Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Last update: 5/26/2020 01:00 PM

May 22, 2020

On behalf of CCEDC – we are very excited to see Carbon County move to the Yellow Phase of our reopening! Special thanks to the collaboration and support of our Carbon County Commissioners, the PMVB, the JTTA, our hospitals… LVHN and St. Luke’s … just to name a few! When our leaders come together… great things happen…communication amongst each other is the KEY! We are dedicated to our business community and are here to support with resources and guidelines for a safe reopen for those who are ready to roll.

And to our businesses…. hats off to so many of you who have blazed the trail to the reopen following critical CDC guidelines – great work!

Our economy has suffered enough and our businesses need to open – safely – so that employees feel great about returning to work and our visitors and customers feel even better when they return to visit and explore our beautiful county.

Please reach out if you are in need of assistance and be sure to visit our #ReOpen Carbon County webpage for information, resources and printable signage to assist with reopening your business … we are here for you! WE ARE READY!!

Chamber Links & Information

Dear members,

Thank you for staying strong through this crisis.

The Chamber continues to fight for you and call on our elected officials to reopen our state and provide additional funding to keep your employees employed and your business strong. We remain focused on providing the most important resources available to you, our members.

We will all come out of this stronger together #ChamberStrong

What else are we focused on for your business?
The Chamber joined a nationwide group of business and manufacturing industry associations to request action from Congress to ensure that businesses which have remained operational during these times of legal uncertainty, don’t risk becoming the targets of coronavirus-related lawsuits which would derail our recovery.

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ASK US A QUESTION...

We know these are difficult times, we want you to know that we are here for you. If you have a question, need assistance or are looking for someone to talk to for advice and direction, please reach out to our office at info@carboncountychamber.org or call 610-379-5000. Our staff is here to assist you with your needs at this time.

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From the CCEDC

A Message from Marlyn Kissner, Executive Director, CCEDC

Dear Member and Partner,

As we navigate through the uncertainties of the situation at hand, please know that we are here to support the business community and will continue to do so with best practices, programs and important information as it comes available to us.

At this time, we have postponed and rescheduled a majority of our March and April CCEDC events. For workshops and meetings that could be moved online to a webinar format, we have done so and have indicated this on the event listing on our calendar.

We will continue to keep you informed of further event or news updates here on our website, via email and also on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/carboncountycced/ .

Please click here to download the Small Business Owners Guide to the CARES Act.

We are strong, we are resilient and will make it through this together. Please feel free to contact us any time, we are here for you!

Regards,

Marlyn

Marlyn Kissner, Executive Vice President, Northern Region
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
Carbon Chamber and Economic Development
Pocono Chamber of Commerce
Mobile: 610.751.4932

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April 13, 2020

On behalf of the Chamber’s Nonprofit and Business Partners Council, we hope you are staying safe as we are all working to adjust to staying at home or modifying the way we work to continue social distancing. We are sending along some links to free webinars below, hoping there may be some good information there for you and if you have suggestions, immediate needs, other resources to share or if you just want to say hello, we would love to hear from you. Looking forward to being together again soon!

Managing through Uncertainty Part 1
Thursday, April 16 1:00 PM ET
How can nonprofit leaders organize and plan for the months ahead? Join NFF’s Jina Paik and Dominique Hugg as they discuss practical steps for moving from response and recovery into resilience, cash management and planning strategies, and budgeting in a time of uncertainty.
https://nff.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5f92fd04a98a5568f6beecdea&id=0b402b76a2&e=294b885459

Managing through Uncertainty Part 2
Friday, April 17 1:00 PM ET
How can nonprofit leaders organize and plan for the months ahead? Join NFF’s Jina Paik and Dominique Hugg as they present common financial strategies for managing in crisis, practical advice for completing a financial scenario plan, and best practices for communicating and reflecting on the financial impact of COVID-19.
https://nff.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5f92fd04a98a5568f6beecdea&id=a9cf2b1797&e=294b885459

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A Message to our Members:

"This is a tough time and we’re tough people, but we’re human. So share with your family, your friends and your co-workers if you’re feeling low. There’s a bright light at the end of this tunnel, I’m certain of that."

– Tony Iannelli, Chamber President & CEO

Click here for important updates from our Public Policy team!

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MARCH 30, 2020

Gov. Wolf and Sec. of Health Expand ‘Stay at Home’ Order to Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and Schuylkill Counties, Extend School Closures Indefinitely

As COVID-19 cases continue to grow and the state continues to seek relief to save lives and stop the spread of COVID-19, today Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine revised their “Stay at Home” orders to include Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin and Schuylkill counties, bringing the state total to 26 counties under a stay-at-home order. This order takes effect at 8 p.m., Monday, March 30, 2020, and will continue until April 30. All stay-at-home orders are now extended through April 30. All Pennsylvania schools will remain closed until further notice. Non-life-sustaining business closures remain in effect.

The order now includes all of Pennsylvania.

READ MORE HERE

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Dear Chamber Members,

During this time of uncertainty, The Chamber’s Public Policy team will provide you with the most current state and federal information that you can use right now for your business and your employees. There are a number of proposals to implement funding solutions for business in both Harrisburg and Washington. We thank our public officials for recognizing that business needs assistance now as you work to stay above water and be helpful to your employees.

We continue to be in daily communication with our legislative leaders and staff to monitor progress and will update you immediately on results from which you may be able to benefit.

Please contact us (contact information below links) with any questions you may have and we will be back to you asap.

Thank you, Michelle

MARCH 31, 2020

In response to the Coronavirus, Congress has passed and President Trump has signed a $2.2 Trillion relief package with $350 million being targeted specifically to small businesses. The money is to be used to keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the “Paycheck Protection Program,” the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses who maintain their payroll during this emergency. Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward.

