State of Ohio Business Resources

Businesses and workers can now access all of these resources related to COVID-19 in one place at coronavirus.ohio.gov/BusinessHelp. The portal includes information on unemployment benefits, the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, the Liquor Buyback Program, modified rules for trucking to help ship critical supplies into the state, the delay of BWC Premiums, etc.

JobsOhio, Ohio Liquor, and Ohio Department of Commerce Liquor Rebate Program

The one-time Liquor Rebate Program is designed to help Ohio bars and restaurants as they navigate reopening in the coming weeks. Eligible permit holders can receive a $500 rebate to purchase high proof spirituous liquor at their assigned wholesale Contract Liquor Agency once they register. To view eligible permits, register, and find out more about the program, visit Wholesale.OHLQ.com.

Small Business Administration

SBA is here to assist small businesses with accessing federal resources and navigating their own preparedness plans as described by the CDC’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers. There are many resources about loans and assistance for businesses on the Small Business Administration website here.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

The Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Treasury have begun releasing the information that will guide the programs created through the CARES Act. View The Small Business Owner's Guide to the CARES Act here, or visit the SBA website.

Summit County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Grant Program

On May 11, 2020, Summit County authorized a second round of funding for the COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Grant Program.  The program, to be administered by the Greater Akron Chamber, will provide eligible businesses the opportunity to apply for grant funds from the program in order to assist those businesses with the financial impact of COVID-19.

Applications for the upcoming second round of the Program will begin to be accepted at 12 pm on Thursday, May 14, 2020, and will be accepted until 9 am, Friday, May 22, 2020. Learn more here.

Summit County Emergency Management Agency

Summit County Emergency Management Agency will try to accommodate any requests for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for businesses after the following steps are taken:

1. A local organization/business/individual should first attempt to find the resource internally, through an affiliated organization or through vendors or other suppliers
2. If the local organization/business/individual is unable to find the resource, they can send that request to their local community (city, township or village) Department Operations Centers (DOC). Please note that the City of Hudson unfortunately does not have a stockpile of PPE to supply businesses with.
3. The local community DOC (or representative) should look to fill the resource locally (owned or procured) or through mutual aid partners.
   
4. Resources that cannot be obtained locally at the DOC level can be forwarded to the Summit County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
5. The EOC determines if fulfillment is possible with county resources (owned or procured) or personnel, through mutual aid, or from neighboring or regional counties
1. Request sent to the Summit County EOC should be on the 213 RR Form
2. Hospital or Health Departments will use the 213 RR – adapted for ODH form
3. Request for PPE will need to be accompanied with the Ohio EMA COVID-19 Form
4. Resource request must be signed by the DOC Representative and emailed to summitcountyeoc@summitoh.net
6. Resources that cannot be obtained at the EOC will be forwarded to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency

If you need assistance while going through this process, please contact Summit County EMA at summitcountyeoc@summitoh.net.

Summit County Public Health
View Summit County Public Health's resources for businesses here.

TeamNeo

TeamNeo offers a variety of local, regional, state and federal resources for businesses. Visit the TeamNeo website.

More Resources

How to Prepare Your Business and Employees During Coronavirus (From Intuit)

• View Intuit's website here.

Small Business Resiliency Guide

This Business Resiliency Guide is a tool to help you assess risks and make contingency plans that can help your business recover from the immediate threat as well as the disruptions that could continue over weeks or months. From America's Small Business Development Center Network.

• View the Small Business Resiliency Guide here

Tips on Planning to Reopen Your Business

The City is working diligently to provide information and resources to its small business community during this time. On April 14, Chief Economic Officer Jim Stifler and Jim Griggy from the Akron Small Business Development Center joined Community Relations Manager Rhonda Kadish for a webinar to discuss small business assistance programs, answer questions, and provide insight into considerations to prepare for reopening. If you were unable to attend, you can read the main points below. You can also view the webinar here.

• Email your customers and target market weekly.
• Post updates and products on social media as often as you can.
• Keep customers “warm”.
• Stock and feature affordable items. Consumer budgets will be lower initially.
• Communicate with suppliers EARLY and often.
• Communicate with employees early and often.
• Prepare now, clean, restock, reposition items.
• Create a “Restart Flow Chart”.
• You closed in Winter, you will re-open with Summer looming. What does that mean for your business?
• Change windows and menus etc - VERY OFTEN.
• Assess cash needs for first phase of re-opening. (see next bullet)
• Government “OK” does not necessarily mean people will feel comfortable coming out.
• Develop repayment plan for those you owe.