Hello All! Hope everyone is doing ok, especially with the events over the past week contributing to the uncertainty of 2020. If you have questions, of course don’t hesitate to reach out to our office. In our continuing efforts to keep you informed, following are some updated resources if you haven’t already seen them:
-Leaders from across Charleston area helped assemble this site, now live and full of useful information about continuing the safe re-opening of businesses: https://oneregionstrategy.com/reignite-charleston/
-State of SC continues to post useful and relevant information on re-opening: https://accelerate.sc.gov/.
-In the event you took a PPP loan, the SBA recently released guidance on the forgiveness of these loans. Most banks who participated in the program are communicating with their clients ‘best practices’, make sure you follow them. Following is the SBA loan forgiveness application, but each bank may have their own to more easily process a large number of applications: https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/3245-0407%20SBA%20Form%203508%20PPP%20Forgiveness%20Application.pdf.
-There has been much discussion about liabilitysafe-harbors both on the State and National level, but nothing yet in place. Generally speaking, I’ve heard following previously shared guidelines helpful and some businesses are requesting release forms for customers in absence of safe harbors.
-Mostly bi-partisan legislation was passed in the House last week that has a high likelihood of being signed, even if modified from current form. We’ve attached a RJ summary of legislation, but following are relevant areas for business owners esp relating to forgiveness of PPP loans: reduction in amount required to payroll (from 75% to 60%), extension of time to use loan (8 weeks to 24 weeks), and a ‘return to work’ bonus for employees on unemployment.
-If you are having difficulty bringing employees back to work since sometimes unemployment is higher than previous wages, the SC Department of Employment and Workforce recently stated that you can inform them and benefits will be eliminated. Obviously, careful with this one given a government bonus may be offered in the future.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us, especially as your business affects your personal balance sheet.