will especially aid those establishments that have stocked up on high-proof liquor ahead of the St. Patrick's Day holiday for which they now have no use, due to their closure to in-house patrons.
Bars and restaurants wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should return their unopened, high-proof liquor products (obtained within the past 30 days) to the agency where they purchased the product. This opportunity is also extended to those with temporary (F2) permits for events scheduled between March 12 and April 6, 2020.
If a business has questions about this program, they should reach out directly to the Liquor Enterprise Service Center (LESC) at 1(877) 812-0013 or by emailing OhioLiquorInfo@Com.Ohio.Gov
For detailed instructions on how to utilize this program, click here.
Tax Payment Deadline Extension (Updated 3.20.20)
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that the Treasury Department has pushed back both the April 15, 2020 tax filing and payment deadlines by 90 days. This will give businesses and individuals additional time, potentially lessening cash-flow issues that many are facing.
Traditional extensions are still available for those needing more time to file a return. Ohio Chamber members should consult their accountants or tax preparers if they have any questions concerning this announcement.
Full tax payment relief details can be found on the IRS info page.
BWC Delays Premiums
To help businesses facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio BWC is announcing that unpaid insurance premium installment amounts due for March, April, and May for the current policy year can be deferred until June 1, 2020. BWC will consider the issue further as we approach June 1, 2020.
BWC will not refund amounts to employers who have already paid some or all of their premiums that were scheduled to be paid during those months.
Employers that wish to submit payments for March, April, and May are free to do so, but BWC will not lapse (cancel) coverage or assess penalties for amounts not paid because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
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Businesses Helping
Theresa's Gingerbread House received its Pandemic license at both the Urbana and West Liberty locations. Please call now to reserve your child's spot, they are limited. Urbana: (937) 653-8006 West Liberty: (937) 650-8006 Columbia Gas Columbia Gas has announced it will voluntarily suspend all shutoffs due to nonpayment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes all residential, commercial and industrial customers and will remain in effect until further notice. In addition, Columbia Gas will offer its most flexible payment plans to customers who indicate either an impact or hardship as a result of COVID-19, and will suspend late payment charges until May 1. More information is available here. Dayton Power & Light DP&L will not disconnect any customer’s service for non-payment, in order to give customers experiencing financial hardship extra time to make payments. More information is available here: https://www.dpandl.com/Landing-Pages/COVID-19-Update/?utm_source=dpandl&utm_medium=homepage-alert&utm_campaign=covid-19-update CT Comm CT COMM announced it will voluntarily suspend service disconnections for non-payment throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, effective immediately. This suspension is for residential and business customers throughout its service area. More information is available here: https://www.urbanacitizen.com/news/75213/no-ct-comm-disconnections-for-non-payment?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1JgTQWGcsBaqf7CmXfm5JgxPBGjk-4PA8icQ5NxZwiXw1W4MMwjZHOXCQ Facebook has announced the creation of a $100 million grant program to help 30,000 small businesses around the world. This includes cash grants and ad credits. More information can be found here. |
How to Help -
Companies With Medical Supplies, Equipment and Services
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Small Business Association
For detailed information on SBA programs for the coronavirus, visit www.sba.gov/coronavirus and for information on all federal programs, visit www.usa.gov/coronavirus.
Follow this link for daily updates on COVID-19: https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/home
For a complete list of Unemployment FAQ's, visit http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/CoronavirusAndUI.stm
The best way to apply and learn more is through https://unemployment.ohio.gov/
For detailed information on SBA programs for the coronavirus, visit www.sba.gov/coronavirus and for information on all federal programs, visit www.usa.gov/coronavirus.
Follow this link for daily updates on COVID-19: https://odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/home
For a complete list of Unemployment FAQ's, visit http://jfs.ohio.gov/ouio/CoronavirusAndUI.stm
The best way to apply and learn more is through https://unemployment.ohio.gov/
More Resources/Info Below
Click on images to download full-size versions.
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SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Webinar Recording from March 24th:
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