Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! Business Service Team is here to help guide both employers and employees through this time of uncertainty. Our staff is available as we work remotely to help you or your business.

Below, you will find information about resources available.

In addition, the latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

Important State Update

If you have any remaining questions about Governor Whitmer’s executive order to “Stay Home, Stay Safe” and the closure of all non-essential businesses (i.e. medical care, grocery shopping and take-out meals), here are some additional resources:

For a list of essential services, click here.

To read a supplemental one-pager, click here.

According to a recent email from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, for purposes of the Governor’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order, critical infrastructure workers are those workers described by the Director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in his guidance of March 19, 2020 on the COVID-19 response.

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Michigan Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Through Congressman Dan Kildee’s office, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has provided informal guidance for businesses having difficulty utilizing the SBA website to register for Disaster Assistance. Below are the SBA’s recommendations and resources.

There is a large volume of businesses using the website at the same time. Please see the below information about completing the SBA’s Electronic Loan Application:

• Since the system is experiencing heavy volume, it is recommended that businesses get everything ready prior to applying online. Complete the paper documents, assemble everything and apply during off peak hours (7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) if possible.
• The applicant prints everything so they have the application number. Remember to secure your login and password information for future use.
• The system is regularly timing out when a long time is taken to upload or type in the information, so save and save often.
• An applicant can upload the SBA form 1368 with the Federal Income Tax Return, insert a blank sheet in between the documents saying attached is the SBA form 1368.
• Sole proprietors are applying they MUST check that they are applying for EIDLs. Many seem to be clicking repair option which will cause them to be ineligible (see link below or click here).
• If something does not upload properly, save it on the desktop and when the loan officer requests it, send it or try uploading again.

https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/account/login

SBA Resource Guides:

• • Small Business Development Centers List
  • District Offices by State Master List
  • Women’s Business Centers Master List

More State Updates

• Unemployment Benefits: for employees
  • Benefits are extended to:
    • Workers who have an unanticipated family care responsibility, including those who have childcare responsibilities due to school closures, or those who are forced to care for loved one who become ill.
    • Workers who are sick, quarantined, or immunocompromised and who do not have access to paid family and medical leave or are laid off.
    • First responders in the public health community who become ill or are quarantined due to exposure to COVID-19.

Click here to apply

• Work Share Program: for employers
  • Permits employers to maintain operations during decline in regular business rather than laying off workers.
  • Eligible employees work reduced hours in the work week and receive a portion of weekly unemployment benefits.
  • Participation in Work Share enables employers to retain trained employees and avoid the expense of recruiting, hiring and training new employees.

Click here to learn more

Click here for the most recent update from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

• Business and Consumer Loan Relief
  • The Chamber encourages any members experiencing financial challenges during this difficult time to contact their lenders. Many financial institutions are developing programs to provide assistance to both consumer and business customers.

• Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Assistance
  • The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
  • The following members have indicated their status as Preferred Lenders with the SBA and the list will be updated as we receive additional information.
    • 1st State Bank
    • Chemical Bank
    • Huntington Bank
    • Thumb Bank and Trust

Click here to APPLY for Small Business Relief Grants & Loans

Click here for a full list of Michigan Lenders

• Small Business Tax Relief
  • The State of Michigan will be waiving penalty and interest on sales, use and withholding taxes for 30 days in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Federal Update

Coronavirus Stimulus Package

Included in the stimulus package is $562 million for the Small Business Administration to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans to businesses for payroll and overhead.

CARES Act for Small Business: click here to view an infographic from the Committee on Small Business.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

• The legislation provides paid leave, establishes free testing, protects public health workers, and provides important benefits to children and families.

Click here to read a summary of the act from Forbes.