At the onset of the Coronavirus crisis, the Greater Salisbury Committee (GSC) moved its March 27, 2020 Business Roundtable to March 17, 2020 to allow for the first meeting of the SBY Coronavirus Task Force. Joining GSC in hosting was the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce and the Salisbury – Wicomico Economic Development Corporation. The purpose was to begin discussion on our community’s collective response to the Covid-19 situation. Other members of the task force included the Mayor of Salisbury, Office of the County Executive, Superintendent of Wicomico County Public Schools and the Office of the President of Peninsula Regional Medical Center and Health System. It was decided, and without certainty of the future impact of Covid-19 on our community, to meet every Tuesday thereafter. All meetings would be broadcast live via multiple channels including Zoom, YouTube, Facebook and more and anyone can watch or call in to participate, offer input and pose questions to panelists. Recognizing the severity of the situation, our first action was the drafting and submission of the following letter to State elected leaders.
SWED Steps / Initiatives
3/16 Conference call with Maryland Secretary of Commerce Kelly Schulz to learn about Maryland’s response and to communicate needs of our business community. Established a web link on SWED’s home page to immediately connect users to updated Covid-19 information and resources.
3/19 Conference call with senator Ben Cardin and Senator Chris Van Hollen to learn more about the federal response and to communicate needs of our business community.
3/22 Identified space and contacted principals on availability of such space that may or may not be needed in the future in accordance with a request through Wicomico’s Emergency Management office and Maryland Emergency Management office.
3/23 Via conference call, convened area bankers (eight) to discuss needs of the small business community and prospective financial relief programs.
3/23 Reached out directly to large employers especially those within our manufacturing community to communicate our local, state and federal response and to offer assistance wherever needed.
3/24 Meeting #2 of the SBY Coronavirus Task Force. Communicated the following: (a) Wicomico County now eligible for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (communicated via social channels as well) (b) relayed banking group suggestions to include businesses contact existing lenders to seek guidance and assistance in restructuring current agreements (c) relayed the same with regard to landlords (d) reviewed Maryland Commerce’ Covid-19 Relief programs including loans, grants, manufacturing conversion for needed supplies throughout Maryland; advocated to Maryland Commerce the need for such programs to include single member companies and the ‘gig’ economy (e) relayed Maryland Department of Labor’s response to include added unemployment insurance benefits and reduced requirements for retaining such benefits .
3/25 Toured various ‘potential’ sites that may be needed by Maryland’s Emergency Management Team.
3/27 Participated in a Zoom webinar with representatives from private equity firm MCVC Partners and FounderTrac Accelerator, entrepreneurs, small businesses and consultants in the Anne Arundel area to learn best practices, how others are dealing with the Covid-19 situation and plan for further connectivity to our local entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Fall.
3/30 Conference Call with Salisbury area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Salisbury Committee to plan for Tuesday’s SBY Coronavirus Task Force meeting. Continued to assist firms in issues ranging from daycare eligibility for essential employees to response protocol by authorities should an employee contract the virus.
3/31 SBY Task Force Meeting #3. Co-chaired and hosted invited guests including: (1) Chris Davis, President of the Farmers Bank of Willards (2) Roxane Gabrielson, CPA and Emilee Snader, CPA of PKS Accounting to discuss specifics of the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) to include (a) stimulus checks to families and individuals and (b) beneficial aspects of the Act to businesses. (3) Jim Harstein, the Insurance Market to discuss business interruption insurance and other insurance related issues such as cyber breaches when employees work remotely. (4) Alicia Dennis, Regional Consultant to the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation to discuss Unemployment Insurance as such relates to individuals and businesses and (5) John Hickman, Director of the Small Business Development Center to discuss SBDC’s role as well as upcoming webinars on how to complete SBA – Maryland assistance applications. Picture: SBY Coronavirus Task Force Meeting #3.
4/03 Contacted Wicomico County Farm Bureau to gauge and understand the impact of the Covid pandemic on Wicomico’s ag industry and what assistance may be needed now or in the future. One local farmer was readying to add online sales with curbside pickup at his farmers market. Some were unsure about strawberry picking operations, overall retail sales at farmer’s markets and availability of H-2A visas. Made aware of all federal, state and county efforts.
4/06 Connected with local lenders on success of Friday’s Paycheck Protection Program. Overall, area banks want to help and were fairly well prepared though it was a frustrating start. The challenge was changing SBA applications, unclear guidelines and mostly, an inability to connect to the SBA portal for application submission due to enormous demand on the SBA’s E-Tran platform. Many banks offering their own assistance (i.e. forbearance agreements, loan modifications, etc.)
4/06 Direct outreach to larger area employers offering assistance.
4/07 SBY Coronavirus Task Force Mtg. #4. Discussed status of State and Federal relief programs with in-depth narrative on the recently released SBA Paycheck Protection Program. Reiterated first line of defense for business is to contact lender for possible forbearance or other loan modifications. Also spoke regarding current status of Unemployment Insurance claims (2,818 for two week period ending Mar. 28, 2020 vs. 175 for all of Mar. 2019). Discussed underpinnings of local economy are still in place with many if not most of our manufacturers and large employers still operating. Maintained and enhanced contact with current and pipeline projects.
