Economic relief for employers
- Call the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment (KDHE) for public health questions at 1-866-534-3463 (1-866-KDHEINF).
- Join our email list for updates and more resources on COVID-19.
As a member of the House Small Business Committee, I’m doing everything I can to connect local businesses with every resource that I can to save jobs and so our economy can overcome this crisis.
Please use the menu below to find resources to help you and your business. You can also explore our main menu page to quickly find additional public health and economic relief resources.
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Help for small businesses
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Help for non-profit organizations
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Workplace safety with COVID-19
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Avoid layoffs with shared work
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Help your employees with spreadsheet filing for unemployment insurance
Help for small businesses:
As a member of the Small Business Committee, I’m working to ensure Kansas small businesses can get the relief they need in this crisis. That’s why I voted to create the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to save jobs, and have worked to ensure PPP has the transparency it needs to help small businesses – not large corporations. I also introduced the SUPPLIES Act to help small businesses manufacture personal protective equipment and testing supplies.
If you’re a small business owner who needs help, please explore the resources below for assistance.
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The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): This is a newer federal initiative created by the bipartisan CARES Act, which I supported.
Here is what you need to know:
- PPP provides loans to help small businesses stay afloat and keep their workers employed during this crisis. The loans are offered at a low interest rate and may also be forgiven.
- Though PPP stopped accepting new applications last year, I’m pleased to share that both parties came together to pass a new bipartisan relief bill in December 2020 that included more resources for PPP. The Small Business Administration (SBA) said that it began reopening PPP in phases during the week of January 11th, 2020.
- The latest relief bill made various changes and improvements to PPP. Here are some of those changes, as according to the SBA:
- Borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs.
- Loans will cover additional expenses, including operations expenditures, property damage costs, supplier costs, and worker protection expenditures.
- Eligibility expanded to include 501(c)(6)s, housing cooperatives, destination marketing organizations, among other types of organizations.
- Please click here to learn more.
- Borrowers can set their PPP loan’s covered period to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their business needs.
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Apply as a first time PPP borrower (First Draw): If you operate a small business and didn’t receive a PPP loan in 2020 but now need help, you can now apply to receive help. New loans now may be made available until March 31st, 2021, but please apply as soon as you possibly can.
- Please click here to find a lender to get started.
- PPP First Draw Application Form: A lender has to ask certain questions as required by law for a PPP loan. You can download this form to begin preparing for your application.
- Overview for first time borrowers: A one-page SBA overview of the program (PDF).
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Click here to learn more from the SBA
- More on how it works:
- Terms and benefits: Loans are over a term of five years, 1% interest and non-compounding, no personal guarantees or collateral required, and can be forgiven up to the full amount.
- Eligibility: Available to smaller businesses with less than 500 employees. Independent contractors, the self-employed, and some tax-exempt organizations may also be eligible.
- Please click here to learn more at the Small Business Development Center at Johnson County Community College.
- Terms and benefits: Loans are over a term of five years, 1% interest and non-compounding, no personal guarantees or collateral required, and can be forgiven up to the full amount.
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Apply for a second PPP Loan (Second Draw): If you received a PPP in 2020 but still need more assistance, you can now apply for another PPP loan. Second draw applicants also have until March 31st to apply, but please apply as soon as you’re able to.
- Please click here to find a lender to get started.
- PPP Second Draw Application Form: A lender has to ask certain questions as required by law for a PPP loan. You can download this form to begin preparing for your application.
- Overview for Second Draw borrowers: The SBA prepared a one page overview of the program (PDF) to explain benefits, terms, and eligibility.
- Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
- Click here for more information from the SBA
- More on how it works:
- Terms: No collateral or personal guarantees required, 1 percent interest over a term of five years, and loans may also be forgiven.
- Eligibility: Must have used or will use the full amount of the first PPP loan and have no more than 300 employees.
- Targeted relief: The SBA is making further efforts to connect second draw PPP relief with underserved communities. More second draw loans are reserved for eligible borrowers with ten employees or less in low- or moderate-income neighborhoods.
