The Telfair County Chamber of Commerce seeks to provide access to recommendations, regulations, services and expertise to its members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this mission remains constant. Prior to acting, members should consult their own professional advisors for information and counsel specific to the individual and unique situations faced by organizations, individuals and corporations. The opinions, interpretations and recommendations of the Telfair County Chamber of Commerce are informational only and should not be relied upon by the recipient as legal or professional advice. The Telfair County Chamber of Commerce makes no representations as to the accuracy or reliability of the content contained herein. Users of this information accept any and all risks associated with the use of such information and agree that the Telfair County Chamber of Commerce has no liability to user.
The Telfair County Chamber Office will be closed to the public until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However we are still here to assit you. You may contact us by calling (229) 868-6365 or emailing us at rogers@telfairco.org.
There is a new opportunity offered by UGA SBDC for a presentation on ways to pivot business practices for success after COVID-19. This program, developed by University of Georgia SBDC business consultants and offered in coordination with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, will walk entrepreneurs and small business owners through the steps necessary to pivot their business after COVID-19.
Topics include:
Re-writing your business plan
Financial best practices
Communications strategies
Resources to pivot for success
The presentation will be available for Region 9 businesses on June 2 at 3:00 p.m. Pre-registration is available by CLICKING HERE.
Join us on Tuesday, June 2nd at 3:00pm for a new webinar for small business owners: “After COVID-19, Ways to Pivot your Business to Succeed”
The curriculum, developed by the UGA Small Business Development Center and offered in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, will assist small business owners in pivoting their business after COVID-19.
Produced by: Seth-Collins Sheley | The Seth Effect Edits & Photography
"Finished my small business documentary for my Media Production 2 class and I like how it turned out! Thank you to everyone who helped me do this." Seth-Collins Sheley.
"A couple of weeks ago I met with Seth Sheley. He graduated from Telfair County High School and is currently attending college in Valdosta. One of his assignments was to do a documentary about small businesses and he chose Telfair County. He did an excellent job." Paula Anderson, President of Telfair County Chamber of Commerce. "Now More Than Ever! We need to support our local small businesses! So remember to SHOP LOCAL!
*Governor Kemp: May 28, 2020 | Executive Order: Renewal of Public Health State of Emergency
*Governor Kemp: May 12, 2020 | Executive Order: Regarding the Department of Driver Services and on the Road Driving Exam. CLICK HERE to read.
*Governor Kemp: May 12, 2020 | Executive Order: Providing additional guidance for reviving a healthy Georgia in response to COVID-19. CLICK HERE to read.
*Governor Kemp: May 8, 2020 | Temporarily extsending the 30-day renewal requirement for Georgia Weapons Carry Licenses. CLICK HERE to read.
*Governor Kemp: April 30, 2020 | Executive Order: Renewal of Public Health State of Emergency. CLICK HERE to read.
*Governor Kemp: April 23, 2020 | Executive Order: Recovering a Healthy Georgia. CLICK HERE to read.
*Governor Kemp: April 20, 2020 | Flexibility for Healthcare, Practices, Moving Certain Businesses to Minimum Operations, & Providing for Emergency Response. CLICK HERE to read.
*GA Chamber: April 20, 2020 | COVID-10 Resource and Recovery | Minimum Basic Operations: CLICK HEREto read.
*Renewal of Public Health State of Emergency dated April 8, 2020. CLICK HERE to read.
*Kemp, Duncan, Ralston Announce Plans to Extend Public Health State of Emergency
Congress passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2.2 trillion stimulus package, and SBA programs are designed to lead the way in small business recovery. The state of Georgia is laser-focused on economic recovery and appreciates that small business (companies with fewer than 500 employees) are lynchpin to our economy.
Yesterday, Governor Kemp announced the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and the Small Business Development Centers are partnering to make sure that every small business in Georgia is aware of these programs. You can read the full press release here.
Beginning next week, we will conduct a series of webinars to help explain the small business assistance in the CARES Act. More information about these webinars and other tools to assist Georgia’s small businesses can be found at:
ADVISORY: OPEN MEETINGS FOR GEORGIA LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN CONJUNCTION WITH COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) MEASURES1
What if the development authority can’t meet?
What to do if your project is in mid-stream and the development authority can’t meet to take action? The answer is a “virtual meeting”. But under Georgia’s Open Meetings Act, “virtual meeting” raises as many questions as it answers. These are addressed in the advisory. The advisory applies to other local authorities and local governments, as well as development authorities,
For more information: Daniel M. McRae, Partner Seyfarth Shaw LLP 1075 Peachtree Street, N.E. Suite 2500 Atlanta, GA 30309
What if the development authority can’t meet?
