COVID-19 Updates for Shreveport and Bossier City

COVID-19 RESOURCES

As the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau learns of any new information and resources of benefit to our local hospitality industry we will post it here.

Open Safely Program Activates Across Louisiana
The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, under the direction of Governor John Bel Edwards, and in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health, has activated a new, web-based program to assist businesses and religious organizations with safely resuming operations as the public health emergency due to COVID-19 continues. The website will help businesses and churches better understand which phase will allow them to resume operating and then put safe practices in place such as social distancing and encouraging their customers and members to wear facial coverings.

OpenSafely.la.gov allows Louisiana business owners and church leaders to register in order to receive up-to-the-minute information on what phase their business and/or church is considered, what phase the state is in as Louisiana moves through phases of return and what social distancing and sanitation guidelines are required for their specific operation in each phase. Shreveport and Bossier City businesses can visit opensafesbc.com for guidance and resources on maintaining safety as our community reopens.

NEH Cares: Cultural Organizations
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act recognizes that the nonprofit humanities sector is an essential component of America's economic and civic life. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has received supplemental funding to provide emergency relief to institutions and organizations working in the humanities that have been affected by the coronavirus. NEH invites applications from eligible organizations seeking support for at-risk humanities positions and projects that have been impacted by the coronavirus. Through this funding opportunity, NEH will award grants to museums, libraries and archives, historic sites, independent research institutions, professional organizations, colleges and universities, and other cultural organizations across the country to help these entities continue to advance their mission during the interruption of their operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. The deadline to apply is May 11. To learn more, visit https://www.neh.gov/program/neh-cares-cultural-organizations.

CARES Act Funding for National Endowment for the Arts
Under the CARES Act, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) received $75 million to preserve jobs and help support organizations that were forced to shut down operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NEA has announced that 40% of the funds will be awarded directly to state and regional arts agencies by April 30 to distribute through their funding programs and 60% is allocated for direct grants to nonprofit arts organizations. The application deadline for the grants is April 22, 2020, with the first announcement of grants made on June 30, 2020.
Click here for more information.

Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Program
Southern Smoke is a nonprofit 501c3 charitable foundation. The Emergency Relief Program provides emergency funding to those who are employed by or own restaurants or bars or are employed by a restaurant or bar supplier that faced unforeseen expenses that cannot or will not be covered by insurance. Learn more.

Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
The CARES Act, also known as Corona 3, is a $2.2 trillion bipartisan response to the coronavirus pandemic designed to speed relief across the American economy. This is the third relief package from Congress and is intended to keep businesses, communities, and individuals afloat during an unprecedented halt to the American economy and way of life. The CARES Act contains important measures for tourism communities. Get the CARES Act Fact Sheet.

State of Louisiana COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 resources from the Office of the Governor
https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/92

Shreve.biz
Shreve.biz is a helpdesk for Shreveport and Caddo area businesses navigating the economic strains imposed by the COVID-19 crisis. We offer private, one-on-one counseling for small business owners and managers. We can answer questions and help you find solutions to common challenges. We can arrange free, in-depth advisory calls with mentors in banking, accounting, legal, and business.
Learn more

Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce resources:
"Flatten the Curve"
"Flatten the Curve" is a partnership of the Greater Shreveport, Bossier and African American Chambers of Commerce.
https://www.shreveportchamber.org/flattenthecurve.html

Jobs, Careers and Employment
https://web.shreveportchamber.org/JOBBANK/

Tourism Industry COVID-19 Resources:

U. S. Travel Association Coronavirus Toolkit
Destinations International Resource Page
Louisiana Travel Association
Small Business Administration (SBA) Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

Tourism Industry COVID-19 Resource Facebook Groups to Join:

COVID-19 Tourism Marketing Resources:

Non-Profit Resources

NEH Cares: Cultural Organizations The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act recognizes that the nonprofit humanities sector is an essential component of America's economic and civic life. The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has received supplemental funding to provide emergency relief to institutions and organizations working in the humanities that have been affected by the coronavirus. NEH invites applications from eligible organizations seeking support for at-risk humanities positions and projects that have been impacted by the coronavirus. Through this funding opportunity, NEH will award grants to museums, libraries and archives, historic sites, independent research institutions, professional organizations, colleges and universities, and other cultural organizations across the country to help these entities continue to advance their mission during the interruption of their operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. The deadline to apply is May 11. To learn more, visit https://www.neh.gov/program/neh-cares-cultural-organizations.
CARES Act Funding for National Endowment for the Arts
Under the CARES Act, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) received $75 million to preserve jobs and help support organizations that were forced to shut down operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NEA has announced that 40 percent of the funds will be awarded directly to state and regional arts agencies by April 30 to distribute through their funding programs and 60 percent is allocated for direct grants to nonprofit arts organizations. The application deadline for the grants is April 22, 2020, with the first announcement of grants made on June 30, 2020.
Click here for more information.
Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Program
Southern Smoke is a nonprofit 501c3 charitable foundation. The Emergency Relief Program provides emergency funding to those who are employed by or own restaurants or bars or are employed by a restaurant or bar supplier that faced unforeseen expenses that cannot or will not be covered by insurance. Learn more.
The Community Foundation has set up a COVID-19 assistance fund for nonprofits who are directly responding to the current health crisis. The link to the donation site is https://cfnla.org/covid19/. Information on how nonprofits can request funds will be announced on Monday, March 23.
Georgia Center for Non-Profits COVID Emergency Planning for Non-Profits

Louisiana Workforce Commission’s Response to COVID-19

The Louisiana Workforce Commission’s (LWC) Rapid Response Unit is available for assistance concerning temporary or permanent layoffs due to COVID-19. Workers who are impacted by closures or reduced hours may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Please click here to see a flyer for information on how to qualify for support.
Learn more

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