A list of local, state and federal resources available to businesses and employers affected by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can be found below.
The City of Hollywood’s Office of Communications, Marketing & Economic Development is open for business, compiling information to assist Hollywood businesses throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are here for your business during this unprecedented time. Contact our team at 954.921.3620 or email us with your business-related questions. We encourage you to check the City of Hollywood’s webpage, sign up for City and Business email/text updates, and follow us on Facebook.
Business Recovery Resources
The City of Hollywood is monitoring State and Federal programs and the availability of disaster resources to help recover from economic injury and other impacts as a result of COVID-19. We will continue to monitor and update this information as it becomes available.
The City Urges its Business Community to Evaluate the Short-Time Compensation Program in an Effort to Curtail Major Layoffs
The Short-Time Compensation program helps employers retain their workforce in times of temporary slowdown by encouraging work sharing as an alternative to layoff. The program permits prorated reemployment assistance benefits to employees whose work hours and earnings are reduced as part of a Short-Time Compensation Plan to avoid total layoff of some employees. Apply here.
Florida Small Business Emergency Loan Program
This bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury from COVID-19. Applications are now being accepted through May 8, 2020. This will provide a source of working capital intended to help the business “bridge the gap” between the time of impact and when federal assistance is available. Apply here.
Loan Details
- Amount: Up to $50,000 per eligible small business. Loans of up to $100,000 may be made in special cases as warranted by the need of the business
- Term: Loans may be for periods of up to one year
- Interest: Loans will be interest free for the term of the loan.
- Payments: Loans must be repaid in full by the maturity date of the established term.
- Qualifications: Applications will be accepted by qualified for-profit, privately held small businesses that maintain a place of business in the State of Florida. All qualified applicants must have been established prior to March 9, 2020, and suffered economic injury as a result of the designated disaster. Qualified small business applicants must be an employer business with 2 to 100 employees.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has activated its Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. This program provides working capital to small businesses (and some small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations) who have suffered “substantial economic injury” as a result COVID-19. Substantial economic injury means a business has been unable to meet its obligations and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses.
- Important note: Currently, the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is not available to small businesses in Florida. Each state must make a request based on need for this federal loan program. The state of Florida utilizes its Business Damage Assessment Survey to determine the level of impact and need for federal and state disaster assistance. If your business has been impacted by the virus, it is imperative that you complete this important survey. We will continue to monitor the availability of this program and will update accordingly.
Hospitality Industry Resources
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau has compiled resources to assist the hospitality industry.
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau information on COVID-19
Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance
Businesses can request a virtual meeting with the Alliance regarding business preservation assistance, including low- or no-interest loan opportunities and short time compensation for employers. Additionally, the Alliance has compiled business resources here:
COVID-19 Business Resources and Information
New Information on Federal Economic Relief
Summary of Federal Coronavirus Relief Legislation
- 1st Bill signed into law: Signed into law on March 6th, was largely dedicated to funding healthcare preparation to fight the virus, as well as vaccine research. There was some money in there for "telehealth," or remote doctor visits, but it was mostly not a bill for consumers.
- 2nd Bill signed into law: Signed into law on March 18th and provides the following notable provisions:
- $500 million in additional funding for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program
- $400 million in additional funding for the Emergency Food Assistance Program
- $82 million in additional funding for the Defense Health Program
- $250 million in additional funding for food programs, including home delivery food programs, for the elderly and disabled
- Waivers to some requirements for school lunch programs
- Waivers to work requirements to be eligible for SNAP food programs
- New, temporary requirements that employers with more than 20 employees offer some paid sick leave time to their employees
- Extensions to, and additional funds for, unemployment benefits
- Free COVID-19 testing without co-pays or deductibles
- 3rd Bill: Negotiations begin today (3/20). Notable provisions being considered:
- Small Business Administration low interest 7(a) loans could be available to “any business concern, private nonprofit organization, or public nonprofit organization which employs not more than 500 employees”, upwards of $10 million
- A potential individual $1,200 tax rebate for individuals who earned $75,000 or less in 2018, or $2,400 for a joint filing
- Up to $500 billion in loans for small businesses and industries hardest hit by COVID-19
- A potential delay of estimated tax payments for corporations
- A potential delay of payment of employer payroll taxes
- Expanded telehealth tax incentives to healthcare providers
Business Damage Assessment Survey
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) issued the Business Damage Assessment Survey to evaluate businesses affected by COVID-19 and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy. The survey’s feedback allows the State Government to fully assess the economic impact COVID-19 is having on Florida businesses and industries, in order to mobilize the appropriate resources to help alleviate those pressures. The Business Damage Assessment Survey can be taken online. Results will be shared with government agencies and local partners, including the Small Business Administration (SBA). For inquiries/assistance with the survey, contact ESF18@em.myflorida.com.
I was laid off from my job or am not being paid because of COVID-19. What can I do?
