​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​COVID-19​ Business Resources 

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has hit the nation is creating concern for our economy here in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and worldwide.​ There are national, state, and local resources available to businesses and employees. This page is continually updated as new information becomes available. ​

Forward Virginia: a Blueprint for Easing Public Health Restrictions

Economic Development Investment Program Part E Grant

Note: We are no longer accepting new applications at this time.

A purpose of the City Virginia Beach Development Authority is it to promote small business, and as such, this Part E of the EDIP is intended to allow the Authority to contribute to the economic health of the City and Commonwealth by providing small business assistance grants. 

Business Qualifications/Criteria

  • Business with fewer than 250 employees;
  • As of March 23, 2020, it has operated in the City of Virginia Beach for at least one year.
  • It continues to operate during the Local Emergency, or was ordered closed by Governor Northam’s Executive Order 53 issued on March 23, 2020;
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a major disruption to the revenues of the business so that the business will be unable to continue generating sufficient revenue to make rent payments, utility payments, or to meet its other obligations without reducing the number of employees; and

  • The business agrees that it will forestall any reduction in its workforce during the local emergency.

  • Each Grant shall not exceed the lesser of (i) identified rent, utility, taxes, and other business expenses related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, or (ii) $10,000.

Commonwealth of Virginia COVID 19 PPE Retooling Playbook

This document is meant to provide a summarized fact base on potential immediate supply strategies, including manufacturer retooling, for increasing critically needed PPE across the Commonwealth of Virginia to address the COVID-19 crisis.

Virginia Beach COVID-19 Toolkit for Businesses

The coronavirus pandemic is causing financial difficulties for businesses globally. In this toolkit, we share a collection of solid resources that can help local businesses navigate this difficult situation.

Recovery Resources Checklist

As businesses begin to evaluate their reopening strategies, the Virginia SBDC recommends these recovery resources checklist to guide businesses in the transition to the new normal. 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act)

The CARES Act, now law, contains many key provisions for providing economic relief to businesses and individuals facing hardship or economic ruin due to the COVID-19 crisis. The following summary is intended for businesses evaluating which loan option best fit their needs and strategic objectives.

Virginia Beach Economic Development Technical Assistance for SBA Loan Programs  

The City of Virginia Beach and the Women's Business Center (WBC) within the Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Old Dominion University are partnering to offer no- cost technical assistance to Virginia Beach businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. 


 Financial Assistance

FED Main Street Business Lending Program

The Federal Reserve established the Main Street Lending Program to enhance support for small and mid-sized businesses that were in good financial standing before the crisis by offering 4-year loans to companies employing up to 10,000 workers or with revenues of less than $2.5 billion. 

Virginia Beach City Council COVID-19 Tax Relief

In an effort to ease the burden caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Virginia Beach City Council temporarily eliminated the city's meal tax for the months of May and June. The late fees and interest will also be waived on personal property taxes and real estate taxes until August 1st.

Guide and Checklist for Small Businesses and Nonprofits

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses and nonprofits keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Here are the questions you may be asking and what you need to know. Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Virginia Beach Trustee Taxes

To assist the business community during this time of hardship, the City Treasurer's Office is offering payment plan arrangements for the deferred payment of trust taxes without penalties. 


PPP Lending Operations Update – Monday, April 27, 2020

Due to the unprecedented demand for Paycheck Protection Program loans by the nation's small businesses and to ensure equitable access and system integrity, SBA and Treasury are taking prudent and reasonable steps to protect SBA's loan systems for the next phase of PPP loan processing.

SBA and Treasury are implementing the following measures:

  • Pacing the number of loans processed in the E-Tran system for participating lenders when processing resumes on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 10:30 am EDT;
  • Instituting a maximum dollar amount at 10% of PPP funding authority that any lending institution will be able to originate, exclusive of the additional $60 billion preserved for lenders with assets under $50 billion (i.e. $60 billion cap);
  • Implementing operational standards to ensure that lenders access PPP funds based on their asset size;
  • Ensuring the Paycheck Protection Program continues to operate on a first-come, first-serve basis so that every small business has access to PPP loans to sustain their business and retain their employees;
  • Issuing the following guidance for lenders who have received a significant amount of loan applications.

