Resources for Businesses

Federal Resources

• The U.S. SBA and the Treasury Department have issued update guidelines for the CARES Act effective April 3, 2020.  Click here for the Paycheck Protection Program Lender and Borrower applications and the Interim Final Rule.
• Click here for PPP FAQ's dated 4/10/2020
• Click here for a comparison chart of the PPP and the EIDL effective 04/09/2020. 
• The U.S. Department of Labor has issued new guidelines regarding Unemployment Insurance under the provisions of the CARES Act effective April 3, 2020.  Click here for the new guidelines. 
• CARES Act Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
• Click here to learn what the Families First Response Act means for your business. 
• Guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor for the Families First Act: 3/25/2020 
• Click here to download the Employee Rights poster for the Families First Response Act.  It is recommended that this posted be placed in your business with other employment posters. 

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Information

• The SBA will be hosting 2 weekly webinars on the disaster loan programs.  Click here to register. 
• U.S. SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus here.  You may contact the SBA's Arkansas office by calling 501-324-7379.
• SBA Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources here. 

As of March 20th, SBA has approved Disaster Delcaration #16372 Arkansas Disaster number AR-00109 as a statewide declaration for small business affected by COVID19.  Effective date 1/31/2020.  Here is the link to apply for an EIDL Loan. 

The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC) is offering webinars to train small businesses on filling out the Economic Injury Disaster loans, employee issues and COVID-19 and other relevant topics. 
Click here for a full schedule of upcoming webinars.  

Click here for a recording of the webinar on applying for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan

Click here for the slides of the webinar on applying for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan

For Arkansas SBTDC assistance with and EIDL loan: 1-800-862-2040, or click here.

For SBA assistance in appyling for an EIDL loan: 1-800-659-2955, or email

The SBA asked that you be patient as the traffic on the web site is unusually heavy at this time. 

Other federal resources

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Combating the Coronavirus here. 
• U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division – FLSA and FLMA Guidance here.
• U.S. EEOC Guidance here.
• OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 here. 
• U.S. Department of Labor - Coronavirus Resources here.
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers here. 
• Coronavirus in the Workplace: Health, Safety and Insurance Considerations here.
• An Employer’s Guide: Ten Considerations to Support Your Workforce here.
• COVID-19 and Paid Leave: Three Scenarios to Plan For here.
• The Workers Compensation Impacts of 2019 Coronavirus here.

State Resources

Quick Action Loan Program

• Click here for a summary of the Quick Action Loan Program
• Allocation of $4,000,000 from the Governors Quick Action Closing Fund, and an additional $3,000,000 from the Attorney General's Consumer Education and Enforcement Fund. 
• Eligible companies may apply for a loan or loan guaranty of up to $250,000
• The Quick Action Closing Fund allocation will prioritize small to medium-sized companies that are in the supply chain of essential goods and services (Including healthcare, food manufacturing, logistics)
• The allocation from the Attorney General will support small businesses. 
• The program includes both loan guaranties and direct lending to businesses

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Up to $12 million in CDBG assistance will be made available for COVID19 relief and recovery.  This money will be used to provide grants to eligible local governments with which to provide direct economic assistance in the form of loans to companies impacted by COVID19 and grants to clinics, hospitals and other non-profits who are working hard to provide care in rural Arkansas and to vulnerable populations such as the homeless.  Arkansas Economic Development Commission is undertaking necessary regulatory steps required by the Federal government to implement this assistance.  

Price Gouging

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has issued a document to prevent price gouging around the state during the COVID-19 crisis.  You may view the document by clicking here.   The Attorney General's office also has set up a dedicated COVID-19 resource page here. 

For questions about how AEDC can assist your business during this time, contact them by email or phone:

• Email: COVID19.businessinfo@arkansasedc.com
• Phone: 501.682.1121 or toll free 1-800-ARKANSAS

Additional State Resources and Information:

• State Chamber COVID-19 Prevention Best Practices to assist business with reopening efforts 4/30/20
• State Chamber Coronavirus Resource Page
• Department of Health Guidance for Employers
• Department of Health real-time tracker of the spread of COVID-19 in Arkansas
• Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program
  • Provides an alternative for employers faced with a reduction in their workforce
  • Allows an employer to divide available work or hours of work among a specific group(s) of employees in lieu of a layoff
  • Allows the employees to receive a portion of their unemployment benefits while working reduced hours
• Manufacturing Supply Chain Checklist

Community Resources

 COVID-19 Health Emergency Services Policies for utilities and communication providers

United Way of Fort Smith Area implements a 2-1-1 call center to assist with:

• free and confidential cirsis and emergency counseling
• disaster assistance
• food
• health care and insurance assistance
• stable housing and utilities payment assistance
• employment services
• veteran services
• childcare and family services

FAQs Prepare Your Home and Children, document from United Way of Fort Smith Area

Western Arkansas Works will assist with:

• filing with unemployment insurance
• finding employment
• assisting employers with a temporary layoff

Resources for Employees

Unemployment Insurance

If you become separated from employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may file an unemployment insurance claim through the Arkansas Division of workforce Services (DWS).

• Click here for the updated Arkansas Unemployment web site effective 4/16/2020
• To file your claim online, visit the DWS EZARC page: ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov
• Click here to download the list of Workforce Center locations
• EZARC is available Monday-Friday: 6:00 am - 6:00 pm
• Workforce Centers are open Monday - Friday: 8 am - 4:30 pm
• For more information, visit the DWS website: dws.arkansas.gov/unemployment

Common Questions about unemployment insurance:

• Common questions and answers for workers
• Common question and answers for employers
• Notice to individuals inquiring about the availability of unemployment insurance benefits

How to contact your local office representative:

• Phone: 1-855-225-4440
• Email: ADWS.info@arkansas.gov

From the Governor's Office:

If you would like to subscribe to the Governor's YouTube channel to follow his press conferences, click here.