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Together

You are here: Home / Together

In this unique and tumultuous time our community, we aim to help all members of our community remain safe and financially secure. In light of this, we ask that you consider our local businesses and their employees by supporting them in any way you can – whether by shopping online, purchasing gift cards or other considerations. This helps our workers maintain a stable income during an otherwise unstable time.

1. Wash your hands frequently

2. Avoid close contact with others

3. Cover nose + mouth around others

4. Cover coughs and sneezes

5. Clean + disinfect surfaces daily

The Latest

Alachua County’s CARES Act web page is now live, and the county encourages residents to apply when their respective organizational categories become available. The website and application form are mobile phone friendly. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions page before filling out your applications. The site features:
  • Application instructions
  • A frequently asked questions section
  • A link to the application
The application process will be opened in phases as follows:
  1. Individual assistance grant applications opened last week. ($21.1 million allotted)
  2. Small and medium business grant applications will opened yesterday. ($15 million allotted)
  3. Inter-government organization grant applications will open on August 17, 2020($8.3 million allotted)
If you need assistance, there is a live chat on the website and a CARES Act help-line at 352-309-2505. The live chat and the help-line are opened from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The county expects a high call volume and asks for your patience if the line is busy.

Thanks to a $55 million significant commitment grant from Lowe’s, the Local Initiatives Support Corp (LISC) is providing emergency grant assistance that small businesses desperately need to stay afloat. $30 million will focus on small businesses owned or led by minorities and women. The other $25 million will support enterprises in rural communities.
The funds will be distributed in grants of $20,000 to small business owners to help meet their most immediate needs. Eligible expenses include:
  • Paying rent and utilities
  • Meeting payroll
  • Paying outstanding debt to vendors
  • Upgrading technology infrastructure
  • Other immediate operational costs
The next round for applications will open up August 31st. Please click here to register to be notified of the next round. For questions, please review the grant information and FAQ. Email enews@lisc.org with questions.

Coronavirus News

Chamber COVID-19 Page

City Current Events Page

City of Gainesville COVID-19 Dashboard

County COVID-19 Page

Florida Dept. of Health – Infection Rates & Locations

IHME COVID-19 projections

Alachua County Schools Updates

University of Florida COVID-19 Page

CDC Updates

Community Resources

CDC: How to Protect Yourself & Others

COVID-19 Exposure Hotline

Uninsured Patient Advisor Hotline: 833-541-5757

Florida Tropical Weather/COVID-19 Co-Response Guide

Steps to Help Maintain Senior Wellness amidst COVID-19

Meals from Alachua County Public Schools

Meridian Behavioral Mobile Response Team

Price Gouging Hotline

24-hour United Way 2-1-1 helpline

COVID Symptom Study

Business Resources

Alachua County CARES Act web page
  • Individual Assistance Grant Application

Florida Business Damage Assessment

SBDC Emergency Bridge Loan Program

SBDC Small Business Guide to COVID-19

SBA Small Business Loan & Guidance Resources

SBA Disaster Loan information

Small Business Council Toolkit

Reopening Businesses Digital Toolkit

Small Business Council Toolkit

Small Business Reopening Playbook

Coast PPP Loan Forgiveness Calculator

US Chamber PPP Loan Forgiveness Guide

Getting Your PPP Loan Forgiven, the Legal Way

Donnelly + Gross Checklist for Reopening Your Business

Donnelly + Gross Guide for returning employees with COVID-19 back to work

Donnelly + Gross – New OSHA Guidelines for reopening

Avison Young’s guide to Returning to the Workplace Amidst COVID-19

James Moore & Co. COVID-19 Power Lunches

Policies Implemented

Alachua County Emergency Order 2020-21 (Phase 1)

Smart. Safe. Step-by-Step Reopening Plan

  • All non-essential retail businesses may operate at 75% capacity with responsible social distancing and sanitization protocols.
  • Restaurants have the option to offer dine-in service, but must limit to 75% capacity with 6 feet between each table. Salad bar/buffet use is limited.
  • Bars, movie theaters, concert houses, bowling alleys and arcades are all allowed to reopen at 50% indoor capacity, with appropriate social distancing between groups and appropriate sanitation.
  • Visiting nursing homes and long-term care facilities is prohibited.
  • Masks are required in public places except for eating or drinking and those with a doctor’s note
  • Bars are not allowed to serve alcohol for on-premises consumption per Emergency Order 2020-09
  • All nightclubs remain closed
  • Museums, botanical gardens and libraries may open but must limit to 50% capacity.
  • Hair salons, nail salons and barber shops are allowed to open under certain restrictions.
  • Restaurants may serve mixed drinks in sealed containers.
  • Fitness centers and gyms may open to 75% capacity with appropriate social distancing measures
  • Summer camps for children are allowed to reopen
  • Burn ban in effect for Alachua County
  • Gatherings of 50 or more people are strongly discouraged