Paycheck Protection Program - Available through June 30, 2020

The Paycheck Protection Program is designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll by providing each small business a loan up to $10 million for payroll and certain other expenses.  Find a nearby lender eligible to issue a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program or download the application. Here are some quick answers to PPP questions you may have:

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) & Advances

The SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the EIDL -COVID-19 related assistance program, including EIDL Advances, based on available appropriations funding. Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.  As Of May 7, the SBA reduced the maximum EIDL loan from $2 million to $150,000, effective immediately. 

Previous EIDL & Advances Status: If you submitted an application, received correspondence from SBA, and have a loan number that begins with a "3", you are in the queue and your patience is appreciated.  If you would like to further inquire about the process and understand what to expect next you should contact the Office of Disaster Assistance 24/7 Customer Service line at 800-659-2955.

 Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available to U.S. Agricultural Businesses

Agricultural businesses are now eligible for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance programs. For agricultural businesses that submitted an EIDL loan application through the streamlined application portal prior to the legislative change, SBA will move forward and process these applications without the need for re-applying. 

SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loans

This pilot program allows SBA Express Lenders authority to deliver expedited SBA-guaranteed financing on an emergency basis for disaster-related purposes to eligible small businesses, while the small businesses apply for and await long-term financing.

SBA Debt Relief

SBA Debt Relief program will provide a reprieve to small businesses as they overcome the challenges created by this health crisis. Download the list of the SBA-approved lenders. 

  • The SBA will also pay the principal and interest of new 7(a) loans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
  • The SBA will pay the principal and interest of current 7(a) loans for a period of six months.

SBA Exporting Assistance 

  • Export Express Loan: Export Express lenders can directly underwrite a loan without getting prior approval from the SBA, which allows you to get capital (up to $500,000) quickly within 36 hours.

  • Export Working Capital: Export Working Capital loans allow small business owners to apply for loans (up to $5 million) in advance of finalizing an export sale or contract; the turnaround time is usually five to 10 business days. 

  • International Loan Program: The U.S. Small Business Administration’s newly revised International Trade Loan provides small businesses with enhanced export financing options for their export transactions. The maximum loan is $5 million in total financing.

COVID-19 Grants Programs


Modification of Operations in Response to COVID-19​​

In order to ensure the compliance with the Governor's Executive Orders related to the COVID-19 Pandemic we are currently operating by appointment only. Please call (757) 385-6464 to schedule a time to meet with our Team either virtually or in person.

  • Planning Department: Consultants, Builders and Developers​ Notice #2020-03-15 - Update
  • City jobs:  submit applications at www.vbgovcareers.com. Walk-in assistance will not be available in Building 18 (​room 106) through March 31, 2020. ​​​
  • Virginia Beach Take-out Options: many of our restaurants are currently limited to only offering takeout orders or delivery through services such as Uber Eats and Grubhub. You can still support many of these establishments by getting your food to-go. ​

​​​​For all other latest information on the ​City's​ ser​vices, please visit the City of Virginia Beach  emergency.vbgov.com website.











 Resources

Resource Partners Training Portal (RPTP)

This centralized platform will consolidate information obtained from multiple federal agency resources and make it accessible in an organized format with searchable functionality.  The training platform for small business advisors will feature live content, author interactive learning experiences, support of SCORM content, forums, communication and collaboration features and more. chat feature for learner collaboration. The expected launch date for the training platform is June 2020.

The public website, COVID-SB.ORG is now live and can be accessed by anyone looking for federal information related to COVID-19 and small business.

