Indiana Small Business Restart Grant Program is sponsored by Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Grants to reimburse small businesses for expenses like payroll, rent, utilities, and safety investments. Available to Indiana small businesses, including those owned by minorities.

Important information and updates from the COVID-19 Response Coordination Team | June 5 $30M in Small Business Restart Grants Available Gov. Holcomb approved $30 million in federal funding made available through the CARES Act for small business restart grants, helping accelerate the speed of economic recovery activity by providing working capital to cover certain expenses related to the global pandemic.

Eligible Indiana small businesses can seek reimbursement for up to 80% of qualified expenses, such as rent/mortgage payments, utilities, lease payments for real or personal property, and safety investments, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and infrastructure improvements.

Eligibility requirements: Business must be registered to operate in Indiana Business must have had less than 50 employees as of 12/31/2019 Business must have had less than $5 million in revenue in 2019 Business must have been profitable in 2019 Businesses must demonstrate a monthly revenue loss of at least 40% compared to pre-COVID-19 revenues Business must not have used funding from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), or Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small businesses that meet the eligibility requirements can be awarded up to $2,500 or up to $5,000 for each month in which the business demonstrates a revenue loss of at least 40 percent or of at least 80 percent, respectively, with grants issued up to $10,000 per company.

Of the $30 million allocated to the fund, at least $5 million will be reserved for certified minority- and women-owned businesses. More | Apply If you need assistance in completing the application, you can contact the North Central Indiana Small Business Development Center or the SPARK Business Accelerator at Saint Mary’s College .

PPP Flexibility Act Extends Forgiveness Period A fix to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) passed the Senate on Wednesday. The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act extends the forgiveness period for PPP loans from eight to 24 weeks to provide recipients with more time to spend the PPP funds.

It also lowers the percentage required to be spent on payroll from 75 to 60 percent, extends the repayment period from two to five years, and allows payroll tax deferral for PPP recipients. The bill now awaits President Trump’s signature.

$10M to Fund EASE Program to Support Manufacturing Technologies The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) Board of Directors approved $10 million to launch the Economic Activity Stabilization and Enhancement (EASE) program aimed at supporting technology and operational advancements in the manufacturing industry, which has long been a key driver of the state’s economy.

EASE, which encompasses three complimentary initiatives, is designed to stimulate manufacturing investments that will position Hoosier operations, and the sector overall, for future growth and prosperity by prioritizing startup investment and resources, technology modernization and development, and training assistance.

More Back on Track Stage 3 Continues Through June 13 | A Look at Stage 4 Hoosiers remain in Stage 3 of Governor Holcomb’s five-stage Back on Track Indiana reopening plan. More details on Stage 3 . Stage 4 begins June 14.

Highlights of this stage include: State government building access restrictions will be lifted Professional office building employees may resume work at full capacity Retail stores and malls open at full capacity with social distancing guidelines in place Dining room service may open at 75% capacity Bar seating in restaurants may open at 50% capacity Bars and nightclubs may open at 50% capacity adhering to social distancing guidelines Cultural, entertainment, and tourism sites may open at a capacity to be determined.

This includes museums, zoos, aquariums, and like facilities Movie theaters, bowling alleys, and similar facilities may open at 50% capacity, adhering to social distancing guidelines Amusement parks, water parks, and like facilities may open at 50% capacity; reservations will be required to limit the number of customers at any one time Lt.

Governor’s Rural Road to Recovery Plan | Take Survey The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA), in collaboration with the Purdue Center for Regional Development requests your feedback on the issues COVID-19 has generated for your organization and your clients. As part of the Lt.

Governor’s Rural Road to Recovery Plan, key factors are being investigated that will affect rural recovery pursuant to IHCDA’s vision of “an Indiana with a sustainable quality of life for Hoosiers in the community of their choice." IHCDA has previously solicited feedback, and identified the many challenges and opportunities through listening sessions over the past several months.

IHCDA continues to value the input of partners and seeks additional insight into these challenges and potential opportunities for successful recovery. Your feedback is requested by June 8 . Take survey According to current U.S. Department of Labor data, 1.

8 million Americans filed unemployment claims for the week ending May 30, for a total of 42 million over the past 11 weeks. Hoosiers filed 24,000 new unemployment claims the week ending May 30, a slight dip from the previous week. COVID-19 State Data Update There is a misconception that COVID-19 only strikes older adults.

In fact, 33% are under age 30, and only 31% are over 60, although older adults count for the most deaths. State Executive Order 20-31 | Licenses and Permits Executive Order 20-31 extends the time period to renew professional licenses, certificates or permits to June 30.

Due to the current restrictions on in-person dining in restaurants, the executive order reduces the amount of food sales a restaurant must report to maintain its alcoholic beverage permit. Additionally, deadlines for the calculation of local taxes were also extended by the executive order. Read order CrossCheck Symptom Self-Assessment Portal | Website St.

Joseph County Testing Sites Beacon Mobile Unit @ Charles Black Recreation Center Beacon Mobile Unit @ Pentecostal Cathedral Church CVS | 130 E. Cleveland Rd. , Granger ISDH/Optum State Site @ National Guard Armory | 1901 Kemble Ave.

, South Bend MedPoint Urgent Care Main Street Physicians Urgent Care | Mishawaka Physicians Urgent Care | South Bend Saint Joseph Health System Elm Road Rehab Saint Joseph Health System Mobile Medical Unit @ Northwest Family Medicine Sister Maura Brannick Health Center The South Bend Clinic – Day Road Official Website & Map Showing Test Sites County Public Health Order Remains in Effect Through July 4 St.

