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Business Resources During COVID-19

The FDBA is here to do all we can to support downtown businesses.  We have been working hard to collect available resources available for small businesses.  Check often as this page will be updated frequently, and links will be added as soon as information is made available. 

State of Arizona Information & Assistance

Governor Pauses Reopening 
UPDATE:  June 29 - Governor Ducey announced today a new Executive Order pausing operations on certain business types, effective at 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 29, lasting for one month.  The Governor's Executive Order:   

  • Pauses the operations of bars, gyms, movie theater, waterparks and tubing rentals;
    • Bars are defined as having a Series 6 or 7 license type, and may continue to offer drive-thru, curb-side pick-up and delivery services;
  • Ceases the issuance of special event liquor licenses; and
  • Enables local jurisdictions the ability to approve events of no more than 50 people on the condition that certain safety precautions are met, such as physical distancing.

Mayor's Proclamation Requiring Face Coverings in Public Places 
UPDATE:  June 18 - Mayor Evans has signed a proclamation requiring face coverings in public places where social distancing is not possible.  This proclamation takes effect at 8pm on Saturday, June 20 and continues until further notice.  Each person five years of age and older must wear a face covering when in a public place in the city of Flagstaff except as follows:

  • When able to maintain adequate social distancing;
  • When eating or drinking in a public place;
  • When that person cannot wear a face covering because of a medical, mental health condition, developmental disability, or is unable to remove the face covering without assistance; and
  • When a person's religious beliefs prevent the person from wearing a face covering

Governor's Enhanced Action Plan 
UPDATE:  June 17 - Governor Ducey announced today an enhanced action plan to contain the spread of COVID-19.  The Governor's plan focuses on:   

  • Increasing awareness of distancing and face-covering guidelines, including authorizing local governments to implement enhanced mitigation measures;
  • Enhancing guidance for establishments to limit congregating; 
  • Increased diagnostic testing, including expanding rapid testing capability;
  • Amplifying contact tracing in partnership with counties, including utilizing National Guard assets; and
  • Continuing to focus on long-term care settings

Summary - Requirements for Businesses - All businesses must establish, implement and enforce policies that adopt guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), including:

  • Ensure physical distancing
  • Require face coverings when physical distancing is not feasible
  • Promoting healthy hygiene practices
  • Intensify cleaning & disinfection practices
  • Monitor sickness
  • Allow for and encourage teleworking where feasible
  • Limit the congregation of groups to no more than 10 persons 

Summary - Requirements for Restaurants and Bars - Restaurants and bars providing dine-in services are now required to:

  • Enforce physical distancing of at least 6 feet between customers and tables
  • Limit parties to no more than 10
  • Not allow bar top or counter seating, unless 6 feet distance can be maintained
  • Continue to provide options for delivery, pick-up and curbside service - even if a location offers dine-in
  • Cloth masks are required for all servers, host staff and employees that interact with customers
  • Eliminate instances where customers serve their own food, including salad bars and buffets
  • Avoid using or sharing items such as menus, condiments, etc.  

Reopening Salons and Restaurants
UPDATE:  May 4 - Governor Ducey announced today that salons, barber shops and restaurants with dine-in services will be able to resume operations. 

Friday, May 8 - Salons and barber shops will be able to resume service with physical distancing, face coverings for employees and customers, operating by appointment only, enhanced sanitation and CDC guidelines in place.  This is in addition to a full re-opening for retail businesses on the same date.  

Monday, May 11 - Restaurants may begin to offer dine-in service with physical distancing, limiting the number of diners, enhanced sanitation and CDC guidelines in place.  Additional guidelines will be developed and released prior to May 11.

Guidance for Retail Establishments
UPDATE:  May 1 - Governor Ducey and the Arizona Department of Health Services released Guidelines for Retail Businesses and Customers as openings resume next week.  Recommendations include enhanced sanitation and physical distancing for both customers and business owners.  Additional guidelines will be developed and issued for restaurants.  

