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COVID-19 Resources for Businesses
Governor Northam Announces $65.8 Million to Increase Child Care Access, Help Providers
New funding will continue child care provider incentive grant program established in April
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam [announced on Oct. 21] $65.8 million in new funding to increase access to child care and support child care providers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This new investment is supported by $58.3 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars as well as a reallocation of $7.5 million in Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. First Lady Northam made the announcement during a virtual meeting of the Children’s Cabinet.
“Our ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery depends upon having a child care system that is both accessible and operational,” said Governor Northam. “Early childhood educators have been on the frontlines since COVID-19 pandemic started, going above and beyond to keep their doors open, ensure children are safe, and even fill in the gaps with remote learning as schools have reopened. This new funding will help them continue to support working families and enable more programs to safely provide in-person child care.”
Read the full release
Guide to COVID-19 child care resources in Virginia
Health and safety guidelines for child care centers
Businesses That Have Received Federal CARES Act Funding Can Now Apply
Dear Roanoke County businesses, we have some great news!
Governor Northam announced Monday, September 21 that the $70 million economic recovery program Rebuild! VA is expanding its eligibility criteria to allow small businesses that have received other federal CARES Act funding to apply for economic relief grants of up to $10,000.
Businesses that apply must:
- Have gross revenues of no more than $1.5 million and no more than 25 employees
- Show that their normal operations were limited by Northam’s Executive Orders 53 or 54 or that they were directly affected by business closure
- Certify that they will use the funding only for recurring expenses and that the grant will not be used to cover the same expenses as CARES Act funding
Roanoke County Economic Development thanks you for being a resilient member of our business community. If you have not already applied for the Rebuild! VA Grant Fund and are now eligible, we encourage you to apply and receive the relief you deserve.
Outreach, Education And Training For The COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard
The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry has adopted emergency workplace safety standards for the COVID-19 pandemic to protect workers by mandating appropriate personal protective equipment, sanitation, social distancing, infectious disease preparedness and response plans, record keeping, training and hazard communications in workplaces across the Commonwealth.
UPDATE: Virginia now in Phase 3 reopening. |
The Commonwealth has entered Phase 3 of reopening. Notably, the 50 percent of capacity limit on restaurants has been lifted, though social distancing requirements remain in effect. Gyms, fitness centers and other businesses have some relaxation in restrictions as well.
We’ve compiled these resources on behalf of the Roanoke County business community. For further assistance, please contact the Economic Development Office at econdev@roanokecountyva.gov.
The best source for up-to-date information from Roanoke County can be found at www.roanokecountyva.gov/coronavirus as well as the County’s social media channels. For updates on COVID-19’s impact in Virginia, please see Governor Northam’s website and most recent releases. Email us if you want your business included in any of the lists above.
Calling all business owners!
We’d love to know what your company is doing to support the community during the coronavirus pandemic.
Post a photo or short video to your Facebook page with the hashtag #RoCoCares so we can take a look! You can also email photos, videos, and stories to us directly. We’ll be curating some of the best content to our social media networks, so be sure to tag us with our hashtag. #RoCoCares
Note: The following information is courtesy of economic development colleagues, Business Oregon.
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Operational Planning During Crisis
- First off, DO NOT panic; you are not alone. Seek the advice of people you trust and then think things through carefully.
- Be proactive and respond, do not be reactive. Deal with what is in front of you and that which you have control over. Let the rest go. Worry and fear never solves the problems and can actually exacerbate them.
- Nobody wins if your business fails, so involve your partners and employees in the solution.
- No one will manage your business like you do. It is important that you stay active in the day-to-day management. The outcome of your business is dependent on the decisions you make.
- Preserve thy capital. Living to fight another day is priority #1.
- You don’t have to come up with all of the solutions. Seeking the advice of others and holding a brainstorm meeting can be very helpful. Work with your CPA, Small Business Development Center, financial institution, key employees and even other business owners to come up with ideas. In turn, share with others what is working…and what is not working.
- Who are your key employees? Do they know the plan? Now is not the time to hide or to go silent; it is the time to communicate, communicate and communicate some more.
- Work with key employees and involve them in implementing the plan. Many of them will have sound solutions that you might not have thought of. Some of the best solutions can be developed and implemented by those closest to the problem and who have a vested interest in a positive outcome.