- Please click here to learn more about second draw loans at the Small Business Development Center at Johnson County Community College.
- Terms: No collateral or personal guarantees required, 1 percent interest over a term of five years, and loans may also be forgiven.
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Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL): An EIDL can offer long-term, low interest help for small businesses, nonprofit organizations, sole proprietors, and independent contractors. I was glad to vote for bipartisan relief legislation to provide more resources for EIDL and extend the application deadline until December 31st, 2021.
- Alert: I've called on the Small Business Administration (SBA) to investigate claims of fraudulent small business loans, including those happening in Johnson County. Residents of Kansas’ Third District who have been impacted by fraudulent EIDL claims are encouraged to call my office in Overland Park at (913) 621-0832 for assistance. Our team is helping several district residents with this issue, and are available to help constituents navigate reporting cases of fraud and answer questions. The EIDL program has proven to be some of the most immediate and critical assistance that many small businesses received during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we need to make sure it’s getting to those who need it and not being exploited by bad actors
Here’s what you need to know:
- An EIDL can be used to cover payroll, inventory, debt, and other expenses like rent and utilities.
- Qualifying small businesses and other entities can use EIDL to help stay afloat during this health and economic emergency. They may be able to help cover costs that may not already be covered by a separate PPP loan.
- Interest rates are 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for non-profits.
- SBA offers loans may be repaid for up to a maximum of 30 years. The first payment is deferred for one year.
- Small businesses, nonprofits, and others may now be able to apply for EIDL relief until December 31st, 2021. However, please apply as soon as you’re able. Applications are approved pending on the availability of funds.
- Please click here to learn more about EIDL.
- Please click here to apply for an EIDL now.
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EIDL Advance: Additionally, EIDL Advance may also be able to provide up to $10,000 ($1,000 per employee) of emergency economic relief to eligible businesses. These emergency grants do not have to be repaid.
- EIDL Advances are generally made to small businesses who serve communities with more modest incomes. To qualify, a business must have seen a 30% or more reduction in their gross receipts in any eight-week period during this pandemic.
- Due to high demand, funding for this initiative unfortunately ran out in 2020. However, I was glad to vote for a new bipartisan relief bill in December 2021 so the program could resume.
- It is expected that the SBA should be able to make the grant application available again later in January 2021 (possibly by January 17th). When that happens, we will update our site accordingly and provide necessary updates.
- Please click here to learn more about EIDL advance on the SBA website.
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Additional SBA Relief: Here are other programs and relief resources you can consider.
- SBA Express Bridge Loan: If you’re struggling and need immediate assistance, this program can help you access up to $25,000 in relief quickly if you already have a relationship with an SBA lender. This assistance can help keep you afloat until you complete applications for other assistance, such as an EIDL.
- Shuttered Venture Grant: This is a new grant that is part of the new coronavirus relief law that I supported and was enacted in December 2020. It will provide relief to live venues that have seen their businesses harmed from the pandemic including museums and theatrical performances. The SBA is currently setting up the program and is not accepting applicants, but you can click to learn more about it.
- SBA Debt Relief Options: You may also be eligible for debt relief under SBA programs. For instance, if you already have a 7a loan, the SBA may pay up to 6 months of principal and interest payments.
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Contacts: I’ve heard from small business owners who have had difficulty navigating available assistance programs and don’t know where to turn to get the help they need. Our team is here to connect you with all the help we can.
Please explore the following resources to see if you can find the assistance you need:
- SBA’s Customer Service Center:
- (800) 659-2955
- disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
- SBA local office contact information:
- Missouri- Kansas City District Office
- (816) 426-4900
- Kansascity_do@sba.gov
- Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Johnson County Community College
- 913-469-3878
- 913-469-3878
- My Kansas City, Kansas, office is also available to help answer questions and navigate these programs if you’re running into trouble.
- Call us at (913) 766-3993.
- Call us at (913) 766-3993.
- SBA Resource Guide for Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri
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Finally, if you’re a small business owner who may need this assistance or other emergency help, please fill out the form below. We’ll add you to our email list and alert you when the aid becomes available and connect you with any other resources that we can.
