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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Resource Guide
The City of Westbrook understands the severe impact many businesses are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The list below offers some guidance, resources, and assistance that may be available for your business. We will do our best to keep the list up to date. If you have specific questions, contact Economic Development Director, Daniel Stevenson at dstevenson@westbrook.me.us
COVID-19 Business Resource Guide
- *New* City of Westbrook Small Business Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program
- Latest Updates from Governor Mills’ Office
- COVID-19 ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN APPLICATION
- Essential Service Designation Request (PDF), if the function of your business is not listed, but you believe that it is essential, you may request designation as an essential business.
- Maine DECD Homepage listing COVID-19 resources
- Small Business Assistance
- Coronavirus Emergency Loans: Guide and Checklist for Small Businesses
- Coronavirus Small Business Guide
- Mitigating Coronavirus Impact on Your Business from Maine’s Small Business Development Centers
- Applying for an SBA disaster Loan
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Documents/Three_Step_Process_SBA_Disaster_Loans.pdf - SBA Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- SBA Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
- Unemployment information
https://www.maine.gov/unemployment/ - Maine DECD Resource Sheets
- Maine Disaster Unemployment Assistance for the Self-Employed (not yet triggered, but waiting for federal declaration)
https://www.maine.gov/labor/unemployment/dua.html?fbclid=IwAR3mcsX2nmuD8X-DEKmxFyZxrPOxADc7DG49zD5W5mT2EQIDvlL1_nAcBpA - Southern Maine Finance Agency
https://smfamaine.org/ - Maine Department of Labor Guidance
https://www.maine.gov/labor/docs/2020/COVID-19Resources.pdf - Guidance for restaurants from the National Restaurant Association
https://restaurant.org/Covid19 - Families First Act H.R.6201 - Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- CDC Guidance For Healthcare Facilities
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/index.html Maine CDC https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/airborne/coronavirus.shtml
- Red Cross tips/supplies list
https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2020/coronavirus-safety-and-readiness-tips-for-you.html - OSHA on preparing workplaces for COVID-19
https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf - WESTBROOK-WARREN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION EMERGENCY ARTS FUND The Westbrook-Warren Memorial Foundation Emergency Arts Fund is meant to support artists with an established history of income in their field. Funding for this grant is provided by the Warren Memorial Foundation, a Westbrook Maine private foundation, with a mission to support the fine arts and education primarily in Westbrook, Maine.
This Fund was created to help artists in Westbrook, Maine recover from income loss and personal emergencies by awarding grants for unanticipated financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local artists who meet the eligibility and requirements are encouraged to apply via this Google Form for a $1,500 cash stipend to help cover necessary expenses due to cancelled work and/or lost sales related to the financial downturn.If you experience difficulty with this online platform, please call or text Nancy Litrocapes, Economic Development Specialist, at 207-671-5313 for tech support.
If you have any questions about the grant, please contact Daniel Stevenson, Economic Development Director, at
dstevenson@westbrook.me.us or 207-956-3197.
ELIGIBILITY:
Eligible applicants for the Emergency Fund include Westbrook-based professional artists (this includes working actors, performing artists, visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, writers, dancers, etc.) who can show income loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Westbrook Restaurant, Grocery, Food & Beverage Take out and Delivery List: In an effort to mitigate the effects of COVID 19 on our small business community and provide opportunities for citizens to reach needed resources, the City of Westbrook would like to publish a list of businesses able to provide delivery, take out, and curbside resources to patrons. Please fill out the form below to be added to the list. If you have questions, please email tradel@westbrook.me.us Fill out the form here to be added to the list: https://forms.gle/VC2Ay7ckLTXLTXus9
- The City of Westbrook wants to help support our local businesses. We have launched Westbrook’s Takeout & Delivery Support Effort. This is a contest designed to support our business community and give supporters a chance to win one of twelve $100 Gift Cards to a Westbrook establishment.
To enter you will need to submit images/photos of receipts totaling $100 or more from Westbrook eateries where you purchased takeout or delivery to be entered to win a gift card to a Westbrook establishment. One winner will be chosen randomly each week. Enter by filling out the form below.
https://forms.gle/QjtSMVS8CHU8bh4W7
Receipts from any Westbrook eatery providing takeout and delivery are eligible, not just those in the list below. Thank you for supporting our local eateries during this time. Please continue to follow CDC guidelines around social distancing.
CLICK HERE FOR LIST OF BUSINESSES OFFERING TAKE OUT, CURBSIDE OR INSIDE PICKUP & DELIVERY
Advice from the SBDC |
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW: MANAGE CASH FLOW: Assess your cash position and future needs. Now is the time to conserve and reduce overhead. Plan to conserve your cash for the next 6-12 months. Talk to your creditors, vendors and suppliers to discuss deferring payments. Do not ignore bills. Plan for your presumed inability to pay rather than waiting until payment is due and you are struggling to find the cash. Do NOT cash out retirement accounts, rack up credit card debt, or take out high-interest payday loans. There are other, less costly alternatives. ACCESS CURRENT DISASTER LOANS: FAME’s Business Relief Loans are available to Maine businesses who experience hardships due to Coronavirus. https://www.famemaine.com/business/programs/covid-19-relief-loan-programs/ FAME’s Consumer Relief Loans are available for sole proprietors, contractors, 1099 workers, or employees who have been laid off and whose hours have been cut. They provide no-to-low-interest guarantee loan programs through Maine banks, credit unions and FAME. https://www.famemaine.com/business/programs/covid-19-relief-loan-programs/ SBA’s Disaster Loans are for businesses suffering economic injury as a result of Coronavirus. The SBA is experiencing high traffic and recently updated their application process. Applicants now need to download forms, fill them out, and submit them. https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance Talk to your town or city and find out what they are doing for emergency response and relief efforts for small businesses. Inquire about any funds you can apply for at the municipal level. DON’T FORGET TO COMMUNICATE: With Employees: Communicate regularly with your employees. Be open and honest about your plans. Encourage self care for your employees. Be mindful of employee physical and mental health. Urge them to take breaks and get outside. Unemployment: Maine’s unemployment resources have been expanded to people who are affected by COVID-19 but have not lost their jobs. Maine’s Department of Labor’s website has detailed instructions on how to apply. Here’s a helpful FAQ they put together. With Customers: Stay connected with customers. Whether you are open or closed, make sure your customers know what you are up to. Share what you are doing to keep them and your employees safe. Get creative – most innovation comes during times of hardship. Are there aspects of your business that can be done online? Consider virtual services, pick up, or delivery options where appropriate. Can you partner with other local businesses somehow? Are there other ways to connect with your customers in the short term? |
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Daniel Stevenson
Economic Development DirectorPhone: 207-591-8101