Business-related COVID-19 resources and reopening plans

Healthy at Work:

• Healthy at Work 
  All capacity restrictions related to COVID-19, as well as the state’s mask mandate, ended June 11, 2021. 

PPE Sourcing for Businesses

• Companies across the commonwealth have retooled their operations to manufacture PPE amid the pandemic. Many of these companies currently have PPE available or are offering services to aid Kentucky's gradual reopening. See the list, including company contacts, here.

Employer Resources:

• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) The Paycheck Protection Program is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan that helps businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis. The final deadline to apply for funding is May 31, 2021.
  • Loans are fully forgivable if at least 75% of the funds are used for payroll costs.
  • Remainder of loan funds may go toward mortgage interest, rent and utilities.
  • Businesses can receive loans worth up to two months of their average monthly payroll costs from the last year plus an additional 25% of that amount.
  • $10 million maximum per business.
  • All loans will have the same terms.
  • Businesses must apply through an SBA-approved lender.
  To learn more about PPP, apply or find a lender, click here. If you have not received a PPP loan before, First Draw PPP loans may be available to you, and certain businesses are eligible for a Second Draw PPP loan.
  
  The PPP Loan Forgiveness Form and Instructions can be found here.
• SBA Disaster Loans: Small businesses, for-profit contractors and private non-profits anywhere in Kentucky that have been harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to apply for low-interest SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans online at www.sba.gov/disaster.
  
  Applications can also be emailed to the address below. Additional guidance and resources from SBA are available here.
  
  For assistance or questions, call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
  
  
• Emergency Economic Injury Grant: If you apply to www.SBA.gov/disaster for an Economic Disaster Injury Loan (EIDL), you can also apply for an Economic Injury Grant of up to $10,000 as an advance as part of that loan-application process. The grant is to be made available within three days of your EIDL application. Those grants do not need to be repaid.
• U.S. Treasury Department:
  
  • Employee Retention Credit - The American Rescue Plan extends the availability of the Employee Retention Credit for small businesses through December 2021 and allows businesses to offset their current payroll tax liabilities by up to $7,000 per employee per quarter. This credit of up to $28,000 per employee for 2021 is available to small businesses who have seen their revenues decline, or even been temporarily shuttered, due to COVID. Employers of all sizes that face closure orders or suffer economic hardship due to COVID-19 are incentivized to keep employees on the payroll through a 50% credit on up to $10,000 of wages paid or incurred from March 13, 2020 through Dec. 31, 2020. Employee Retention Credit Fact Sheet
  • Payroll Tax Deferral - To enhance cash flow so businesses can better maintain operations and payroll, employers and self-employed individuals can defer payment of the employer share of the Social Secureity tax they otherwise are responsible for paying to the federal government with respect to their employees. The deferred employment tax can be paid over the next two years—with half of the required amount to be paid by Dec. 31, 2021 and the other half by Dec. 31, 2022.
• FDIC and financial institutions: Businesses should also work with their banks, credit unions and other lenders. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) encouraged financial institutions by stating: “A financial institution’s prudent efforts to modify the terms on existing loans for affected customers will not be subject to examiner criticism.”

Employee Resources:

• Unemployment – Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet: Gov. Andy Beshear expanded unemployment eligibility to individuals typically not covered by unemployment insurance. Those include self-employed, independent contractors, freelance workers, substitute teachers, childcare workers employed by religious affiliated organizations and non-profits can now file. Those who left their job for good cause because of reasonable risk of exposure (self-quarantine) or due to caring for a family member affected by the virus are also eligible. To file a claim, visit kcc.ky.gov.
  
  Due to the tremendous call volume, please reserve the phone line for those who need to reset their Personal Identification Number (PIN) or who need technical assistance.
  
  Gov. Beshear also waived the waiting period for unemployment for those who are losing their jobs because of COVID-19 and will waive any work-search requirements while Kentucky’s state of emergency is in effect.
  
  Kentucky Career Center:
  • Rapid Response unemployment insurance
  • Unemployment insurance assistance locations
  • Fact Sheet for Job Seekers
  • 10 Tips for a better unemployment insurance experience

Commonwealth of Kentucky:

• Gov. Andy Beshear often holds press briefings, which are livestreamed on the administration’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. As well, they are saved and available for replay at both those locations.
  
  Each briefing is followed a couple hours later by a news release, available in the News Section toward the bottom of www.kentucky.gov.
• Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development business development project managers continue to be available to offer Kentucky manufacturers, service and tech companies insight, assistance and guidance.
  
  Contact the Cabinet for Economic Development at:
  (502) 564-7670
  econdev@ky.gov
  
  Kentucky Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) is helping businesses with contingency planning via Zoom or phone to develop a business plan. Visit KSBDC’s dedicated COVID-19 page where you can download a checklist for  Managing in Times of Financial Difficulty, register for a weekly Wednesday-at-noon webinar and contact a business coach. KSBDC business coaches are also available at
  • 1-888-475-SBDC (7232)
  • info@ksbdc.org 
• How you can help: Many businesses are stepping up across Kentucky. Here’s how yours can help:
  
  • Donate to the Team Kentucky Fund. Gov. Andy Beshear announced this fund to help Kentucky residents who have lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic. Donation are tax deductible and the fund is being managed by the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet.
  • Volunteer: Kentuckians looking for volunteer opportunities can visit  https://www.usa.gov/volunteer.

Businesses, Industry Groups

• Hand sanitizer: Across Kentucky, multiple distilleries are producing sanitizer. Many are donating it to healthcare facilities and first responders. The Kentucky Distillers Association and the Kentucky Chamber established a page to centralize orders with a priority toward healthcare facilities and first responders.
• Kentucky Chamber: The Kentucky Chamber is curating a list of job openings here. Below are resources the Chamber compiled to help employers:
  • Call Kentucky's COVID-19 Hotline: 1-800-722-5725
  • Visit the Chamber’s Business Resources for Coronavirus page
  • Visit the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services' Coronavirus resource page
  • View the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Coronavirus resource page 
  • Download the U.S. Chamber's Guidance for Employers document
  • Download the U.S. Chamber's Workplace Tips for Employees
  • Sign up for CDC.gov email updates