What can you do to show you care?
- Stay Home – By staying home and practicing social distancing you minimize risk of catching COVID-19 and spreading it to others.
- Call Ahead – If you think you may be sick, call your doctor or dial 2-1-1 to get instructions on what you should do next. By simply showing up to your doctor’s office you run the risk of spreading your illness or catching an illness from someone else.
- Shop Local – Shop online and use delivery to continue support local businesses in our area.
- Verify News – There is a lot of information circulating on COVID-19, always verify information through the CDC website. For information on local efforts, visit the City of Brownsville’s website. (hyperlink websites)
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2-1-1 is a Texas Health & Human Services run hotline that can answer your questions related COVID-19. Frequent concerns they can assist with are:
- Where do I go if I don’t have a Doctor?
- What if I don’t have insurance?
- Additional guidance for Doctors’ Offices, Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Adult Day Cares
- Call in by simply dialing 2-1-1.
Small Business
On March 17th, Governor Abbott requested that the Administrator of the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) implement a Small Business Administrative declaration to provide assistance in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans for all Texas counties as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) (see letter attached). Once that happens (expected in the next couple of days) small business owners will be eligible to apply through the portal on their web page: https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19. Currently you are unable to proceed past the part where it asks for the designated disaster area number. If you have any questions Angela Burton District Director is available to field questions at angela.burton@sba.gov.
It is crucial that for now, all small business owners, visit the page and:
- read its contents carefully;
- start working on filling out the necessary forms (See requirements below and forms attached) and begin gathering proper documentation to submit for the economic support to overcome the temporary loss of revenue.
All businesses are urged to create an SBA account as soon as possible so that they can apply online easier when the applications open after declaration. There will be guidance provided by SBA and a helpline but they welcome local involvement and are willing to train trainers to assist with filling out forms and submitting applications. City staff along with Chamber, BCIC and GBIC staff are already looking at the most effective way to partner with SBA to offer this to our business community.
Application Requirements:
- Loan application (SBA Form 5), completed and signed (this is electronic/online in the portal)
- Tax Information Authorization (IRS Form 4506-T), completed and signed by each applicant, each principal owning 20 percent or more of the applicant business, each general partner or managing member; and, for any owner who has more than 50 percent ownership in an affiliate business. Affiliates include, but are not limited to, business parents, subsidiaries, and/or other businesses with common ownership or management
- Complete copies, including all schedules, of the most recently filed Federal income tax returns for the applicant business; an explanation if not available
- Personal Financial Statement (SBA Form 413) completed, signed, and dated by the applicant, each principal owning 20 percent or more of the applicant business, and each general partner or managing member
- Schedule of Liabilities listing all fixed debts (SBA Form 2202 may be used) All of these forms are available in the Disaster Loan Application Portal.
RESOURCES (also in Spanish):
- For broad information on Brownsville and Coronavirus please visit: https://www.cob.us/2066/Coronavirus-Updates
- For small businesses information please visit and register on https://assist.brownsvilleedc.org/. The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), the City of Brownsville, and The Brownsville Chamber of Commerce are seeking to help employers and our workforce in Brownsville, Texas, respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Economic Stimulus Package
On Wednesday, March 18th, 2020 the U.S. Senate passed an Economic Stimulus package to assist Americans during this tumultuous time.
The House had previously passed this bill Saturday, March 14th. More details to come…