Governor's Executive Order
UPDATE:  April 29 - Governor Ducey issued a new Executive Order extending the Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected order through May 15, with new modifications for non-essential retail businesses.  

May 4 - non-essential retail businesses may offer the sale of goods by delivery, curbside pickup, walk up, and appointment.  

May 8 - non-essential retail businesses may operate with customers in store, as long as physical distancing and safety protocols are implemented.

On March 30, Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order titled: Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected.

Governor's Order Prohibiting Small Business Evictions
On March 31, Governor Ducey announced the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control will defer the payment of all liquor licensing fees by 90 days.  To read more, click HERE.  

Governor's Liquor License Fee Extension
On March 31, Governor Ducey announced the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control will defer the payment of all liquor licensing fees by 90 days.  To read more, click HERE.  

Flexibility for Restaurants & Bars
Governor Doug Ducey issued several Executive Orders in response to COVID-19.  One relevant directive is to allow flexibility for restaurants, bars and other businesses, and allows:
* restaurants to deliver alcoholic beverages with the purchase of food; AND
* manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers to buy back unopened products from restaurants, bars and clubs.

CARES Act Information & Financial Assistance
Below are summary documents to help business owners understand the financial assistance programs available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. 

UPDATE: April 27 - Please note that non-bank lenders, such as Kabbage, Paypal and Quickbooks have been added as approved SBA lenders.  If you have not received funding yet, please reapply to one of the newly added lenders.

Tax Filing Deadline Extended
US tax filing deadline has been moved to July 15, 2020.  This applies to businesses as well as individuals.

Unemployment Insurance Expanded
Currently, unemployment insurance allows for $240/week.  The CARES Act provides an additional $600/week for up to 4 months. 

Payroll Protection Program
Administered by the SBA.  $0 fee, forgivable loan up to $10 million
This is directed to small businesses, self-employed individuals, and non-profits.  Borrower is eligible for loan forgiveness on amounts spent during an 8-week period on qualifying payroll costs, interest payments on mortgages, rent and utilities.  The goal is to help keep employees on payroll at current levels. For more information, please click here.   

Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Grant
Administered by the SBA. This provides grants of up to $10,000 helping small businesses continue operations and pay immediate expenses, such as payroll, sick leave, and business obligations like rent, utilities, etc.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan
Administered by the SBA. If a small business can't get enough money with other available programs, they can apply for a low-interest loan for up to $2 million.  3.75% interest rate.  This can be used to pay for expenses that could have been met had there not been this current disaster.

Employee Retention Tax Credit
This provides a refundable payroll tax credit for 50% of wages paid by employers to employees during the COVID-19 crisis.  The credit is available to employers whose operations were fully or partially suspended due to a shut-down order, or gross receipts declined by more than 50% when compared to the same quarter in the prior year.  The credit is provided for the first $10,000 of compensation, including health benefits, paid to an eligible employee, and provided for wages paid or incurred from March 13, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

SBA Low Interest Loans
This program provides up to $2 million per business of low interest loans to small businesses or private, and non-profit organizations that suffer substantial economic injury from COVID-19.  Businesses in Coconino County are eligible to apply for loans today.
 
Businesses may apply online in the Disaster Loan Application Portal. The SBA Page with more details about the program can be found by clicking HERE.  Business owners can prepare the documents you needed to apply:

  • Loan Application (SBA Form 5, available online in the portal)
  • Tax Information Authorization (IRS Form 4506-T), completed and signed by each applicant, each principal owning 20 percent or more of the applicant business, each general partner or managing member; and, for any owner who has more than 50 percent ownership in an affiliate business.  Affiliates include, but are not limited to business parents, subsidiaries, and/or other businesses with common ownership or management.
  • Complete copies, including all schedules, of the most recently filed Federal Income tax returns for the applicant business; an explanation if not available.
  • Personal Financial Statement (SBA Form 413) completed, signed, and dated by the applicant, each principal owning 20 percent or more of the applicant business, and each general partner or managing member.
  • Schedule of Liabilities listing all fixed debts (SBA Form 2202).
  • Technical assistance is available with the SBDC.  REGISTER for Technical Assistance, click HERE 

