COVID-19 Resources

City of Abbeville

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:

Current Resources:

  • The Governor’s Office is asking all Businesses to complete the following 5 Minute Survey to help accelerateSC determine when and how to reopen SC’s Economy.

  • Abbeville County 

  • Chamber of Commerce Resource Page

  • Accelerate South Carolina

  • 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

PPA vs. EIDL

EIDL Flyer

PPP Flyer

PPP Flyer 2

Tax Deferment Flyer

(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

  • SC Department of Commerce

  • Ten at the Top

  • SC Department of Revenue

    •  Offering additional time to file and pay to assist taxpayers during the COVID-19 outbreak, as announced on March 17. Tax returns and payments due April 1 – June 1 will now be due June 1, 2020. Penalty and interest will not be charged if payment is made by June 1. This includes South Carolina Individual Income Taxes, Corporate Income Taxes, Sales and Use Tax, Admissions Tax, Withholding Tax, and other taxes administered by the SCDOR. Automatically applying this tax relief for all applicable returns and payments; you don’t need to take any additional action.  
    • 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.
    • The Treasury Department and IRS just announced a three-month delay for any tax payments owed up to $1 million. You’ll still need to file your returns by April 15, 2020 but will have until July 15 to pay. This will apply to individual tax returns but should also cover many pass-through entities and small businesses.
    • For more information please contact the IRS directly and visit the link below:

  • City of Abbeville

    • Temporary 45 Day Suspension of Utility Disconnects (From March 18)
      • Late fees still apply for non-payment.
      • Update: The City has no intention of disconnecting customers for non payment at this time and is waiting for guidance from the State and Federal Government.
    • 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
    • Business License: due date extended from April 15 to June 15 with no penalty.  Per City Policy, penalties will begin to accrue at that time.
    • Hospitality Tax: March 2020-April 2020 Hospitality Tax due dates have been extended to June 20th with no penalty. May 2020 hospitality taxes will remain due on June 20th
    • 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

  • Abbeville First Bank

    • To help alleviate the stress, upon request AFB will defer the loan payments on any small business loans for the month of April and May. If you have a consumer or mortgage loan and you have had a significant loss of income due to the virus crisis, AFB will defer your April and May payments upon request. .

  • Hope South

    • Emergency Loans
    • Skip a Pay Program

  • Abbeville Community Credit Union

    • Skip a Pay Program

  • Abbeville County/ Economic Development Partnership

  • 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

Current Guidance from the CDC

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.  

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. 

DEW

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."

"(New information as of April 10)

Timeline Regarding CARES Act Implementation in SC:
Under the CARES Act, there are three programs that are coming to South Carolina, expanding benefits and providing additional financial relief to the good people of our state.

Since receiving the guidance from the Department of Labor, we have been working tirelessly with our vendor partner to expedite the massive system upgrades and changes that are required to accept the following temporary federal programs.
In an effort to expedite the process and put money into your pockets, we’re rolling out the program in phases and we’re committing to paying out the benefits prior to receiving the federal funding for these programs.

Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) will provide an additional $600 per week, in addition to normal unemployment insurance benefits, to eligible claimants. We will begin making payments by the week ending April 18.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) provides compensation for individuals who weren’t previously found eligible for unemployment benefits. We anticipate being able to accept claims for PUA no later than the week ending April 25.

Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) will provide up to 13 additional weeks of benefits to those who have already exhausted their standard state UI benefits of 20 weeks. We anticipate being able to accept and process PEUC claims in the coming weeks.

More details to come on specifics and we promise to communicate that out to you!"  

For Residents

The S.C. Supreme Court on Thursday (March 19) ordered a statewide halt on foreclosures, its latest measure aimed at ensuring people don’t lose their homes during the coronavirus outbreak. 

The edict from Chief Justice Donald Beatty called for an indefinite moratorium on any foreclosure hearings, sale of foreclosed property or other court orders mandating people leave their homes. 

Beatty also ordered a freeze on all evictions until May 1st.

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