Covid-19 News
Lee County Economic Development and community partners offer workforce and technical assistance programs
Fort Myers, FL – The Lee County Economic Development Office, in collaboration with community partners, offers Workforce Training and Certification programs and a Small Business Technical Assistance Program to assist people, businesses and organizations in response to COVID-19. The programs were developed under the direction of the Lee Board of County Commissioners and are funded…
Read MoreSOAR Disburses Over $11 Million in Loans to Help South’s Smallest Businesses Recover
The Southern Opportunity and Resilience (SOAR) Fund, designed to help the smallest businesses and nonprofits across the South rebuild from COVID-19, has deployed an initial $11 million in flexible, low-interest loans across 14 states and Washington, D.C. Created by community lenders to provide affordable capital and free advisory support to entrepreneurs in underbanked communities, the Fund…
Read MoreGovernor Ron DeSantis Signs Legislation to Protect Florida Jobs
2021 Special Session B Legislative Report
Lawmakers returned to Tallahassee on Monday, November 15th for a special session called by Governor Ron DeSantis in response to the Biden Administration’s recent vaccine and testing mandate. Legislators were originally scheduled to continue interim committee meetings in preparation for the January 11th start of the 2022 Session. Instead, the House and Senate approved four…
Read MoreThe Latest on OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published its COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in the Federal Register, requiring private employers with 100 or more employees, company-wide, to institute either a mandatory vaccination policy or a policy that gives employees a choice to either get vaccinated or elect to undergo regular COVID-19…
Read MoreThe Latest on OSHA COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing; Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS)
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published its COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) in the Federal Register, requiring private employers with 100 or more employees, company-wide, to institute either a mandatory vaccination policy or a policy that gives employees a choice to either get vaccinated or elect to undergo regular COVID-19…
Read MoreAdditional EIDL loans available from US Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will begin processing applications for additional loans of up to $2 million per property through its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program tomorrow, Oct. 8. AHLA recently held a webinar with SBA to discuss the process and eligibility. Those who are interested can apply online. To help alleviate potential issues with additional funds…
Read MoreSBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman Announced the Following Major Enhancements to the COVID EIDL Program
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced major enhancements to the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, a federal disaster relief loan designed to better serve and support our small business communities still reeling from the pandemic, especially hard-hit sectors such as restaurants, gyms, and hotels. The SBA is ready to receive…
Read MoreOfficial Answers to Employee Retention Credit FAQs for Q3 and Q4 2021
On August 4, 2021, the IRS issued Notice 2021-49 to provide additional guidance on claiming the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) in Q3 and Q4, as well as to provide some clarity for very frequently asked questions related to all periods of eligibility. As in past Notices related to the ERC, the IRS clarified that many…
Read More$10,000 Forgivable Loans Available for Qualified Businesses
Since the pandemic first began, COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the Fort Myers small business community. Recognizing the need to provide temporary assistance to the small businesses located within the Cleveland Avenue, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and Downtown redevelopment areas, the Fort Myers CRA created the City of Fort Myers Community…
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