Resources for Small Businesses in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

By Office of Advocacy On Jun 8, 2020

Updated December 22, 2021, 3:00pm ET

The Office of Advocacy will share small business resources and information related to the coronavirus pandemic as we receive them.

SBA COVID PAGE

On February 22, 2021 – The White House released Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Increases Lending to Small Businesses in Need, Announces Changes to PPP to Further Promote Equitable Access to Relief.

On March 12, 2021 – SBA Extends Deferment Period for all COVID-19 EIDL and Other Disaster Loans until 2022.

Paycheck Protection Program Reopening

On January 20, 2021, Treasury and the SBA released the interim final rule Business Loan Program Temporary Changes; Paycheck Protection Program – Loan Forgiveness Requirements and Loan Review Procedures as Amended by Economic Aid Act and updated the SBA Forms 3508, PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculation Form; 3508S (PPP forgiveness application for a loan of $150,000 or less); 3508EZ; and 3508D, Paycheck Protection Program Borrower’s Disclosure of Certain Controlling Interests.

On January 17, 2021, Treasury and SBA released How to Calculate Maximum Loan Amounts for First Draw PPP Loans and What Documentation to Provide – By Business Type.

On January 8, 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of Treasury, announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11, 2021 for new borrowers and some existing PPP borrowers. The initial wave of loans issued on Monday, January 11, and Wednesday, January 13, will only be available to community financial institutions, but the PPP will open up to all eligible lenders shortly after.

SBA has provided information for small business owners looking for a PPP loan, which can be found here. Additional information from SBA and the Department of the Treasury can be found at the below links.

Department of Agriculture

On October 21, 2021,

Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program

On October 6, 2021, the application period opened for USDA’s Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program (PRS). PRS, available through USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, provides grants to specialty crop producers and processors, other select producers, meat and other processors, distributors, and farmers markets to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Grants may cover COVID-related expenses such as workplace safety measures, retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety, shifting to online sales platforms, transportation, worker housing, and medical costs. The minimum funding request is $1,500 and the maximum funding request is $20,000. Applications must be submitted electronically through the grant portal at https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda by 11:59 p.m. eastern on Monday, November 22, 2021. Eligible entities are required to obtain a free DUNS Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) before applying for this program. USDA has created a custom PRS DUNS number portal at https://support.dnb.com/?CUST=PandemicResponse. Application resources, including frequently asked questions, tip sheets in English and Spanish on applying for a DUNS Number, videos on “How to Apply,” and more, are available on the PRS Grant Portal.

On March 24, 2021, USDA announced expansion of CFAP. Updates will be available on their website here.

On August 14, 2020, Additional commodities added to the USDA CFAP assistance program, apps now accepted until September 11^th. See more here. Join a webinar for more information on August 19.

USDA has updated additional commodities eligible for CFAP- applications are due August 28^th. See more here.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to this direct support to farmers and ranchers, USDA’s Farmers to Families Food Box program is partnering with regional and local distributors, whose workforces have been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy, and meat and deliver boxes to Americans in need.

USDA Now Accepting Applications For Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, Seeks Comments On Additional Entities To Include

Beginning May 26, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), will be accepting applications from agricultural producers who have suffered losses. See more here.

USDA is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under USDA Business & Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

USDA announced the expanded B&I CARES Act Program authorities in a notice published in the May 21 Federal Register (PDF, 217 KB). Program funding expires Sept. 30, 2021. Eligible applicants may contact their local USDA Rural Development State Office in the state where the project is located.

USDA is developing application guides for lenders and borrowers on the B&I CARES Act Program. The Agency also will host two webinars to provide an overview of program requirements. To register for the webinar on Wednesday, May 27 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, visit HERE. To register for the webinar on Wednesday, June 3 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, visit HERE.

Department of Commerce

On June 4, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) and U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) are temporarily reducing or eliminating the costs of several of their export services, providing relief to U.S. businesses affected by COVID-19. These efforts are intended to encourage the export of non-COVID-19-treatment-related “Made in the USA” products around the world in this moment of economic transition and recovery. See more HERE.

Internal Revenue Service

On April 21, 2021, the IRS released a fact sheet about the American Rescue Plan tax credits for small business employers providing paid leave for employees who take time off related to COVID-19 vaccinations.

On March 3, 2021, the IRS provided guidance for employers claiming the Employee Retention Credit for 2020, including eligibility rules for PPP borrowers.

