Updated:  Tuesday, May 6, 2020

The following is information to help you in dealing as a business with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic.  The information and links on this page are collected from the Center for Disease Control, the New Jersey Sate Departments, World Health Organization, and several others. It will provide you with contact information, business assistance and factual data related to the current Coronavirus pandemic.

View the State of New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub

TTB News = Three Month Excise Tax Postponement

https://www.ttb.gov/images/newsletters/archives/2020/ttb-newsletter03312020sp.html

Economic Assistance for Businesses

Please use the following link to access information on the various economic assistance programs offered by the State of New Jersey

New Jersey COVID-19 Information for New Jersey Businesses

Economic Industry Disaster Loan Application – on May 4, the SBA opened up the EIDL disaster loans to agricultural businesses. You can access the application here

Main Street Lending Program – On May 2 the Federal Reserve released guidelines for its soon-to-open Main Street Lending Program that will offer four-year loans starting at $500,000 for small- and medium-sized businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic. To qualify, a business must have had fewer than 15,000 employees or less than $5 billion in revenue in 2019. Lending institutions are administering the program, and a high percentage of each of the loans will be guaranteed by the Fed. Principal and interest payments will be deferred for one year.

Once the Federal Reserve opens the Main Street Lending Program, qualified businesses should apply quickly. To prepare, members can review the information and reach out to lenders now.

For the Fed’s press release, click here.

For frequently asked questions, click here.

U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA’s economic injury disaster low-interest loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). More information is available below.

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

Applications Open April 3 and will close April 10 – Grants are now closed out

NJEDA initiatives focus on businesses that have been hit hardest by the novel coronavirus outbreak: local small businesses, mid-size businesses that have had to close or drastically reconfigure operations, and new businesses who were just getting on their feet before the crisis hit.  Read the full press release from March 26, 2020.

The  loan programs that are available are:

  • Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program: A $5 million program that will provide grants up to $5,000 to small businesses in retail, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, food service and other services — such as repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services — to stabilize their operations and reduce the need for layoffs or furloughs.
  • Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program: A $10 million program that will provide working capital loans of up to $100,000 to businesses with less than $5 million in revenues. Loans made through the program will have 10-year terms with zero percent for the first five years, then resetting to the EDA’s prevailing floor rate (capped at 3%) for the remaining five years. https://www.njeda.com/pdfs/NJEDA_COVID-19_Loan_App_Walkthrough
  • Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) Emergency Loan Loss Reserve Fund – A $10 million capital reserve fund to take a first loss position on CDFI loans that provide low interest working capital to micro businesses. This will allow CDFIs to withstand loan defaults due to the outbreak, which will allow them to provide more loans at lower interest rates to microbusinesses affected by the outbreak.
  • CDFI Emergency Assistance Grant Program – A $1.25 million program that will provide grants of up to $250,000 to CDFIs to scale operations or reduce interest rates for the duration of the outbreak.
  • NJ Entrepreneur Support Program – A $5 million program that will encourage continued capital flows to new companies, often in the innovation economy, and temporarily support a shaky market by providing 80 percent loan guarantees for working capital loans to entrepreneurs.

Please check https://faq.business.nj.gov/en/collections/2198378-information-for-nj-businesses-on-the-coronavirus-outbreak for regular updates on when the applications will be posted this week.

To see if your business qualifies Access the Emergency Assistance Eligibility Wizard 

State of New Jersey Resources

COVID-19/Coronavirus Informational FAQs for New Jersey Businesses

Department of Health
The Department of Health has resource pages which includes guidance for travelers, resources for healthcare providers, informational materials for schools and businesses, and important contact information via phone and email if you have questions about COVID-19.

Department of Labor Benefits and Coronavirus (COVID-19) – What You Should Know
New Jersey’s Earned Sick Leave Law covers public health emergencies – employees can use Earned Sick leave if their workplace or child’s school or daycare is closed due to an epidemic, or if a public health authority determines the need for quarantine.

Department of Labor and Workforce Development – Family Leave
Temporary disability and family leave insurance information for employees and employers.

Health Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Situation Summary (CDC)

Cases in the United States
This CDC page will be updated regularly at noon Mondays through Fridays.

About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The CDC offers information on how COVID-19 spreads, symptoms, prevention and treatment, and what to do if you are sick, and frequently asked questions, including printable fliers.

Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
The CDC provides information on best methods to protect yourself and your community from getting and spreading COVID-19 at home, schools, work, events and other gatherings.

Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers (CDC)
The CDC provides this interim guidance to help prevent workplace exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, in non-healthcare settings. The guidance also provides planning considerations if there are more widespread, community outbreaks of COVID-19. Let your employees know you are monitoring the situation and share best practices for prevention and treatment.

Travel > Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel (CDC)
This page offers current travel warning, alert and watches, as well as destinations with risk of community spread.

CDC Issues Domestic Travel Advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut:  This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply.  Read the March 29 announcement.

Understanding the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Webinar about the impact of coronavirus on the private sector and how companies should consider their response, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (HHS & CDC)
To assist you in your efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed the following checklist for large businesses. It identifies important, specific activities large businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help you in other emergencies.

Prevention and Treatment 
Steps on how to protect yourself and those around you.

Communication Resources
CDC offers free resources including video, fact sheets, and posters. Below are links to current communication tools and resources available for use and distribution.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Environmental Protection Agency’s List N:  Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2
List includes products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19

World Health Organization (WHO)

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
Information and guidance from WHO regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease, including daily updates.

Video explaining what’s currently known about the virus. 

Employer Guidance and Resources

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act
This technical assistance document provides information about Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and pandemic planning in the workplace. It identifies established ADA principles that are relevant to questions frequently asked about workplace pandemic planning such as:

  • How much information may an employer request from an employee who calls in sick?
  • When may an ADA-covered employer take the body temperature of employees during a pandemic?
  • Does the ADA allow employers to require employees to stay home if they have symptoms of the pandemic virus?
  • When employees return to work, does the ADA allow employers to require doctors’ notes certifying their fitness for duty?

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

COVID-19 Safety and Health Standards, Control & Prevention
An overview of information for workers and employers about the evolving coronavirus outbreak. Includes links to OSHA standards, control and prevention

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
OSHA developed this COVID-19 planning guide based upon traditional infection prevention and industrial hygiene practices.  Employers and workers should use this planning guidance to help identify risk levels in workplace settings and to determine any appropriate control measures to implement.

OSHA Fact Sheet – Protecting Workers during a Pandemic
A three-page document which provide guidance for employers during a pandemic but is not intended to cover all OSHA standards that may apply.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Emergency Response Plan
A 10 page document to help Businesses Identify the goals and objectives for the emergency response plan.

Coronavirus Rumor Control

The purpose of this FEMA page is to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Coronavirus Tax Relief
The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.

Ready.gov

Pandemic Guidance
A brief outline of how to prepare before and respond during a pandemic.

  • Business Continuity Plan
    Identifies the steps and provides worksheets and other resources to create a business continuity plan.
  • Leaders in Business Community Resilience
    A scalable guide for businesses of all sizes to develop resilient communities against all hazards, by Ready.gov, official website of the Department of Homeland Security.