WYTHE
BUSINESS
RESOURCES
COVID-19 BUSINESS RESOURCES
The resources listed below will continue to be updated and added to as we receive more information about programs that could benefit our community. Funding for many of these programs is limited, if not already exhausted, but we encourage businesses to try applying in the event more funding becomes available. If you are aware of any other opportunities or information you would like to see listed here, please let us know.
Recovery
Financial Support
Forward Virginia - Phase Three
As Virginia moves toward recovery, Forward Virginia lays out Virginia's plan to help guide the Commonwealth on safely easing public health restrictions. The blueprint includes a phased approach in opening businesses and lays out specific goals to contain the spread of the virus through increased testing, personal protective equipment and supplies, and business operation.
Wythe County's Open for Business - Recovery Assistance Grant
Funding for the Rent & Mortgage portion (county wide) of this program is still available, but the revenue based portion of this program (except for Rural Retreat businesses) has been exhausted.
The Open for Business – Recovery Assistance Grant has been made available to businesses operating in Wythe County, the Town of Wytheville, and the Town of Rural Retreat. The remaining funds for this grant program provides one time, emergency funding to eligible, for-profit businesses for rent and mortgage relief. More information, the application, and attachments are available here and are currently being accepted.
Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG)
The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.
Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)
The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
Small Business Financial Support Options
Compare SBA and private disaster loan and grant programs side by side to understand which might work best for your business.
Virginia 30 Day Fund
The non-profit Virginia 30 Day Fund provides forgivable loans for Virginia-based small businesses. The forgivable loan is intended to provide immediate financial assistance (within maximum three days) to meet payroll, preserve healthcare coverage for employees and save jobs while they await recently approved federal funding.
Paycheck Protection Program
The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
Yelp – Restaurant/Food Service Advertising
As part of this relief effort, restaurants and nightlife businesses that remain open will receive free access to Yelp page upgrades, including Business Highlights and Call To Action, as well as Connect, which will help them communicate timely information to their customers.
Help Main Street – Gift Cards
Help your local business by buying gift cards to provide critical cash support during the COVID-19 crisis. @helpmainstreet drives 100% of proceeds to small businesses.
Workforce
Safe Workspaces
VDH Interim Guidance: Information for Food Establishments Regarding COVID‐19
Working Remotely
Working From Home? 12 Guides To Help Navigate The Remote Life
Associations Now - How to Manage Your Newly Remote Workforce
Unemployment
Taxes
Federal
The IRS has extended the filing deadline and federal tax payments regardless of amount for federal taxes to May 17, 2021. For more information, visit https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus
Virginia
Income Taxes - The Virginia individual income tax filing deadline has been extended to May 17, 2021.
For more information, visit https://www.tax.virginia.gov/
Additional Resources
Commonwealth of Virginia's Actions and Support
Visit https://www.virginia.gov/coronavirus/ for comprehensive information from Virginia on topics like Health, Education, Business, and much more. News from the Governor and answers to FAQ’s can be found here.
USDA's COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide
USDA and its Federal partners have programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. These programs can support recovery efforts for rural residents, businesses and communities through technical, training, and management assistance; financial assistance; and state and local assistance.
Virginia Tourism Corporation
Visit https://www.vatc.org/grants/cv19businessresources/ for a wide range of resources to support our travel industry and business partners who have been impacted by COVID-19. These resources will be updated as they become available.
Virginia Department of Agriculture
Visit https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/about-emergency-information.shtml for information and guidelines for agriculture related operations and activities.
CommonHelp
Visit CommonHelp’s website to learn about health care coverage for you and your family. Also apply for help with food, childcare, heating and cooling bills, health care and cash assistance.
Wythe County Partners
Downtown Wytheville is a non-profit organization focused on community development and business district revitalization. Our mission is to make downtown the vibrant heart of community and commerce for the region. We are committed to helping downtown businesses weather the current storm using all the tools at our disposal.
The Joint Industrial Development Authority of Wythe County is a non-profit authority that works to attract new business and industry to our area through asset-based marketing as well as assisting existing businesses of all sizes in growth and success. We work closely with many partners to develop a strong, skilled workforce and training solutions for all types of industry.
Virginia's Industrial Advancement Alliance
VIAA represents six partner localities. Branding the region as ‘Virginia’s I81-I77 Crossroads’, an area stretching from Carroll County to Smyth County along Interstates 81 and 77, the membership consist of Smyth, Wythe, Grayson, Carroll and Bland counties, and the City of Galax. A non-profit Regional Economic Development Organization (REDO) formed to conduct outreach marketing, prospect development, project management and to enhance local economic development efforts.”
The Wytheville Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visit Wytheville) is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Wytheville and the surrounding area. The area is marketed under the branding theme of “Wytheville…There’s Only One.” A department of the Town of Wytheville, the Wytheville CVB conducts a robust tourism marketing program to showcase the over 150 tourism-related businesses and attractions in the Wytheville area as well as operating the E. Lee Trinkle Regional Visitors Center and the Wytheville Meeting Center.
The Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit business membership organization that is committed to promoting a favorable business climate for our members and communities in addition to partnering with other like organizations to make Wythe and Bland Counties a welcoming place to live, work, and play. We strive to be a working advocate within our business communities. COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, RESULTS
CONTACT US
Downtown Wytheville - (276) 223-3343
Joint IDA of Wythe County - (276) 223-3370
Virginia's Industrial Advancement Alliance - (276) 223-4726
Visit Wytheville - (877) 347-8307
Wytheville-Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce - (276) 223-3365