Windham Region Chamber of Commerce

COVID

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PERFORMING ARTS & OTHER VENUES NEW GUIDELINES

As of February 16 the reopening guidelines for performing arts venues and other venues have changed allowing them to have guests up to 50% of their capacity and allow them to sell concessions.  Although these are changes in the right direction, our venues will continue to see hardships in the coming year.  We encourage everyone to support your local venue in any way you can.  Make a donation, buy an advance ticket, volunteer.

Here are the latest updated guidelines.  Changes are written in red.  We will continue to keep you informed of any additional changes.

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UPDATED GUIDELINES FOR TEAM SPORTS

You can find the official guidelines HERE.

This is a summary of the updates to the Connecticut public health guidance and reopening rules regarding organized sports and other athletic activities. Please note that beginning on January 19, 2021, the Team Sports on Pause will no longer be effective. These rules are subject to the continued stability in COVID-19 metrics. Athletes, coaches, and businesses should continue to regularly monitor the latest Department of Public Health (DPH) Guidance and Sector Rules for Reopening.

This guidance applies to the 2021 winter sports season (Jan. 19 – Mar. 15). Given the dynamic nature of the pandemic, this guidance may be revised prior to the end of the season. DPH and DECD will continue to monitor pandemic metrics and will issue updated guidance for the spring sports season on or before March 1, 2021.

General Guidance

  • Low and Moderate Risk sports (basketball, ice hockey, gymnastics, indoor track, swimming, etc.):
    • Practices can begin on January 19, 2021
    • Competitions can begin February 1, 2021 
  • Masks are required in Gyms, Fitness Centers, and during Indoor and Outdoor Sports by all participants, spectators, and coaches at all times, including active play.
    • However. where the nature of play is such that two or more athletes would not be expected to have any close contact (i.e., tennis singles, individual running on a track, etc.), athletes are not required to wear face coverings during the activity, although masks are still strongly encouraged (face coverings should still be worn at all times by individuals not engaged in the activity).
  • Only the necessary number of adults to hold practices and competitions shall attend, including no more than 1 parent/guardian per youth athlete, so long as the venue allows for 6 ft of social distancing of spectators, who must maintain social distancing and wear face coverings throughout the activity. Adult club/recreational sports, with participants who are aged 21 years and older, shall not have spectators. 
  • League organizers and teams must cooperate with contact tracing efforts by state and local health officials. If league organizers and teams fail to cooperate, state or local health officials may discontinue a team or league’s sports activities.

What is prohibited:

  • Participation in High Risk Sports (other than conditioning/non-contact drills).
  • Participation in any out-of-state team activities—practices (including conditioning), competitions, camps, clinics and tournaments by CT residents—or any interstate activities.
    • However, if an out-of-state resident is a member of a Connecticut team, then they can engage in that team’s activities as allowed by these rules.
    • Furthermore, if a Connecticut resident is a member of an out-of-state team, then they can engage in that team’s activities as allowed by these rules.
  • Large, traditional multi-school/multi-team (more than two) sporting events.
  • In-person road races should be postponed until March 1, 2021, subject to COVID-19 metrics.

What is allowed:

