Families First Coronavirus Response Act Helps Americans Overcome COVID-19 Workplace Challenges The U.S. Department of Labor today announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) posted a temporary rule issuing regulations pursuant to this new law, effective today, April 1, 2020. FFCRA helps the United States combat the workplace effects of COVID-19 by reimbursing American private employers that have fewer than 500 employees with tax credits for the cost of providing employees with paid leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The law enables employers to keep their workers on their payrolls, while at the same…
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SBA Office of International Trade, March 31, 2020 – The Office of Inspector General recognizes that we are facing unprecedented times and is alerting the public about potential fraud schemes related to economic stimulus programs offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration in response to the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the largest financial assistance bill to date, includes provisions to help small businesses. Fraudsters have already begun targeting small business owners during these economically difficult times. Be on the lookout for grant fraud, loan fraud, and phishing. Scam and Fraud Scheme Advisory List The SBA does not initiate contact on either 7(a) or Disaster loans. If you are proactively contacted by someone claiming to be from the SBA, suspect fraud. The SBA does not provide grants to small businesses. The SBA provides guarantees…
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The Commitment to Community Award is presented quarterly to a Chamber member who demonstrates a commitment to improving the quality of life for residents and/or businesses in the greater Belleville area. The Ambassadors are honored to present this quarter’s award to The EDGE. The EDGE has become a staple and long-standing supporter in the Belleville community. It began as D.S. Vespers on West Main then moved to their current location on South Belt in 1998 in what used to be a grocery store and have since completed nine renovations. They are excited to continue growing and improving their customer experience this year. The EDGE is home to the world’s largest laser tag arena covering over 14,000 square foot and allow up to 60 people to play at a time. They are also known for their…
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Here at the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce, we are open and still here for our businesses and community. You can call during normal business hours or visit us in person wearing your face covering. We will continue to advocate for our business community as well as the health and safety of our community. As the threat of COVID-19 continues to spread to our communities, it is important for the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce to take the appropriate precautions outlined by local and national public health organizations. As of now, all Belleville Chamber in-person events are canceled through June 30, 2021. We hope you will join us for our online events to help keep our businesses and community connected during this time. We ENCOURAGE the community to continue supporting local businesses during this time of…
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As promotional and outreach activities are ramping up across the nation ahead of the 2020 Census, the City of Belleville want to help ensure all residents in the city get counted. As part of its outreach initiatives, the city established a Complete Count Committee, a diverse group of community representatives who were selected as trusted voices, representing various constituencies throughout the City of Belleville. “The Complete Count Committee brings together a cross-section of community members who will utilize their local knowledge and expertise to reach out to all persons in our community,” said Mayor Mark Eckert. Eckert said that the committee is set to deploy a comprehensive communication and community outreach campaign at the top of 2020 to ensure that every person who resides in Belleville has the resources and knowledge to get counted. According…
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