The Office of Economic Development has compiled a list of resources for businesses in James City County. This list will be updated as new resources are available.
For the most up-to-date information from COVID-19 in James City County, please visit the County website.
https://jamescitycountyva.gov/covid
Input Needed from Business Owners
The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity is asking that business owners take a moment to complete a short survey so they can share the results with State and Federal partners. They would like to receive responses as soon as possible but will be leaving the survey open through Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m. to capture responses.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7RMY8SH
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management Private Sector Team published a survey for the private sector to submit issues they are experiencing and offers of assistance to Virginia (donation, in-kind contribution, discounted, or contracted). That survey can be accessed at https://arcg.is/1amrze.
The National Defense Industrial Association has created a survey to help the Department of Defense Office of Acquisition and Sustainment better understand the economic impact COVID-19 is having on small businesses. If you or someone you know is a small business member of the defense industrial base, please take five minutes to help individuals and businesses in this network. This survey will be open until Friday, March 27: https://www.ndia.org/policy/recent-posts/2020/3/23/covid-19-small-business-impacts-survey
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Businesses are encouraged to join the Virginia Department of Emergency Management Private Sector Portal. This portal provides useful information to businesses in the private sector.
http://bit.ly/VaPrivateSector
Small Business Administration (SBA)
COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
A disaster declaration was approved by the SBA for a number of Virginia localities including James City County. The declaration can be viewed online. https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Declarations/ Businesses can now apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) online. https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ If a business does not have access to a computer or smartphone, please call SBA at 1‐800‐659‐2955 for assistance.
SCORE
SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. SBA.
https://www.score.org
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The Virginia SBDC has a website with a prerecorded webinar giving guidance on how to apply for EIDL.
https://www.virginiasbdc.org/eidl/
The Virginia SBDC network is hosting an additional webinar session on Thursday, March 26 from 2-3 p.m., to review the application process for SBA EIDLs available for small businesses and non-profits. Space is limited to the first 500 participants. Register at this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qGxiVEUtTZ-C1acnQlUZpA. The session will be broadcast simultaneously on Facebook live at the Virginia SBDC page at this link: https://www.facebook.com/VASBDC/
Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center (HRSBDC)
The HRSBDC has guidance on their website.
http://www.hrsbdc.org/preparing-covid-19-virginia-small-businesses/
Hampton Roads Workforce Council / Greater Peninsula Workforce Board
The Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Greater Peninsula Workforce Board have received Rapid Response funding from the Governor, through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, to assist employers eligible to remain open during this emergency. Funds are reserved for small businesses (250 employers or less) and may be used to clean facilities and support emergency needs. The grant will support layoff aversion strategies and activities designed to prevent, or minimize the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs due to COVID-19. More information and application materials are available online. https://www.vcwhamptonroads.org/corona-virus-update/ Applications are due Friday, April 3. If you have questions and are a Greater Peninsula business, please contact Diana Cordero at 757-251-8935 or dcordero@vcwpeninsula.com.
The Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Greater Peninsula Workforce Board’s Business Services team is working with employers to assist with their needs. If you are a business owner, employer or human resource representative who is considering work stoppages, layoffs or furloughs, they encourage you to contact their Business Services team. They will get back to you within one business day, or sooner, to discuss information and services that may assist impacted employees, including Unemployment Insurance, tax assistance, layoff aversion strategies, financial planning, remote access career services and more. Please email Steve Cook at scook@vcwhamptonroads.org
Tourism Businesses
Tourism businesses are invited to take a survey from the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
https://www.vatc.org/coronavirus/covid-19-virginia-tourism-industry-survey/
Virginia Tourism has also compiled a list resources for tourism businesses.
https://www.vatc.org/cv19businessresources/
Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association resources
https://www.virginiaisforrestaurantlovers.com/covid-19-info/resources-links
The Williamsburg Tourism Council has set up a resource guide for tourism businesses on their website.
https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/coronavirus
From the Governor of Virginia
Latest information: https://www.virginia.gov/coronavirus-updates
The Governor’s Office has compiled a useful list of frequently asked questions about Executive Order Fifty-Three.
https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/governor-of-virginia/pdf/Frequently-Asked-Questions-Regarding-EO-53.pdf
If you have business-related questions for the Commonwealth of Virginia, please send an email to business@virginia.gov.
Support for Impacted Employers
- Regional workforce teams will be activated to support employers that slow or cease operations. Employers who do slow or cease operations will not be financially penalized for an increase in workers requesting unemployment benefits.
- The Governor is authorizing rapid response funding, through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, for employers eligible to remain open during this emergency. Funds may be used to clean facilities and support emergency needs.
- Governor Northam is directing all employers to follow U.S. Department of Labor guidance on workplace safety. https://bit.ly/39Zub3c
Utilities
The State Corporation Commission issued an order directing utilities it regulates, such as electric, natural gas and water companies in Virginia, to suspend service disconnections for 60 days to provide immediate relief for any customer, residential and business, who may be financially impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Port of Virginia
Information about the Port of Virginia is available on their website.
http://www.portofvirginia.com/
Center for Disease Control
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has issued COVID-19 guidance for businesses:
Resources for Business & Employers
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html
General Info & FAQs
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Steps to Preventing Illness
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html
Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html
Internal Revenue Service
Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses
https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/disaster-assistance-and-emergency-relief-for-individuals-and-businesses
Local Chambers of Commerce and Retail Alliance
The Greater Williamsburg Business Council has a variety of resources on their website.
https://www.williamsburgcc.com/covid-19-sustainability-and-recovery-resource-center
The Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has a COVID-19 newsletter. It can be viewed on their website.
http://www.virginiapeninsulachamber.com/
Hampton Roads Retail Alliance
https://retailalliance.com/coronavirus-resources-for-retailers/
Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce
https://www.hrchamber.com/page/-covid_19-business-resource-guide
Email Updates
The Office of Economic Development is sending out email updates on a regular basis. You may subscribe by emailing yesjcc@jamescitycountyva.gov.
You can view the Office of Economic Development March newsletter online.
https://jamescitycountyva.gov/CivicSend/ViewMessage/message/105304
Other Resources
The Better Business Bureau has compiled information for businesses.
https://www.bbb.org/council/coronavirus/
Virginia Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Resources
https://www.vachamber.com/covid-19/
Last update March 26, 3:55 p.m.
Contact Information
James City County Office of Economic Development
757-253-6607; yesjcc@jamescitycountyva.gov