Important Information for Small Businesses in Iowa Affected by COVID-19

Posted: March 19, 2020

Winneshiek County Emergency Management
400 Claiborne Drive
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 387-4095
ssnyder@co.winneshiek.ia.us
March 18, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Winneshiek County Emergency Management
Contact: Sean Snyder, Coordinator

RE: SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)

On March 9, 2020 Governor Reynolds signed a state of Iowa Disaster Proclamation pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic. Winneshiek County signed a local Disaster Declaration on Monday March 16, 2020.

Important Information for Small Businesses in Iowa Affected by COVID-19 – Latest Update on SBA Disaster Assistance (as of March 16, 2020 – 5:00 p.m. CST)
Here is the latest information we have regarding disaster assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

We’re waiting on Iowa to be designated as eligible for small businesses in the state to apply for assistance in the form of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Because these are Economic Injury loans, the rules require each state to demonstrate economic losses to SBA before we can declare the counties within a state as eligible to apply for the loans. The Governor’s Office has been working with SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance to get the appropriate statistics for the application. Unfortunately, we don’t have a timetable as to when a decision will be made, but hopefully it will be soon.

Small businesses who have been impacted and want to pass their information on to the state are encouraged to reach out to their County Emergency Management office. They will then provide statistics on the number of affected businesses to the state as part of Iowa’s application to SBA.

Eligible businesses would apply directly to SBA for assistance as EIDL is a direct loan program. As soon a declaration is made in Iowa, we will be getting the word out from our office through every means we have. You can also go to www.sba.gov/disaster, click on the “Apply for Assistance” button and then click on “Eligible Disaster Areas” and search “Iowa” to see what’s available. The most recent declaration will be at the top and that’s where you’ll find information on the COVID 19 EIDL Loans as soon as Iowa is declared eligible. This website is also where businesses will apply for these loans once Iowa is declared eligible.

Winneshiek County Emergency Management
400 Claiborne Drive
Decorah, IA 52101
(563) 387-4095
ssnyder@co.winneshiek.ia.us

We also have a Website that encompasses ALL the information we have available for Small Business related to COVID-19. We encourage you to check it out.

Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019

(COVID-19) – https://www.sba.gov/page/guidance-businesses-employers-plan-respond-coronavirusdisease-2019-covid-19.

For additional information please contact the Winneshiek County Emergency Management office at 563-387-4095 or ssnyder@co.winneshiek.ia.us. Email is preferred at this time due to the high number of phone calls being received.

This is an official Emergency Management press release. Modifications of any kind are prohibited without express written consent of the author. Any reprint or broadcast of this information must include this entire communication.
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