Your Business: COVID-19 Resources, Loan Options, and Updates Learn More Here

COVID-19 Resources

Last Updated 5/28/2020 1:00 p.m.

 

Pasco EDC Operations

Pasco EDC will remain operational through virtual services in order to help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.  

We will be utilizing online meeting platforms to continue to meet your business needs and will be offering business education series workshops online.  

We encourage the business community to take proper precautions and follow CDC recommendations as they are given.  

The Pasco EDC is here for you during this challenging time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start Shifting Your Business Model to RECOVER from COVID-19

It's never too soon to begin planning for your company's future. Our team will continue to put together valuable resources for your business. 
 
Check out the COVID-19 RECOVERY Page
 
BUSINESS RECOVERY PAGE

 

 
 

Governor DeSantis: SAFE.SMART.STEP-BY-STEP

Plan For Florida’s Recovery Post COVID-19 Emergency

 

RE-OPENING FLORIDA

Phase 1 Intro: The Governor's Executive Order (20-112) is in effect as of Monday, May 4, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and lasts until the Governor issues a subsequent order

Full Phase 1: The Governor has issued guidance on the remaining areas of phase 1. It will be in effect as of Monday, May 18, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. and lasts until the Governor issues a subsequent order

Below are some brief notes on Governor DeSantis' press conference from 5/15 at 12:00 p.m.

VIEW EXECUTIVE ORDER

Effective Monday 5/18/2020

  • Restaurants: 50% capacity indoors, utilize partitions if possible, maintain safe table distancing

  • Retail: 50% capacity

  • Museums and Libraries: 50% capacity

  • Gyms and Fitness Centers: 50% capacity, social distance, sanitize machines and equipment after use

  • Professional Sports Venues: Training open, teams can continue to play as their seasons are open without attendees

  • Amusement Parks: Submit reopening plans to the state for review. Include full details on operating plans, examples- How they guests will be handled, park procedures, social distancing measures, sanitizing measures, date they would like to open, approval from their local government

Pasco County Vacation Rentals

Pasco County has received approval from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) for vacation rentals to resume accepting reservations and check-ins, effective immediately, see full press release here.

  

Have More Questions?

Review the FAQ link below for more detailed information regarding business operations, gatherings, recreation activities, medical questions and more.
 

PHASE 1 FAQ

FULL PHASE 1 QUICK READ

Barbershops, Cosmetology Salons, and Cosmetology Specialty Salons

Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation: Effective May 11, 2020 the following restrictions are mandatory:

  • All customers will be by appointment only
  • Allow at least 15 minutes between the conclusion of an appointment and the beginning of the next appointment for proper disinfecting practices
  • No group appointments are permitted
  • Masks must be worn by all employees while performing personal services

MORE INFORMATION

FAQ

Pasco County Restaurant Recovery

Pasco County will temporarily allow restaurants expanded outdoor seating for open-air dining without submitting for a permit.
  • Restricted to parking spaces/allowable areas
  • Social distancing rules of 6 ft or more

For all rules and restrictions please click the link below.

MORE INFORMATION

 

Economic Resources

CARES Act 2020

The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act are intended to assist business owners with  whatever needs they have right now. There are many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain non-profits and other employers.
 

CARES ACT GUIDE

CARES ACT LEGISLATION

 

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

The loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll).

PROGRAM INFORMATION

FAQ

APPLICATION

  

Main Street Lending Program

Supports lending to small and medium-sized businesses that were in good financial standing before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Program will operate through two facilities: the Main Street New Loan Facility (MSNLF) and the Main Street Expanded Loan Facility (MSELF). Term sheets for each facility providing more information regarding eligibility and conditions can be found in the link below.
 

 

Small Business Administration Loan 

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest, long-term disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters to repair or replace uninsured/underinsured disaster damaged property. 
 

