Small Business Preparedness and Recovery Resources for the Coronavirus: Keep Calm and Small Business On.

At the South Carolina SBDC Network, the health and well-being of our customers, employees, and community remain our top priority. We understand that this is a stressful time and that small businesses like yours may be experiencing unexpected consequences as a result of the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are committed to keeping you informed regarding our service offerings and resources to protect your small business. Our network of consultants is available via phone, email and online to provide disaster assistance should your business experience economic injury or other unintended consequences. 

All media requests about the following information should be sent to Susan Sturgeon, Marketing Manager at susan.sturgeon@moore.sc.edu and CC State Director, Michele Abraham at michele.abraham@moore.sc.edu.

Consulting

All South Carolina SBDC locations remain open at this time. We have modified how we conduct face-to-face engagements with our customers and the general public. Centers are working remotely and will continue to assist clients via phone, email and various online tools. Center phones have either been forwarded to the consultants or they are checking messages regularly. Click Here to sign up for counseling. We are experiencing a high volume of requests but should respond within 24 hours.



Training Events and Workshops

To minimize the health and safety risk to our customers and employees, and prevent the further contraction and spread of COVID-19, all scheduled face-to-face South Carolina SBDC training events and workshops are suspended until further notice. We are working to implement expanded use of remote instruction to provide ongoing small business training services, especially in the area of pandemic planning, preparation, response and recovery. Please check the training events tab at scsbdc.com/training-events for updates on educational programs and events.

View the recording of our Understanding Unemployment Webinar here.



Recovery Resources

The South Carolina SBDC Network is working closely with state and federal officials regarding the availability of disaster resources to recover from economic injury and other impacts as a result of COVID-19. ​ Federal Assistance
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. Find more information on the SBA loan program here. ​ State Assistance
As during any disaster, the South Carolina SBDC is here to help your business prepare and recover. Upon the activation of federal and state disaster assistance, our team of disaster specialists can assist you with preparing and submitting your loan application and with other post-disaster challenges. Our team can also assist you with developing a preparedness plan and with other measures to safeguard your employees, customers, and ensure the continued operation of your business. To sign up for SC SBDC assistance click here. Someone will respond within 24 hours of your submission. ​



Preparedness Resources

The South Carolina SBDC is working closely with federal and state officials to inform and equip small businesses with information regarding COVID-19. You should be ready to implement strategies to protect your employees and customers from the virus, while ensuring the continued operation of your business.
Not too late to plan. Protect your small business.
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 now: 1. Know the signs and symptoms. Reference this  CDC website 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 the link below for guidance on preparing workplaces for CPVID-19. Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 (OSHA)



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SC SBDC Services & Events

Consulting

All South Carolina SBDC locations remain open at this time. We have modified how we conduct face-to-face engagements with our customers and the general public. Centers are working remotely and will continue to assist clients via phone, email and various online tools. Center phones have either been forwarded to the consultants or they are checking messages regularly. Click Here to sign up for counseling. We are experiencing a high volume of requests but should respond within 24 hours.



Training Events and Workshops

To minimize the health and safety risk to our customers and employees, and prevent the further contraction and spread of COVID-19, all scheduled face-to-face South Carolina SBDC training events and workshops are suspended until further notice. We are working to implement expanded use of remote instruction to provide ongoing small business training services, especially in the area of pandemic planning, preparation, response and recovery. Please check the training events tab at scsbdc.com/training-events for updates on educational programs and events.

View the recording of our Understanding Unemployment Webinar here.



Recovery Resources

The South Carolina SBDC Network is working closely with state and federal officials regarding the availability of disaster resources to recover from economic injury and other impacts as a result of COVID-19. ​ Federal Assistance
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. Find more information on the SBA loan program here. ​ State Assistance
As during any disaster, the South Carolina SBDC is here to help your business prepare and recover. Upon the activation of federal and state disaster assistance, our team of disaster specialists can assist you with preparing and submitting your loan application and with other post-disaster challenges. Our team can also assist you with developing a preparedness plan and with other measures to safeguard your employees, customers, and ensure the continued operation of your business. To sign up for SC SBDC assistance click here. Someone will respond within 24 hours of your submission. ​



Preparedness Resources

The South Carolina SBDC is working closely with federal and state officials to inform and equip small businesses with information regarding COVID-19. You should be ready to implement strategies to protect your employees and customers from the virus, while ensuring the continued operation of your business.
Not too late to plan. Protect your small business.
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 now: 1. Know the signs and symptoms. Reference this  CDC website 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 the link below for guidance on preparing workplaces for CPVID-19. Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 (OSHA)



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Additional information will be translated and posted periodically, and all documents are being provided for informational purposes only. Please view COVID-19 recovery information in other languages here.

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Our hearts and thoughts go out to the people who have been affected by this unprecedented event and we appreciate the healthcare workers, local communities, and governments around the world who are on the front line working to contain this coronavirus. We will continue to do our best to communicate useful business resources and provide support to mitigate the impacts of this health situation.

Updated 6.23.2020 9:55pm EDT

UofSC Moore School of Business     1014 Greene Street     Columbia, SC 29208

©2018 by SC Small Business Development Centers.