Due to the rapidly developing situation concering the Coronavirus or COVID-19, the City of Abbeville has created this page as a business information platform to update the business community on current efforts to minimize the impact of and outline resources available to businesses within the City of Abbeville.

These current efforts include:

• Working with State and Federal Officials to identify available resources for Small Businesses
• Communicating the needs of our business community to State and Federal Officials
• Exploring creative ways to offset the burden of COVID-19 on Abbeville’s Business Community
• Offering guidance, when appropriate, concerning best business practices
• If you are a business owner with questions or concerns please reach out to the City’s Community Development Department

Current Mandates from the Governors Office:

• Executive Orders

Current Resources:

• Abbeville County 

• Chamber of Commerce Resource Page

• Accelerate South Carolina

• Upper Savannah CARES Revolving Loan Fund

• CARE ACT

  • The “Paycheck Protection Program” allows for eight weeks of cash flow assistance to small businesses who maintain their payroll.
    • More Information
    • Program Summation (Provided by Bench Accounting)
    • Both the Paycheck Protection Program and EIDL loans are now available.  Businesses are strongly encouraged to start gathering their application documents now, even if they do not intend to apply immediately, which will include financial statements and tax returns so that they may access the funds more quickly. Businesses are also encouraged to document how the loan funds are used so that will make the “forgiveness” part easier at the end (Paycheck Protection Program only). For detailed questions businesses are encouraged to reach out to their Banker or CPA who should be able to provide more insight in the coming days or direct them to a participating institution. The City will also try to answer any questions and connect business owners with approved lenders

(Please note that for the EIDL Program, the up to $10,000 cash advance IS forgiven)

• Three Step SBA Loan Process

• SBA Guide and Checklist

• Coronavirus Funding Options

• For more information please visit: Small Business Administration

• Treasury Department

  • Top Line Overview
  • Lender Information
  • Borrower Information
  • Borrower Application for PPP

• SC Department of Commerce

• Ten at the Top

• SC Department of Revenue

  • SCDOR Emergency Information

• IRS Tax Credit

  • The IRS is offering a Tax Credit which will be able to help  Small Businesses free up working capital during this time.
  • For more information please contact the IRS directly and visit the link below:
    • IRS Coronavirus Information
    • IRS Economic Impact Payment Information

• City of Abbeville

  • Hospitality Tax Payments for 2020 are now Available Online
  • The City is working to move business payments online as well
    • Contractor Business Licenses are currently available online
  • Statement of Economic Impact. Answers to the following questions will be used to help gauge the economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the City of Abbeville.  Participation in filling out this form is completely voluntary and not required.  Please note that the information may be shared with state and federal agencies. 
  • Online Form  /  Downloadable Version

• Hope South

  • Emergency Loans
  • Skip a Pay Program

• Abbeville Community Credit Union

  • Skip a Pay Program

• Abbeville County/ Economic Development Partnership

  • Abbeville County and the Economic Development Partnership are happy to assist Small Business Owners when possible and answer questions as needed.
  • Economic Development Partnership Website

• SC Emergency Management Division Small Business Resources

• SC Chamber of Commerce Resources

• Google for Small Businesses Resources

• United Way of Greenwood and Abbeville Counties

• Community Works

• Facebook

  • The social media company announced $100 million in grants for small businesses in a blog post on March 17. Details have yet to be announced for what businesses are eligible for the grants. There is a sign-up link in the blog post to stay updated when details are released.
  • Facebook Grants

• Card Issuers:

  • American Express Financial Hardship— Amex is evaluating accounts on a case-by-case basis under its Financial Hardship Relief program to provide support for cardholders impacted by COVID-19. If approved, your interest rate may be lowered to rates as low as 0%, and you may receive a waiver on late and other account fees. Just note that if you accept the relief, your accounts may be frozen, and you won’t be able to use them until paid off. Your Membership Rewards balance will also be frozen, and the issuer may notify the credit bureaus that your account limits were lowered.

    American Express Working Capital — Amex business cardholders can enroll with no credit check and get ongoing access to funds used for vendor payments between $500 and $150,000 with repayment terms of 30, 60 or 90 days. These charge a fixed fee between 0.6% and 5.25%.

    Chase — You can call the number on the back of your card and ask to speak with an account representative about the possibility of relief from fees and interest. Multiple readers have reported success in having interest and late fees waived due to hardship related to COVID-19.

Current Guidance from the Small Business Administration

• https://www.sba.gov/page/guidance-businesses-employers-plan-respond-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19 

Current Guidance from the CDC

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

For Employers:

Employers who have a temporary shutdown, are experiencing a slow or smaller workload than normal, or have temporary/seasonal work can request permission to file claims on their workers’ behalf.  You are allowed to file up to six weeks for your affected employees.  Your employees are exempt from work search requirements during those six weeks.  

• Department of Employment and Workforce
• COVID-19 and Unemployment Insurance Benefits
• Employer Filed Claims 1
• Employer Filed Claims 2
• Video Tutorial
• For additional guidance, Ben Calhoun at the SBDC may be able to offer assistance
  • 864.941.8092
  • bncalho@clemson.edu

For Employees:

If your work is affected by COVID-19, you can apply for Unemployment Insurance. This process and these benefits are the same as applying for benefits if you lose your job through no fault of your own. Below you can click through instructions that walk you through the registration and application portal. 

• Department of Employment and Workforce

Trying to file unemployment and been denied? See below for guidance from the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce.

"If you’re wondering why we’ve encouraged self-employed, 1099, church employees, gig workers, and contractors to apply and you’re denied normal UI benefits, we’ve done this so we can capture you in the system and retroactively pay out federal benefits when they’re available.

You will receive email, text or call explaining the next steps."

See below as well for links to additional assistance:

United Way

United Way 211 Program

Department of Social Services

Utility Payment Assistance

SC Thrive Rental Assistance Program

For Service Workers

The United States Bartenders Guild Foundation is offering assistance through grants to those who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and are having trouble providing for their daily necessities. Please share with any of our local bartenders or others who serve/prepare alcoholic beverages.

USBG Foundation