Recovery Resources for Small Businesses​

As businesses begin to evaluate their reopening strategies, the Virginia SBDC recommends these recovery resources to guide businesses in the transition to the new normal.

FEMA Disaster Financial Guidance Guide

FEMA released a Disaster Financial Guide for state, local, tribal, and territorial partners outlining the wide range of financial resources to assist American communities for disaster preparedness and recovery. 

Memorandum Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers during Covid-19 Response

Functioning critical infrastructure is imperative during the response to the COVID-19 emergency for both public health and safety as well as community well-being. Certain critical infrastructure industries have a special responsibility in these times to continue operations. Read the full guide here.

Business and Employer Services

If you are a business owner or HR representative for an employer considering work stoppages, layoffs or furloughs, we encourage you to contact the Virginia Employment Commission Business Services team to discuss information and services that may assist impacted employees, including Unemployment Insurance, tax assistance, layoff aversion strategies, financial planning, remote access career services and more.  In the meantime, here is the website ​ to give affected employees.

If you are a worker who has been totally or partially separated from your job due to Coronavirus, please note that no claim for unemployment insurance may be filed or processed until an actual lay off from employment has occurred, or until there has been an actual reduction in hours.  When filing your claim for unemployment benefits, please be sure to check the reason for separation as Lack of Work/Lay off. 

You may file a claim for unemployment insurance through this website​ or through VEC Customer Contact Center by calling 1-866-832-2363 Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.​m.   

More information about relief services and support can be found here.​

IRS Tax Filing Deadline Moved to July 15​

The tax filing deadline was moved to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties. The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus. https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus​

IRS: Employee Retention Credit

The credit is available to all employers regardless of size, including tax-exempt organizations.

​International Economic Development Council​

Beginning on page 48 of  IEDC's Beyond the Survey, you will find Appendix A  - Strategies for Retaining Businesses after a Disaster.  This broadly outlines several suggestions for dealing with a disaster.  Beginning on page 53, you will  find suggestions for both short ​and long term financial assistance.​

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Resources and Guidelines for Business​

The U.S. Chamber​ is working closely with the White House, U.S. government agencies, and foreign government officials to inform and equip businesses with the most important and up-to-date information to prevent the spread of the virus and prepare businesses for the near and long-term impact.​​ ​

Hampton Roads Chamber​​

Find more help for your business ​from​ the Hampton Roads Chamber​. 

Information & Resources For Virginia Manufacturers​​

This content will be posted shortly.

What is VA doing for veterans?

Virginia has implemented an aggressive public health response to protect and care for veterans in the face of this emerging health risk​.

​Covid-19 Business ​FAQs

​​Answers to the most common coronavirus employment-related questions​​ can be found here.​

​Google's Remote Work Hub​​

Check out these free resources​ to keep you connected, tools and tips about running online meetings, collaborating on documents remotely.   ​

Keep Americans Connected Initiative​​​​

​In order to ensure that Americans do not lose their broadband or telephone connectivity as a result of these exceptional circumstances, the Federal Communications Commission is asking broadband and telephone service providers, and trade associations, to take the Keep Americans Connected Pledge.​

Related Links


​​​​For all other latest information, please visit the City of Virginia Beach  emergency.vbgov.com website.​​

​

 Latest Briefings
Coronavirus update from Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer

April 4, 2020


Coronavirus update from Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer

March 22, 2020


Coronavirus update from Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer
March 20, 2020

Commonwealth of Virginia COVID-19 Resources​​

For a comprehensive list of actions Governor Northam has announced to combat COVID-19 in Virginia, visit virginia.gov/coronavirus.​​


​Mayor Bobby Dyer discusses economic impact of coronavirus on Virginia Beach​

WTKR – March 17, 2020​


Weekly global economic update​

Deloitte​ - March 16, 2020​


​​​​For all other latest information on the ​City's​ ser​vices, please visit the City of Virginia Beach  emergency.vbgov.com website.