We Are Here For Your Hollywood Business
The City of Hollywood’s Office of Communications, Marketing & Economic Development (CMED) is open for business, compiling information to assist Hollywood businesses throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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. Our team is available to talk you through any of your business-related issues. Contact us at 954.921.3620 or by email.
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.
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
Effective immediately, eligible small businesses interested in applying for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program, a short-term loan designed to help business owners bridge the gap between the time of impact and when the business has secured long-term assistance, should apply for the program through one of two ways:
- OR -
- Download an application, complete it and mail it with the required supporting documentation to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) at: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, C/O Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, 107 E. Madison Street, MSC-160, Tallahassee FL 32399-4120.
Small businesses that have already applied for the bridge loan program in response to COVID-19 should not submit an additional application.
Funds are already being disbursed to approved applicants! To complete a Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan application by the May 8, 2020 deadline, and for more information about the program, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org.
For application assistance, please contact the Florida SBDC office nearest you at www.FloridaSBDC.org/locations. For questions regarding the loan program, please contact DEO toll-free at 833-832-4494 or email FloridaBusinessLoanFund@deo.myflorida.com.
SBA 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.
SBA: Economic Recovery Webinars
The Small Business Administration (SBA) South Florida District Office will host a series of Small Business Recovery webinars to provide the latest information on how the SBA is helping small businesses with their economic recovery. Webinars will be offered throughout the week during the time periods of 9AM-11AM and 1PM-3PM and are:
- Free to attend.
- Limited to 250 registered attendees.
- Pre-registration is required here.
For additional information, feel free to contact the staff during Virtual Office Hours:
Monday, March 23 - Friday, April 04
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. AND 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Skype or Phone: 202.765.1264
Conference ID: 162817288
Broward SCORE: Online Small Business Workshops
Broward SCORE’s mission is to help entrepreneurs and small business owners start, develop and grow businesses in Broward County. Learn new business strategies here from the experts with SCORE’s online offerings of small business training workshops, instructor-led trainings and interactive courses.
Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
Upcoming GHCC Programs & Content
Webinars and online classes, provided by GHCC members and experts, can be viewed here.
COVID-19 Best Practices: A Guide To Doing Business
The Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) is creating a "COVID-19 Best Practices: A Guide To Doing Business" forum to help businesses adapt and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Email the GHCC if you:
- Are hosting a virtual seminar
- Have a blog with valuable content
- Are posting content on social media
- Have information to contribute which assists the business community to conduct better business
Hospitality Industry Resources
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau has compiled these resources to assist the hospitality industry affected by COVID-19.
Attractions, tours, restaurants and any tourism business providing virtual tours, learning experiences, cooking demonstrations, entertainment, musical performances, etc. through videos or social media live streams, may fill out this form to be included in the Virtual Vacation Experiences page.
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.
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: Notable provisions currently under consideration:
- 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
Has COVID-19 affected your business?
Take this survey to help activate additional resources.
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, including food assistance, free internet and government services.
Emergency Orders & Business Closures
Stop the Spread of COVID-19
The City of Hollywood is under a number of state and local orders to protect public health and safety and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Additional Online Resources
Links to these established programs can be found on the City’s Economic Development website. Please continue to monitor www.hollywoodfl.org and www.choosehollywoodfl.com for the latest updates.
Economic Development Division
Raelin Storey, CMED Director
Herb Conde-Parlato, Economic Development Manager
Tekisha Jordan, Principal Planner
Marina Melo, Economic Development Marketing Coordinator
Community Redevelopment Agency - Beach & Downtown Districts
Jorge Camejo, Executive Director
954.924.2980