What to do if your project is in mid-stream and the development authority can’t meet to take action? The answer is a “virtual meeting”. But under Georgia’s Open Meetings Act, “virtual meeting” raises as many questions as it answers. These are addressed in the downloadable advisory. The advisory applies to other local authorities and local governments, as well as development authorities.
For more information: Daniel M. McRae, Partner Seyfarth Shaw LLP 1075 Peachtree Street, N.E. Suite 2500 Atlanta, GA 30309
DCA Notice of Intent (NOI) Deadline Extension
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is allowing for an extension of time to preserve a business’ benefits in its current classification of Job Tax Credit in situations where those credits have changed to a less beneficial designation under the Tier, Military Zone, or Less Developed Census Tract designations, based on the business location.
Notice of Intent Deadline Extended to April 30, 2020 In light of the COVID-19 crisis, DCA has extended the Notice of Intent (NOI) deadline from March 31, 2020, to April 30, 2020. The NOI is provided to assist businesses which plan for growth and expansion of its labor force. A NOI may be filed with the Commissioner of DCA to preserve the benefits associated with the tier status, military zone designation, or less developed census tract designation in an area that has been reclassified. DCA will re-evaluate any need to make additional changes to the extended deadline as the date approaches. In the meantime, businesses do not need to file any additional forms or call DCA to qualify for this extension. We encourage businesses to file as soon as possible and welcome early submissions.
If you have any questions, or require additional information, contact: Tricia DePadro, CPA Tax Credit Program Manager Georgia Department of Community Affairs Direct 404-679-1585 Tricia.DePadro@dca.ga.gov
Coronavirus Safety Tips from the American Red Cross:
For questions related to this industry-specific process, please visit www.sba.gov
The Georgia Chamber is working to support fact-based communication as we weather the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Administration currently has two major loan programs in response to COVID-19. A business can apply for both the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and Paycheck Protection Program IF there are different use of proceeds for each program. Funds from these loans cannot be comingled. Attached is a PDF out of the Chamber summarizing the key points for these programs. This piece can also be found along with a host of other resources on the Chamber’s website at www.gachamber.com/covid19.
Georgia Department of Labor
COVID-19:NEW Information for filing for unemployment, mandatory filing by employers for partial claims, and reemployment services.
Please note that Questions 52-54 address public sector employees and appear to clarify that the Emergency Family Medical Leave Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act apply to all local governments, regardless of size. In addition, Question 57 defines “emergency responder.” CLICK HERE to read.
Employers are required to file partial claims on behalf of their employees whenever it is necessary to temporarily reduce work hours or there is no work available for a short period.Any employer found to be in violation of this rule will be required to reimburse GDOL for the full amount of unemployment insurance benefits paid to the employee.
Please see the following links for quick access to the following:
Thank you for all your responses. We understand that your questions are incredibly important, and we would like to handle your claim with care. Due to the urgency of your situation, we encourage you to use our detailed FAQ pages to answer your questions in a timely manner. Thank you for your cooperation during this critical time!
The IRS is urging all taxpayers to file their 2019 taxes electronically, as the IRS is practicing social distancing and is not processing paper tax returns or refunds. You can read more about their recommendations by CLICK HERE.
The IRS released a web tool for those who do not normally file a tax return to receive their Economic Impact Payment, provided by the CARES Act. (Reminder: Social Security beneficiaries do not have to file a tax return to get their Economic Impact Payment!) You can learn more about who should use this tool by CLICKING HERE
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The Cares Act allows employers to delay payment of their share social security taxes and those who are self-employed to delay payment of certain taxes. The IRS released a FAQ to help employers navigate this relief. CLICK HERE to read.
Department of Revenue Automatically Extending 2019 Filing Deadline
The Georgia Department of Revenue is automatically extending the 2019 income tax filing and payment deadline to July 15, 2020. Vehicle registrations that expire between March 16, 2020 and May 14, 2020 are being extended through May 15, 2020.
STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT: USDA Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19 WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020 –
USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America.
CLICK HERE to read the full announcement to learn more about the opportunities USDA Rural Development is implementing to provide immediate relief to our customers, partners, and stakeholders.
From David Perdue, United States Senator from Georgia:
Economic relief payments for eligible Americans have started going out, both through direct deposit and physical checks. Unfortunately, scammers may try to steal your money and your personal information.
I wanted to pass along a few tips to help you avoid potential scams and keep your money safe.
