COVID-19 Employment, Small Business Resources From Cincinnati Library

From the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County:

March 18, 2020

Whether your job has been impacted by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak or your business or non-profit organization is struggling because of it, we've gathered resources to help you make it through this crisis.

Filing for unemployment in Ohio

The governor has issued an executive order which grants the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) the authority to accept and grant requests for unemployment compensation without requiring the normal 1-week wait period. There are two ways to file:

• Online at http://unemployment.ohio.gov
• Call toll-free 1-877-644-6562

To apply for unemployment insurance benefits, you will need:

• Your Social Security number
• Your driver's license or state ID number
• Your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address
• The name, address, telephone number, and dates of employment for each employer you worked for during the past 6 weeks of employment
• The reason you became unemployed from each employer
• Dependents' names, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth
• If claiming dependents, your spouse's name, Social Security number, and birth date
• If you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, alien registration number and expiration date
• Your regular occupation and job skills

For more information, read this recent article from the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Looking for work

Some grocery stores are hiring due to the increased business they are experiencing. Get the details from Channel 11 WTOL.

Shipping and distribution centers are also hiring to help get products quickly to people and businesses who need them. Workers are also needed in the medical, health care, and non-profit sectors, with job postings already surging.

Working from home

If your employer has asked you to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, CBS News has a wonderful list of tips to help manage.

"How to Host a Virtual Convening" from Net Impact is helpful for those looking for ways to gather digitally.

Support for workers, small businesses, and non-profit organizations

Visit the United Way of Greater Cincinnati's Community Resource Directory to search for resources to serve your specific needs.

The Ohio Development Services Agency is preparing to submit an application in the coming week to qualify Ohio for the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. This program provides low-interest loans up to $2 million in order to help businesses overcome the temporary loss of revenue during the state of emergency.

Non-profit organizations in Ohio will also be eligible for low-interest loans through the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

In order to complete the state's application, which should open by Friday, March 20, 2020, according to The Business Journal, businesses impacted by the current public health crisis should immediately send their contact information to businesshelp@development.ohio.gov Additional information on the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program is available at SBA.gov/Disaster, which is also where the application will be posted.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced a measure that will help people whose jobs could be impacted by COVID-19. Please check the Kentucky Career Center for more information.

National funds:

• USBG National Charitable Foundations Bartender Emergency Assistance Program

• MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund

• Cinema Worker Solidarity Fund

• Coronavirus Care Fund for domestic workers

We will update this list as more information becomes available and more programs are implemented.

For the latest Library service updates and resources, please visit our COVID-19 resource page.

This press release was produced by the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The views expressed here are the author’s own.