  • Practices for Moderate and Lower risk sports, beginning no earlier than January 19, 2021. This includes group aerobic conditioning, sport-specific non-contact skill development drills, team practices and/or intra-squad scrimmages.
  • In-state competition of interscholastic, club and recreation Moderate and Lower risk sports, beginning no earlier than February 1, 2021, subject to the continued stability of COVID-19 metrics.
  • Outdoor Recreational Activities (subject to the Sector Rules for Reopening)
  • School Physical Education Classes (subject to State Department of Education Guidance)
  • Gyms, Group Fitness Classes, Dance Studios, Yoga, Martial Arts Instruction, etc.
  • Pools
    • Recreational lap swimming is limited to one person per lane unless swimmers are from the same household, or a swimmer with special needs requires a paraprofessional in the same lane with them. Lanes must be a minimum of 6 ft wide. Advance registration for recreational lap swimming is encouraged.
    • Swim teams can have up to 4 swimmers per lane during practice and pre-match warm up periods, provided:
      • Cohorts consisting of up to 4 swimmers that will use the same lane at the same time are constant throughout the entire season.
      • Swimmers are engaged in continuous swimming while using the same lane (i.e. the group isn’t gathered at one end of the lane without masks during break periods or to receive coaching).
      • Swimmers remain maximally spaced to the extent possible during active swimming (i.e. pair swimmers of similar skill level/speed to the extent possible).
    • Pool deck observers are discouraged. If parent/guardians are necessary, only one per swimmer is allowed, they must wear a mask, and remain at least 6 ft apart.
    • For swim lessons, students should be instructed in the water one-on-one with the swim instructor and should remain out of the water, standing or seated on the pool deck with a mask in place and separated by 6 ft or more distance while they wait for their turn with the instructor. While this process is encouraged for all age and skill levels, for beginner swim lessons (children 5 yrs or younger) where controlling the attention and movement of students may be difficult, students can remain in the water or seated on the edge of the pool for the duration of the lesson period without masks, provided that:
          • The size of the class group is limited to 4 or fewer participants
          • Students remain separated by 6 ft or more at all times
          • Appropriate spacing is clearly marked and understandable by students (i.e. cones or dots rather than a worded sign)
          • Students keep masks in place prior to the beginning and immediately after the end of the lesson period
    • Swim aerobic participants should maintain distance of 12 ft throughout class or utilize every other lane.
    • First Responder Lifeguard Certification
      • Classroom portions of the certification process should be conducted either virtually (preferred) or if conducted in-person, should include seat spacing of at least 6 feet between participants and masks (that completely cover the nose and mouth) worn at all times.
      • Instructors should “pair” participants together for the purposes of practical (hands-on) training activities that require two participants to be in close contact (e.g. team CPR, rescue activities, etc.).  Participant pairings should be constant throughout the duration of the certification course.  For practical training activities that require more than 2 participants (e.g. deep water rescue, back boarding, etc.) pairings may be combined to form a group of 4 (maximum), and those combined pairing should also be kept constant.  The same combined pairing (4 participants) should be maintained for shared-lane lap swimming.
      • “Dry land” training activities (i.e. occurring on a pool deck area) should maintain 6 ft. spacing between participants and masks should be worn at all times.  Group “dry land” training activities should be performed with as few group members as required to safely complete the activity (up to 4 max.) and close contact should be time-limited to the extent possible.
      • Masks should not be worn during “in-water” training activities.  Group “in-water” training activities should be performed with as few group members as required to safely complete the activity (up to 4 max.) and close contact should be time-limited to the extent possible.

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GRANT RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

Here are some national grant resources for artists who may need assistance especially during the pandemic.  If you know of any other resources, please let us know so that we can share.  Also, these grants all have different grant periods and deadlines, they may not all be active at this time.

Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant

What it is: Interim financial assistance (up to $15,000; standard award is $5,000) for unforeseen circumstances; one-time assistance for a specific emergency. This does not cover dental, chronic conditions, or art projects.

Who it’s for: Only eligible for visual artists (painters, printmakers, and sculptors) who are in a mature phase of their career (have been working for at least 10 years in their field).

Dates to know: Rolling application process.

 

Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund

What it is: Funds in the amount of $200 per person, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Who it’s for: Black, indigenous, and people of color artists or administrators in financial need.

Dates to know: Rolling application process.

 

CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund)

What it is: $3,000 in immediate financial assistance; discounts and donations for art supplies also available.

Who it’s for: Professional artists who have contracted COVID-19 and are in need of financial assistance. Applicants must be legal US residents and face a career-threatening emergency.

Dates to know: Rolling application process.

 

NYFA and Rauschenberg Emergency Grants

What it is: One-time grants of up to $5,000 for medical emergencies.

Who it’s for: Visual and media artists and choreographers who have eligible expenses which include, but are not limited to: hospital and doctor bills (including insurance co-pays), tests, physical/occupational therapy, prescription drugs specifically for the emergency medical condition, and emergency dental work.

Dates to know: Applications will be accepted and reviewed by the panel on a monthly basis beginning in late May/early June 2020.

 

Pollock-Krasner Foundation 

What it is: Grants for artistic merit and demonstrable personal or professional financial need. The size of the grant is determined by the artist’s individual circumstances.

Who it’s for: Artists must be actively exhibiting their work in galleries or museums. The foundation does not accept applications from commercial artists, video artists, performance artists, filmmakers, crafts-makers, or any artist whose work primarily falls into these categories.

Dates to know: Rolling application process.

 

Artist’s Charitable Fund

What it is: A non-profit fund that pays a portion of emergency medical bills directly to the medical providers.

Who it’s for: Painters and sculptors who have been affected by medical bills.