4/08 Participated in Council of Development Finance Agency (CDFA) webinar briefing on potential structure of second federal stimulus package.
4/09 Participated in International Asset Management Council (IAMC) Webinar ‘Economic Recovery Incentives – Positioning Strategies’. Surveyed area bankers on the status of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program. While most remained frustrated but hopeful of funding next week, one local small business did receive funding.
04/12 Participated as a panelist during Greater Salisbury’s April meeting (virtual) and provided an update on SBA, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and Maryland Commerce relief programs. Updated the group on SWED activities.
04/13 Discussed Maryland Comptroller’s revised revenue estimates and potential impact on county finances with County Executive and staff.
04/14 SBY Coronavirus Task Force meeting #5. Updated group on CARES ‘2’ and in particular, the Main Street Lending Program. Also indicated SBA’s Paycheck Protection funds were now reaching local businesses. Encouraged self employed, independent contractors and others to register on Maryland’s D.L.L.R. website for the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program ($600 per week over and above Md.’s coverage).
04/15 Along with airport staff , County Executive office and other airport commission members, reviewed the impact and opportunities associated with the CARES Act related to airports in general and specifically, to Salisbury-Wicomico Regional Airport operations. Discussed and explored the potential lending environment and needs of businesses in the next two to three months with area lenders.
04/16 Conducted email initiative and direct calls to selected manufacturers and employers offering updates on the status of the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program and Treasury’s upcoming Main Street Lending Program. Explored expansion and new opportunities associated with potential supply chain disruptions.
04/21 CARES Act discussion with SBY and County officials. SBY Coronavirus Task Force Meeting #6.
04/22 Outreach to area lenders and businesses for discussion regarding existing federal and state CV-19 relief programs.
04/24 CARES Act discussion with SBY and County officials. Conference call with other Economic Development officials inclusive of Secretary of Commerce Kelly Schulz.
04/28 CARES Act discussion with County officials, Salisbury Mayor and SBY Coronavirus Task Force Meeting #7. One on one business and area lender outreach.
04/29 Conference with small business owners representing a variety of industries and corporate structures. Separate meeting with Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss various ‘traffic drivers’ for area businesses once restart begins.
04/30 CARES Act discussion with County officials and conference with SWED loan committee members to explore potential assistance to small business community particularly once restart begins. Separate conference with Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore to explore potential partnerships moving forward.
05/01 CARES act funding discussion with County and Maryland Commerce officials; facilitated presentation to Maryland Department of Budget and Management.
05/04 Conference with Maryland Commerce representatives regarding CARES funding and state programs applicable to Wicomico businesses. Meeting with Greater Salisbury and Salisbury Area Chamber discussing ‘demand and capacity” as a major concern of business community in recovery.
05/05 SBY Coronavirus Task Force meeting #8. Greater Salisbury, SWED and Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce to form a task force focused on generating demand for area businesses. Meeting with County Executive Office on status of CARES funding.
05/08 Greater Salisbury and Salisbury Area Chamber planning discussion for upcoming session with numerous businesses on ways to generate and enhance consumer demand for products and services from local businesses during recovery phase of CV-19. Continued discussion of CARES Act with local government representatives, SWED members and counterparts throughout Maryland.
05/12. SBY Coronavirus-19 Task Force meeting #9. CARES, ‘demand panel’ and consumer confidence were topics of discussion.
05/14 ‘How to Generate Local Demand’ panel discussion – in cooperation with Greater Salisbury Committee and Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce.
05/15 Conference with Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot and representatives of local business community. CARES Act discussion with local governments and small businesses. Released with partners Roadmap to Recovery guidelines.
05/19 SBY Coronavirus – 19 Task force meeting #10. Conference with Restaurant Association of Maryland.
05/20 CARES Act – SWED discussion.
05/22 CARES Act discussion with local governments and small businesses.
05/26 CARES Act discussion with Maryland – Wicomico Health Department officials. SBY Task Force Meeting #11.
05/27 CARES Act discussion with SWED members, representatives from Greater Salisbury and Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce.
05/29 CARES Act discussion with Maryland – Wicomico Health Department officials.
06/01 State Restaurant Association conference.
06/02. SBY Coronavirus – 19 Task force meeting #10.
06/05. Conference with IT – CARES Act.
06/08 Maryland Shore Restaurant Association event: Grasonville, MD.
06/09 SBY Coronavirus – 19 Task force meeting #11.
06/11 Maryland Restaurant Association conference. Panelist for Maryland Economic Development Association webex conference.
06/16 SBY Coronavirus – 19 Task force meeting #12.
06/18 Launch of SWED Commerce Business Assistance Fund targeting Wicomico businesses that applied for the Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Fund but we’re not funded due to lack of funds.