Norman to hold open forum to answer SC small business questions. Here’s when.
Small business owners with questions on how to keep afloat during the coronavirus pandemic will get answers Tuesday. As many answers as time allows.
Rep. Ralph Norman will host an open conference call at 11 a.m. April 7. Officials with the U.S. Small Business Administration, South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, U.S. House Small Business Committee and others will participate. So can small business owners throughout the 5th Congressional District.
Participants can join by calling 888-957-9871 and using the passcode 341-58-29.
Independent contractors, sole proprietors and the self-employed are encouraged to participate. The panel will talk about the CARES Act, a federal response aimed to avert business shutdowns during closures and schedule changes brought on by COVID-19 and social distancing.
Topics include the CARES Act, unemployment insurance, the new Paycheck Protection Program, economic injury disaster loans and other tools for small businesses.
On April 2, the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce joined WRHI, CN2, Comporium and others for a similar forum. Experts answered a variety of questions related to payroll, employee retention and grants.
“The idea behind this is pretty simple,” said moderator and OTS Media managing partner Manning Kimmel. “We want to get information out to all of the business owners in our area that are going through the same struggle that all of us are. A lot of our businesses have been impacted.”
The York County Regional Chamber website lists a variety of programs to assist small business owners. Mike Geddings, chamber board chair and small business owner, said during the forum last week the chamber has been inundated with calls.
“The chamber has always supported local business,” he said. “Local business is the bread and butter of the chamber, and even of our community.”
Small business makes up about 90% of chamber membership, he said, which reflects its role in area business at large.
“Now more than ever,” Geddings said, “we really need to support it.”
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 2:53 PM.