Dates to know: Rolling application process.

 

Artists’ Fellowship, Inc

What it is:  One-time grants to pay emergency medical bills.

Who it’s for: Artists who are dealing with immediate medical emergencies and their aftermaths.

Dates to know: Rolling application process.

 

Artist Relief

What it is: One-time $5,000 grants

Who it’s for: Artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19, including the lack or imminent endangerment of essentials such as housing, medicine, childcare, and foodDates to know: The fund will operate through September 2020. Grants will be available and distributed over six months to allow time for internal processing as well as communication to reach as many artists as possible

 

The Photographer’s Fund with Format

What it is: A $25,000 fund providing assistance of up to $500 per artist.

Who it’s for: Self-employed photographers facing financial hardships due to COVID-19.

Dates to know: Rolling application process, until funds are depleted.

 

Leveler

What it is: Peer-to-peer wealth redistribution in small increments. Applicants fill out a form explaining how they’ve been impacted and
and others who are in better financial positions can donate.

Who it’s for: People in the arts, hospitality, and gig economy who have been directly impacted by COVID-19. Funds go directly to the persons on the database via Venmo/PayPal.

Dates to know: Rolling application process and as funds are available.

 

Freelancers Relief Fund

What it is: Up to $1,000 in financial assistance per freelance household to cover lost income and essential expenses including food, supplies, utility payments, and cash assistance to supplement income loss.

Who it’s for: Freelancers who primarily reside in the United States who have experienced a sudden decrease in income of 50 percent or more as a result of COVID-19, due to cancellation, loss of work, or caring for family members. These include sole proprietors and limited liability companies where there is only one employee.

Dates to know: Rolling application process.

What it is: One-time grants of $1,500.

Who it’s for: Artists who have had performances or exhibitions canceled or postponed because of the pandemic.

Dates to know: Rolling application process.

 

Artist Relief Project 

What it is: One-time emergency stipend in the amount of $200.

Who it’s for: Any artist in any discipline who has been impacted by COVID19-related cancellations and closures may apply for assistance.

Dates to know: Stipends and support will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the only limitation being how much is money able to be raised.

 

Art Interrupted Emergency Arts Fund

What it is: An emergency fund launched by the Massachusetts nonprofit Twenty Summers with grants for individual artists up to $500 and grants of $1,000 for arts organizations. Twenty Summers will also help promote artists’ work through video sharing and social media.

Who it’s for: Artists and arts organizations suffering from unexpected and severe financial loss as a result of COVID-19.

Dates to know: Rolling application process.

 

Patreon’s What the Fund

What it is: One-time grants to support artists, as chosen by a board of fellow creators. Patreon has donated $10,000 in initial funds and is accepting further donations.

Who it’s for: Any creator, anywhere in the world, who has been demonstrably impacted by the COVID-19 situation.

Dates to know: Accepting applications through today, April 14, 2020.

 

Women Photograph

What it is: Five grants of $5,000 to support photography projects.

Who it’s for: Visual journalists working in a documentary capacity. One grant will be earmarked for a non-binary or transgender photographer.

Dates to know: Application deadline is May 15, 2020.

 

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TARGETED EIDL ADVANCE GRANTS FROM SBA

Many of you have asked about this program and are waiting to get your invitation.  We are being told that SBA is still sending out emails to targeted businesses in low income areas that applied for the EIDL Advance when it first was created last spring.  If you applied for this before December 27 and received an amount less than $10,000 and you are located in a low income area, you may get an invitation to apply for the remainder up to $10,000.  The email will be from SBA.   Keep watching.  If you did not apply before, you will not be eligible.

EIDL Advance funds were originally calculated based on the number of employees indicated on an applicant’s COVID-19 EIDL application: $1,000/employee, up to a maximum of $10,000.

  • EIDL Advance does not have to be repaid.
  • Recipients did not have to be approved for an EIDL loan to receive the EIDL Advance.
  • The amount of the loan Advance was deducted from total loan eligibility.
  • Businesses who received an EIDL Advance in addition to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan will no longer have the amount of the EIDL Advance subtracted from the forgiveness amount of their PPP loan.

If you already applied for PPP loan forgiveness and had the amount of your EIDL Advance subtracted from the forgiveness amount, updated guidance will be published soon.

EIDL loan applications are still being processed, even though applications for the Advance are no longer available.

Please do not submit additional applications on the COVID-19 EIDL portal.

