COVID-19 Response Resources for Businesses & Employees

GOVERNOR SUNUNU: STAY-AT-HOME 2.0 ORDER through May 31, 2020. Click here.

For the Universal Guidelines for business making preparations to reopen, click here.

For the Order listing "Essential Businesses" click here.

For the Business Re-opening Plan offering a phased reopening, by industry (campgrounds, state parks, manufacturing, hospitals, barbers & hair salons, drive-in theaters, golf, retail and restaurants),click here. 

For the City of Portsmouth Business Reopening Work Group action plans for restaurat outdoor dining, click here.

With new information coming in daily, the Economic Development Department provides these links and the resources below to assist businesses and employees seeking COVID-19 adaptation assistance. 

GOVERNOR SUNUNU'S MAIN STREET RELIEF PROGRAM. Click here.
The Governor has authorized the allocation and expenditure of an initial $400 million in emergency funding from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) to provide emergency financial relief to New Hampshire small for-profit businesses due to the economic disruption caused by COVID-19. The prequalifying request for information began May 15th, and ends in two weeks, on May 29th.  This is a very short deadline so that they can ensure relief is quickly provided to mitigate any further damage to New Hampshire small businesses, keeping doors open and preserving jobs. The fund will be administered by the Department of Revenue.In order to be eligible, a business must have its principal place of business in New Hampshire and must have generated less than $20 million in revenue during the 2019 tax year. Every eligible New Hampshire small business desiring to obtain relief must submit the prequalification form click here with all required information by May 29, 2020, this is a mandatory. 

SECOND ROUND OF PPP & EIDL LOANS OPENED:

The Small Business Administration reports the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is up and running and SBA representatives STRONGLY encourage businesses to apply ASAP as funds are very limited and could be exhausted soon.”  To apply contact a bank that is a SBA lender. For more information from the Treasury Department on the current processes, click here.

SBA’s EIDL portal has reopened to accept new EIDL applications on a limited basis only, in order to provide unprecedented relief to U.S. agricultural businesses. For agricultural businesses that submitted an EIDL loan application through the streamlined application portal prior to the legislative change, SBA will move forward and process these applications without the need for re-applying.

The SBA has issued (May 15) the Loan Forgiveness Application that will be used by PPP borrowers to determine and report how much of their PPP loan will be forgiven. The Application and Instructions resolve a number of calculations and substantive questions. Forbes.com provided a summary (click here). 

For Business Resources to assist with applying for the second round of CARES Act, provided on the Chamber Chat Live on Fri May 1 with US Rep. Chris Pappas and US Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s office:

US GOVERNMENT FEDERAL RESOURCES

  • Department of Labor -- Unemployment Frequently Asked Questions
  • CARES Act (Coronavirus Air, Relief and Economic Security Act) addresses the economic impact of COVID-19 19 and dedicates $350 billion towards small businesses. This federal stimulus act was signed into law on March 27, 2020 and enhances the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and created the Paycheck Protection Plan.
  • Small Business Guide to the CARES Act
  • Learn more and Apply for an SBA Loan:
  • The CARES Act Bill Text:  Learn more. 
  • SBA Loans:
    • Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is a direct loan from the US Federal Government. Any small business can apply, with very limited exclusions. Independent Contractors, freelancers, gig workers, home-based businesses and any other sole-proprietor can apply. Nonprofits can also apply. The loan is for working capital to pay your business operational expenses, not to expand your business. It can be used to pay an owner their draw or wage for their living expenses. Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties within 3 days of a successful application. Apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
      • Paycheck Protection Plan was created by the CARES Act to support COVID-19-impacted small business owners and their employees by providing loans that can be forgiven, in support of payroll expenses, mortgage, or rent. This program became available on April 3. Details:
        • Loans are from banks or other lenders. You should first reach out to your bank if they offer the program. Find a lender.
        • Small businesses or nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in operation prior to February 15, 2020 and paid employees or paid independent contractors under 1099 are eligible. You are also eligible for a PPP loan if you are an individual who operates under a sole proprietorship or as an independent contractor or eligible self-employed individual, you were in operation on February 15, 2020.
        • Loans amounts cannot exceed $10million. Loan amounts are based on 2.5 times your average monthly payroll. Payroll is fully loaded, included payroll taxes, insurance, group-health, and retirement. Payroll in excess of $100,000 per employee is excluded, but the pay up to $100,000 for that employee is included. Forgiveness of the loan would be done on demonstrated payroll, rent, mortgage, or utility costs made by the small business between Feb 15, 2020 and June 30, 2020.
        • SBA FAQs on EIDL and PPP

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE RESOURCES

  • NH Employment Security (NHES) Layoffs and business closures: If your business faces a potential layoff, the State of New Hampshire offers services through its Rapid Response program.
    • Employers facing potential layoffs or closures should contact Joe Doiron at Joseph.Doiron@livefree.nh.gov, 603-271-0146, to activate a Rapid Response team. More information can be found at NH Works.
    • Employees experiencing layoffs: The State of New Hampshire offers a number of services for employees who have been laid off.  Individuals will need to file for unemployment each week of temporary unemployment and this can and should be done online or by calling the hotline at 603-271-7700.
    • Filing for unemployment. You are assigned a day and time to file based on the first letter of your last name. The unemployment system hotline is 603-271-7700. Payments are made beginning eight days from when the claim is filed. Those filing claims must login again for each week of continued eligibility and file a continued claim.
    • If you’re Self Employed and have filed for unemployment benefits, ignore the Denial Message you receive. Your unemployment claim requires time to process as a result of your being Self Employed. You will receive a telephone call from NHES to obtain wage information to process and complete your unemployment claim.
    • File a Claim for Benefits

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