The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Tennessee small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Bill Lee on March 18, 2020.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the entire state of Tennessee; and the contiguous counties of Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone and Madison in Alabama; Crittenden and Mississippi in Arkansas; Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Murray, Walker and Whitfield in Georgia; Allen, Bell, Calloway, Christian, Clinton, Cumberland, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Logan, McCreary, Monroe, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Wayne and Whitley in Kentucky; Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Tippah, Tishomingo in Mississippi; New Madrid and Pemiscot in Missouri; Ashe, Avery, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Watauga and Yancey in North Carolina; and Bristol City, Grayson, Lee, Scott, Washington in Virginia.

“SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist Tennessee small businesses with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help these small businesses recover from the financial impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” said Administrator Carranza.

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.

“Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Carranza.

“These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza added.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 21, 2020.

For more information about Coronavirus, please visit: Coronavirus.gov.

For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit SBA.gov.

La Agencia Federal para el Desarrollo de la Pequeña Empresa (SBA) por sus siglas en inglés, ofrece préstamos federales de bajo interés para capital de trabajo a las pequeñas empresas de Tennessee que sufren un daño económico sustancial como resultado de la enfermedad del coronavirus (COVID-19), anunció hoy la administradora de SBA, Jovita Carranza. SBA actuó bajo su propia autoridad, según lo dispuesto por la Ley de Asignaciones Suplementarias para la Preparación y Respuesta ante el Coronavirus que fue firmada recientemente por el Presidente, para declarar un desastre a raíz de una solicitud recibida del Gobernador Bill Lee el 18 de marzo de 2020.

La declaración de desastre hace que la asistencia de SBA esté disponible en todo el estado de Tennessee; y en los condados contiguos de Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone y Madison en Alabama; Crittenden y Mississippi en Arkansas; Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Murray, Walker y Whitfield en Georgia; Allen, Bell, Calloway, Christian, Clinton, Cumberland, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Logan, McCreary, Monroe, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Wayne y Whitley en Kentucky; New Madrid y Pemiscot en Missouri; Alcorn, Benton, DeSoto, Marshall, Tippah y Tishomingo en Mississippi; Ashe, Avery, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Watauga y Yancey en North Carolina; Bristol City, Grayson, Lee, Scott y Washington en Virginia.

"SBA está firmemente comprometida a proporcionar la respuesta más eficaz y centrada en el cliente posible para ayudar a las pequeñas empresas de Tennessee con los préstamos federales para catástrofes. Seremos rápidos en nuestros esfuerzos para ayudar a estas pequeñas empresas a recuperarse de los impactos financieros por la enfermedad del coronavirus (COVID-19)", dijo la Administradora Carranza.

Los representantes de servicio al cliente de SBA estarán disponibles para responder preguntas sobre el programa de préstamos para desastres por daños económicos de SBA y explicar el proceso de solicitud.

"Las pequeñas empresas, las organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro de cualquier tamaño, las pequeñas cooperativas agrícolas y las pequeñas empresas de acuicultura que han sido afectadas financieramente como resultado directo de la enfermedad del coronavirus (COVID-19) desde el 31 de enero de 2020, pueden calificar para recibir préstamos para desastres por daños económicos de hasta 2 millones de dólares para ayudar a cumplir con las obligaciones financieras y los gastos de funcionamiento que podrían haber sido satisfechos si el desastre no hubiera ocurrido", dijo Carranza.

"Estos préstamos pueden ser usados para pagar deudas fijas, nómina, cuentas por pagar y otras cuentas que no pueden ser pagadas debido al impacto del desastre. Los préstamos para desastres pueden proporcionar una ayuda económica vital a las pequeñas empresas para ayudar a superar la pérdida temporal de ingresos que están experimentando", añadió Carranza.

La elegibilidad para los Préstamos para Daños Económicos por Desastre se basa en el impacto financiero la enfermedad del coronavirus (COVID-19). La tasa de interés es del 3.75 por ciento para las pequeñas empresas. La tasa de interés para las organizaciones privadas sin fines de lucro es del 2.75 por ciento. SBA ofrece préstamos con repago a largo plazo para mantener los pagos asequibles, hasta un máximo de 30 años y están disponibles para entidades sin capacidad financiera para compensar el impacto adverso sin dificultades.

Los solicitantes pueden presentar su solicitud en línea, recibir información adicional sobre asistencia en casos de desastre y descargar las solicitudes en https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Los solicitantes también pueden llamar al Centro de Servicio al Cliente de SBA al 800-659-2955 o enviar un correo electrónico a disastercustomerservice@sba.gov para obtener más información sobre la asistencia para desastres de SBA. Las personas sordas o con problemas de audición pueden llamar al 800-877-8339. Las solicitudes completas deben enviarse por correo a la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas de los Estados Unidos, Centro de Procesamiento y Desembolso, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

La fecha límite para solicitar un Préstamo para Daños Económicos por Desastre es el 21 de diciembre de 2020.

