COVID-19 Response Resources for Businesses & Employees

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

Quick links:

NH SBDC Business Resiliency Survey

Governor Sununu Stay At Home 2.0 order expired June 15, 2020. "Safer At Home" now in place, click here.

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

For the Business Re-opening Plan offering a phased reopening, by industry click here. 

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

For the Citizen Response Task Force page, reports and background, click here.

For OSHA guidance on COVID-19 reopening compliance issues, click here.


NH Small Business Development Center  PPP Re-Opening and New Guidance

Congress appropriated an additional $284 billion for PPP under the Economic Aid Act. New borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers can now apply for a First or Second Draw PPP Loan (deadline March 31, 2021). In order to be eligible to be for a second draw loan, businesses or self-employed individuals must have:

  • Previously received a First Draw PPP Loan and have used or will used the full amount only for authorized uses;
  • No more than 300 employees; and
  • Had at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts on an annual or quarterly basis between 2019 and 2020.

The Program now covers 501(c)(6)’s such as housing cooperatives, destination marketing organizations.

The new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) re-opened this week, first to community financial institutions. The SBA will continue to roll out access to the next round of PPP loans to additional lenders as it strives to implement the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act and to ensure increased access to the PPP for minority-, underserved-, veteran- and women-owned small business concerns.  Second draw PPP loans will become available from additional lenders in the near future and SBA will be providing rolling updates in the next week. For more information on updated PPP Lender forms, guidance, and resources click here. This includes guidance on prior PPP loan forgiveness updates.

The SBA anticipates that there will be enough PPP funds to meet nationwide demand and suggests that borrowers work with their existing financial institution.

US GOVERNMENT FEDERAL RESOURCES

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

SEACOAST REGIONAL RESOURCES

INFORMATION AND FUNDING RESOURCES FOR NON-PROFITS

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