COVID-19 Hancock County Business Community Updates

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May 5, 2021

Update:

The Indiana SBDC and Roundpeg are partnering to support the digital transformation of Hoosier small businesses and entrepreneurs. Eligible companies may apply for no-cost assistance to help set up and optimize their Google My Business profile. For detailed information please go to: LINK Helping Hoosier Small Business Pivot

April 22, 2021

Update:

In April 2021, Indiana announced an expansion of the Indiana Small Business Restart Grant to help accelerate economic recovery activity by supporting Hoosier entrepreneurs and small businesses. The program provides working capital to eligible companies by reimbursing certain expenses incurred during and related to the global pandemic.

Please click on the link for detailed information and eligibility requirements LINK Back On Track Indiana: Small Business Restart Grant

March 9, 2021

Update:

The Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) has been hosting webinars throughout the pandemic related to business resiliency and recovery. Recordings of all the trainings are available here. ISBDC is in the process of adding more videos as well.

ISBDC also brought on an E-Commerce Specialty Advisor that is available to small businesses statewide to help pivot to online sales. Small Businesses just need to contact their regional office to access the advisor–Hancock County is in the Central Indiana ISBDC Region, for more information call 317.940.3919.

November 2, 2020

Update:

The Indiana Small Business Development Center has unveiled new resources to provide Hoosier small businesses and entrepreneurs with employment support during the pandemic. You can learn more about HR Assistance Program by clicking here: https://isbdc.org/u/2020/09/COVID-HR-Assistance.pdf

June 26, 2020

Update:

Hancock County Schools, letter from the four school corporations of Hancock County, Indiana. – LINK

Plans for opening the schools this fall are under the guidance of the Hancock County Health Department. For more information please read the joint letter from the four Hancock County school superintendents. Letter Link

June 8, 2020

Update:

Small Business Restart Fund
$30 million in federal funding made available through the CARES Act will provide Small Business Restart Grants to cover certain expenses for businesses that have not received federal assistance.

Eligible Indiana small businesses must have fewer than 50 employees and will be reimbursed for up to 80% of qualified expenses.

To learn more about specific qualifications, grant amounts and the application process, click here.

Manufacturing support and long-term growth
The IEDC recently approved $10 million to launch the Economic Activity Stabilization and Enhancement (EASE) program to support technology and operational advancements in Indiana’s manufacturing industry.

The EASE program encompasses three complementary initiatives and is designed to stimulate manufacturing investments by prioritizing startup investment and resources, technology modernization and development, and training assistance. (New grants to assist in economic recovery, Senator Michael Crider)

May 28, 2020

Attention:

Indiana Department of Workforce Development updates. DWD is currently serving an unprecedented number of claimants during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to maintain the integrity of their system, DWD is requesting employers review the following resources to understand the appropriate way to report claimant information to the Department:

Protests and Appeals

Newly Hired and Re-Hired Reporting https://in-newhire.com/

This includes individuals who

  • Have not previously been employed by the employer; and
  • Were previously employed by the employer, but have been separated for at least 60 consecutive days.

May 26, 2020

Updates:

Have you wondered what’s open and what’s closed?

5 stages to get Indiana Back on Track: https://backontrack.in.gov/2348.htm

May 19, 2020

Updates:

Free PPE Marketplace for Businesses, The Indiana Economic Development Council recently launched a free PPE marketplace for businesses with fewer than 150 employees. Businesses can get more information and apply to get free PPE through the links below.

More information found here: https://backontrack.in.gov/ppemarketplace.htm

Link to apply here: https://appengine.egov.com/apps/in/ppemarketplace-phase3

May 13, 2020

Updates:

Hoosiers By The Numbers, your premier source for labor market information for Indiana. Coronavirus (COVID-19) LINK , this page compiles some of the most useful data available to understand the size, scale and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 4, 2020

Updates:

Information about the new statewide policies and how they will apply to different industries during the next phase of Indiana’s reopening can be found online at: Back On Track Indiana Link

Quick link to:

  • Industry Guidelines Link
  • Suggested Manufacturing and Industrial Guidelines Link

Businesses with questions about how the governor’s latest announcement applies to them can email covidresponse@iedc.in.gov or call 877-820-0890.

HEDC is here for you! If you have any questions, please call or email and we’ll do our best to get your answer. 317.477.7241 / cschmidt@hancockedc.com

April 15, 2020

Updates:

Healthy 365 News You Can Use from Hancock Health: A lot of new information as it relates to your health or the health of your employees. Follow this LINK for agency updates.