The Reemployment Assistance program provides temporary and partial wage replacement for qualified workers who have become unemployed, through no fault of their own, during this public health emergency. You can apply online for Reemployment Assistance (formerly known as unemployment compensation) if you were working in Florida and are now:
- Temporarily unable to work due to a positive COVID-19 test result.
- Quarantined by a medical professional or a government agency.
- Laid off or sent home without pay for an extended period of time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Caring for an immediate family member diagnosed with COVID-19.
Learn more about Reemployment Assistance and how to apply here.
Additional Social Assistance Resources
As the City of Hollywood continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we understand the importance of a focused response to assist those impacted by this public health emergency. Please click here for a summary of social assistance resources gathered to assist those in need.
Business Closures & Guidance
Effective 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in the City of Hollywood and continuing through and including Thursday, April 16, 2020:
Bars and Nightclubs
All bars, pubs, nightclubs, cocktail lounges, breweries, and taverns in the City of Hollywood closed at 5:00 p.m. on March 17 and must remain closed.
Restaurants
All restaurants, cafeterias, and other food service establishments must cease all on-premises services. However, such establishments may continue to operate their kitchens for drive-thru, delivery, and curbside pick-up of food orders.
Other Businesses
All gyms, fitness centers, fitness studios, dance studios, and gymnasiums are closed. This does not apply to gyms or fitness centers that are an amenity of a hotel or office building and which have a capacity of 10 persons or less, or are an amenity of a residential building.
All dance halls, movie theaters, banquet halls, auditoriums, bowling alleys, video arcades and other like entertainment facilities and businesses, including but not limited to those contained within a hotel or other enclosed facility or structure, are closed.
Hollywood Beach, Broadwalk, Parks and Recreational Facilities
The Hollywood Beach and Broadwalk are closed to recreational activity. Access to the barrier island will be restricted to residents, business owners, business employees, hotel guests and patrons coming to pick up carry-out food orders from barrier island restaurants. All City community centers, parks and recreational facilities are closed. Public boat ramps at Holland Park will remain open, but the rest of the park will be closed down.
Additional Restrictions/Exemptions
All public gatherings of any type, whether organized or otherwise, of greater than 10 persons are prohibited. Grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, banks, credit unions, financial institutions, hardware stores, auto supply stores, hospitals, healthcare and medical facilities, pharmacies, drug stores, medical supply stores and companies, land or facilities owned or managed by Broward County, the Broward County School Board, the South Broward Hospital District, the State of Florida, and the Federal Government are exempt from this regulation.
For a comprehensive list of all City closures and cancellations, please click here.
Local Restaurant Directories
If your Hollywood restaurant offers curbside pickup, takeout, delivery or drive-through services, consider adding your business to one or more of the guides below.
Business Preparedness Resources
(Guidance provided by the Florida SBDC Network and other City of Hollywood partners)
Despite cases continuing to rise, it’s not too late to take proactive steps to protect your business, employees, and customers. Here are a few things you can do right now:
1. Know the signs and symptoms
Reference this fact sheet from the CDC for what you need to know about COVID-19.
2. Update your disaster preparedness plan
Update your disaster preparedness plan to include guidance on COVID-19. A good plan will cover a number of things, including workplace safety precautions, travel restrictions, supply chain alternatives, procedures around remote work, and more. All of this should be documented to act as an easy-to-reference guide on how to keep the business running in difficult times.
3. Communicate and educate your employees
Most likely, your employees are concerned about their health and well-being and have uncertainties about their work. Communication through a crisis is critical. Discuss proper hygiene etiquette and measures your office is taking to ensure workplace cleanliness and safety. Inform sick or at-risk employees that they should stay at home to minimize health and safety risks for your workplace. If employees are nervous about their safety, consider switching to phone calls or other face-to-face alternatives. You might also consider reducing employee travel or attendance of large meetings.
4. Look into business interruption insurance
Ask your insurance provider about insurance to cover unexpected major events such as COVID-19.
5. Don’t panic
In the midst of the pandemic, it’s easy to get frightened. Stay up to date with the latest information from the most reliable sources to guide you. For more information, download these helpful guides for information about the virus, tips to safeguard your employees, and for information to plan and respond to the virus:
Interim Guide of Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have created an Interim Guide of Recommendations for businesses and employers to plan, prepare and respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and may help prevent workplace exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, in non-healthcare settings. The guidance also provides planning considerations if there are widespread, community outbreaks of COVID-19.
To prevent stigma and discrimination in the workplace, the guidance in the link below is to determine the risk of COVID-19. Do not make determinations of risk based on race or country of origin, and be sure to maintain confidentiality of people with confirmed COVID-19. There is much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features of COVID-19 and investigations are ongoing.
Click here for the latest recommendations.
Additional Online Resources
We will continue to monitor and update this information as it becomes available. Please continue to monitor www.choosehollywoodfl.com and www.hollywoodfl.org for the latest updates.