On January 28, 2021 – the IRS updated its FAQs for sick leave tax credits to incorporate changes made by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

On January 6, 2021, the IRS issued Revenue Ruling 2021-2, which holds that the conclusion stated in Notice 2020-32 and holding of Revenue Ruling 2020-27 are inaccurate statements of the law and are now obsolete because of section 276(a) of the COVID-related Tax Relief Act of 2020. IRS Notice 202-32 and Revenue Ruling 2020-27 provided that taxpayers could not deduct otherwise deductible business expenses that had been paid with forgiven or forgivable PPP loans.

On September 23, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service wants individuals to consider taking the home office deduction if they qualify. The benefit may allow taxpayers working from home to deduct certain expenses on their tax return. The home office deduction is available to qualifying self-employed taxpayers, independent contractors and those working in the gig economy. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspended the business use of home deduction from 2018 through 2025 for employees. Employees who receive a paycheck or a W-2 exclusively from an employer are not eligible for the deduction, even if they are currently working from home. See more here.

On September 24, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service reminds business owners and self-employed individuals of the employer credits available to them during COVID-19. These credits were specially created to help small business owners during this unprecedented time. During Small Business Week, the IRS wants to ensure all eligible people know about the relief these credits provide. See more here.

The Internal Revenue Service issued a temporary regulation and a proposed regulation to reconcile advance payments of refundable employment tax credits and recapture the benefit of these credits when necessary. The regulations authorize the assessment of erroneous refunds of the credits paid under both the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Families First Act) and Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). See more here.

The IRS is providing questions and answers about net operating loss carrybacks of C corporations to taxable years in which the alternative minimum tax applies. See more here.

On May 12, 2020, the IRS announced tax relief through increased flexibility in section 125 cafeteria plans. Notice 2020-29 provides guidance on mid-year elections made under a § 125 cafeteria plan during calendar year 2020 related to employer-sponsored health coverage, health Flexible Spending Arrangements (health FSAs), and dependent care assistance programs. Notice 2020-33 increases the $500 limit for unused amounts remaining in a health FSA that may be carried over into the following year by making the carryover amount 20 percent of the maximum salary reduction amount under § 125(i), which is indexed for inflation.

Three new credits are available to many businesses hit by COVID-19: the employee retention, paid sick leave, and family leave credits. On May 7, the IRS published more information and FAQs on these.

On May 4, 2020, the IRS released FAQs on CARES Act relief for special distribution options and rollover rules for retirement plans and IRAs. The FAQs also cover the expanded permissible loans from certain retirement plans.

On April 17, 2020, the IRS posted new FAQs regarding COVID-19-related tax credits for required paid leave (sick and family) provided by small and midsize businesses.

The IRS provides guidance under the CARES Act to taxpayers with net operating losses. See more here. These FAQs apply to taxpayers with net operating losses and section 965 inclusions.

Rev. Proc. 2020-23 allows eligible partnerships to file amended partnership returns for tax years beginning in 2018 and 2019 to take advantage of CARES Act relief.

Rev. Proc. 2020-25 allows taxpayers to change their depreciation under sec. 168 for qualified improved property placed into service after December 31, 2017, for tax years ending in 2018, 2019, or 2020 per provisions of the CARES Act.

The IRS coronavirus webpage has ongoing updates on important small business topics.

Here are other relevant announcements from the IRS:

IR-2020-64: IRS issues warning about coronavirus-related scams; schemes tied to economic impact payments.
Treasury News Release: Social Security recipients will automatically receive economic impact payments.
IR-2020-62: Employee retention credit available for many businesses financially impacted by COVID-19.
IR 2020-61: Economic impact payments: What you need to know.
IR-2020-59: IRS unveils People First Initiative, adjusting or suspending key compliance program.
IR-2020-58: Tax Day now July 15: Treasury, IRS extend deadlines for federal tax filing and payment regardless of amount.
IR-2020-54, IRS: High-deductible health plans can cover coronavirus costs.

To receive updates directly from the IRS, visit https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/e-news-subscriptions.

Department of Health and Human Services

On January 29, 2021 – COVID-19 Vaccine Resources: What Partners Need to Know Now

On January 5, 2021, the FDA posted a new webpage on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) highlighting authorities that are intended to enhance the FDA’s ability to identify, prevent, and mitigate possible drug shortages by, among other things, enhancing the FDA’s visibility into drug supply chains.

