In an effort to assist our partners with the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis we will update this page regularly with resources. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, April 3rd and lasting through April 30th, Florida is under a Stay-at-Home order. Anyone not leaving home for an essential job, like health care workers, law enforcement, utility workers, journalists, pharmacists, gas station clerks, plumbers, landscapers, and weather forecasters or leaving home for an essential activity like shopping for essential items, exercising, seeking health care, and attending religious services. The Florida Division of Emergency Management web site has complete details on what is allowed and recommended under the stay-at-home order.
Information for businesses
Under the Stay-at-Home order non-essential businesses are not permitted to open. Microsoft is offering it’s Teams application free in an effort to assist those who are able to work remotely.
The federal CARES Act will provide assistance to small businesses to help keep their employees paid with Job Retention Loans; economic impact payments, tax credits and rebates, and expanded unemployment insurance for American workers and families; and Coronavirus relief funds for state, local, and tribal governments.
- Overview of the Small Business Association Economic Injury Disaster Loan & Emergency Grant.
- Small Business Association Economic Injury Disaster Loan application
The Hillsborough County Economic Development Corporation is an outstanding source for local information including the following resources
Tampa Bay Times hosts a list of local businesses with statuses such as modified hours and services. Businesses can post their status here.
Community efforts to support medical providers
Several organizations and hundreds of individuals have stepped up to make urgently-needed supplies like face masks, shields and even ventilator components for use by medical providers. In addition to making face shields, the Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Fab Lab, has created an on-line portal to collect and share details and best practices about producing supplies to fight the Coronavirus.
USF Health has established a Pandemic Research & Response Fund to help purchase additional equipment and material needed for patients, protective equipment such as masks, gloves, gowns, and face shields for health care employees, and other rapid-response activities to COVID-19.
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