COVID-19 Targeted EIDL Advance was signed into law on December 27, 2020, as part of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Non-Profits, and Venues Act. The Targeted EIDL Advance provides businesses located in low-income communities with additional funds to ensure small business continuity, adaptation, and resiliency.

Advance funds of up to $10,000 will be available to applicants located in low-income communities who previously received an EIDL Advance for less than $10,000, or those who applied but received no funds due to lack of available program funding.

Applicants do not need to take any action at this time.
SBA will reach out to those who qualify.

SBA will first reach out to EIDL applications that already received a partial EIDL Advance (between $1,000 – $9,000). Applicants will be contacted directly by SBA via email in the coming weeks with instructions to determine eligibility and submit documentation.

All communications from SBA will be sent from an official government email with an @sba.gov ending. Please do not send sensitive information via email to any address that does not end in @sba.gov.

Applicants may qualify if they:

  • Are located in a low-income community. The definition of a “low-income community” is defined in section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code. Note that the applicant must be located in a low-income community in order to qualify. Additional details on how SBA will identify low-income communities will be available soon on our Coronavirus Relief Options page; AND
  • Can demonstrate more than 30% reduction in revenue during an 8-week period beginning on March 2, 2020, or later. If an applicant meets the low-income community criteria, they will be asked to provide gross monthly revenue (all forms of combined monthly earnings received, such as profits or salaries) to confirm the 30% reduction.

Next, SBA will reach out to those who applied for EIDL assistance on or before December 27, 2020, but did not receive an EIDL Advance due to lack of program funding. These applicants will receive an email from SBA with instructions to determine eligibility and submit documentation. Applicants may qualify for a Targeted EIDL Advance if they meet the above criteria (low-income location and reduction in revenue) AND:

  • Have 300 or fewer employees. Business entities normally eligible for the EIDL program are eligible, including sole proprietors, independent contractors, and private, nonprofit organizations. Agricultural enterprises are not eligible.

All applicants may be asked to provide an IRS Form 4506-T to allow SBA to request tax return information on the applicant’s behalf.

Please do not submit duplicate COVID-19 EIDL applications. Only prior applicants will be considered for the Targeted EIDL Advance.

SBA will reach out to you if you qualify!

Frequently Asked Questions about the Targeted EIDL Advance

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SBA HAS ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS TO COVER LOSS OF REVENUE

The SBA currently has a loan called Economic Injury Disaster Loan that you can apply to if your business has a loss of revenue due to COVID.  These loans are very low interest and have had deferred payments for most of the last year (you have not had to start paying them back because of the pandemic).  If you need money to pay your bills this is a good option.  Below is information from the SBA.  You will apply to the SBA for this loan HERE.

In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners, including agricultural businesses, and nonprofit organizations in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories can apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19.

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 EIDL Loans

PURPOSE

To meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred

TERMS
  • 3.75% for businesses (fixed)
  • 2.75% for nonprofits (fixed)
  • 30 years
  • No pre-payment penalty or fees

USE OF PROCEEDS

Working capital and normal operating expenses

Example: continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, fixed debt payments.

COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS
  • Required for loans over $25,000
  • SBA uses a general security agreement (UCC) designating business assets as collateral, such as machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, etc.

FORGIVABLE
  • NO – EIDL Loan
  • YES – EIDL Advance*

*Advance funds have been fully allocated and are not currently available

MATURITY

30 years

PAYMENTS

Deferred one year; interest still accrues
Borrower may make payments if they choose to do so.

Set up online payments through Pay.gov OR mail payments to:

U.S. Small Business Administration
721 19th Street
Denver, CO 80202

Be sure to include EIDL loan number on mailed-in checks.

SBA is currently accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications from all qualified small businesses, including agricultural businesses, and private nonprofit organizations.

If you have already applied via the streamlined application portal, please do not resubmit your application.

Loan eligibility

Small business owners and qualified agricultural businesses in all U.S. states and territories are currently eligible to apply for a low-interest loan due to COVID-19.

Agricultural businesses with 500 or fewer employees are now eligible as a result of new authority granted by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agricultural businesses include those businesses engaged in the production of food and fiber, ranching, and raising of livestock, aquaculture, and all other farming and agricultural related industries (as defined by section 18(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 647(b)).

Frequently Asked Questions for Faith-Based Organizations Participating in the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Agricultural and Farm Loan Collateral Security and the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL)

Cross Program Eligibility on SBA Coronavirus Relief Options

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PPP LOANS ROUND 2-HAVE YOU APPLIED?