3-STEP APPLICATION PROCESS

  • SBA loans from previous disasters automatically defer through 12/31/2020 

 

Pasco EDC Manufacturing Survey

Our country is in unprecedented times fighting an invisible enemy thrust upon our land, the Coronavirus COVID19 Pandemic. President Donald Trump has initiated a seldom used but important tool called The Defense Production Act, a federal law that is used to provide civil defense or war mobilization efforts. Recently, President Trump announced the use of the DPA (Defense Production Act) to procure coronavirus test kits and protective masks. We want to help Pasco’s manufacturers be ready to bid on orders from the Federal Government.
 

 

  

Florida Emergency Supplier Network

The Division of State Purchasing organized the Florida Emergency Supplier Network and Florida Emergency Purchasing Network to assist state agencies and local governments with purchasing functions during emergencies.

CURRENT EMERGENCY SUPPLIERS

APPLY TO BE EMERGENCY SUPPLIER

 

Business Damage Assessment Survey

The Business Damage Assessment survey assess the impact of COVID-19 on Florida's local businesses, including those in Pasco County. The survey, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will evaluate businesses affected by COVID-19 and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy so actions to implement economic relief programs for businesses can begin.
 

FDEO SURVEY 

  

Federal Paid Leave Law Signed by President Trump

On Wednesday evening, March 18th, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the "Act"), which, among other things, mandates paid time off for certain qualifying events.
There are two primary components in terms of paid time off:
(1) Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act ("E-FMLA")
(2) Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act ("EPSLA")
 

VIEW LEGISLATION

 

Treasury and IRS to Move Tax Day Deadline 

Following President Donald J. Trump’s emergency declaration pursuant to the Stafford Act, the U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance allowing all individual and other non-corporate tax filers to defer up to $1 million of federal income tax (including self-employment tax) payments due on April 15, 2020, until July 15, 2020, without penalties or interest.  The guidance also allows corporate taxpayers a similar deferment of up to $10 million of federal income tax payments that would be due on April 15, 2020, until July 15, 2020, without penalties or interest.  
 
  
 

"We are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15," Secretary Steven Mnuchin tweeted (3/20/2020). "All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties." Please see the treasury website for more information. 

MORE INFORMATION

 

 

Other Business and Economic Resources

For Employers

  • Did you purchase face masks, gloves or other Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for your Pasco County small business due to COVID-19? You may be eligible for up to $1,000 reimbursement under the new Pasco CARES Small Business PPE Reimbursement Program. This program is first-come first-served. Click HERE for more information
  • Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Waving Fee until 12/31/2020 for Export Marketing Plans, more information

  • Enterprise Florida Trade Resource: Virtual Business Matchmaking Grant is temporarily replacing Gold Key Grant due to Covid-19, more information

 

 

For Employees

  • Disaster Unemployment Assistance is a federally funded benefit program that assists individuals who become unemployed because of a disaster
  • Reemployment Assistance (RA) Benefits  provides temporary wage replacement benefits to eligible individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own. If your employment has been negatively impacted as a result of the mitigation efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, you may be eligible to receive RA benefits.
    • As of April 1, 2020- the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), at the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, announced the waiving of the requirement to wait a week to receive Reemployment Assistance benefits through May 8, 2020. The waiting week has been waived so eligible Floridians may receive the support they need to help recover from the current economic impacts of COVID-19.
    • Physical Applications for Reemployment Assistance are now being accepted, download here. Once completed, mail to: P.O. Box 5350, Tallahassee, FL 32314-5350

 

General Information

 

Digital Tools 

  • SMARTstart Pasco will be conducting numerous Facebook Live events featuring local business covering topics like remote work, marketing your business, how to do a podcast and more
  • workforceCONNECT tools for operating your business remotely 
  • Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where they operate
  • Keep your business listing updated with these Google Business suggestions
  • Hootsuite- Blog: Adapting to More Digital and Social Ways of Being in a Time of Crisis. Company testimonials on how to use social to mitigate business disruption.

Travel Related

  

Impact Planning Reports

These infographics provide a look at the Tampa MSA and Pasco County as it relates to population, ages, income and other important information.

 

Health Resources & COVID-19 Updates

  

Pasco County Updates

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