Coronavirus Business Assistance

Links to assistance for businesses during the coronavirus situation

Links to assistance for businesses during the Coronavirus situation are below. We will be updating this page regularly so be sure to check back. We know this is a large amount of information to sort through, and it’s also ever-evolving. If you have questions about how your business can gain access to these assistance programs, e-mail Bill Freehling, director of economic development and tourism for the City of Fredericksburg. Mr. Freehling will attempt to answer the question or direct you to the right place.

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Contact City of Fredericksburg Economic Development & Tourism for assistance.
For more advisories and information on City of Fredericksburg alerts.
Updates from Virginia Department of Health (including some info for business).
City of Fredericksburg Commissioner of the Revenue.
Guidance for Local Business on COVID-19 Protective Measures.

Local, State and Federal News and Updates

The Commonwealth of Virginia coronavirus updates.
US Congress: Congressman Rob Wittman’s Office, Senator Kaine’s Office and Senator Warner’s Office
For more advisories and information on City of Fredericksburg alerts.
City of Fredericksburg Commissioner of the Revenue.

Financial Resources

The Rebuild VA Grant Fund provides grants to Virginia small businesses impacted by COVID-19.
The US Small Business Administration (SBA) provides help to small businesses with free business counseling, SBA guaranteed business loans, home & business disaster loans and federal contracting. The agency has developed a Coronavirus (COVID-19) Small Business Guidance and & Loan Resources webpage with information on all of its related programs. Visit the SBA disaster assistance page for details on disaster assistance programs. Visit the SBA Disaster Loan Applications page to find out how to apply for SBA Disaster Loans. Visit the streamlined SBA application page if you are interested in applying for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
SBA Coronavirus Relief Options
The Federal Reserve has announced the creation of a Main Street Business Lending Program Facility The program will support small and mid-sized businesses that were in good financial standing before the public health crisis. It will ensure credit flows to small and mid-sized businesses that may not have been supported through the Paycheck Protection Program of the Fed’s other lending facilities. An eligible borrower is a business with up to 10,000 employees or up to $2.5 billion in 2019 annual revenues. Eligible lenders may originate new loans or increase size of existing loans to businesses through the Main Street Business Lending Program. Loan amounts will range from $1 million to $150 million and will mature in 4 years.
The Virginia 30 Day Fund offers assistance to small businesses in Virginia. The goal is to help save as many Virginia jobs as possible while small businesses await recently approved federal funding. The funds do not need to be repaid. Businesses that qualify are small businesses that employ three to 30 people; based in Virginia and have been operating for at least one year and owned and operated by a Virginia resident.
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s and Restaurant Employee Relief Fund offers grants to restaurant industry employees who have been impacted by COVID-19.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
The City of Fredericksburg Economic Development Authority (EDA) offers a small business loan program called InvestFXBG that is available to qualified Fredericksburg businesses.
Fredericksburg Virginia Main Street offers resources for downtown Fredericksburg businesses located within the designated main street boundaries.
Virginia Commission for the Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts offers a Virginia CARES Emergency Relief Grant to help save jobs in the arts sector.

Additional Resources

Business Recovery and Reopening

View Virginia Governor’s Executive Orders and Directives related to COVID-19.
The Department of Labor and Industry’s Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) Program and the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board have adopted an emergency temporary standard related to COVID-19, §16VAC25-220, effective July 27, 2020. Visit the website for Text of the Regulation, Education, Compliance requirements and other important information. This standard applies to almost all Virginia employers, both public and private.
Visit Forward Virginia to learn more about Virginia’s guidelines for all business sectors reopening.
View the Virginia Small Business Development Center Business Recovery webpage, which is designed to help owners carefully plan for and execute their new business strategy.
Other commercial and property stakeholders have developed guidance. Check out how others are approaching easing of restrictions for ideas related to best practices:

Business Assistance and Counseling

Virtual Learning and Webinars—Live and Recorded

View the Virginia Small Business Development Center SBA Loan Overview here. View the recorded presentation on how to apply here.
University of Mary Washington Small Business Development Center events.
Cushman & Wakefield COVID-19 Implications for Real Estate Tenants and Investors Webinar
Cushman & Wakefield Recovery Readiness: A How-To-Guide for Reopening Your Workplace (Recorded Webinar and Guide to Download).
NDC Advancing Our Communities During COVID-19 Crisis Webinar
Jennifer Schaus & Associates Government Contracting Training: Far Sighted 2020 Series
Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity PPP Loan Forgiveness Webinar Series

Real Estate Insights

Cushman & Wakefield COVID-19 website
JLL COVID-19 Real Estate Implications
Cushman & Wakefield COVID-19 Implications for Real Estate Tenants and Investors Webinar
Virginia Realtors®, resource page with information on dealing with impacts of the coronavirus on real estate.

Economic/Business Climate

Chmura provides free data through its COVID-19 Vulnerability Index describes impacts to help inform decision making and on its webpage.

Other

University of Mary Washington’s Small Business Development Center COVID-19 Resources
Refer to the Governor’s Executive Order 55 and Executive Order 53 for questions related to if a business is considered “essential” or “non-essential”. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation COVID-19 Update Page outlines regulated non-essential businesses that must close.
United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues new guidance for employers on record keeping requirements, as COVID-19 is a recordable illness. See Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Questions about classification of Employee vs Independent Contractor. See IRS Revenue Ruling 87-41: The Twenty Factors
Department of Homeland Security Guidance on What Is Critical Infrastructure
FEMA has a page on HOW TO HELP that gives contact information producing COVID-19 related products.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act Includes information on paid sick time, paid family leave, UI benefits, SBA vs. Business Interruption loans & Phase 3 discussions. You can find additional small business information on the NFIB COVID-19 resource page.
SBA provides guidance for businesses and employers to plan and respond to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) here.
The FDA has released a guidance document for restaurants and food manufacturers that may have food not labeled for retail sale that wish to sell at retail. The guidance provides flexibility regarding nutrition labeling so certain packaged foods may be sold.
International Economic Development Council COVID-19 Restore Your Economy Resources
International Council of Shopping Centers COVID-19 Resources
Virginia Chamber provides a COVID-19 Resource Center website
The U.S. Chamber continues to create, update, and evolve various resources-including the Live Blog, Coronavirus Response Toolkit, Small Business Guide, Coronavirus Workplace Flyer, and more-to ensure that you and your members have the most up to date information and impactful tools to navigate this pandemic.
Virginia Manufacturer Association VMA COVID-19 Resource Page
Consumer delivery permits are available for certain alcoholic beverage licensees and producers from the Virginia ABC at no additional cost. Apply here.
The Virginia Wineries Association and the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild are both offering online resources and updates for their industry partners.
For information on unemployment and other business needs, visit the Virginia Employment Commission. The Governor has waived the one-week waiting period so that workers can start receiving benefits right away. Affected workers or businesses can contact the Virginia Employment Commission for information. The Virginia Employment Commission is providing a Q&A on Unemployment Insurance Procedures In Response To Covid-19
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) has directed regulated electric, natural gas and water companies in Virginia to suspend service disconnections until the coronavirus outbreak subsides. Learn more here.
Several internet and cellular service providers are providing resources and relief for those affected by COVID-19: Comcast and Verizon.
Develop a clear and organized communication plan to help navigate decisions for special events during a crisis with tips from CellarPass Facebook here.
Fact sheets for Housing Rights (Tenant and Foreclosure) amid COVID-19 can be found on VALegalAid.org. These fact sheets have Landlord-Tenant, Foreclosure and other civil legal information resources, information and rights in Virginia during the current Coronavirus pandemic.

For more information or assistance please e-mail Bill Freehling, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Fredericksburg.