Resources for BUSINESSES during the COVID-19 pandemic – PA CareerLink Chester County

To mitigate the spread of the CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19), the PA CareerLink Chester County and United Way Financial Stability Center is currently closed. In the event you need to reach them, you may leave a message at 610-280-1010. They will be checking voicemail and returning messages as soon as possible. Claimants should direct all unemployment claim (UC) inquiries to the Unemployment Office at 1-888-313-7284. Any additional changes to PA CareerLink Chester County’s operating schedule will be posted on their website at https://www.pacareerlinkchesco.org/.

For further employer resources, go to https://www.pacareerlinkchesco.org/job-seekers/downloads/.

FREE WiFi Available Outside Most CCLS Libraries

Did you know Free WiFi is available outside most Chester County Library System libraries.  To access, simply go to any library and situate yourself within a safe distance from other people who are also using WiFi. 

To connect to WiFi on your computer: 

  1. Go to Available Networks
  2. Click ‘Library’
  3. Click ‘Connect’
  4. Open an Internet Browser (Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, Silk, etc.)
  5. Type ‘www.dogster.com’ in your URL bar
  6. The library’s Internet Acceptable Use Policy will appear
  7. Read and accept it by clicking the green ‘Connect’ button
  8. You’re now connected!

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.  

The United States Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Please go to https://www.uc.pa.gov/COVID-19/Pages/FFCRA.aspx for fact sheets and more information to determine if you are eligible.

Resources for BUSINESSES during the COVID-19 pandemic – PA Chamber of Business and Industry

The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is dedicated to helping business across the Commonwealth. Now that the coronavirus has made its way to the U.S., Pennsylvania businesses are inquiring about information to be prepared to help their company, their employees, and their families.

The information at https://www.pachamber.org/coronavirus/ includes resources that provide helpful information you may need to navigate the current situation. This web page includes government updates, financial resources, employer guidance, and healthcare information.

 

Understanding the CARES Act & Its Impact

Webinar on Understanding the CARES Act & Its Impact
Thursday, April 2 at 9:00 am ET
The $2 trillion stimulus package, “Coronavirus Aid Relief & Economic Security Act, (“CARES ACT”), was signed into law on Friday, March 27th. It authorizes the Internal Revenue Service to send $1,200 payments to millions of Americans and creates programs to disburse close to $1 trillion in business loans and guarantees to millions of large and small companies throughout the economy. This webinar will provide an overview of the CARES Act and discuss other health and tax related items as well as a Q&A session.
Presenters:
Shelly Bloom, Director of Legislative Awareness & Training
My Benefit Advisor
Richard H. Miller, Jr., CPA, President
The Harrison Group, Inc.

Third Telephone Town Hall for Chester County businesses and non-profits

Please join the Chester County Commissioners and leaders from the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry (CCCBI), Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC), the Small Business Administration (SBA), and our elected officials and staff, for a Telephone Town Hall on Thursday, April 2, 2020.  This session focuses on the new CARES Act as well as other programs available – from loans to grants to unemployment compensation.
This Telephone Town Hall will be divided into TWO SEPARATE EVENTS – one for FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES at 11:00 a.m. and one for NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS at 2:00 p.m.
For-profit businesses 11am telephone town hall
Non-profit organization 2pm telephone town hall
PLEASE REGISTER BY 9:00 A.M. ON THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020
Prior to the Telephone Town Hall, please review
all business information relating to COVID-19 at
Chester County – www.chesco.org
Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry – www.cccbi.org
Chester County Economic Development Council – www.ccedcpa.com
Small Business Administration – www.sba.gov
or for more information email business@chesco.org
Chester County Commissioners
Marian Moskowitz, Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline
If you have any questions or issues with registration or the teleconference, please contact: business@chesco.org.

Financial empowerment from CFPB

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regulates the offering and provision of consumer financial products or services under the federal consumer financial laws and educates and empowers consumers to make better informed financial decisions. Check out their website for resources about loan and debt management, saving for retirement, keeping your finances safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more.

Resources for BUSINESSES during the COVID-19 pandemic – PA DCED

The PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) offers working capital loans that could be of assistance to businesses impacted by COVID-19. Resources and information will be posted to http://dced.pa.gov/resources as they become available.
Businesses seeking guidance from DCED can also contact its customer service resource account at ra-dcedcs@pa.gov or by calling 1-877-PA-HEALTH and selecting option 1.

How to file for Unemployment Compensation during coronavirus

If you lost your job or your hours were cut because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you
should apply for unemployment compensation at: https://www.uc.pa.gov,
or call the statewide toll-free number: 888-313-7284.

Si has perdido su trabajo o sus horas fueron cortadas debido a coronavirus
(COVID-19), se debe aplicar por la compensación de desempleo a:
https://www.uc.pa.gov, O llamar al número de teléfono: 888-313-7284.

You may be eligible if:
• Your employer temporarily closes or goes out of business because of COVID-19;
• Your employer reduces your hours because of COVID-19;
• You have been told not to work because your employer feels you might get or
spread COVID-19;
• You have been told to quarantine or self-isolate;
• You left work because you were being asked to do unsafe things or lacked
childcare, as long as you told the employer first; or
• You were an independent contractor or self employed.

File a claim: https://www.uc.pa.gov/unemployment-benefits/file/
• File your first claim;
• Reopen a claim (if you filed for unemployment compensation benefits within the
past year, you can reopen your claim);
• File a bi-weekly claim (once every two weeks, you must report any hours you
worked, any paid time off, and pay you received. Also available through 888-255-
4728.) File a bi-weekly claim even if you haven’t received benefits yet.

(NOTE: As of March 16, 2020, the PA government recommends that you file claims online
(https://www.uc.pa.gov) for faster processing. To ask a question about your claim,
email uchelp@pa.gov (suggested due to high call volume and UC Live Chat requests).

If you need help applying, or if your claim is denied:
Contact Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP) at 877-429-5994,
Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.