On November 25, Health And Human Services Seeks Public Input On Regulations That May Inhibit Economic Recovery Because Of The Covid-19 Pandemic.

On August 19, 2020, – FDA and OSHA Team Up to Publish Checklist to Assist Food Industry During COVID-19 – Employee Health and Food Safety Checklist for Human and Animal Food Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

FDA Posts New Template for At-Home and Over-the-Counter Diagnostic Tests for Use in Non-Lab Settings, Such as Homes, Offices or Schools. See more here.

The Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has published information related to health insurance coverage, including for those who have lost employment-related coverage.

Tip sheet on health coverage options for employers helping their employees during the Covid-19 national emergency. CMS has provided information for employers, so they can help Americans who are experiencing major changes in their lives, such as loss of job or a change in income.

CMS has also provided detailed Marketplace coverage information for businesses and individuals affected by Covid-19. This FAQ applies to those who reside in a Federally Facilitated Exchange (FFE) state, or in a state with a State-Based Exchange on the Federal Platform (SBE-FP).

CMS Publishes Interim Final Rule Making It Easier For Healthcare Professionals To Order, and Receive Payment for Ordering, COVID-19 Tests

Department of Labor

On December 17, 2021, the 6^th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday lifted the stay on OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS. Below is a link to OSHA’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS webpage, as well as OSHA’s statement about the ruling and new compliance dates for the ETS. The 6^th Circuit decision is being appealed and there are other cases, such as the federal contractor rule, also involving this issue. https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/ets2#litigation

Litigation Update – OSHA is gratified the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit dissolved the Fifth Circuit’s stay of the Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard. OSHA can now once again implement this vital workplace health standard, which will protect the health of workers by mitigating the spread of the unprecedented virus in the workplace. To account for any uncertainty created by the stay, OSHA is exercising enforcement discretion with respect to the compliance dates of the ETS. To provide employers with sufficient time to come into compliance, OSHA will not issue citations for noncompliance with any requirements of the ETS before January 10 and will not issue citations for noncompliance with the standard’s testing requirements before February 9, so long as an employer is exercising reasonable, good faith efforts to come into compliance with the standard. OSHA will work closely with the regulated community to provide compliance assistance.

On October 27, 2021 – EEOC – Title VII and Religious Objections to COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates. What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov)

On May 28, 2021 – What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws

On January 29, 2021- OSHA announced Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace

On January 5, 2021 – DOL has released new guidance on the FFCRA: Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)

On December 18, 2020 – EEOC Issues Updated Covid-19 Technical Assistance Publication | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov).

On September 11, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced revisions to regulations that implement the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The revised rule clarifies workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities regarding FFCRA paid leave. The rule also clarifies how to employees provide notice and utilize intermittent leave under FFCRA, and revises the definition of “healthcare provider” under the FFCRA exemption, The rule was issued in light of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York’s August 3, 2020, decision invalidating portions of the relevant regulations.

On August 4, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced guidance for employers with certain federal contracts regarding paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA). The guidance provides compliance assistance to employers with service contracts with the federal government covered by the Service Contract Act and federal construction contracts covered by the Davis-Bacon Act. The new guidance is available at www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/sca-questions.

The U.S. Department of Labor published additional guidance for workers and employers on how the protections and requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) affect the workplace as workplaces reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. The guidance from the Department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) includes commonly asked questions and answers that address critical issues in all three laws. See more here.

The Department of Labor invites small business and workers to participate in “Opening America’s Workplaces Again National Online Dialogue.” Ideas and feedback collected during the dialogue will be used by the DOL to develop materials and guidance for employers and employees. Comment deadline: May 7, 2020. See more here.

U.S. Department Of Labor Announces New Paid Sick Leave And Expanded Family And Medical Leave Implementation. See more here.

What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act and the Coronavirus from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Center.

Small Business Administration

On February 1, 2021, SBA Offers Guidance For Shuttered Venue Operators Grants – Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (sba.gov) and Shuttered Venue Operators Grants – FAQ (sba.gov).

On October 13, 2020, SBA & Treasury have recently released additional guidance: Forgiveness Frequently Asked Questions – General Loan Forgiveness FAQ # 4 (page 2) has been added (Released 10/13/20)

Question: The PPP loan forgiveness application forms (3508, 3508EZ, and 3508S) display an expiration date of 10/31/2020 in the upper-right corner. Is October 31, 2020 the deadline for borrowers to apply for forgiveness?