HAVE YOU APPLIED FOR YOUR PPP THIS YEAR? SELF-EMPLOYED, GIG ARTISTS?
DEADLINE MARCH 31
Washington passed the COVID Relief Bill and one of the programs was a second round of the PPP (Payroll Protection Program). Here is what you need to know…
When can I apply?
  1. As you know, you must apply for the program through a financial lending institution. These can be banks, credit unions and several other lenders like Square.
  2. If your lender is a large bank, over $1 billion in assets, you can apply through them tomorrow, Jan 15.
  3. If your lender is smaller, you can apply through them starting Jan 19.
  4. If you need to know the size of your lender you can go HERE to find out.
  5. You must apply no later than March 31, 2021.
Who can apply?
  1. If this is your first PPP loan (first draw) you cannot have received a PPP loan prior to Aug 8, 2020.
  2. businesses
  3. sole proprietors, self-employed, independent contractors, gig performers
  4. 501c3, 501c6, 501c19, tribal organizations
  5. housing coops, destination marketing organizations, news organizations
What’s different than the first time?
  1. You can choose your “covered period” which is any 8-24 weeks once you are approved and receive your loan disbursement.
  2. You will NOT have your EIDL grant deducted from your loan forgiveness. **
  3. If you are applying for an amount less than $150k you will file for your loan forgiveness on a simplified form.
Special Applicants:
SBA will assist eligible borrowers in underserved and disadvantaged communities. At least $15 billion is being set aside for First Draw PPP loans to eligible borrowers with a maximum of 10 employees or for loans of $250,000 or less to eligible borrowers in low- or moderate-income neighborhoods.
FIRST DRAW LOANS:
What can I use the money for?
payroll costs, including benefits, mortgage interest, rent, utilities, worker protection costs related to COVID-19, uninsured property damage costs caused by looting or vandalism during 2020, and certain supplier costs and expenses for operations.
How do I get full forgiveness?
if during the 8- to 24-week covered period following loan disbursement:
  1. Employee and compensation levels are maintained;
  2. The loan proceeds are spent on payroll costs and other eligible expenses;
  3. At least 60 percent of the proceeds are spent on payroll costs
How do I figure out the loan amount?
Basically you are applying for 2 1/2 months of your payroll expenses…..
A. self-employed and have no employees:
(and your principal place of residence is in the United States, including if you are an independent contractor or operate a sole proprietorship-but not if you are a partner in a partnership)
  1. Find your 2019 IRS Form 1040 Schedule C line 31 net profit amount (if you have not yet filed a 2019 return, fill it out and compute the value). If this amount is over $100,000, reduce it to $100,000. If this amount is zero or less, you are not eligible for a PPP loan.
  2. Calculate the average monthly net profit amount (divide the amount from Step 1 by 12).
  3. Multiply the average monthly net profit amount from Step 2 by 2.5.
B. Business/non-profit with employees:
  1. Compute 2019 payroll costs by adding the following:
a. 2019 gross wages and tips paid to your employees whose principal place of residence is in the United States, which can be computed using 2019 IRS Form 941 Taxable Medicare wages & tips (line 5c-column 1) from each quarter plus any pre-tax employee contributions for health insurance or other fringe benefits excluded from Taxable Medicare wages & tips, subtracting any amounts paid to any individual employee in excess of $100,000 and any amounts paid to any employee whose principal place of residence is outside the U.S
b. 2019 employer health insurance contributions (portion of IRS Form 990 Part IX line 9 attributable to health insurance);
c. 2019 employer retirement contributions (IRS Form 990 Part IX line 8); and
d. 2019 employer state and local taxes assessed on employee compensation, primarily state unemployment insurance tax (from state quarterly wage reporting forms).
2. Calculate the average monthly payroll costs (divide the amount from Step 1 by 12).
3. Multiply the average monthly payroll costs from Step 2 by 2.5.
C. Self-Employed with employees:
  1. Basically you are going to do both of the above. Figure your payroll like “A” and figure your employees payroll like “B”.
  2. After adding them together, divide by 12 for average monthly payroll costs.
  3. Multiply that number by 2.5.
If you have questions are have a specific situation we– recommend you discuss this with your accountant. You can also call us at 860-428-7739 or EMAIL us. Our Business Resource Center partner, SBDC can also help you free of charge. Please contact Greg Lewis.