Job Resources

CareerSource North Central Florida

PROPEL GNV Facebook Group

Zippia Guide to Finding Work

DEO Reemployment Assistance Application

DEO Reemployment Assistance Resource Guide

Now Hiring Series – Tacachale

Now Hiring Series – Payne Construction Group

Now Hiring Series – Union Correctional Institution

Now Hiring Series – Florida State Prisons

Now Hiring Series – Liberty Air

Now Hiring Series – SharpSpring

Now Hiring Series – North Florida Regional Medical Center

Now Hiring Series – Comfort Keepers

CARES Act/Paycheck Protection Program Resources

Alachua County CARES Act web page
  • Individual Assistance Grant Application
Paycheck Protection Plan Increase Act – Business Aid

Gray Robinson CARES Act Summary

Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Guide

Small Business Owner’s Guide

US Chamber Small Business Emergency Loans Guide and Checklist

Restaurant Information

  • EAT GNV Facebook page for updated restaurant information
  • CBS 4 restaurant page
  • Gainesville Sun restaurant page
  • K-Country list of local restaurants (includes Ocala)
  • What’s For Dinner GNV
  • GNV Loves Local
  • COVID-19 Food Safety Resources

How to be tested

​The Alachua County Health Department is offering COVID-19 testing to Alachua County residents, regardless of symptoms. Residents who want a COVID-19 test are asked to call 352-334-8810 for an appointment. A referral from a doctor is not required. If your insurance covers this, it will be billed and no copay is required. If not, it is free. We expect an initial surge of calls. You may have to call back.​

Clarification: The new expanded testing capacity of the local Department of Health is not an Antibody Test. Please do not call to inquire about that as it is tying up the phone line. We want people who wish to be tested to get through to set up an appointment.​

Learn more about COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) from the Florida Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).​

How to Help

United Way’s United We Care Fund

The Amazing Give – Emergency Relief Fund

Donate Blood at LifeSouth

Donate Plasma with Biomat USA Plasma Center

GRACE Marketplace’s #stillhousingGNV campaign

Gainesville Tips

Working From Home Resources

New York Times: The Dos and Don’ts of Online Video Meetings

SkillCrush: The Essential Remote Work Tools You Need to Get Things Done

PopSugar: 60 Free Educational Websites Parents Can Access While Schools Are Closed

LinkedIn: New to Working Remotely? These Resources Can Help

The Next Web: 7 habits of exceptionally successful remote employees

For the Kids:

The GNV Coloring Book, Volume I

Captain Quarantine

Webinars

Emergency Loans – March 19

How to Pivot in a Rapidly Changing Environment – March 23 (Powerpoint)

Virtual Hiring Event: Healthcare Industry Info Session

April 17: CARES Act Guidance From Local Experts

Business Updates

  • For 24 hours from 6 p.m. August 19 to 6 p.m. August 20, The Amazing Give will raise money for local nonprofits through a single online donation platform, providing an easy way to connect you to the charitable causes you care about most.
  • Sus Hi Eatstation is scheduled to host two Gainesville Grand Openings: The University of Florida location on August 22
    and the Butler Plaza location on August 29.
  • Community Hospice & Palliative Care is hosting a webinar on Pet Loss: Misunderstood Grief, on Thursday, August 20, from 10 – 11 a.m.

For a full list, visit our business updates page.

To see stories of community support, visit our Support GNV page.

 
PreviousNext

Intermed Adopts Antonio’s

The InterMed Group found itself in a unique position to help during the Covid-19 crisis not only in the medical world, but in our own community. To give back they have adopted a small locally owned restaurant in Micanopy Florida, Antonio’s Cucina Italiana. Read more here.

Florida Food Service Feeds GNV

Florida Food Service, Inc. has partnered with the FEED GNV program to donate food and supplies to participating Restaurants, helping to alleviate up-front financial burdens and provide much needed support. Read more here.

Campus USA Supports GNV

Like many of our businesses and organizations locally, Campus USA Credit Union has been doing a great deal to Support GNV in this time of need. To see all the ways they’ve helped, click here.

Hitchcock’s Donates 3,000 Meals

With supply chains strained, and customers worried and stressed, Hitchcock’s Markets donated more than 3,000 meals on a single day, March 28, 2020 to residents in their community. Read the full story here.

News Updates

Chamber COVID-19 Page

City Current Events Page

City of Gainesville COVID-19 Dashboard

County COVID-19 Page

University of Florida COVID-19 Page

CBS 4

Gainesville Sun

Business Report of North Central Florida

WCJB

Alachua County Schools Updates

CDC Updates

Local Business Announcements & Updates

Resources

COVID-19 Exposure Hotline

Florida Dept. of Health – Infection Rates & Locations

Florida Business Damage Assessment

SBDC Emergency Bridge Loan Program

SBA Small Business Loan & Guidance Resources

Gray Robinson CARES Act Summary

Price Gouging Hotline

24-hour United Way 2-1-1 helpline

Zippia Guide to Finding Work

Restaurants

EAT GNV Restaurant Updates

CBS 4 restaurant page

Gainesville Sun restaurant page

K-Country list of local restaurants (includes Ocala)

GCM Support Local Restaurants GoFundMe

What’s For Dinner GNV

GNV Loves Local

COVID-19 Food Safety Resources

RESOURCES

  • About the Chamber
  • Communications
  • Public Policy

CONTACT US

(352) 334-7100
300 E. University Avenue
Gainesville, Florida, 32601

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