COVID-19 RESOURCES

Your Chamber is here to serve our members and the entire business community during this challenging time of CoVID-19.

It is the desire of The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce to keep our members, their employees, and our community safe. At the same time, it is important to ensure that our businesses continue to thrive.

We have created a space to provide you with information on businesses in Montgomery County, Virginia that are currently open in some capacity during the response to CoVID-19.

Mental Health Resources, Takeout & Delivery, Supermarkets, Lodging, Fitness, General and Nonprofit

 

To protect our members, employers, employees, community, and chamber staff, we will cease holding meetings with greater than 10 in attendance. This is a fluid situation, and we will be keeping you informed via email, Facebook, Instagram, newsletter, and other means of communication.

The Chamber of Commerce cares about the membership and desires to keep our community safe with respect to the Governor’s declaration; therefore, the Chamber will postpone and reschedule all of our more significant programs in the next six weeks to keep our members safe.

It is the desire of The Board of Directors of The Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce to keep our members, their employees, and our community safe. Because your safety is our concern, we are postponing our programs through the end of April due to COVID 19. This healthcare issue creates a fluid situation, and this could mean additional postponements.

Because we care about you, your employees, and customers, we have resources attached that you can place in your business to inform your employees and customers. If you visit your Chamber, you will find these flyers throughout our building.  Flyer 1, Flyer 2, Flyer 3, Flyer 4.

Additionally, please see the newly posted Employee Rights Flyer.

 

COVID-19 Cumulative In Session State Legislative Report

COVID-19 Cumulative Adjourned State Legislative Report

COVID-19 Cumulative Federal Legislative Report

 

Guides and Resources from the U.S. Chamber

• Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
• Temporary Paid Leave and Family Medical Leave Guide
• Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program Guide
• Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
• Coronavirus Small Business Guide
• Coronavirus Response Toolkit

 

The Dept. of the Treasury, has provided an updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the Paycheck Protection Program.  The FAQ can be found here.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has recently enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) which will, in most cases, require employers with less than 500 employees to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, according to the DOL.

Information related to this Act can be found on the DOL’s website:

FFCRA Requirements: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employer-paid-leave

FFCRA FAQs: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions

Lastly, all employers with less than 500 employees are required to post the linked notice from the DOL in a conspicuous place with other required workplace posters. https://selective.dmplocal.com/dsc/collateral/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non_Federal.pdf

We recommend the notice be emailed to all employees and put on your company’s intranet; otherwise please mail a copy to your employees’ residence.

Be sure to review these new rules with your human resources department, payroll processor, and legal counsel to remain in compliance with the new law. Please stay safe and healthy.
 

We also encourage you to examine your programming to determine the best course of action for you and your team.

Sites that can be of assistance to you are listed alphabetically below:
About Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

Resources for Businesses and Employers: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html

Resources for Large Community Events & Mass Gatherings: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/index.html

Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Resources: https://www.samhsa.gov/ 

Unemployment Resources: http://www.vec.virginia.gov/node/11699

Virginia Department of Health: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/

The Senate Small Business Committee has provided a small business guide to the CARES Act. 

https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/guide-to-the-cares-act

 

Work Talk Episode 27  - Community Awareness Podcast – How to File Unemployment Insurance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this (first) special community awareness podcast, you’ll discover how to file unemployment insurance when local Virginia Career Works centers are closed. You’ll learn how to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance, what’s next, and the changes that have been made due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://vcwnewrivermtrogers.com/category/work-talk/

 

Public Health Task Force Offers COVID-19 Video and Podcast

(CHRISTIANSBURG, Virginia)  -- Following yesterday’s announcement of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the New River Health District, the Montgomery County Public Health Task Force urges everyone to remain informed and help prevent the spread of the illness.

To that end, the Montgomery County Public Information Department and the health district have produced a video featuring Health Director Dr. Noelle Bissell and a podcast featuring District Epidemiologist Jason Deese, to help area residents better understand the risk of exposure to COVID-19 and how to prevent it.

To see the video, visit https://youtu.be/1oMopOp8ovM.

To listen to the podcast, visit https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-fn6pq-d68fe6.

NOTE: These programs are pre-recorded; some details are subject to change. For the most accurate and up-to-date information online, visit www.montva.com/coronavirus, www.nrvroadtowellness.com, www.vdh.virginia.gov/new-river, www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus, and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.