Coronavirus Resource Guide

UPDATE: February 26, 2021

How to Get New PPP Funding for Small Businesses

Did you miss our flash webinar on Friday about the new PPP funding for small businesses?

James Reddish, chamber EVP, interviews Congressman French Hill and Edward Haddock of the U.S. Small Business Administration to learn how you can take advantage!

Watch >

Relaunch: A Quick Reference Guide

The Little Rock Regional Chamber is focused on supporting all businesses in Central Arkansas, particularly as they navigate the weeks and months ahead. COVID-19 will continue to have an impact on our region, and your chamber is working with local, state and federal officials to help businesses take advantage of assistance and advice which has been committed at various levels. We will continue to update this section as new information becomes available.

The chamber is offering this resource guide to help businesses prepare to reopen successfully. This guide, produced with the help of some of our advertising agency members, is aimed at helping our members know what messaging and marketing tactics to use as they reopen, how to adapt to the new normal, win customers back and ultimately grow their business.

Quick Links

Financial Resources for Small Businesses | Webinar Archive | Reopening Resources

Food Distribution

Little Rock Regional Chamber Response

The chamber is continuing to monitor the situation and is responding accordingly. As of now, the following events or meetings have been postponed or canceled:

The Little Rock Regional Chamber offices are closed to the public but the main office number remains open during normal business hours
Chamber staff members have returned to the office, working alternating shifts to reduce the number of people in the building at one time
Summit and Rock Stars leads groups will be meeting via video conference at their regularly scheduled times until further notice
The chamber is holding virtual ribbon cuttings for new members. Call 501.374.2001 to schedule your ribbon cutting.
SCORE Office Hours at the Chamber are postponed until further notice. Call 501.324.7379, ext. 302 to schedule a consultation via conference call.

Please check back periodically as we are monitoring and responding based on the information available. Know that your chamber team is still available to you; please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can be of assistance to you by calling 501.374.2001.

Health and Safety

Arkansas Department of Health
If any of your employees are being monitored due to their possible exposure to COVID-19 they will be placed under home self-quarantine by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) for 14 days after leaving an area of concern. If this occurs, ADH will provide the person with a letter, and they have the option of requesting a letter be provided to you as well. This letter provides additional information regarding the quarantine, including the date the employee can return to work.

Explore all guidelines for employers >

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC has issued new recommendations to the public and encouraged the wearing of cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. This recommendation is considered a voluntary public health measure, and the CDC offers a primer on simple face cloths here. Chamber member Arkansas Cloth Masks, in partnership with TY Garments USA, offers 100% cotton, triple-layer masks. Learn more and purchase >

See the CDC guidelines for businesses and workplaces for more information.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Download their full guidelines: https://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/guidance_for_employers_to_plan_and_respond_to_coronavirus.pdf

Download the coronavirus toolkit here.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
UAMS has a website offering free online screening here: https://uamshealth.com/healthnow/.

Additionally, they are offering drive-thru triage on their main campus at the corner of Shuffield and Jack Stephens Drive: https://uamshealth.com/location/covid-19-drive-thru-screening/

Small Business Counseling

SCORE Mentors of Little Rock
In response to recent developments related to COVID-19, Little Rock SCORE is temporarily suspending all in-person business advice and counseling sessions until further notice. This includes the Little Rock Regional Chamber SCORE Office Hours. However, small businesses will still be able to access support services utilizing a conference call. To schedule a mentoring session or receive guidance on resources during this time, please click HERE to request a meeting or call 501.324.7379, ext. 302. If you call after 5 p.m. or during the weekend, please leave a detailed message and you will receive a return call. Should you need additional assistance, please email Brandon Campbell, director of small business and inclusion, at bcampbell@littlerockchamber.com.

Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC)
ASBTDC provides one-on-one confidential guidance that can be specifically tailored to your business venture. Primary areas of assistance include planning, financial analysis, market research, loan packaging, online and traditional marketing, growth and expansion, management and profitability. These consulting services are free of charge for Arkansas small businesses. Request an appointment >

GoDaddy's Guide for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
This website has resources, inspiration and connection to other everyday entrepreneurs with creative solutions to keep their business open, even if their doors are closed due to COVID-19. Explore >

How You Can Help

Arkansas Community Foundation has established a statewide COVID-19 Relief Fund. Your contribution will be pooled with contributions from other Arkansans to make grants to organizations that are responding to the needs of Arkansans affected by the pandemic. Give online >

The City of Little Rock invites residents to make a donation to the Little Rock Cares COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. This fund provides financial support to two efforts — food relief coordinated by World Central Kitchen and purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care professionals and first responders. Give online >

The City of Little Rock has also set up a drop-off point for surplus “personal protection equipment” (PPE) at the Little Rock Emergency Operation Center at 7000 Murray St. You can email lrcares@littlerock.gov to contact the emergency response team to determine if the PPE you have is something in need.

GoFundMe, Yelp and Intuit QuickBooks have each donated $500,000 to the Small Business Relief Fund. Make your contribution to help more small businesses receive grants. Donate online >

Uplift Arkansas
Arkansans can help Arkansans. We always do. Use this resource to find information on local businesses, restaurants, services, and other vital information as we band together for support in this unprecedented challenge. Search for businesses or submit your own >