The North Carolina Defense Industry Diversification Initiative has been working to aggregate resources for small businesses that might need assistance during the Covid-19 Pandemic. We are here to support and champion businesses of all sizes during this difficult time and will provide resources particularly suited to small businesses on this page. Check back frequently as resources evolve; we are constantly consulting state and federal policymakers to ensure you have the latest tools at your disposal. 

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Small Business

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The COVID-19 Joint Acquisition Task Force, in partnership with the Department of the Air Force, created an industry portal for companies to submit proposals to meet the urgent need for medical resources. Submit your innovative solutions by visiting https://www.afwerx.af.mil/coronavirus.html.

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Small Businesses: We’ve Got Your Back Small Business Resources Webinars

 

• Paycheck Protection Program: What You Need to Know: April 2 | Recording

• Weekly Business Forum with NCDHHS and NC AHEC | Weekly, Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m.:  The Weekly Business Forum is hosted by the NC Department of Health and Human Services and NC Area Health Education Centers. These weekly calls enable members of the business community to obtain timely information on COVID-19. You may also pose questions directly to public health subject matter experts.

• Details: Weekly Business Forum – COVID-19 : Zoom Meeting

• Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m.

• Join the Zoom meeting room or dial-in at (646) 558-8656 with webinar ID 920 999 281.

• To submit questions: Please submit any questions for subject matter experts to prepare for in advance to [email protected]. Questions must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to the forum.

• Overview of CARES Act Tax Relief for Businesses - Wednesday, April 8, 2020 2:00 PM https://northcarolinanccoc.wliinc25.com/events/Overview-of-COVID19-Federal-Tax-Relief-373/register

• Recording: A Breakdown of the CARES Act for Small Business: National Small Business Town Hall Presented by Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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Economic Development Partnership of NC’s Business Relief Resources

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• Federal Coronavirus Tax Relief: The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service have announced that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax.

• Historically Underutilized Businesses - NC Department of Administration: The NC Hub office will be hosting A Conversation with Small Business Administration & Unemployment Insurance Experts. IMMEDIATE RESPONSE NEEDED The HUB Office will convene the 4th Skype Town Hall teleconference call on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. with guest speakers from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) North Carolina District Office and the Department of Commerce to discuss Unemployment Insurance. The call is for business owners facing economic losses due to COVID-19 to review the process of applying for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and a general overview of unemployment insurance.

  • This is a weekly webinar.

  • Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/covid-19-virtual-town-hall-with-sba-and-department-of-commerce-tickets-101824997308

 

DHHS Small and Disadvantaged Business Office: Small Business Assistance

 

• Late Payment Assistance for Small Businesses The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is available to assist small business concerns with resolving invoicing issues. Please review the following information for assistance...

 

• Interest in a Specific Opportunity If you are interested in a specific opportunity we want to hear about it. Let us know which opportunity you are interested in, as well as your capabilities and the ways in which you can be effective. Email us now with the following information...

1. The name and contact information of the Contracting Officer.

2. The HHS operating or staff division (e.g. NIH, FDA, CMS).

3. The title of the opportunity.

4. Where you saw the opportunity.

5. Why you think your company is a good match for the opportunity.

 

• N.C. Department of Revenue Special Penalty Relief: N.C. Department of Revenue recently announced that they will extend the April 15 tax filing deadline to July 15 for individual, corporate, and franchise taxes to mirror the announced deadline change from the Internal Revenue Service. In addition to the filing extension, the NCDOR will not charge penalties for those filing and paying their taxes after April 15, as long as they file and pay their tax before the updated July 15 deadline.

• Manufacturer or Supplier Needs: This database of suppliers contains every kind of thing produced in NC. Whether you’re a manufacturer who wants to localize your supply chain or a business searching for packaging suppliers, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for here.

• If you are an N.C. manufacturer, please register your business with ManufacturedNC here. Other businesses may be looking for you!

 

• Business Counseling Services, including layoff aversion strategies: Business Edge is a series of layoff aversion strategies and activities designed to help North Carolina employers prevent or minimize job losses. Through Business Edge, workforce partners collaborate with business leaders to assess the needs of, and options for, “at-risk” firms, and to deliver services that address those needs.

  • 919.814.0400 or Toll-Free: 800.562.6333 (Choose Option 2 – Business Services)

  • [email protected]

 

• For all general questions, call Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) at 800.228.8443. BLNC staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm.  BLNC staff will connect your business to the appropriate organization for assistance.  All inquiries will receive a response from a confidential business counselor within three (3) business days.  “Se Habla Español.”

