The City understands how the COVID-19 pandemic may be affecting our residents and employment.  This page is to provide some resources that you or your neighbor may need. The City is not endorsing or recommending any one group or organization to go to, nor is the City representing any external agencies, their policies, or their available programs.

Social Service Programs:

United Way of Pasco County https://www.unitedwaypasco.org/ 

2-1-1. If you need assistance finding food, paying housing bills, accessing child care or other services, visit 2-1-1 or: 

Dial 2-1-1 from any phone in Pasco; Call toll-free 1-877-828-8929; Text your zip code to: txt211 (898211)

UnEmployment/ReEmployment Resources: 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is a federally funded benefit program that assists individuals who become unemployed because of a disaster.

Employ Florida provides job seeker services for free, including training, testing, and job placement. 

Families First Coronavirus Response Act
On Wednesday evening, March 18th, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) and may be also known as the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act. This law uses the existing Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) as a framework to provide certain employees with the right to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave.

What does it do? Qualified workers may receive two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or are caring for sick family members with coronavirus. If you are unable to work because your children's school and daycare provider are closed, you may receive 12 weeks of paid leave. There are other eligibility requirements in this law that most workers at small and midsize companies and nonprofits can get the paid leave.  Please check with your human resources/personnel manager at the company you work for to talk to them about this addition to the Family Medical Leave Act. The law can be found at https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/6201/text.

Businesses

Pasco CARES Small Business PPE Reimbursement Program

The Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is pleased to offer the Pasco CARES Small Business Personal Protective Equipment Reimbursement Program, a new program to help reimburse small businesses in Pasco County up to $1,000 for the cost of already-purchased Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as a result of COVID-19.

This one-time assistance is now available to at least 1,000 small businesses on a first-come, first-served basis.  Pasco County received funding for this program through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security or CARES Act.

• WHAT: Pasco CARES Small Business PPE Reimbursement Program
• WHEN:  Now Accepting Applications for reimbursement of qualified items
• HOW:  Apply Here: bit.ly/SmallBizPPE

The federal U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications from participating lenders on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. EDT.  It is expected that this funding will go quickly, so we are encouraging our small businesses to prepare to apply now.

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.

• SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. 
• You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured bank or credit union that is participating. 
• You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.

For information and details, please visit: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program

For questions, please contact your local lender or SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955.

Other Federal & State Relief Programs

Small businesses are encouraged to look into other Federal relief programs that are made available thanks to the passage of the CARES Act, as well as additional loan programs that are currently available through the State. Please visit http://floridasbdc.org/disaster/other-relief-programs/ for more information about available programs.

Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance

Federal Disaster Loans for Businesses, Private Nonprofits, Homeowners, and Renters

 If you have suffered substantial economic injury and are one of the following types of businesses located in a declared disaster area, you may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL):

The Small Business Administration provides local assistance via 68 district offices and a nationwide network of resource partners. To find resources near you, please click here.