CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER

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The Greater Atlantic City Chamber has compiled best practice COVID-19 resources from industry associations and government agencies in an effort to better educate the business community. Below, you will find dozens of downloadable documents for you to use and share with your colleagues. Our goal is to keep you, your families, your employees, and your customers safe and healthy during the pandemic. See all documents.

Greater Atlantic City Chamber members are committed to helping businesses keep their employees and customers safe. Click here to see the member companies that source, manufacture or distribute PPE equipment.

The Greater Atlantic City Chamber has compiled information to best help you navigate the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. The information and links (in blue) on this page are collected from the Center for Disease Control, the New Jersey Sate Departments, World Health Organization, and several others. It will provide you with contact information, business assistance and factual data related to the current Coronavirus pandemic.

This page will be updated with new and relevant resources as they become available. Please email us if you have questions or information that you would like to share with Atlantic County’s business community.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Contact Information

View the State of New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub

If you would like to receive text messages regarding updates and alerts related to COVID-19, please text “NJCOVID” to 898-211.

For general information and resources for basic needs, dial 211.

To speak to a healthcare professional, call 1-800-962-1253.

You can send your COVID-19 questions via email at info@NJ211.org.

To live chat with a 211 representative, text your zip code to 898-211.

AtlantiCare Coronavirus Updates

Shore Medical Center Information for Patients and Visitors

Community Support

AtlantiCare and Shore Medical Center appreciate the tremendous support from individuals, businesses, organizations and community groups who are coming forward to offer donations toward the COVID-19 pandemic response. They are thankful for the generous outreach and wanted to offer some guidance so others can help. If you wish to help, both hospitals are positioned to accept the following product donations:

N-95 masks, all sizes; face shields and surgical masks in original packaging
Gloves, non-latex, all sizes in original carton
Bottled hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol
Safety goggles
Disposable, water-resistant medical gowns in original packaging

To donate any of the above listed items, please contact the following:

AtlantiCare: Call (609) 272-2400 or email procurementservices@atlanticare.org. At this time, they are only able to accept the items listed.

If you would like to make a cash contribution, you can do so online by clicking here. Your donations to the “COVID-19 Pandemic Response” will be directed toward the highest priority needs during this challenging time.

Additional donations to support and celebrate the dedicated and tireless teams at AtlantiCare will also be accepted. To discuss, please contact the AtlantiCare Foundation at (609) 407-2328 or email giving@atlanticare.org.

Shore Medical Center: To donate items, please contact their Patient Experience department at (609) 653-3882. Homemade masks should be placed in ziplock bags before dropping off. They will arrange to have someone meet you at the entrance. Please leave a message if someone does not answer your call right away.

Economic Assistance for Businesses

PoweThe COVID-19 outbreak is causing extraordinary disruption for companies and non-profits across the Garden State. The NJEDA wants to make it easy for organizations to understand what support programs are available to you to help stabilize your operations and get back on a pathway to growth.

Access the Emergency Assistance Eligibility Wizard

The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. When implemented, there will be many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain non- profits and other employers. This following guide from the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs, as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA.

U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act

United States Department of Treasury Assistance for Small Businesses

The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.

Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards. View

View information for lenders, borrowers, and the applciation here.

U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA’s economic injury disaster low-interest loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). More information is available below.

Carol Waties, director of the NJSBDC Office at Stockton University is requesting that interested business use this intake form. Please complete, sign, and send it as and attachment in an email to Carol at carol.waties@stockton.edu. Each business will be scheduled to have their questions answered and receive assistance in completing their applications. Please note that all calls will come from a blocked number.

Carol Waties, Director
NJSBDC at Stockton University
Serving Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties
(609) 626-3889
carol.waties@stockton.edu

New Jersey Economic Development Authority

NJEDA initiatives focus on businesses that have been hit hardest by the novel coronavirus outbreak: local small businesses, mid-size businesses that have had to close or drastically reconfigure operations, and new businesses who were just getting on their feet before the crisis hit. Read the full press release from March 26, 2020.

Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program – A $5 million program that will provide grants up to $5,000 to small businesses in retail, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, food service, and other services – such as repair, maintenance, personal, and laundry services – to stabilize their operations and reduce the need for layoffs or furloughs.

Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program – A $10 million program that will provide working capital loans of up to $100,000 to businesses with less than $5 million in revenues. Loans made through the program will have ten-year terms with zero percent for the first five years, then resetting to the EDA’s prevailing floor rate (capped at 3.00%) for the remaining five years.

Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) Emergency Loan Loss Reserve Fund – A $10 million capital reserve fund to take a first loss position on CDFI loans that provide low interest working capital to micro businesses. This will allow CDFIs to withstand loan defaults due to the outbreak, which will allow them to provide more loans at lower interest rates to microbusinesses affected by the outbreak.

CDFI Emergency Assistance Grant Program – A $1.25 million program that will provide grants of up to $250,000 to CDFIs to scale operations or reduce interest rates for the duration of the outbreak.

NJ Entrepreneur Support Program – A $5 million program that will encourage continued capital flows to new companies, often in the innovation economy, and temporarily support a shaky market by providing 80 percent loan guarantees for working capital loans to entrepreneurs.