Answer: No. Borrowers may submit a loan forgiveness application any time before the maturity date of the loan, which is either two or five years from loan origination. However, if a borrower does not apply for loan forgiveness within 10 months after the last day of the borrower’s loan forgiveness covered period, loan payments are no longer deferred and the borrower must begin making payments on the loan. For example, a borrower whose covered period ends on October 30, 2020 has until August 30, 2021 to apply for forgiveness before loan repayment begins. The expiration date in the upper-right corner of the posted PPP loan forgiveness application forms is displayed for purposes of SBA’s compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, and reflects the temporary expiration date for approved use of the forms. This date will be extended, and when approved, the same forms with the new expiration date will be posted.

On October 8, 2020, SBA, in consultation with the Treasury Department, today released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

SBA and Treasury have also eased the burden on PPP lenders, allowing lenders to process forgiveness applications more swiftly. SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders for PPP borrowers on October 2, 2020. SBA will continue to process all PPP forgiveness applications in an expeditious manner.

Click here to view the simpler loan forgiveness application. Click here to view the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application. Click here to view the Interim Final Rule on the simpler forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less.

On August 4, 2020 – Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Policy Update – SBA & Treasury have recently released additional guidance:

Frequently Asked Questions For Loan Forgiveness (Released 8/4/20)
Summary of PPP lending as of 7/31/20 (Released 8/3/20)

For more information and updates, visit SBA.gov/PaycheckProtection or Treasury.gov/CARES

On July 23, 2020, SBA issued a notice to inform Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Lenders of the processes for submitting decisions on PPP borrower loan forgiveness applications. See more here.

On June 10, 2020, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza issued the following statement following the enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act.

On June 5, 2020 – SBA, in consultation with Treasury, will promptly issue rules and guidance, a modified borrower application form, and a modified loan forgiveness application implementing these legislative amendments to the PPP. These modifications will implement the following important changes:

Extend the covered period for loan forgiveness from eight weeks after the date of loan disbursement to 24 weeks after the date of loan disbursement, providing substantially greater flexibility for borrowers to qualify for loan forgiveness. Borrowers who have already received PPP loans retain the option to use an eight-week covered period.

Lower the requirements that 75 percent of a borrower’s loan proceeds must be used for payroll costs and that 75 percent of the loan forgiveness amount must have been spent on payroll costs during the 24-week loan forgiveness covered period to 60 percent for each of these requirements. If a borrower uses less than 60 percent of the loan amount for payroll costs during the forgiveness covered period, the borrower will continue to be eligible for partial loan forgiveness, subject to at least 60 percent of the loan forgiveness amount having been used for payroll costs.

Provide a safe harbor from reductions in loan forgiveness based on reductions in full-time equivalent employees for borrowers that are unable to return to the same level of business activity the business was operating at before February 15, 2020, due to compliance with requirements or guidance issued between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, related to worker or customer safety requirements related to COVID–19.

Provide a safe harbor from reductions in loan forgiveness based on reductions in full-time equivalent employees, to provide protections for borrowers that are both unable to rehire individuals who were employees of the borrower on February 15, 2020, and unable to hire similarly qualified employees for unfilled positions by December 31, 2020.

Increase to five years the maturity of PPP loans that are approved by SBA (based on the date SBA assigns a loan number) on or after June 5, 2020.

Extend the deferral period for borrower payments of principal, interest, and fees on PPP loans to the date that SBA remits the borrower’s loan forgiveness amount to the lender (or, if the borrower does not apply for loan forgiveness, 10 months after the end of the borrower’s loan forgiveness covered period).

In addition, the new rules will confirm that June 30, 2020, remains the last date on which a PPP loan application can be approved.

SBA and Treasury released the following guidance regarding the Paycheck Protection Program on April 28:

In a joint statement on April 28, Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced: “To further ensure PPP loans are limited to eligible borrowers, the SBA has decided, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, that it will review all loans in excess of $2 million.”
Treasury issued a new Interim Final Rule on Seasonal Employees
SBA issued a new Interim Final Rule on Disbursements
SBA and Treasury updated their FAQ for Lenders and Borrowers for the Paycheck Protection Program. Questions 31 and 37 address the question of whether businesses owned by large companies with adequate sources of liquidity to support the business’s ongoing operations qualify for a PPP loan.
For more information and updates, visit SBA.gov/PaycheckProtection and Treasury.gov/CARES

Payroll Protection Program Restarts April 27 SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin issued the following statement on April 23, 2020, on the resumption of the PPP:

“We are pleased that President Trump has signed into law the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which provides critical additional funding for American workers and small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. We want to thank Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy for working with us on a bipartisan basis to ensure that the Paycheck Protection Program is funded so that small businesses can keep hardworking Americans on the payroll.

