Note from Mary Laine Hucks, Director of Economic Development for the City of Goodlettsville:
“The following information has been compiled from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development. We will do our best to inform the business community of current federal and state rollouts during this difficult time.”
CARES Act – What your small business needs to do now
Last week, Congress passed the CARES Act which allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. The initiative provides 100?percent?federally guaranteed loans to small businesses that maintain their payroll during this emergency. Furthermore, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payroll during the crisis.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a guide to help small businesses, independent contractors, and gig economy workers prepare to file for a coronavirus relief loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act – available at https://uschamber.com/sbloans. The guide outlines the steps small businesses should take now.
Filing unemployment for your employees – Mass Claim
If your business is reducing hours or closing due to COVID-19, you may expedite the unemployment claim process for your employees by submitting an Employer-Filed Mass Claim. Follow the instructions on the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development website here: https://www.tn.gov/workforce/covid-19/employers.html.
Filing for unemployment if you are self-employed or a contract worker
If you are self-employed or a contract worker in TN, you should apply for unemployment now, despite showing no wages. As soon as the federal government provides guidance on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, TN will start processing those claims and paying benefits. The fastest and most efficient way to file an unemployment claim is to go to www.Jobs4TN.gov. If your employer filed a claim on your behalf, do not file an individual claim. There is also a Job4TN app. If you are uncertain if your employer has filed a claim, call your employer to confirm. Check the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development website at https://www.tn.gov/workforce for more information regarding all of the above.