COVID-19
INFORMATION & UPDATES FOR BUSINESSES
There is a lot of information available to business owners and employees. Here is a selection of the top requests. This page will be updated as needed. If you do not find what you are looking for or have something to share, please contact our office. The East Providence Area Chamber is here to help you and your business.
Local and State News Media
RHODE ISLAND DEPT OF LABOR & TRAINING (RI DLT)
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If you are out of work because of COVID-19, Unemployment Insurance claims are processed faster and can be more generous than TDI/TCI.
File an Unemployment Insurance Claim
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Click here for the latest RIDLT Information regarding Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19)
Presentar un reclaimo de UI
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RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYERS & EMPLOYEES
Click images below for links to their Web sites
RHODE ISLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
Loans for East Providence Small Businesses (up to $5,000 for each loan)
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Application for COVID-19 Job Retention Loan Program
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Application for COVID-19 Small Business Assistance
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Emergency Loans Now Available for R.I. Small Businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration approved Governor Raimondo's application for assistance and will offer low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital up to $2 million to Rhode Island small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications at: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. If a paper forms are preferred, they can be accessed here.
If your business has questions regarding SBA loans and access to capital, please call RI Commerce's Small Business Hotline at (401) 521-HELP or e-mail info@commerceri.com.
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Emergeny Loans for Massachusetts Small Businesses
Rhode Island SBA district office can also assist Seekonk MA businesses
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The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Massachusetts small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Charles D. Baker on March 17, 2020.
Rhode Island District Office
Massachusetts District Office
Free Digital Tools including Video Conferencing for R.I. Businesses
Microsoft has agreed to provide their Office 365 E1 program for free for six months to all R.I. employers.
That includes web-based Microsoft Office applications, resources to support telecommuting such as meetings and instant messaging, as well as remote file sharing. This offer extends to businesses of all sizes — whether you have one employee or one thousand employees. To learn more on how to access these offerings, visit the dedicated webpage here.
Other companies have also made a number of tools available:
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Cisco is offering free WebEx video conferencing and a remote-work adoption toolkit to help guide businesses in their transition to working at home.
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Google is offering free access to their Hangouts Meet, another video conferencing system, for all of their GSuite and GSuite education customers.
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Schools and school districts can contact Zoom and the company will lift their 40-minute meeting limit on their free basic accounts.