Para más información sobre el Coronavirus, por favor visite: Coronavirus.gov.

Para más información sobre los recursos y servicios disponibles de SBA, por favor visite: SBA.gov/coronavirus.

Acerca de la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas de los Estados Unidos

La Administración de Pequeñas Empresas de EE.UU. hace realidad el sueño americano de ser propietario de un negocio. Como el único recurso y la única voz para las pequeñas empresas respaldada por la fuerza del gobierno federal, SBA otorga a los empresarios y propietarios de pequeñas empresas los recursos y el apoyo que necesitan para iniciar, hacer crecer o expandir sus empresas, o para recuperarse de un desastre declarado. Presta servicios a través de una amplia red de oficinas locales de SBA y de asociaciones con organizaciones públicas y privadas. Para obtener más información, visite SBA.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Tennessee small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Bill Lee on March 18, 2020.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the entire state of Tennessee; and the contiguous counties of Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone and Madison in Alabama; Crittenden and Mississippi in Arkansas; Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Murray, Walker and Whitfield in Georgia; Allen, Bell, Calloway, Christian, Clinton, Cumberland, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Logan, McCreary, Monroe, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Wayne and Whitley in Kentucky; Alcorn, Benton, Desoto, Marshall, Tippah, Tishomingo in Mississippi; New Madrid and Pemiscot in Missouri; Ashe, Avery, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Watauga and Yancey in North Carolina; and Bristol City, Grayson, Lee, Scott, Washington in Virginia.

“SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist Tennessee small businesses with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help these small businesses recover from the financial impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” said Administrator Carranza.

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.

“Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Carranza.

“These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza added.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may call 800-877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 21, 2020.

For more information about Coronavirus, please visit: Coronavirus.gov.

For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.

About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit SBA.gov.

Updated 3:45 PM, April 15, 2020

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Crucial Tennessee Decisions: What is An Essential Business?: Guidance For Businesses and Manufacturers

With a number of Tennessee's local governments issuing stay at home orders, the Tennessee Chamber has been extremely busy this week working to provide guidance and answering question for member companies. Here are some explanations and guidance on this issue: NOTE: We encourage all of our companies to seek legal advice and we are not intending to provide legal advice but rather a policy discussion and ways we are working to solve this issue.

First, Governor Bill Lee on Sunday issued Executive Order 17 that notes essential and crucial business operations are allowed to continue. There is no definition for what essential or crucial business operations are. As result, the Tennessee Chamber submitted a letter to Governor Lee noting our support of his position and encouraging them to utilize DHS CISA guidance to determine essential manufacturing and business operations. After hearing from a number of members, this guidance covers most all member company concerns. The guidance also creates a uniform standard. The Tennessee Chamber prefers a uniform approach rather than a series of varying local orders. If you have questions about this issue call any of our staff anytime. We do encourage you to review this standard and determine if you fall within these "essential business operation" classifications since this standard is one we and others have been advocating for. Also, as you talk to local government officials please share these documents with them.

In addition, the Tennessee Chamber has a general guidance document that companies may consider for distribution to provide for any questions that may arise. CLICK HERE TO VIEW. (The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry does not make legal determinations on essential businesses. This document is intended to be used as an aide for employers to communicate their essential status AFTER internally vetting and verifying their status with counsel.)

Executive Orders from Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris are outlined as Points from Governor Lee's Executive Order 17 (March 22, 2020)

This order does not prohibit persons from visiting grocery stores, gas stations, parks, and banks, among other places, so long as they observe precautions advised by the President and the CDC.

- Must be accompanied by food

- Must be packaged in container with secure lid

- May not be bottles of spirits or liquor

- Shall post warning “No driver shall consume any alcoholic beverage or beer or possess an open container of alcoholic beverage or beer while operating a motor vehicle in this state.”

- Shall not provide or deliver alcoholic beverages to person under 21

- Delivery persons must be 21

- Must be sold during current operating hours.

Secondly, we seek to be an encourager for not only our our partners, but also to inspire our community. We are also aiming to help the community find ways to support local businesses by sharing any and all information we have at this time. *See flyer below to see our suggestions* We are inviting hospitality professionals to: • share funding ideas and resources for small businesses and employees • share and celebrate our community's spirit, acts of kindness, and inventive ways to engage (such as live music streaming, virtual live tours, and virtual tip jars) Check out the Facebook campaign HERE.     If you have questions or want to be added to the group or have information to share, call 731-425-8333 or email mcoffman@jacksontn.com.

Details of phase three of Congress's COVID-19 relief legislation are being made available and will be considered in the Senate over the weekend. Many expect the legislation will continue to be debated and passed next week. It is expected to be one of the most costly such efforts ever, reportedly topping over $1 trillion. As reported, some early details of the legislation include: