March 2020

Coronavirus Update: Small Business Resources

Dear Neighbors,

To help further prevent the community spread of the Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19), Mayor Bowser has issued the closure of all non-essential
businesses starting at 10:00 pm tomorrow night, March 25th. For the list of
essential/non-essential businesses and greater detail on this order, please
see the Mayor's press release available: [1]Here.

While not a directive for residents to shelter-in-place, this order will
result in a major shift in the District's economic operations at a time
when our local business community is greatly suffering. This was
undoubtedly an extremely difficult decision for the Mayor to make, but it
was the decision needed in order to help further protect residents from the
spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 virus.

With that in mind, and with this afternoon's launch of the Small Business
Recovery Grant Program, I wanted to highlight some important local
resources for our small business community ahead of tomorrow's closures.

Regards,

Mary

Please see [2]coronavirus.dc.gov for the latest District updates &
resources on COVID-19

Small Business Recovery Grant Program

Small Business Recovery Grants - The District's new small business recovery
grant program has launched and is currently accepting applications. Created
through emergency legislation passed by the Council last Tuesday, $25
million has been designated for the fund.

This grant program will offer grants to small local businesses,
independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits in order
to meet their short-term financial needs. These grants can cover employee
wages and benefits (including fringe benefits such as health insurance),
accounts payable, fixed costs, inventory, rent, and utilities.

The deadline for grant applications has been extended to next Tuesday,
March 31st.
* The online grant application page is available here:
[3][link removed]

For detailed instructions, technical tips, and answers to frequently asked
questions, please see: [4]Application Guide + Troubleshooting Tips.

Small Business Recovery Grant Eligibility Criteria:

Application Documents for

Small Businesses, Independent Contractors, & the Self-Employed

Small businesses, independent contractors, and those who are self-employed
must provide the following documentation as part of their COVID-19 recovery
grant application:
* Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number
* Documentation of the business owner or owners’ state residency
* Payroll or roster of employees and their states of residence
* Completed Revenue Loss Calculator (Available here: [5]revenue loss
calculator)
* 2017 and 2018 Federal Tax Returns
* 2019 income statement showing monthly sales
* 2020 year-to-date income statement showing monthly sales
* Bank statements from January through March in 2017, 2018, 2019, and
2020
* Other Supporting Documentation (For example, proof of canceled
revenue-generating events)

Application Documents for Non-Profits

Non-profit organizations must provide the following documentation as part
of their COVID-10 recovery grant application:
* Federal Employer Identification Number
* Payroll or roster of your employees and their states of residence
* Completed Revenue Loss Calculator (Available here: [6]revenue loss
calculator)
* 2017 and 2018 Federal Informational Tax Returns
* 2019 statement of activities showing revenues less expenses
* 2020 year-to-date statement of activities showing revenues less
expenses
* Bank statements from January - March in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020
* Other Supporting Documentation (For example, proof of canceled
revenue-generating events)

More detailed information on eligibility requirements and the necessary
application documentation is available online: [7]Here.

If you have specific questions or need assistance with your application,
please reach out to the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and
Economic Development through their [8]COVID-19 Business Inquiry Form.

Small Business Loans

Businesses May Apply for Low-Interest Federal Loans - The U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA) accepted the District of Columbia’s
declaration for assistance in the form of economic injury disaster loans
for those businesses that have been severely impacted by COVID-19.
Qualified small businesses in the District may apply for this assistance
now.

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program provides working capital
loans of up to $2 million. While the terms of these loans are determined on
a case-by-case basis, they may be used to:
* Pay fixed debts
* Payroll
* Accounts payable
* Other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact.

For a link to the loan application and more information, please see: [9]SBA
Assistance for Small Businesses.

Unemployment Benefits

[10]

Unemployment Benefits Extended - The Council's recently passed emergency
legislation included an important provision extending unemployment benefits
to workers who have become unemployed or partially unemployed due to
COVID-19 public health emergency.

Directions on how to apply for unemployment insurance are listed on the
Department of Employment Services (DOES) website: [11]Here.

Councilmember Elissa Silverman, who serves as the Chair of the Committee on
Workforce Development, has put together a [12]useful guide (pictured to the
right) on worker eligibility and legal resources.

DC Tax Filings

Filing Deadline Extended to July 15th - The deadline for taxpayers to file
and pay their 2019 District of Columbia individual and fiduciary income tax
returns (D-40, D-41, and D-40B), partnership tax returns (D-65), and
franchise tax returns (D-20, D-30) has been extended to July 15th, 2020.

This means taxpayers will have an additional 90 days to file and pay, and
there is no need to file an application for an extension.
* The Internal Revenue Service has also extended the federal filing and
payment deadline to July 15th, 2020
* The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) encourages taxpayers who are able
to file their returns electronically to do so through OTR’s online
portal: [13]MyTax.DC.gov
* For additional information, please contact OTR’s Customer Service
Center at (202) 727-4TAX (4829)

Our Office is Open!

Connect with our staff - While Councilmember Cheh's physical office is
closed during the public health emergency, staff are teleworking and will
remain accessible for residents.

You may continue to [14]email the office directly or reach us via phone
through our main line at (202) 724-8062 with legislative ideas, budget
requests, and constituent services requests.

[15]Facebook [16]Twitter

FOLLOW MARY

References

1. [link removed]
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4. [link removed] Instructions and Tips for Recovery Grant Seekers (1).pdf
5. [link removed]
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7. [link removed]
8. [link removed]
9. [link removed] Assistance for Small Businesses/
10. [link removed]
11. [link removed]
12. [link removed]
13. [link removed]
14. [link removed]
15. [link removed]
16. [link removed]
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Mary Cheh
Mary Cheh Ward 3
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NWSuite 108
Washington, DC 20004
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