Lehigh Valley COVID-19/Coronavirus Response Resources

LVEDC continues to monitor the economic impacts on Lehigh Valley from the spread of COVID-19. We will keep this page updated with information about resources available to businesses as conditions continue to develop.

LVEDC has prepared information on its financing page about assistance to small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and mitigation efforts. Visit here for more information.

COVID-19 Resources and Information Sources:

• Federal Reserve to Provide up to $2.3 Trillion in Loans to Support the Economy
• Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Newsroom
• Pennsylvania Manufacturing Call to Action Portal
• IRS Deferral of Employment Tax Deposits and Payments
• US Treasury Department Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Information
• US Small Business Administration (SBA) PPP Information
• US SBA Frequently Asked Questions about PPP Loan Application Process
• US SBA Find Lenders Eligible to Issue PPP Loans
• NEW! US SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness Application
• US SBA COVID-19 Guidance
• US SBA Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
• US SBA Express Bridge Loan Program Guide
• Lehigh University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Assistance with Applying for Disaster Financing and Assistance
• Lehigh University College of Business Vistex Institute for Executive Learning and Research Kitchen Table Talk Videos
• National Endowment for the Humanities CARES Cultural Organization Grants
• Northampton County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Fund Flyer
• Northampton County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Relief Fund Loan Application
• GLVCC’s COVID-19 Relief Fund for Lehigh Valley Businesses
• PA Dept of Community and Economic Development Assistance
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Coronavirus Unemployment Offerings for Employees Impacted
• Pennsylvania Rapid Response Information Guide
• PA.gov: Responding to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
• COVID-19 and Employer Unemployment Compensation FAQ
• Pennsylvania Department of Health
• Industry-Specific Guidance from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:
  • Essential Agricultural Businesses
  • Farms and On-Farm Deliveries
  • Farmers Markets and On-Farm Markets
  • Food Processors and Manufacturers
  • Dairy Guidance
  • Behavioral Health Services
  • Aging Services
  • Telemedicine
  • Child Care Providers

COVID-19 Business Reopening Resources and Information Sources:

• Guidance for Construction Businesses Permitted to Operate Starting May 1
• Guidance for Businesses in the Real Estate Industry Permitted to Operate
• Guidance for Child Care and Summer Recreation Providers Permitted to Operate
• Lehigh County Authority: Water System Flushing for Reopening Buildings

US Small Business Administration COVID-19 Guidance

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been reauthorized with $310 billion in additional funding.  The SBA resumed accepting loan applications April 27.

The SBA also resumed processing applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which provide up to $10,000 for small businesses experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. These loans are available only to agricultural businesses, including food production, farming, and agricultural-related industries as defined in section 18(b) of the Small Business Act.

LVEDC Blog Posts Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic:

• Expertise of LVEDC Board Helps to Understand Lehigh Valley Economy
• Lehigh Valley Business Owners Discuss Innovating Amid COVID-19
• LVEDC Releases First Commercial Real Estate Report Since Coronavirus Outbreak
• Lehigh Valley Women Entrepreneurs Discuss Navigating the New Normal
• Economic Heroes: LifeAire Systems Designs Decontamination Unit for N95 Masks
• Essential Work of Owens & Minor in Lehigh Valley Earns President’s Praise
• Economic Heroes: Americold Serves Key Role in Global Food Distribution Network
• Lehigh Valley Construction Companies Resume Activity
• Don Cunningham Discusses Economic Impact of Coronavirus on Lehigh Valley
• LVStartup Provides Coronavirus Information to Lehigh Valley Entrepreneurs
• Economic Heroes: OraSure Technologies on Front Lines in Fight Against Coronavirus
• Don Cunningham Column: A New Chapter for Lehigh Valley Economy
• New Unemployment Data Show Start of COVID-19 Impact in Lehigh Valley
• Online Job Ads Provide Peek Into Lehigh Valley’s Economy During Pandemic
• Analysts Say Lehigh Valley Industrial Market Well-Positioned to Weather Pandemic
• Pennsylvania Issues Guidance for Construction Projects to Resume Starting May 1
• Lehigh Valley Economic Development Activity Continues During Pandemic
• Regional Experts Discuss Coronavirus Pandemic at Virtual Town Hall
• COVID-19 Funding Starting to Flow to Lehigh Valley Companies
• Lehigh Valley Has High Percentage of Essential Jobs that Cannot Be Done at Home
• LVEDC Continues to Connect Lehigh Valley Companies with Emergency Financing
• Lehigh Valley Businesses Step up to Fight COVID-19; Supplies for Care Providers Still Being Sought
• LVEDC Helping Connect Lehigh Valley Small Businesses with COVID-19 Financing
• Don Cunningham Column: Finding a New Way and Maintaining Connectedness
• Lehigh Valley Companies Step Up To Fight COVID-19 Outbreak
• Supplies Sought for Lehigh Valley Health Care Providers
• Financing Options Available for Lehigh Valley Businesses Affected by COVID-19
• LVEDC Reports Initial Findings From Survey of COVID-19 Economic Impacts
• COVID-19 UPDATE: Business Resources Available After Gov. Wolf’s Closure Order
• LVEDC Monitoring, Gathering Economic Data in Response to Coronavirus
• Economic Impact of Coronavirus Discussed at Lehigh Valley Business Symposium

Governor Wolf’s Process for Reopening Pennsylvania 

Governor Tom Wolf is implementing a plan for reopening Pennsylvania’s economy . The process categorizes reopening into three phases: red, yellow, and green. Phases will be assigned based on conditions by counties or regions.

As of May 22, 49 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties have moved to the yellow phase of reopening because of low per capita case counts, the ability to conduct testing and tracing, and low population density to contain community spread of COVID-19. The governor has announced that eight additional counties will move to yellow and 18 counties in rural, lightly populated areas of Pennsylvania will move to green on May 29. The remaining counties, including Lehigh and Northampton counties, are in the red phase and are expected to move to yellow and begin reopening by June 5.

Only life-sustaining businesses may operate in counties or regions that are in the red phase. To view the governor’s list of non-life-sustaining vs. life-sustaining businesses, click here.

Failure to comply with these requirements will result in enforcement action that could include citations, fines, or license suspensions.