 

The Golden LEAF Foundation

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UPDATE: Thank you for your interest in the NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan.  They have received applications in excess of our current funding and are actively seeking additional funding to expand the program. Applications already submitted are being processed in the order they were received. You are welcome to continue with your application, and we will review it as additional funding becomes available.   The Golden LEAF Foundation announces $15 million in funding to launch a rapid recovery loan program in response to economic losses related to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Golden LEAF funding will support the NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program by enabling loans to be made to eligible businesses for up to $50,000 with zero interest and no payments for six months. If not repaid in six months, the loan will automatically convert to a term loan. Apply Here U.S. Small Business Administration Assistance Information 

• U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Overview

• U.S. SBA Disaster Assistance Overview with an NC focus: Summary and key points by Smith Anderson law firm

• U.S. Small Business Administration Fact Sheet– Economic Injury Disaster Loans: This fact sheet provides information regarding credit requirements, interest rates, loan terms, eligibility criteria and more.

• Economic Injury Disaster Loans: A Small Business Guide and Checklist from the U.S. Chamber.

 

Apply Here Paycheck Protection Program

 

Webinars

4/2: Paycheck Protection Program: What You Need to Know (Recording Below)

https://ncchamber.com/thank-you-access-the-webinar-below/

FAQs

PPP Borrower Information Fact Sheet

Paycheck_Protection_Program: A Q&A from the NC Bankers Association

U.S. Chamber Small Business Loan Checklist and Guide

Coronavirus_Loan_Options: A side-by-side comparison of the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and PPP assistance options

 

Sample PPP Application

Borrower Paycheck Protection Program Application (v1)

 

 

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Congress’s latest coronavirus relief package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is the largest economic relief bill in U.S. history and will allocate $2.2 trillion in support to individuals and businesses affected by the pandemic and economic downturn. The U.S. Chamber provides this summary and also created this Guide to Employee Retention Tax Credit. For information on how the U.S. Treasury Department is taking action on the CARES Act, click here. Families First Coronavirus Response Act Information

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• Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201), explained by the Society for Human Resources Management

• U.S. Department of Labor | Wage and Hour Division COVID-19 Portal: The Wage and Hour Division provides information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to influenza, pandemics, or other public health emergencies, and their effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

 

Latest Updates and NC Executive Orders Regarding Coronavirus

• Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Response in North Carolina | The NC Department of Health and Human Services

 

Unemployment Insurance Updates

• Unemployment Insurance Changes Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) | NC Department of Commerce

 

Additional Resources

• The North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) system will, at no charge, assist small businesses in assessing financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, reconstructing financial statements, evaluating credit options and applying for SBA disaster loans.

The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) invites all businesses in North Carolina, particularly federal contractors, to participate in semi-weekly web conferences. SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK. TUESDAY, APRIL 7: The intent of this web conference is to sustain the defense/federal industrial base; keep small businesses engaged in the federal market; and to elicit/answer questions from businesses regarding: business support, business financing, federal contracting/technical issues and COVID-19/other federal acquisitions during 3Q and 4Q FY2020. Participating state and federal agencies include NCMBC, DEFTECH, SBA, NCPTAC, NCIES, NCDMVA, EDPNC and the NCCCC SBC Network. Businesses may ask any questions regarding opportunities, processes to engage with federal agencies, contracting and technical issues and financing and other resources available to businesses in NC during the COVID-19 crisis. THURSDAY, APRIL 9: Presented in partnership with the Defense Alliance of North Carolina, this web conference will create a stronger awareness of the role of membership organizations and civic groups in providing valuable resources and services to federal contractors and other businesses in North Carolina, with a common goal to expand the state economy. There will be an open session at the end for Q&A. LOGISTICS. Schedule. The NCMBC will schedule these web conferences on TUES and THU of each week: o April 7, 2020 at 11:00 EST · Focus: State Resource Focus and Small Business Administration Update o April 9, 2020 at 11:00 EST · Focus: Statewide Membership Organization Support to Federal Contractors During the COVID-19 Pandemic o April 14, 2020 at 11:00: TBA as needed o April 16, 2020 at 11:00: TBA as needed o April 21, 2020 at 11:00: TBA as needed o April 23, 2020 at 11:00: TBA as needed o April 28, 2020 at 11:00: TBA as needed o April 30, 2020 at 11:00: TBA as needed Registration. The NCMBC will not pre-register participants; all businesses are welcome Platform. The NCMBC will provide the Zoom infrastructure and “host” the conferences, see below for zoom meeting access information. Cost. No charge for business participants ZOOM INFORMATION. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/148254724?pwd=dEhaWU5RdUhsYk9JOGtVdjZ0YlpDQT09 [r20.rs6.net] Meeting ID: 148 254 724 Password: 083525 One tap mobile +13462487799,,148254724# US (Houston) +16699006833,,148254724# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US +1 301 715 8592 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 148 254 724 Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abxXMqd1ax [r20.rs6.net]