Business Recovery - State Assistance
State Offers Free Masks and Gloves
The state of Oregon is offering free masks and gloves to small businesses and child care providers.
Oregon-based businesses with fewer than 50 employees and child care providers approved by the state’s Early Learning Division can apply with the state to receive these free supplies. Right now, the state is limiting businesses to one order to ensure sufficient supplies. Child care providers will need to provide their license/provider number to be eligible and can also access disinfecting wipes and other supplies, in addition to masks and gloves.
Interested businesses can apply online: https://supplyconnector.org/states/oregon/free-ppe/.
Business Oregon is the state agency that is focused on business recovery efforts. To assist small businesses, the have created a Small Business Navigator to provide a central location for resources and information. The navigator can help with identifying financial assistance, Personal Protection Equipment manufacturers, and other services that may assist businesses working through COVID-19 impacts.
The Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) is providing resources to employers and employees to understand workplace requirements in a COVID-19 environment. Visit BOLI’s COVID-19 Resources page for information about complying with Oregon workforce protection laws.
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) has opened the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program. This program makes unemployment insurance benefits to those not normally covered by unemployment but who have been impacted by the COVID-19 business closures.
Oregonians who are eligible for PUA include individuals who do not qualify for or cannot collect benefits on a regular unemployment insurance claim. This includes Oregonians who:
- Are self-employed and not subject to unemployment insurance tax;
- Perform work as an independent contractor;
- Perform work not subject to unemployment insurance tax, such as agricultural workers;
- Did not earn enough in wages or work enough hours to qualify for regular unemployment benefits;
- Exhausted regular unemployment benefits and are not eligible for another extension.
For more information and instructions to apply, visit the OED’s CARES Act page.
