April 20th COVID-19 Update

Applications Being Accepted for Two New Small Business Loan Programs

Two recently announced loan programs will begin taking applications today.  The Escambia County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program is available to City of Pensacola and Escambia County businesses with 20 or fewer employees. The deadline for applications is Monday, April 27 at 5 p.m. CST.  To learn more about eligibility and how to apply for this grant go here.

The US Chamber Foundation will begin taking applications for $5,000 small business grants starting this afternoon.  These grants are eligible to businesses with between 3-20 employees.  To learn more about these grants and how to apply go here.

Gaetz Appointed to Congressional Committee Advising Trump on Reopening the Economy

Congressman Matt Gaetz, who represents Northwest Florida in Congress, has been tapped by President Donald Trump to serve on a bipartisan congressional group advising the president on reopening the American economy as the nation continues to deal with COVID-19, the serious respiratory illness caused by the spreading new coronavirus. Read more about the Gaetz appointment here.

 

Florida Schools will Not Reopen for Remainder of the School Year

In a press conference Saturday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida school districts will continue with their distance learning models already in place.

He said the decision came after "consultation" with others. He said "there was a sense" that continuing with the distance learning models districts have already transitioned to is the best route.

Read more about the decision here.