“The Small Business Administration will resume accepting PPP loan applications on Monday, April 27 at 10:30am EDT from approved lenders on behalf of any eligible borrower. This will ensure that SBA has properly coded the system to account for changes made by the legislation.

To learn more about SBA’s relief options available for your business, click here.

SBA Debt Relief The SBA Debt Relief program provide a reprieve to small businesses as they overcome the challenges created by this health crisis. Under this program the SBA will pay the principal and interest of current 7(a) loans for a period of six months. The SBA will also pay the principal and interest of new 7(a) loans issued prior to September 27, 2020.

The SBA has published information on loan approvals under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through April 16. Information on loan size, states, and industries is here.

Other key links on SBA’s webpage include:

Department of the Treasury

On October 13, 2020, The Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, is providing this guidance to address borrower and lender questions concerning forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, as provided for under section 1106 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), as amended by the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (Flexibility Act). See the announcement here.

On October 8, 2020, Treasury sent out a press release announcing simpler PPP forgiveness for loans of $50,000 or less. There are links in the press release to pdfs of: (1) the simpler loan forgiveness application, (2) the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application, and (3) the Interim Final Rule on the simpler forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less.

On October 7, 2020 – Treasury updated their PPP FAQ’s. See those here.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s COVID-19 webpage is also a resource, as it includes summary information on Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Treasury also includes links to borrower and lender applications, FAQs, and the SBA’s interim final rule and affiliation rules.

Waiver of hand sanitizer production approval. The Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is allowing distilleries to produce hand sanitizer without first seeking TTB approval to do so. How it is taxed depends on whether the hand sanitizer is made with denatured ethanol (not subject to federal excise tax) or undenatured ethanol (subject to federal excise tax).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDC Business Guidance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to help businesses prevent workplace exposures to COVID-19 in non-healthcare settings. Information on how to reduce transmission among employees and maintain healthy business operations is available on the CDC webpage here.

Department of Defense

DOD Allows Payments To Contractors Who Cannot Work Due To COVID-19 Facility Closures Or Other Restrictions. See more here.

Federal Communications Commission

On January 6, The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau today issued a request for comment on how to administer Round 2 of the agency’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which received an additional $249.95 million in support as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The Commission seeks public input on the metrics the Commission should use to evaluate applications for this round of funding, how the Commission should treat applications that were filed during the initial funding round provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), and additional program improvement. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-369094A1.pdf

FCC telehealth initiative – The COVID-19 Telehealth Program will provide $200 million in funding, appropriated by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to help health care providers furnish connected care services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.

The FCC’s Equal Employment Opportunity rules ordinarily require broadcast stations employing five or more full-time employees and multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) employing six or more full-time employees to engage in broad recruitment outreach for all full-time job vacancies. The FCC is waiving this requirement to allow affected broadcast licensees and MVPDs to return operations to full strength once circumstances permit the re-hiring of released employees. See more here.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

OSHA’s webpage on COVID-19 where they have consolidated all of their various guidance on safety, health, and enforcement issues. See it here.

Mine Safety and Health Administration

MSHA’s webpage on COVID-19 where they have consolidated all of their various guidance on safety, health, and enforcement issues. See it here.

Department of Veterans Affairs

VA call centers and some VA health facilities are currently experiencing very high numbers of calls. To help the VA address the most urgent needs first, please use the online tools and frequently asked questions (FAQs) for routine or non-urgent questions. See the FAQ here.

See the VA Public Health website here.

Securities and Exchange Commission

On May 4, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it is providing temporary, conditional relief for companies to raise capital via Regulation Crowdfunding. The temporary rules are intended to expedite the offering process for smaller, previously established companies directly or indirectly affected by COVID-19 that are seeking to meet their funding needs through a crowdfunding offering.

Additionally, the SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation is hosting a series of virtual coffee breaks to engage with the public to discuss updates, trends, and perspectives on how COVID-19 is impacting raising capital. Each virtual coffee break will spotlight what’s happening in a particular area of the market, incorporating feedback from entrepreneurs, investors, and other market participants.

This post will be updated as information becomes available. Originally posted March 19, 2020 at 10:19am ET.

COVID-19