City, Chamber Identifying Solutions for Businesses and Employees Facing Workplace Disruption

March 23, 2020 — The City of Wilsonville and the Wilsonville Area Chamber of Commerce are working together to explore local solutions and identify state and federal resources to support out-of-work individuals, small businesses and non-profit organizations that may be seeking assistance and financial relief in the wake of COVID-19 related hardship.

“Obviously this is a staggering blow for the majority of workplaces here and in many parts of the world,” said City of Wilsonville Economic Development Manager Jordan Vance. “As federal, state and regional programs materialize to aid those impacted by loss of work and/or diminishing revenues, we’re available to point people to programs that might help them find relief.”

For employees furloughed or let go, guidelines around collection of unemployment benefits are changing rapidly as the public health crisis continues to evolve. For up-to-date information, visit the Oregon Employment Department’s page.  

For employers that remain open for business, The Bureau of Labor and Industries has consolidated information to assist addressing benefits, leave and other items. 

The Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce is asking local businesses to complete a Business Impact Survey to gather information that will help identify needs, and put local officials in a better position to provide assistance. 

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has declared all of Oregon as eligible for small business economic injury disaster loans to relieve economic injury created by the COVID-19. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides low-interest working capital loans to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private non-profit organizations. Loans cannot be made to governmental entities, including Tribes.

WorkShare Oregon, a program developed by the Oregon Employment Department, assists businesses trying to remain open and keep employees on payroll. The program allows employers to create a reduced work schedule for employees, with a state subsidy covering a portion of an employee’s paycheck.

Greater Portland Inc., the regional private-public economic development agency, has provided a collection of online state, regional and federal business assistance resources that may be available to employers and workers.

Business Oregon has also assembled resources for small businesses in the event of local, regional, or statewide economic impacts due to identified disasters.

Additionally, the Center for Disease Control and the Small Business Administration offer interim guidance for businesses and employers. The Oregon Department of Revenue site details tax relief options for those owing personal or corporate income tax.

Wilsonville is committed to the long-term health of the business community, and is eager to help connect businesses and employees to federal, state, regional and local resources as information becomes available. 

The City’s Economic Development Manager is available to discuss impacts with local business operators to help the City better understand where assistance is needed. 

For more information what resources may be available to local businesses, contact Jordan Vance, City Economic Development Manager, 503-570-1539, vance@ci.wilsonville.or.us or Kevin Ferrasci O’Malley, Chamber CEO, 503-682-0411 (x2), kevin@wilsonvillechamber.com.

General questions about COVID-19 can be answered by calling 2-1-1. Questions about your specific medical needs should be directed to health care providers.

To remain educated on COVID-19 prevention and response, visit U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Oregon Health Authority and Clackamas County Public Health Division. 

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