Information for Businesses during Coronavirus Times

The Dublin Chamber is committed to assisting the business community in any way possible during this difficult time. Below are informational links from trusted resources.  We will continue to update this page as new information becomes available.

Ohio Department of Health
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has opened a call center to answer questions regarding coronavirus (COVID-19). The call center will be open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and can be reached at 1-833-427-5634.

US Chamber of Commerce
All employers should be implementing strategies to protect their workforce from the coronavirus while ensuring continuity of operations. Download these guides created by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which are based on information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to learn more about how employers and employees can prepare for and address the impacts of the Coronavirus. https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus?iesrc=ctr

Online Aid Tracker
The business community is mobilizing its expertise, capabilities, and community resources to assist with the relief and containment efforts. Find out if you can take advantage of resources being provided by businesses around the world. Or, if you can provide assistance, there is an online form to fill out so your helpful information can be displayed. https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/aid-event/coronavirus-covid-19

Free social media graphics and language
The U.S. Chamber has compiled CDC’s coronavirus recommendations for businesses and workers across the country. We continue to encourage American businesses to follow data-based guidance from the CDC and state and local officials. Below, you’ll find a sharable graphics based on the CDC’s latest guidance for businesses and employees. We encourage you to share these assets on social media, websites, and other channels, and send them to your colleagues and employees. https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus-response-toolkit

Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Go to this site to find out what you should know, situation updates, and travel health notices.https://www.uschamber.com/coronavirus-response-toolkit

In addition, the CDC offers guidance for businesses.To prevent stigma and discrimination in the workplace, use only the guidance described below to determine risk of COVID-19. Do not make determinations of risk based on race or country of origin, and be sure to maintain confidentiality of people with confirmed COVID-19. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features of COVID-19 and investigations are ongoing. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

CDC Information for Travelers
CDC has established geographic risk-stratification criteria for the purpose of issuing travel health notices for countries with COVID-19 transmission and guiding public health management decisions for people with potential travel-related exposures to COVID-19. A number of factors inform the geographic risk stratification including size, geographic distribution, and epidemiology of the outbreak. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Free CDC Materials
The CDC offers numerous print materials and that be downloaded and posted in businesses. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html
The CDC also has information videos that can be shared or posted online or to social media: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/videos.html

Department of the Treasury
The Treasury Department is supporting American workers and businesses who are impacted by the coronavirus. In February, Secretary Mnuchin was appointed to the President’s Coronavirus Task Force, where he meets daily with the Vice President and our nation’s top health officials. For the latest information from the Task Force, please visit www.whitehouse.gov/news/.

 Small Business Administration (SBA)
The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). 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. Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans at: SBA.gov/Disaster.

SBA provides a number of loan resources for small businesses to utilize when operating their business. For more information on loans or how to connect with a lender, visit: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans.  How to get access to lending partners?  SBA has developed Lender Match, a free online referral tool that connects small businesses with participating SBA-approved lenders within 48 hours.

• 7(a) program offers loan amounts up to $5,000,000 and is an all-inclusive loan program deployed by lending partners for eligible small businesses within the U.S. States and its territories. The uses of proceeds include: working capital; expansion/renovation; new construction; purchase of land or buildings; purchase of equipment, fixtures; lease-hold improvements; refinancing debt for compelling reasons; seasonal line of credit; inventory; or starting a business.
• Express loan program provides loans up to $350,000 for no more than 7 years with an option to revolve. There is a turnaround time of 36 hours for approval or denial of a completed application. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.
• Community Advantage loan pilot program allows mission-based lenders to assist small businesses in underserved markets with a maximum loan size of $250,000. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.
• 504 loan program is designed to foster economic development and job creation and/or retention. The eligible use of proceeds is limited to the acquisition or eligible refinance of fixed assets.
• Microloan program involves making loans through nonprofit lending organizations to underserved markets. Authorized use of loan proceeds includes working capital, supplies, machinery & equipment, and fixtures (does not include real estate). The maximum loan amount is $50,000 with the average loan size of $14,000.

 

Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates
The Federal Reserve  slashed interest rates by a full percentage point to near zero and said it would buy $700 billion in Treasury securities, an aggressive step to insulate the U.S. economy from the coronavirus pandemic. “The coronavirus outbreak has harmed communities and disrupted economic activity in many countries, including the United States,” the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement. “The Federal Reserve is prepared to use its full range of tools to support the flow of credit to households and businesses.” The benchmark federal fund rate is now at a range of 0 to 0.25 percent, down from a range of 1 to 1.25 percent. The cut essentially brings the nation’s interest rate to zero.  https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/fed-coronavirus-interest-rates-emergency-action

OSHA
Employers must also protect their workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals used for cleaning and disinfection. Employers should be aware that common sanitizers and sterilizers could contain hazardous chemicals. Where workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals, employers must comply with OSHA's Hazard Communication standard (in general industry, 29 CFR 1910.1200), Personal Protective Equipment standards (in general industry 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I) and other applicable OSHA chemical standards. OSHA provides information about hazardous chemicals used in hospitals in the Housekeeping section of its Hospital eTool. Additional OSHA requirements that may apply can be found here: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/standards.html

City of Dublin
n accordance with Governor Mike DeWine’s State Orders to minimize the community spread of the coronavirus (COVIN-19), the City of Dublin asks residents who normally visit our city buildings for services to conduct their business online, over the phone or through the city’s GoDublin app. A drop box is available outside of City Hall for tax returns. As of Monday, March 16, 2020, the following city buildings are closed to the public until further notice:

• City Hall, including Council Chambers (Council meetings will continue as scheduled live-streamed)
• The Dublin Community Recreation Center (Open for voting on Tuesday, March 17)
• Kaltenbach Park
• Fleet
• Justice Center (Lobby is open for service)
• Service Center
• Development Building

For additional information, visit https://dublinohiousa.gov/coronavirus/

Dublin Chamber Members Offering Assistance

ActionCOACH
ActionCOACH Columbus, one of the Top 10 Franchisees of ActionCOACH Global, is offering a free small business hotline to business owners who need advice on how to weather the storm of the current COVID-19 Pandemic. Business owners are encouraged to reach out to the team to receive business advice, marketing tips, and ways to combat some of the negative effects the Pandemic may cause. ActionCOACH Columbus has provided resources to business owners on their website, www.actioncoachcolumbus.com, via email coaches@actioncoachcolumbus.com, or via a telephone hotline (614) 636-2284. They have also taken all of their training virtual, allowing business owners and employees to continue to focus on education through down times. https://takeactionbusinesscoaching.actioncoach.com/pandemic/