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Help for non-profit organizations
Non-profit groups provide crucial community assistance and like so many organizations, they need support more than ever now. If you run a non-profit, here are some resources that may be available to you.
- Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance
- I’ve been glad to support emergency legislation to make billions more available to help small businesses at this time. These loans are also available to private non-profits, startups, cooperatives, and the self-employed.
- I’ve been glad to support emergency legislation to make billions more available to help small businesses at this time. These loans are also available to private non-profits, startups, cooperatives, and the self-employed.
- Investment Connection: Kansas City Federal Reserve
- The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City announced a special launch of its signature community development program Investment Connection, with a focus on connecting nonprofits affected by COVID-19 to funders.
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Workplace safety with COVID-19
The CDC, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) have resources on how both employers and employees can ensure their workplaces are safe as possible during this health crisis.
First, businesses should make accommodations to ensure safety. That includes, but may not be limited to:
- Wear masks (cloth face coverings).
- Structure the workplace so employees can be at least six feet apart with appropriate signage.
- Encourage frequent hand washing for at least twenty seconds and make hand sanitizer available.
- Disinfect commonly used surfaces frequently.
- The CDC also says that ensuring proper ventaliton in office buildings and more frequent circulation of outdoor air can help ensure safety.
- Whenever possible open doors, windows, and use fans to boost the circulation of air from outside.
- You can click here to learn more about ensuring adequate maintenance for HVAC systems.
- Whenever possible open doors, windows, and use fans to boost the circulation of air from outside.
- Institute separate hours for vulnerable people, like seniors.
- Ensuring online resources and communications whenever possible.
There are also resources available to help businesses institute safety standards to ensure safer workplaces. Employees may also have resources if they believe they have to work in unsafe conditions.
- KDOL Industrial Health and Safety Office: May be able to provide local businesses with free health and safety consultations so employers can make sure that they are operating as safely as they can. It’s a confidential process that can involve a walk-through, follow-up questions, and virtual assistance. You may also call them at (785) 296-4386.
- OSHA: produced a variety of detailed recommendations, developed in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, which businesses in a variety of industries can refer to in order to operate more safely. That includes businesses in retail, construction, dentistry, in-home repair, and more. You can also call them at 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
- CDC: The CDC as well has detailed information on how businesses and workplaces can operate more safely.
- Protections for workers: Likewise, no one should have to choose between their health and collecting a paycheck. As an employee, you also have the right to file a whistleblower complaint if you feel you are being retaliated against for expressing concerns about your health and safety in your work environment. You can get in contact with the Kansas OSHA office if you have any questions at (316) 269-6644.
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Avoid layoffs with shared work
Many businesses are facing steep challenges with this public health emergency and may be considering layoffs. The Shared Work program may be an alternative.
- The Shared Work Program is a tool you may be able to use in lieu of a temporary, total layoff of employees.
- It allows for partial work week and partial unemployment benefits to employees. To participate, normal weekly work hours for employees must be reduced by 20% (no more than 40%) and apply to at least 10% of employees.
- Click here to learn more or email KDOL.SharedWork@ks.gov.
- Click here to learn more about an executive order issued by Governor Kelly that may make it easier for some employers to participate in shared work.
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Help your employees with spreadsheet filing for unemployment insurance
Businesses who find no other option but to temporarily lay off employees due to COVID-19 can help their workers with filing for unemployment.
- This process allows the employer to submit the application for unemployment insurance benefits for employees who are impacted.
- Employers who utilize this option will have the ability to communicate directly with the Employer Relations Administrator instead of waiting to speak with a representative at the Unemployment Contact Center.
- Additionally, instead of receiving an Employer Notice for each employee that files for unemployment insurance benefits, the employer will receive one listing of all claims filed off the spreadsheet.
- To learn more, contact:
- Maureen Reynolds
Employer Relations Administrator
Kansas Department of Labor
Maureen.Reynolds@ks.gov
www.kansasemployer.gov/uitax/Tax/LayoffSelect.aspx
- Maureen Reynolds