During times of uncertainty, Americans come together to support each other. COVID-19 is a new test of our collective strength. As social distancing and self-quarantining become the new normal, we’re facing new economic challenges. Industries are seeing sales decline, and workers are losing tips, wages or jobs because of canceled events, business and school closures. Children from low-wage families may not be getting breakfast or lunch when schools are closed.

To support this rapidly escalating need, of Coastal Carolina has created the COVID-19 Community Relief Fund.

The fund will support areas of need that could include food, housing and utility assistance. UWCC will coordinate with local non-profits to determine on-going needs and fund distribution. We expect that these needs may change in the days and weeks ahead.

United Way of Coastal Carolina Executive Director Sandra Phelps notes that “Through the years, United Way has responded to many natural disasters in our four county area. This pandemic has created times of uncertainty just like any natural disaster we have experienced. United Way is committed to helping our area’s most vulnerable families.”

One hundred percent of donations made to the COVID-19 Community Relief Fund will support efforts to provide relief to people impacted by Coronavirus and its effect on the communities served by United Way of Coastal Carolina.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to North Carolina small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Roy Cooper on March 17, 2020. 

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the entire state of North Carolina; and the contiguous counties of Fannin, Rabun, Towns and Union in Georgia; Cherokee, Chesterfield, Dillon, Greenville, Horry, Lancaster, Marlboro, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and York in South Carolina; Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Polk, Sevier and Unicoi in Tennessee; and Brunswick, Carroll, Chesapeake City, Danville City, Grayson, Greensville, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Southampton, Suffolk City and Virginia Beach City in Virginia. 

“SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist North Carolina small businesses with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help these small businesses recover from the financial impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” said Administrator Carranza. 

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process. 

“Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said Carranza. 

“These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing,” Carranza added. 

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75 percent.

SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339.

Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. 

The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 18, 2020. 

For more information about Coronavirus, please visit: Coronavirus.gov. 

For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus. 

CLICK HERE – Craven County Government

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CLICK HERE – Pitt County Government

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CLICK HERE – Carteret County Health Department Web Site

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Citizens Inquiry Phone Line: 252-726-7060. This phone line is staffed for questions from the public that are not answered via the automated phone line. This line is staffed Monday-Friday from 8am to 5 pm.

Public Information Recording- 252-726-7177. This line provides recorded informationnregarding several topics of guidance for Carteret County Citizens. The information will include:

1. Number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Carteret County.

2. What to do if you are feeling sick or think you may be exposed to Covid-19.

3. Contact information for the Carteret County Health Department.

4. General guidance for sheltering in place and good hygiene procedures.

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CLICK HERE – Beaufort County Government

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CLICK HERE – City of Washington Facebook

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CLICK HERE – Town of Oriental Facebook

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