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is here to work with you and answer questions you may have on the numerous programs and guidelines. If we can’t answer it, we will find you the answer.

We know you are being inundated with emails and it becomes quite confusing for all of us. The Chamber’s Public Policy team focused on sorting through to provide you with the most updated information in the most expedient manner and the most important links available at this time to you, our members.

The NEW Stimulus Bill —How Can It Help Your Business?
(Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act)
Congress has approved $350 billion in emergency loans for small businesses to help keep their workers employed. In fact, if small businesses maintain or later restore their payrolls, they may not have to repay some — or possibly any — of the loan.

Paycheck Protection Program Q&A for employers LINK from attachment

What Coronavirus Emergency Loans are Available?

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
Questions and Answers

Paid Leave Requirements
Posting --U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) additional implementation guidance

Pennsylvania State Government Updates:

The Governor’s office updated list of life-sustaining and non-life-sustaining businesses: Link from attachment
Q&A from the Governor’s office on determining life-sustaining businesses (updated Friday, 3/27): View file above.
To request a waiver
Unemployment Information:
CarreerLink Lehigh Valley

LEHIGH VALLEY CHAMBER PUBLIC POLICY UPDATES

RESOURCES:

Small Business Fact Sheet on Families First Coronavirus Response Act- FAQs

PA Dept of Community and Economic Development Assistance

Center for Disease Control

Coronavirus unemployment offerings for employees impacted

Public Policy Team Contact Information:

Michelle Young: michelley@lehighvalleychamber.org

Brittney Waylen: brittneyw@lehighvalleychamber.org

Matt Powell: mattp@lehighvalleychamber.org

CHAMBER BUSINESS RESOURCES:

Carbon County Resources & Information

CARBON COUNTY RESOURCES

Unemployment Information:

Personal Protective Equipment Resources (PPE):

Carbon County Emergency Management Agency -
570-325-3097; 1264 Emergency Lane, Nesquehoning, PA 18240
Lehigh Valley Health Network - To Sew or Not to Sew
St. Luke's University Health Network

Business Resources & Assistance Information

BUSINESS RESOURCES & ASSISTANCE INFORMATION:

Facebook Business Resource Hub:

Managing through and building resilience during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Government Information Regarding Stay at Home & Reopening Plan for Businesses- See Government Resources Tab

CareerLink:

CareerLink Lehigh Valley

Unemployment:

Unemployment Compensation

If you are employed in Pennsylvania and are unable to work because of COVID-19, you may be eligible for Unemployment Compensation (UC) or Workers’ Compensation (WC) benefits.

The following changes to UC have been made to help Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 pandemic:

The Waiting Week is suspended. Previously, claimants were not eligible for benefits during their first week of unemployment (the “waiting week”). This has been suspended; eligible claimants may receive benefits for the first week that they are unemployed.
Work Search and Work Registration requirements are temporarily waived for all UC claimants. Claimants are not required to prove they have applied or searched for a new job to maintain their UC benefits. Claimants are also not required to register with PACareerLink.gov.

In addition to regular state Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits, which provide roughly half of an individual’s full-time weekly income up to $572 per week, the federal CARES Act expanded UC benefits through several new programs:

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) expands benefits to gig-economy workers, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals who are otherwise ineligible for UC.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (FPUC) provides an additional $600 per week, on top of regular UC benefits, to all UC recipients.
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) provides an additional 13 weeks of UC benefits to individuals who exhaust their regular 26 weeks of benefits, for a total of 39 weeks of coverage.

Paid Family Leave:

U.S. Department of Labor provided additional guidance for employers on offering paid leave to their employees.
Paid Leave Requirements

Small Business Relief & Non-Profit Assistance:

Paycheck Protection Program:

PPP FAQ from the SBA (5/13/20)
PPP FAQ from the SBA (5/06/20)
PPP Resumes April 27, 2020
Notice: Lapse in Appropriations - The SBA is currently unable to accept new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program based on available appropriations funding. (updated: 4/16/2020)
Applications
Guidance on Paycheck Protection Program (U.S. Treasury)
Information for Borrowers (U.S. Treasury)
Lenders for Active SBA Agreements (4.2.20 @ 2:30PM)

Small Business Administration:

Other Resources:

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
Questions and Answers

Government Resources & Information

PA GOVERNOR & GOVERNMENT UPDATES & INFORMATION:

See Business Resources Tab for unemployment, financial assistance and small business relief information.

Pocono Mountains COVID-19 Resources Information

POCONO MOUNTAINS COVID-19 RESOURCES INFORMATION

Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau:

Updates:

ACCE - Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives
NEPA - Northeast Pa Alliance
CDC & U.S. Travel
C-Span Videos
Destinations International
Facebook Business Resource
PA Governor
PRLA
United Way Crisis Response Fund
LVHN
ACCE
Carbon County
Monroe County
Pike County
Wayne County
School Closures
Contact Us

Pocono Mountains United Way:

From the United Way:

PA 211: Get Connected. Get Help.
We encourage members of our community to call 211 or visit www.pa211east.org if they need help with food, housing, utilities or other necessities. Pennsylvania 211 East is a free, confidential, non-emergency, 24-hour information and referral service that connects Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon, county residents with the health and human services they need.

Additionally, we’ve set up www.unitedwayglv.org/COVID-19 to quickly share the latest updates on 211, food services, etc. There is also a link on the right “For Nonprofits” where we’re just beginning to share the latest information.

CDC & U.S. Travel:

The U.S. Travel Association and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) held back-to-back calls Wednesday, March 4 to keep everyone aware of what's happening globally and here at home with COVID-19. Here is a link to the summary from those calls.

There will be updated guidance on the U.S. Travel website here: U.S. Travel toolkit

The CDC also provides updated guidance here: CDC Coronavirus response

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