|
April 3, 2020
Dear readers, |
|
|
|
There has been a fair amount of hurry-up-and-wait for businesses hoping to apply for relief loans available through the federal Small Business Administration, but as of Friday afternoon, the process was sorting itself out. The SBA issued an interim final rule April 2, which is a reasonable turnaround considering the bill wasn't enacted until March 27. Here is a link to the application for the Paycheck Protection Program, which is filed through participating financial institutions.
Our best advice is to remain patient and stay in touch with those financial institutions that hold the operating accounts for your businesses.
WI Health Connect: Think you may have COVID-19? Free, confidential over-the-phone screening now available.
|
|
|
Stay tuned for announcements about virtual Tech Council webinars on COVID-19 issues of interest to our members and others.
Do you have news or best practices to contribute to a future edition of Tech Council Current?
Contact Laura@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com
Sincerely,
Tom Still, president
|
|
- WEDC Small Business 2020 Program: Assistance will be available to Wisconsin-based Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) List of All 23 CDFIs in Wisconsin to provide grants to their existing loan clients to help mitigate business-related cash flow issues in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Approved CDFIs will make program grants (up to $20,000) available to for-profit businesses meeting the following: criteria: Current loan recipient in good standing as of 3/1/20 with the approved CDFI (or its collaborating CDFIs);20 or fewer PT/FT employees; Greater than $0 but less than $2 million in annual revenues; and, preference should be given to service and retail businesses
- Gov. Evers’ office has launched a statewide COVID-19 website that aggregates information and resources throughout state government.
- The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development produced this helpful Frequently Asked Questions document.
- WEDC has compiled a comprehensive overview of their resources along with state and federal resources to assist Wisconsin citizens aimed at maintaining the viability of the companies upon which our economy depends.
- Report any scams or price gouging to Wisconsin Department of Justice: If you suspect fraud or a scam, Attorney General Kaul suggests filing a complaint online at datcp.wi.gov.
- Small Business Administration (SBA) has guidance for businesses, and is offering low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for businesses and non-profits impacted by coronavirus
- Centers for Disease Control: Coronavirus latest updates
- Wisconsin Department of Health Services: COVID-19 Outbreaks in Wisconsin
- The FDIC has provided guidance to banking institutions and consumers affected by COVID-19 and encouraged financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers and customers in affected communities.
- The Department of Labor has issued guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Paid Leave Requirements.
- NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers are providing services to small- and medium-sized manufacturers such as connecting businesses that are pivoting their production in response to the coronavirus to new supply chains, connecting firms with state resources, advising companies on new operational issues, and providing workforce support.
- COMPTIA offers eight cybersecurity tips for working remotely
- (new) “Wisconsin COVID-19 Startup Talent” project to help those displaced from jobs and employers now hiring
|
|
We apologize for the technical difficulty with the link to Tom Still's “Inside Wisconsin” Thursday.
Please take a few moments to read:
InsideWis: In Wisconsin, underlying strength of hospitals may be COVID-19 edge
As Wisconsin prepares for what public health experts predict will be a surge of COVID-19 cases requiring more than stay-at-home treatment, the state may have an edge not available in some places.
While the coronavirus crisis could change the state situation dramatically, Wisconsin hospitals are largely stable financially for now and the state has not experienced the steady drip of rural hospital closures that began in 2010.
About 135 U.S. hospitals have closed since 2015, according to the Healthcare Financial Management Association, including 47 in 2019 alone. That’s out of a total of roughly 6,100, of which about 130 are in Wisconsin. None of the 30 or so hospitals that entered bankruptcy in 2019 were reported to be in the state. Read the full article here.
|
|
TASC is “on-task”!
Madison-based Total Administrative Services Corp. (TASC) is making its expertise and emergency benefit accounts available for free to Dane County employers in 2020. To learn more about the emergency accounts offerings, go to tascresponds.com/covid-19. Read the full news release here. |
|
Move to online schools offers students chance to enter ‘Wisconsin YES!’ business plan contest
The
closing of schools across Wisconsin due to the COVID-19 epidemic means
teachers and students will pursue instruction opportunities online in
the coming weeks. One useful tool readily available for middle- and
high-school students is the Wisconsin Youth Entrepreneurs in Science, or
Wisconsin YES!, contest. Public, private and home-schooled students
across Wisconsin are eligible to turn their science- and tech-related
ideas into business plans and compete for cash and prizes. This
free, statewide youth business plan contest is modeled after the
successful Governor’s Business Plan Contest. It is open for online
entries from Wisconsin middle- and high-school students through 5 p.m.
April 13, 2020. The contest begins with a 250-word summary submitted through WisconsinYES.com.
|
|
|
|
| NEWSLETTER SPONSORS:
|
Stay on top of the real-time news coming out of the Tech Council.
We're on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram!
|
|
|
|
|
GET INVOLVED:
Tech Council Innovation Network membership:
Experience for yourself why the Innovation Network has been a Tech Council tradition for over a decade. With more than two dozen events annually, you'll expand your network while learning from top-notch speakers. When you become a member, your membership applies to all chapters, statewide. With a variety of membership types to choose from, you and/or your company will be sure to find a membership that fits your business goals. Join today!
Need help finding the membership level right for you?
Please contact Angela Schlobohm, development & member relations director:
angela@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com or 608-442-7557.
Tech Council Investor Networks membership:
Your $750 Investor Networks membership entitles you to one free pass to our two major conferences (Entrepreneurs' Conference and Early Stage Symposium), as well as regular Tech Council Innovation Network events.
|
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR SPONSORS |
|
|
|
|