Small Business Emergency Assistance Guarantee Program – A $10 million program that will provide 50 percent guarantees on working capital loans and waive fees on loans made through institutions participating in the NJEDA’s existing Premier Lender or Premier CDFI programs.

Emergency Technical Assistance Program – A $150,000 program that will support technical assistance to New Jersey-based companies applying for assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration. The organizations contracted will be paid based on SBA application submissions supported by the technical assistance they provide.

View the NJEDA Economic Relief Package PowerPoint from March 31, 2020.

Additional details on the NJEDA’s new programs, including complete eligibility requirements are available at COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus Information for New Jersey Businesses.

Call (609) 858-6767 or click here to have an NJEDA representative contact you.

Facebook Grants

Facebook announced a new $100 million grants program to assist 30,000 Small Business, in 30 nations, supporting the communities in which Facebook and its teams operate. Read more.

GOOGLE

GOOGLE announced a new $800+ million commitment to support small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), health organizations and governments, and health workers on the frontline of this global pandemic. Read more.

State of New Jersey Resources

COVID-19/Coronavirus Informational FAQs for New Jersey Businesses

Department of Health
The Department of Health has resource pages which includes guidance for travelers, resources for healthcare providers, informational materials for schools and businesses, and important contact information via phone and email if you have questions about COVID-19.

Department of Labor and Workforce Development

What You Should Know
New Jersey’s Earned Sick Leave Law covers public health emergencies – employees can use Earned Sick leave if their workplace or child’s school or daycare is closed due to an epidemic, or if a public health authority determines the need for quarantine.

Overview: Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family & Medical Leave Document from the Department of Labor

Family Leave
Temporary disability and family leave insurance information for employees and employers.

NJ Workers: Frequently Asked Questions During the Coronavirus Emergency
Please read carefully the information on this page. It is important to apply for the program that best fits your situation.

Media Releases from Governor Phil Murphy

Health Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Situation Summary (CDC)

Cases in the United States
This CDC page will be updated regularly at noon Mondays through Fridays.

About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
The CDC offers information on how COVID-19 spreads, symptoms, prevention and treatment, and what to do if you are sick, and frequently asked questions, including printable fliers.

Preventing COVID-19 Spread in Communities
The CDC provides information on best methods to protect yourself and your community from getting and spreading COVID-19 at home, schools, work, events and other gatherings.

Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers (CDC)
The CDC provides this interim guidance to help prevent workplace exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, in non-healthcare settings. The guidance also provides planning considerations if there are more widespread, community outbreaks of COVID-19. Let your employees know you are monitoring the situation and share best practices for prevention and treatment.

Travel > Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel (CDC)
This page offers current travel warning, alert and watches, as well as destinations with risk of community spread.

CDC Issues Domestic Travel Advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut: This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply. Read the March 29 announcement.

Understanding the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Webinar about the impact of coronavirus on the private sector and how companies should consider their response, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist (HHS & CDC)
To assist you in your efforts, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed the following checklist for large businesses. It identifies important, specific activities large businesses can do now to prepare, many of which will also help you in other emergencies.

Prevention and Treatment
Steps on how to protect yourself and those around you.

Communication Resources
CDC offers free resources including video, fact sheets, and posters. Below are links to current communication tools and resources available for use and distribution.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Environmental Protection Agency’s List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2
List includes products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19

World Health Organization (WHO)

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak
Information and guidance from WHO regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease, including daily updates.

Key Planning Recommendations for Mass Gatherings
This document is to outline key planning considerations for organizers of mass gatherings in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Video explaining what’s currently known about the virus.

Employer Guidance and Resources

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act
This technical assistance document provides information about Titles I and V of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and pandemic planning in the workplace. It identifies established ADA principles that are relevant to questions frequently asked about workplace pandemic planning such as:

How much information may an employer request from an employee who calls in sick?
When may an ADA-covered employer take the body temperature of employees during a pandemic?
Does the ADA allow employers to require employees to stay home if they have symptoms of the pandemic virus?
When employees return to work, does the ADA allow employers to require doctors’ notes certifying their fitness for duty?

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

COVID-19 Safety and Health Standards, Control & Prevention
An overview of information for workers and employers about the evolving coronavirus outbreak. Includes links to OSHA standards, control and prevention

Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
OSHA developed this COVID-19 planning guide based upon traditional infection prevention and industrial hygiene practices. Employers and workers should use this planning guidance to help identify risk levels in workplace settings and to determine any appropriate control measures to implement.

OSHA Fact Sheet – Protecting Workers during a Pandemic
A three-page document which provide guidance for employers during a pandemic but is not intended to cover all OSHA standards that may apply.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Emergency Response Plan
A 10 page document to help Businesses Identify the goals and objectives for the emergency response plan.

Coronavirus Rumor Control

The purpose of this FEMA page is to help the public distinguish between rumors and facts regarding the response to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Coronavirus Tax Relief
The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.

US Chamber Guide to Employee Retention Tax Credit

Ready.gov

Pandemic Guidance
A brief outline of how to prepare before and respond during a pandemic.

Business Continuity Plan
Identifies the steps and provides worksheets and other resources to create a business continuity plan.

Leaders in Business Community Resilience
A scalable guide for businesses of all sizes to develop resilient communities against all hazards, by Ready.gov, official website of the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

One Sheet Guidance for Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19

One Sheet Workplace Tips for Employees