Joseph County Department of Health Public Health Order 1-2020 remains in effect through July 4, requiring all St. Joseph County residents to wear face coverings when in public spaces and any business open to customers must have hand sanitizers available (60% alcohol-based) at entrances. Read order Keep up with the weekly, live COVID-19 Response Team press conferences every Friday at 1:00 p.

m. ET on the City of South Bend’s Facebook page . View previous eblasts and briefings here .

The Small Business Administration, which oversees the PPP lending program, had approved 4. 5 million PPP loans worth $510. 6 billion as of June 3.

More than $120 billion in funding is still available . In Indiana, it was reported that 73,430 PPP loans were approved totaling 9. 4 billion, while EIDL saw more than 5,000 loans.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information Updated PPP FAQs (As of May 27)| Application Economic Injury Disaster Loan View info on this program and other resources from the Indiana Small Business Development Center.

Back on Track 5-Stage Reopening Plan Website | Guiding Principles | 5 Stages | Specific Industry Guidelines | Indiana Small Business PPE Marketplace State Executive Order 20-26: Business Requirements & More All Hoosier employers must develop a plan to implement measures and institute safeguards to ensure a safe environment for their employees, customers, clients and members.

The plan must be provided to all employees and staff, as well as posted publicly. Executive Order 20-26 Return to Work Playbook Examples Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Returning to Work & Recovery Guide Email Purdue MEP if you have any questions, or if your organization needs additional assistance. To obtain the free guide, please complete the form here .

Safe Return to Work for Indiana’s Manufacturing, Logistics and Warehousing Sectors Safe Return to Work for Indiana’s Office Environments Safe Return to Work for Indiana’s Sales and Service Operations Additional Reopening Resources National Restaurant Association’s Guidance for Restaurants | Website OSHA Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 | More OSHA Prevent Worker Exposure | More 10 Steps All Workplaces Can Take to Reduce Risk | More OSHA Guidance for Retail “Workers | More CDC Cleaning & Disinfecting Guide Downloadable PDF | Website South Bend Clinic COVID Consulting Services Contact Dr. Brian Huber at 574.

807. 4697 | [email protected] | Download PDF Beacon Health System Getting Back to Business Beacon Health System offers a web portal showcasing Getting Back to Business resources. Website The Marketplace has shipped more than 25,000 orders.

To qualify, businesses must be registered to do business in the state of Indiana with the Indiana Secretary of State and employ fewer than 150 people.

| Website Additional PPE Supplies: Face Coverings, Partitions, Sneeze Guards, Hand Sanitizer The Chamber has compiled an extensive list of PPE resources above and beyond the Indiana PPE Marketplace | View IRS Allows Mid-Year Enrollment & Election Changes for Health Plans & FSAs The IRS released two notices allowing employees to make mid-year 2020 changes to their health plan enrollments and to adjust pre-tax contributions to health and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More The St. Joseph County Public Library now offers Curbside Tech (faxing, scanning, printing, and copying) and Drive-In Laptops at the Western, LaSalle, German, and Tutt Branches. Curbside is available by appointment Monday-Saturday, 2:00–6:00 p.

m. The first 20 pages of document services are free. Call 574.

282. 4646 to make an appointment today. Ivy Tech Community College South Bend-Elkhart has announced it is offering free classes and trainings for 10,000 participants.

The College is elevating its commitment to Hoosiers impacted by COVID-19 experiencing unemployment, reduced hours, and/or furloughs across the state. Participants may take more than one class or training in a range of relevant high-demand areas. Hoosiers can get detailed information about the classes and trainings, and register for free, here .

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration has received approval from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, for its HIP Workforce Bridge program – establishing a new, unique transitional phase for Healthy Indiana Plan members as they return to the workforce and to employer insurance or other health coverage.

“The HIP Workforce Bridge program will be especially important during our state’s recovery from the COVID pandemic and as Indiana's economy evolves,” Governor Holcomb said. “As Hoosiers skill up, go back to school and go back to work, HIP Workforce Bridge will make that transition from HIP to marketplace insurance or employer-based coverage easier to navigate and afford.

” HIP Workforce Bridge will allow thousands of outgoing HIP participants to continue to use up to $1,000 from their POWER accounts for up to 12 months to pay premiums, deductibles, copayments and coinsurance during their transition to commercial coverage. This assistance will be offered to individuals as soon as they become ineligible for HIP due to earning higher incomes.

Indiana becomes the first state to establish such an innovative approach to eliminating the gap in health coverage that can prevent HIP members from pursuing meaningful employment. In May, the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet launched a statewide awareness campaign with INvestEd, an Indiana nonprofit, to help Hoosier workers impacted by COVID-19 access tuition-free career training grants.

Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant is designed to remove financial barriers that may prevent Hoosiers from getting the training they need for a job in one of Indiana's most in-demand fields. To support these workers, the state is reaching out to recently unemployed Hoosiers and encouraging them to contact INvestEd for guidance on completing the Workforce Ready Grant application.

Learn more Jobs Progress Initiative . Connecting community members facing unemployment or reduced hours with employers who are hiring in the region. Website Chamber Jobs Board .

Job postings from business members of the South Bend Regional Chamber. Website Chamber Resource Landing Page St. Joseph County Health Department COVID Info City of South Bend COVID-19 Dashboard City of South Bend COVID Resources Page City of Mishawaka COVID Resources Page South Bend Clinic Hotline 574.

307. 6870 Beacon Answerline 855. 523.

2225 Saint Joseph Health System Call 211 for those people without access to a health care provider. Regenstrief Institute COVID-19 Dashboard , Health Improvement Alliance of St. Joseph County Mortgage Relief Resources | Website You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from the Chamber .

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