Government Support COVID-19

Federal Government

NPR provides a great breakdown of the provisions in the bill here
$2 trillion coronavirus response bill providing relief for individuals, big corporations and small business, state and local governments, public health, and others
Many Individuals will receive cash payments and there are extra unemployment payment provisions included as well, more support for gig and freelance workers, tax filing extensions, and student loan repayment benefits
Small Business support includes allocations for emergency grants to cover immediate operating costs, additional forgivable loan funding, and relief for existing loans already being utilized through SBA programs
Big Business provisions include significant funding to support the airline industry, temporary bans on stock buybacks for companies seeking federal loan assistance, new reporting requirements, pandemic recovery oversight, and a refundable tax credit for businesses of all size that are closed or distressed
Public Health assistance by way of additional funding for hospitals and community health centers, funding to increase drug access and development, program and response support for the Center for Disease Control, funding for veterans' health care, new telehealth authorizations, and funding to increase the availability of medicine and medical supplies
Additional funding set aside to support Safety Net programs, State and Local Government, and federal Education relief

Employees will be eligible for two weeks of sick leave at their regular pay rate to either quarantine or seek a COVID-19 diagnosis or preventative care
Employees will be eligible for two weeks of paid sick leave at no less than two-thirds their regular pay rate if they are caring for a family member with COVID-19 diagnosis or caring for a child whose school or daycare has closed as a result of coronavirus concerns
Full-time employees will be entitled to 80 hours worth of paid sick time
Part-time employees will be entitled to the number of hours they normally work in a two week period
Employees with at least 30 days with their employer will receive 10 weeks of emergency paid leave to care for children whose schools or daycare facilities were closed
After 10 days of unpaid leave, the employer will pay the individual no less than two-thirds of their pay, for a max of $200 per day and $10,000 total
Employers with less than 50 employees or less can seek an exemption if they can demonstrate “the imposition of such requirements would jeopardize the viability of the business”

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to South Carolina Small Businesses Affected by Coronavirus State of Emergency
- The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
- The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

List of Executive Orders Issued by Governor Henry McMaster
Public schools, state colleges and universities closed through March 31
Waive regulations if they are found to hinder action required
Suspend dining-in consumptive service for restaurants
Postpone any event or public gathering at state-owned facilities
Requires non-essential state employees, as determined by their agency heads, to work from home
Waives the one week waiting period for employees to collect unemployment benefits if they have experienced a reduction in work hours or loss of job due to COVID-19
Extends the State Unemployment Tax payment to June 1 from April 30
Temporarily suspends DHEC’s enforcement of Certificate of Need requirements
Procurement regulations are temporarily suspended to allow state agencies to rapidly acquire resources to combat the COVID-19 virus
Governor’s Order to Waive Regulations to Allow for Closed Container Alcohol “To Go” and Curbside Pickup Orders (2020-12)
Governor Pushes Tax Deadlines to June 1

SC Department of Employment and Workforce Resource Hub
- SC DEW offers a variety of information useful to both businesses and employers affected by COVID-19 as well as employees and jobseekers.
SC DEW Unemployment Insurance Benefits

SC Department of Commerce COVID-19 Business Resource Center
- The SC DOC Business Resource Center provides links to a number of business resources such as insurance, regulatory, and tax support, small business financial assistance, employment resources, and health updates.