It’s been a wild ride this past month since COVID-19 has become an ever changing daily topic of our lives and impact on our small businesses.  Now, with the Governor extending the stay at home order  through the end of April, we feel your anxiety about the unknown especially how to navigate all the information that is out there! 

This is absolutely a time to lean on YOUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATION.  EABA was formed to promote, advocate and connect - no matter the circumstances.  During these uniquely challenging times, here is what we are doing on your behalf:

Advocate

• COVID-19 business impact and response surveys that convey the needs of the  business community to the City of Atlanta. 

• • Impact Survey Results

  • See Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative Survey Results

  • Response Survey Available NEW as of 4.13.20.Fill out by 4.24.20

• Drafting a letter to Mayor Bottoms and City Council advocating to alleviate license fees for 2020. 

Promote

• Ongoing list of EABA Businesses and their offerings during COVID-19. 

• Starting member social media posts featuring offerings and ways to support

Connect

• Weekly emails and blog posts with business resources

• Members can expect a check-in call from our board of directors over the next few weeks. 

• Virtual meetings over the next few months. 

EABA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

We will be highlighting a few members each email. 

East Atlanta Farmers Market postponed to open but is a pick up location for Community Farmers Markets: Instructions for ORDERING and PICKUP

Support OUR EABA Members NOW! Curbside & Delivery:

• Argosy: Takeout from 4-9pm. Delivery through Grubhub.

• Big Daddy Biscuits Social Distancing PopUp - Find FB Event/On the site

• • 15% discount online using the code LOVE2020

  • Big Daddy Will Be at this Social Distancing Pop-Up- Pre-order by midnight Thursdays for pick up on Saturday!

• Bookish: An update -- they're not ordering new books until the beginning of May for safety reasons; however they ARE continuing no contact home delivery of books in stock.

• List of Business Resources during COVID-19

• • Please email hello@eastatlantabiz.com with any updates, or with your information if you'd like to be added

  • Most businesses are using social media for daily updates!!! 

BUSINESS OWNERS

UNEMPLOYMENT FILING

As an Employer: Unemployment Filing for Partial Claims for your Employees

• You must Establish Administrator Access

• Follow these Steps for Partial Unemployment Claims

Update on Department of Revenue Tax Filing Deadlines

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance)

This includes individuals who are self-employed, gig workers, 1099 independent contractors, or those with limited work history who will not qualify for state unemployment benefits.

The GDOL is modifying its current online unemployment application adding new questions to better identify those individuals who may be eligible for PUA.  This modified application is expected to be available on Monday, April 13, 2020. Once the application is received, it will take several weeks to process.

If you have already filed a claim with the GDOL and will be eligible to potentially receive benefits under this program, you do NOT have to refile your claim.  These individuals will be identified and sent an email with a link to provide additional information for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program.

Read More

BUSINESS OWNERS & INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

CARES ACT: PPP AND  EIDL

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, allocates $349 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the current circumstances they are encountering. The CARES Act provides funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, modifies the existing Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and provides immediate loan payment relief for current SBA 7(a) borrowers.

READ MORE

NFIB Coronavirus Part V: UPDATE –  SBA’s EIDL and PPP Loan Programs

Download slides and hear the recordings

UPDATE ON Invest Atlanta Business Continuity Loan Fund AS OF 4.7.20

In just over two weeks the small business continuity loan fund has over 500 inquiries and/or applicants at some point in the process. 

To date 13 loans have been approved and over 80 are under review. Suspending the acceptance of applications. Only complete applications will be reviewed and considered at this time. 

In the process of working with philanthropy and other partners to increase the funds available, with the intention of increasing the number of small businesses that can be served through this program. 

• Please share that all applications in process, but not completed, will be placed on hold until additional funds are identified. 

• Program updates will be sent out to applicants via email. 

Those who have not yet begun an application, but are interested in receiving updates, should fill out this brief survey and indicate their interest in the business continuity loan fund.  

RESTAURANTS 

• Add your fundraiser to your Open Table Listing

ARTISTS

United States Artists Launches $10M Artist Relief Fund to Help Artists Affected by COVID-19

Artist Relief is an emergency, non-restricted fund that will grant $5,000 to individual artists facing financial hardship; serve as an informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Research Partner Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists moving forward. 

To apply for relief between 4/8-4/23: https://www.artistrelief.org/apply  

STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY! #ATLSTRONG!