The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted businesses across the country. In response to the pandemic, the US government has initiated a wide array of measures designed to support businesses of every shape and size.
To help our advertiser, agency and affiliate partners navigate these initiatives and to find the right assistance and guidance for them, we have collated a selection of the most relevant online resources below. Featuring a mix of official government information, links to relevant industry bodies and authoritative legal advice, we hope this helps you find the support your business needs right now.
US Government Response to Coronavirus
The main page providing a summary of the US government’s response so far to the coronavirus. This includes more information and links to everything from health updates from the CDC, latest official information from the White House’s COVID-19 taskforce, and guidance for employees and employers on aid being offered by the state.
IRS Coronavirus Hub
In addition to delaying the filing of federal tax returns until July 15, the IRS has established a special section on its website focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.
US Treasury and IRS Employee Retention Credit Scheme
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service have launched the Employee Retention Credit to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll. The refundable tax credit is worth 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19. For more information on this initiative and to find out how to qualify for it please see the link below.
US Treasury’s Paycheck Protection Program
The Treasury’s program is designed to support small businesses in America as well as those that are self-employed. For more details on the program, including information on applying for funding visit the overview page below.
Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM): Coronavirus Response
EXIM has created a dedicated coronavirus page to provide support to the US exporting community during the crisis. This includes a variety of fact sheets on a series of financing programs that the bank is currently pulling together for such businesses.
US Small Business Administration (SBA): COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
The SBA provides a comprehensive page of support and resources for small businesses struggling in the current climate. The link below includes individual explanations of their own Express Bridge Loans and Debt Relief initiative as well as the government’s Paycheck Protection Program and its Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
SBA: Find Local Business Assistance
The SBA’s online directory of free counseling and assistance across the United States may be a useful resource for businesses looking for more specific local help at this time.
US Department of Labor: Information on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
The DOL’s FFCRA has been launched to help combat COVID-19 by reimbursing American private employers that have fewer than 500 employees with tax credits for the cost of providing employees with paid leave taken for specified reasons related to COVID-19. For more guidance around the act and how employers can access it, click the link below.
US Federal Reserve COVID-19 Updates
For information from the US central bank on its latest policies and measures regarding coronavirus, including the status of business lending and credit please view the page below.
USA.gov Telephone Helpline
USA.gov’s agents can help you locate information on federal agencies, programs, benefits, services, and more. If they can't answer your question directly, they will direct you to the government agency that can. The USA.gov telephone line is available between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
Call them toll-free at 1-844-USA-GOV1 (1-844-872-4681). Wait times may be long.
USA.gov Live Chat
USA.gov also offers a live web chat service from Monday - Friday: 08:00 AM - 08:00 PM Eastern Time (except federal holidays).
National Retail Federation: Coronavirus Resources for Retailers
The NRF is the largest retail trade association in the world and has published a variety of coronavirus-related resources to support businesses that are publicly available and constantly updated. As well as offering a useful summary of the relevant provisions made for retailers in the CARES Act, the NRF hub provides explanations of other relevant support initiatives and also has a retail jobs board for those workers that may have been made unemployed recently because of the current crisis.
IAB: US Trade Body for Digital Advertising
The Internet Advertising Bureau has covered the early impact of coronavirus on the digital ad industry and is worth visiting for more updates on the likely implications of the pandemic on the industry.
Performance Marketing Association
The trade body for the US affiliate industry is the PMA. Visit their site for any updates, analysis or news related to the channel and its potential impact from the pandemic.
Davis & Gilbert Coronavirus Resource Center
Davis & Gilbert is considered one of the most experienced law firms specializing in advice and support for businesses operating in the marketing and advertising industry. The PMA’s own general counsel, Gary Kibel, is also a partner at the firm. D&G has put together a Coronavirus Resource Center on their site designed to help aid businesses amid the challenges they may be facing right now.
Furthermore, Gary Kibel, recently hosted a webinar for Awin Group partners that explores numerous issues affecting our industry - including CARES ACT (PPP – Paycheck Protection Program), contracts and force majeure, labor/employment issues, work from home security concerns and more. In this session, Gary presents on this topic and then leads a conversation and Q&A with attendees.
NOLO: COVID-19 - The Law and Your Legal Rights
NOLO is one of the web’s leading legal websites and provides advice and guidance to consumers and small businesses for their everyday legal and business questions. Its comprehensive legal encyclopedia now hosts a detailed guide on COVID-19 and the various legal measures that have been implemented by the US state in response to the outbreak.
If you find there are other useful online guides and sources that are missing from the above page, please comment below with your own recommendations.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit our information hub where we bring you the latest news from Awin, as well as links to network insights and useful pointers, alongside wider updates.