Additional Grant Opportunities
Verizon and Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Small Business Recovery Fund
A trailblazing investment of $2.5 million from Verizon is making it possible for LISC to begin offering critical relief and resiliency-building support to small businesses facing immediate financial threat because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will go to make grants of up to $10,000, especially to entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically under-served places who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital. Verizon will highlight and bolster these efforts through their inaugural "Pay It Forward Live" online concert series. To nominate your business and register, please click HERE!

U.S. Chamber's Save Small Business Grant Relief
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in partnership with Vistaprint and a coalition of supporting companies, foundations and philanthropic donors, is providing some financial relief through a new Save Small Business Fund.  The Fund is providing $5,000 in short-term relief to employers across the United States.  These one-time supplemental cash grants are for businesses that have between three and 20 employees and operate in an economically vulnerable community.

The grant application goes live Monday, April 20 at 1:00pm MT.  To learn more about this fund and to apply for a grant, visit www.savesmallbusiness.com.

Facebook Resources
Facebook Small Business Grants Program, click HERE
Facebook Business Resource Hub, click HERE

Free Tutorials and Webinars

Weekly Tutorials from the SBDC and Coconino County
Join representatives from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Coconino County as they provide FREE weekly tutorials on How To Apply for an SBA Loan. These 1-hour sessions provide business owners the steps, links and documents to complete their SBA Disaster Relief Loan applications.  

Meetings take place every Tuesday at 2pm via MS TEAMS Meeting.  
Link to join via website:  https://teams.microsoft.com/_#/pre-join-calling/19:meeting_MDJhZTkxMDktMzI2YS00M2JhLWJhN2ItM2IzZWZiYjI0Mzhh@thread.v2
To join via phone:  623-473-9267, Conf ID 603 856 743#

New! Arizona Commerce Authority Small Business Bootcamp
April 27 - The ACA has kicked off a FREE 6 week Small Business Bootcamp providing expertise on how to prepare your business for a strong recovery.  The Bootcamp begins at 9am on April 27 and includes topics such as applying for PPP and EIDL, accessing cash quickly and finding alternative funding sources.  To learn more about the series, register for upcoming workshops, or look at past webinars, click https://www.azcommerce.com/covid-19/webinars/.  

CARES Act Readiness Program for Small Businesses
This a FREE training program that helps both novice and experienced borrowers navigate the CARES Act and get access to the capital they need to sustain their business. Free LIVE webinar sessions will take place every Friday 8:00am - 9:30am through May 29th. To sign up and for more information please visit caresactaz.com.

Grow with Google Webinar: Reach Customers Online with Google with Dave Delaney
This is a FREE webinar on behalf of the Flagstaff City - Coconino County Public Library scheduled for Monday, May 11th, 12:00pm to 1:00pm. To register for the webinar please click the following link, register.gotowebinar.com/register/1111249320493565452. In this live webinar, Dave Delany will discuss best practices for improving your website's visibility on Google's organic search results, creating a free Google My Business Listing, and advertising your business on Google.

Additional Information
City of Flagstaff
The City's guide to COVID-19 information can be found HERE.

Coconino County
COVID-19 Business Response Quick Start Guides and In-depth Guides are available for download HERE.

Downtown Resources
The Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance team is working hard to promote current business operations.  Please review the comprehensive list of downtown businesses on our website and on social media, and share as you are able to your social media, e-newsletters, etc. See below:
Website

Facebook

Instagram

Stakeholder Updates

ALSO!!!  FREE PARKING and CURBSIDE PICKUP is in place for added convenience and to help support downtown businesses.  

Business Response Quick Start Guides and In-depth Guides are available for download HERE.

Local First Arizona
Resources available to support small, local, and independent businesses, click HERE

National Restaurant Association
Resources available to support restaurants of all sizes to ensure they have the latest information, click HERE