RestoreYourEconomy is your resource for up-to-date information related to COVID-19 and its economic impacts. It is managed by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) with generous support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and IEDC’s Economic Development Research Partners program. LINK

April 13, 2020

Updates and News to assist small business:

Salesforce Care: Supporting Small Businesses Through COVID-19 Recovery – BY MEREDITH SCHMIDT, EVP AND GM OF ESSENTIALS AND SMB. Salesforce will be offering Salesforce Care Small Business Grants of $10,000 to provide capital to help keep businesses afloat. Links to: ARTICLE and RESOURCES

April 9, 2020

Updates:

Small businesses: there are additional resources for you. Through the Indy Chamber (you do not have to be a member) there is a regional fund that includes the nine counties surrounding Marion County–that includes Hancock County. Currently there is up to $6,000,000.00 in capital. Please go to: https://www.response.indychamber.com/ for more information.

Rapid Response Loan Fund: Indy Chamber’s Business Ownership Initiative (BOI) offers Rapid Response Loans from $1,000-$25,000 for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. BOI is currently providing loans only to businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Consider using a Rapid Response Loan to pay employee salaries for the next several weeks, to pay insurance premiums, or consider using it as a bridge loan until additional funding kicks in from your bank or the SBA. Rapid Response Intake Form

Additionally, U.S. Senator Todd Young has on his website Coronavirus Assistance Toolkit. Now that the CARES Act has been signed into law, immediate relief is on the way to Hoosiers. To help navigate the CARES Act, and the relief it will provide, Senator Young’s office created a comprehensive toolkit to help individuals, small businesses, health care workers, and patients understand the relief measures that are available. Please go to: https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/coronavirus

Make sure you are talking with your banker.

April 3, 2020

Updates:

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information Sheet: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP%20Borrower%20Information%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

Small Business Paycheck Protection Program: https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP%20–%20Overview.pdf

Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-smal…

April 1, 2020

Updates:

COVID-19 Response Program now open

The COVID-19 Response Program webinar hosted by the Office of Community and Rural Affairs is available for you to view: The new COVID-19 Response Program page contains:

  • a copy of the PowerPoint used during the webinar;
  • webinar recording;
  • program components and information.

If you have any questions related to this program, please email info@ocra.in.gov or contact our East Central liaison Christian Chamberlain, (317) 416-3281 ChChamberlain@ocra.IN.gov.

March 30, 2020 – 4:00 p.m.

Updates:

U.S. Senator Todd Young Releases Coronavirus Assistance Toolkit

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) today released a comprehensive toolkit to help Hoosiers navigate the resources available in the Senate’s coronavirus emergency relief package that was signed into law yesterday, known as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

SBA – US Small Business Administration

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources –  New and updated information (March 30, 2020)

March 30, 2020

Updates:

March 27, 2020

Updates:

Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC.ORG)

The Indiana SBDC Small Business COVID-19 Resource Guide is available for download here.

The Indiana SBDC is here to support you. If you have any questions and would like to speak to an Indiana SBDC business advisor, please visit the Central ISBDC page for contact information.

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA)

The Office of Community and Rural Affairs is in on-going communication with Governor Holcomb and Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch as well as the Indiana State Department of Health. Everyone is closely monitoring and receiving real-time information on this rapidly evolving situation. For immediate and up-to-date information on Coronavirus in Indiana, please visit in.gov/coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issues guidelines on how to stay safe and what to do if you’re sick, visit cdc.gov.

For Businesses

For business-related questions about COVID-19:

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March 25, 2020

RE: Updates from HEDC and our partners.

Hancock Economic Development Council (HEDC) is committed to being available to serve you in whatever way we can during this trying time for our community and our world.  We know that our local retail and restaurant establishments have suffered dramatic declines in sales and our manufacturing sector employers are virtually shut down as we all attempt to comply with Governor Holcomb’s executive order to Stay At Home. While we at HEDC are likewise abiding by our state and local leaderships’ directives to stay at home, we are still working diligently to fulfill HEDC’s mission to be both an advocate and a resource for the growth and stability of our local economy.

RESOURCES:

Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC):

IEDC offers critical industries hotline to field industry questions about Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-08, which provides for essential and non-essential business operations, infrastructure and government functions while the state observes a stay-at-home order from March 25-April 7.

  • The Critical Industries Hotline will be open Tuesday, March 24 at 9:00 am to help guide businesses and industries with the executive order.
  • This center, reachable by calling 877-820-0890 or by emailing covidresponse@iedc.in.gov, is for business and industry questions only.

IEDC—COVID-19 Updates & Resources https://www.iedc.in.gov/response

Indiana Department of Workforce Development: DWD will host two live webinars for Hoosiers impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The 30-minute live programs will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, and at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25. Register HERE. Once recorded, the program will then be posted HERE.

Gener8tor Emergency Response webinar series: register by 3/25 for a free one-week series of daily lunchtime programs designed to identify, understand, and help small businesses secure resources to withstand the current crisis. Registration HERE.

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: with COVID-19 impacting the operation of Hoosier businesses, Gov. Holcomb recently announced small businesses are eligible for financial assistance under a disaster designation by the U.S. Small Business Administration. To apply for loans or receive more information about the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, visit SBA.gov/disaster.

Employment Resources from WorkOne Region 5