The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that it will provide small businesses affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus up to $2 million nationally in disaster assistance loans; however, businesses in Iowa will not be able to apply for disaster loans until Gov. Kim Reynolds applies for and receives an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration from the SBA, the SBA’s Iowa District Office noted. Awarded loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills gone unpaid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere, and 2.75% for nonprofits. Businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The SBA offers guidance for businesses and employers responding to the coronavirus online. 

The U.S. Department of Labor announced new guidance on unemployment insurance flexibility for states during the coronavirus outbreak. Federal law allows states to pay benefits where: an employer temporarily ceases operations due to the coronavirus, preventing employees from coming to work; an individual is quarantined with the expectation of returning to work after the quarantine is over; and an individual leaves employment due to risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member. Federal law does not require an employee to quit in order to receive benefits due to the impact of coronavirus. An individual receiving paid sick leave or paid family leave is still receiving pay, and is ineligible for unemployment insurance.  

The American Lung Association in Iowa is postponing the 2020 Fight For Air Climb “until public health concerns around the coronavirus subside,” the organization announced in a statement today. A 2020 date has not yet been decided on.

Please Pass the Love is canceling the annual Let Love Lead Youth Leadership Summit this year, opting to hold an online mini-summit instead on April 4, the organization announced this afternoon. All payments for the sold-out event have been refunded, and the online summit will be available from 2 to 5 p.m. Attendees may save the following link to attend the digital leadership summit on April 4: https://zoom.us/j/376817511.