Start Local

Businesses all over the country are being impacted by COVID-19 and the stay at home orders issued by most states. Local, State, and Federal governments have tried to mitigate the damage with economic assistance in the form of funding. To learn a bit more about how Chester County business can get economic help, we’re talking to Michael Grigalonis, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Chester County Economic Development Center.

Show Notes

• CCEDC Website
• COVID-19 SBA Loans
• Federal PPP Loans (PDF)

Episode Highlights

What have the last few weeks been like?

• Retail/main street business impacted most dramatically.
• As soon as Chester County got stay-at-home orders, CCEDC conducted a business impact statement. 
• Loud and clear: business are desperate for capital.
• The team at the CCEDC were able to process 112 out of 400 loan applications, submitting those to the State of PA in Harrisburg. This is the highest amount of any applications submitted to the state by any workforce development organization. 

What help is still available for local businesses?

• PPP (Payroll Protection Program) – If that runs out of money, there will likely be more money available in due course. 
• There will likely be more programs and more money.

4. Where can local businesses find more information?

• Keep an eye on the CCEDC website
• CCEDC maintains an up-to-date COVID-19 Business Assistance Resources 

The post Getting Economic Assistance with Michael Grigalonis appeared first on Start Local.

Start Local is focused on helping businesses in Chester County, PA, and the greater Philly area as they try to navigate through the COVID-19 economy. Our aim is to help you learn where you can get help, to share stories of businesses which have successfully pivoted, and to document the real challenges these local businesses are facing.

The immediate focus of our show is to highlight stories of how businesses can, are, or are not coping with the coronavirus economy. The aim is to help local businesses learn where they can get help, to share stories of businesses who have successfully pivoted in some way (as an example for others), and to document the real challenges these local businesses are suffering. The focus of the show will widen over time, but for now, the immediate vision is clearly very centered on COVID-19, as is all life.

Hosted by two Chester County, PA transplants, Joe Casabona and Liam Dempsey are long time web and WordPress developers looking to do their part to help businesses during this troubling time.

The post Start Local: Helping Business in the Greater Philly Area appeared first on Start Local.