RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY COVID-19

City & County Reopening Plan

On May 1, 2020 Knox County and the City of Knoxville began a gradual, phased-in reopening of businesses. The plan highlighted the fact that the community will not be immediately returning to a pre-pandemic “normal” but instead outlined a 3 phase approach to reopening.

However, on June 17, 2020, the Knox County Board of Health voted instead to adopt Governor Lee's Tennessee Pledge guidance effective July 1, 2020. 

On July 15, 2020, the Knox County Board of Health adopted the COVID-19 Community Education Recommendation to aid with recommendations for Knox County businesses, schools, venues and residents.

On July 29, 2020, the Knox County Board of Health voted to issue a regulation titled the COVID-19 Suppression in Bars Regulation. The order is slated to go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on August 3, 2020. It shall remain in effect until 12:01 a.m. on August 20, 2020 and may be extended by the Board of Health if indicated by the current data.

• COVID-19 Suppression in Bars Regulation
• Knox Co. Board of Health COVID-19 Community Education Recommendation [PDF]
• Governor Lee's Tennessee Pledge
• City & County COVID-19 Phased Reopening Plan


Posters for Businesses

• Thank You For Wearing Masks Poster: 
Poster with City Logo [PDF]  |  Poster without City Logo [PDF]  |  español
• Protect Your Health and Help Us Stay Open Poster:
Poster in English [PDF]  |  español 
• Important Employee Guidance Poster:
Poster in English [PDF]  |  español 


CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program - U.S. Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act which will provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.


U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
• COVID-19 Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
• Apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan  |  Guide [PDF]
• Paycheck Protection Program


Tennessee Department of Economic & Community  Development
• COVID-19 Small Business Resources
• COVID-19 Broadband Resources
• Additional COVID-19 Resources


Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development
• COVID-19 Response & Resources
• COVID-19 Unemployment for Employers Information 


Launch Tennessee COVID-19 Updates - Launch Tennessee is a public-private partnership for Tennessee entrepreneurship resources. Their COVID-19 page provides guidance from health officials, updates from statewide network partners, resources to support small businesses and startups, webinars and other virtual learning opportunities, and other information as needed.


UTCIS COVID-19 Resource Dashboard - Industry resources, workforce protection, best practices, etc. from University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services.


IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief Information - The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.

RESOURCES FOR EMPLOYEES IMPACTED BY COVID-19

 
CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program - U.S. Congress passes Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act which will provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

Economic Impact Payments - What you need to know from the IRS and Treasury Department.

Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development
• COVID-19 Response & Resources
• COVID-19 Unemployment for Employees
• JOBS4TN.gov - Find a job, post resume, setup a virtual recruiter, etc.
• Tennessee Talent Exchange Initiative - For those unemployed to find work in the grocery, retail and logistics industries

Renter Resource Center - Information for Knox County residents worried about eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic

Greater Knoxville's GRACE Fund  |  Application [PDF]  - Artists and culture workers can apply for Grace fund support. Greater Knoxville’s GRACE Fund was created by the Arts & Culture Alliance as a confidential resource for local arts and culture workers who need financial assistance to meet basic needs.

Federal Employment Policy - Policy during COVID-19 from U.S. Department of Labor

SOCIAL SERVICES & OTHER ASSISTANCE

United Way of Greater Knoxville - Provides help for local non-profits and citizens, donations, etc.: 

211 Tennessee - Support at 865-215-4211 can provide helpful information for housing, utilities, food insecurity, employment, transportation, medical, etc.

KUB's Utility Payment - COVID-19 policy for information on suspended disconnections from KUB

Renter Resource Center - Information for Knox County residents worried about eviction during the COVID-19 pandemic

Pandemic EBT Benefits (P-EBT) - Financial assistance is available for families that qualify for free and reduced school lunches, including children ages 3 and 4 who attended pre-kindergarten who were eligible for free/reduced lunch. Application period for this program ends July 13, 2020.  More Information   |   Apply Online

Tennessee Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program  |  Registration - Tennessee Department of Human Services program for emergency cash assistance for certain families that lost employment due to COVID-19.   More Information   |  Apply Online

Freddie Mac Relief - Enhanced relief for borrowers and a relief plan for more than 4 million multi-family apartment renters

Bank Hardship Programs - Some banks and mortgage lenders (and credit card companies) are offering hardship programs or payment forbearance; call yours to ask about options

HUD Provides Relief -  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has implemented an immediate foreclosure and eviction moratorium for single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for the next 60 days. 

Federal Student Aid - FSA announced information on payments during COVID-19 pandemic.

Volunteer East Tennessee - List of COVID-19 volunteer opportunities in the East Tennessee area 

Free Child Care for Essential Employees - The Tennessee Department of Human Services has partnered with YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs to provide access to licensed child care for essential employees at no cost. This program is being offered through June 15, 2020