No matter what, the IRS will NEVER:
Email you
Call you before contacting you by mail
Ask you to provide personal or financial information
Make threats to suspend your Social Security Number or arrest you
Offer early relief payments for a fee
To protect yourself from COVID-19 scams, you should:
Hang up on robocalls
Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits
Watch out for emails claiming to be from the CDC or WHO – don’t click links from sources you don’t know
Avoid making donations by cash, gift card, or by wiring money
To report potential fraud, visit www.treasury.gov or call the IRS Scam Hotline at 1-800-366-4484.
If you have been a victim of identity theft, click here
From the GA Chamber
CLICK HERE to read the latest set of recommendations and guidance for businesses relative to COVID-19 as of today, March 25, 2020 at 12noon.
I wanted to share urgent information that I just received with all of you. Due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, all field operations have been suspended. So there should not be anyone from the US Census Bureau going door to door at this time. If they are, or if you see anything suspicious, please report this to your local authorities.In addition to this, our Update Leave Operations have also been suspended. Update Leave is basically the team that goes door to door to hand deliver the 2020 Census paper form to those who do not have mailboxes. This is critical for rural communities. Many have not received the Census form due to the interruption. This is where your work will be critical. We need all hands on deck to get the word out to have everyone self respond either online at www.my2020census.gov or via telephone at 1-844-330-2020. This is very important, particularly for our hard to count communities and communities with poor internet connectivity who were relying on the paper forms.If you have any questions or need more clarity, don't hesitate to reach out. Our communities are counting on us!Sherrell E. ByrdPartnership Specialist, Southwest Georgia Field Division/ Atlanta Regional Office Connect with us@uscensusbureau GET COUNTED! Shape your future, start here! >> www.my2020census.gov
Department of Family & Children Services
Effective Monday, March 23, DFCS offices are temporarily reducing in-person operations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As a result, we encourage you to use slef service options during this time. CLICK HERE for more information and resources.
STAKEHOLDER ANNOUNCEMENT: USDA Rural Development Launches
Utilities / Services Suspending Disconnections: Many utilities and services are suspending disconnections as a result of COVID-19. GEMA / HSA is maintaining a list on their website under Coronavirus Informationthat is updated as new information becomes available. Encourage your residents to contact their providers directly if they are concerned about paying their bills. Some businesses also are offering alternate payment options.
Update from Motor Vehicle Division of GA Dept of Revenue:
The Georgia Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is extending all motor vehicle registrations that expire between March 16, 2020, and May 14, 2020. Those registrations are extended through May 15, 2020. This extension applies to personal passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and vehicles registered in the Georgia International Registration Plan (IRP). The extension also applies to Temporary Operating Permits (TOPs) (also called "drive-off tags") issued at the time of a vehicle purchase. Registrations that expired before March 16, 2020 do not qualify for this extension. For more information, click here .
Resource guidelines provided by David Perdue, United States Senator of Georgia
The WorkSource Heart of Georgia Altamaha Workforce Development Area includes the counties of Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox. This area receives Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds (Federal Department of Labor funds set aside for employment related services) for the seventeen counties to provide On-The-Job, Youth Services and Individual Training Accounts.
While you’re protecting yourself to prevent the spread of coronavirus, you should also be protecting your finances. During this pandemic, especially with the anticipated economic impact payments, criminals are creating new ways to obtain information from unsuspecting people. Those who are expecting to receive their economic impact payment by check must also be wary of counterfeits. According to the United States Department of the Treasury and the United States Secret Service, you should look for the following security features to determine the legitimacy of your economic impact payment check:
Treasury Seal with bleeding ink: There will be a seal to the right of the Statue of Liberty that reads “Bureau of the Fiscal Service.” If moisture is applied to the Treasury Seal, the black ink will bleed red.
Watermark: All U.S. Treasury checks are printed on watermark paper that reads “U.S. Treasury.” This watermark will be visible on both the front and back sides of the check when held up to a light source.
Micro-printing: The back side of the check will be printed with a line of repeating “USA” that is visible when magnified, but appears as just a line to the naked eye.
Economic Impact Payment: This is the official name for these checks, and will be in the memo line on the lower right corner of the check beside the Statue of Liberty. The line below will read “President Donald J. Trump.”
Learn more about the security features in U.S. Treasury checks here to protect yourself from fraudulent Economic Impact Payments. For information on other scams to be on the lookout for during this time, check out our blog article about COVID-19 Scams to avoid. Visit our website for the most recent updates on our response to COVID-19.
WMOC 88.7FM is a Christian/Educational Radio Station located in Lumber City, Ga and we are willing to announce educational news and articles about the virus safety precautions and other health advice, free of charge, from doctors, nurses or other authorized persons. We also would like to broadcast the school happenings and events.
News and events can be email to wmoc887@yahoo.com or fax to 912.363.2106.
