Good morning Visit South Walton partners!
It’s Friday! Take a deep breath — it’s been a stressful week, but we’ll make it through this together. How is everyone? I’ve talked to many of you in our industry, and the current crisis is hard on everyone. Some businesses have closed temporarily, while others are facing an uncertain future. However, we are all still hoping for – and planning for – a quick recovery once COVID-19 is no longer a threat.
Visit South Walton wants to help our industry bounce back quickly, and support you however we can. If you have a business website or Facebook page, we suggest that you update your Frequently Asked Questions section to include your COVID-19-related policies, with updated information such as cancellations, closings or current hours of operation.
There are many useful resources out there that may be of assistance to your business in this difficult time. We have collected a few here:
Visit the COVID-19 Travel Updates page on VisitSouthWalton.com at the top of the page, or here. Please feel free to contact me or our Content Manager Matt Algarin at Matt@visitsouthwalton.com if you would like to share your business’s information on this webpage, as it’s continually updated throughout the day.
At 3 p.m. today, the National Restaurant Association is hosting a webinar outlining how the newly passed stimulus package is going to help small business. Find the information attached and register here: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/2244746/E852DEDBC9ADC7691945DD0728DE7CA0
Under the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Reemployment Assistance Center offers both workers and employers information about temporary wage replacement benefits for qualified individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own. Click here for more information.
Governor DeSantis’ request to the federal U.S. Small Business Administration to make the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program available for Florida’s small businesses impacted by COVID-19 has been granted. Small businesses are eligible to apply for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans that offer up to $2 million in economic assistance to help small businesses overcome the temporary loss of revenue resulting from COVID-19.
Governor DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The bridge loan program, managed by DEO, provides short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury from COVID-19. The application period is open and runs through May 8, 2020. Interested businesses should visit www.FloridaDisaster.Biz, the website for assistance from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM). Together they coordinate local, state and federal agency actions to provide immediate and short-term assistance and identify available resources to business and industry as well as economic stabilization.
Apply for a small business disaster loan here.
The Business Damage Assessment survey is activated to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s local business operations. The survey, managed by DEO, will evaluate businesses affected by COVID-19 and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy so actions to implement appropriate relief programs can begin. The survey can be taken online here.
Find more information on DEO’s response to COVID-19 here.
The Department of Revenue issued an emergency order extending the due dates for March sales taxes for taxpayers adversely affected by COVID-19. More information can be found here.
Careeronestop.org, which is sponsored by the U.S. Labor Department,has career training and job search information for both employees and businesses.
The Walton Area Chamber of Commerce has a detailed webpage dedicated to links for further business assistance.
The U.S. Travel Association has details about the federal COVID-19 CARES Act, which is expected to be signed into law today (March 27).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health have the most up to date guidelines for COVID-19.
The Walton County Emergency Management has a Facebook page for more information, as does the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. WCSO Facebook
VISIT FLORIDA has provided a data dashboard updated daily with several key performance indicators such as impacts on travel planning, hotel and vacation rental bookings and airline capacity. Click here for more information from VISIT FLORIDA.
Please feel free to call us at the Visitor Center (850-267-1216) or contact me at Lisa@visitsouthwalton.com or (850) 333-2728 if you have questions or feedback about this current situation, or if we can help in some way. The Visitor Center at Highways 98 and 331 is currently closed to the public, but we have information specialists manning the phones, and most of our staff are working remotely.
Kindest regards,
Lisa Foster
Industry Relations Specialist
Walton County TDC
(850) 267-1216 ext 8512 | (850) 333-2728 Cell | Lisa@VisitSouthWalton.com
