Covid-19 Resources
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Alexandria’s SBDC provides an ongoing, updated list of funding opportunities for local and small businesses. Visit their pandemic resources page.
Info For Businesses During the January 2022 Surge
AEDP and the Alexandria Health Department offered tips for businesses navigating the latest COVID-19 surge. Read more or watch the entire webinar.
Business Reopening Information
As Northern Virginia, including the City of Alexandria, continues to navigate the pandemic, AEDP will provide updated information on State and Local procedures and processes.
Disaster Assistance for Businesses
Alexandria Small Business Development Center
The Alexandria Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is here to help small businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis. More information can be found at the SBDC’s COVID-19 webpage.
Commonwealth of Virginia
Applications for the Rebuild VA Small Business Grants Program are closed. All available funds have been exhausted at this time.
More information can be found on the Rebuild VA website, along with FAQs, recordings of webinars about the program, and other additional information.
U.S. Internal Revenue Service
- Employee Retention Payroll Tax Credit: provides a fully refundable 50% credit on the employer’s share of payroll taxes on wages of up to $10,000 per employee. For more information, please visit the IRS website.
- Delayed Payment of Employer Tax Credit: defers payment of employer payroll taxes through the end of the year until December 31, 2021 (50% due) and December 31, 2022 (remaining 50% due). For more information, please visit the IRS website.
Utilities
- Dominion Energy Energy Assistance Programs: For the first time, Dominion Energy extended its bill assistance EnergyShare program with the Small Business Relief Program. Starting Sept. 1, 2020, small businesses, nonprofits and houses of worship could apply to receive up to $1,000 from a $500,000 program.
- Small Business Relief Program: For the first time small business customers could apply for EnergyShare funding in partnership with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Dominion contributed $500,000 to the Small Business Relief Program, which offered one-time assistance of up to $1,000 toward unpaid Dominion Energy Virginia electric bills that may have accrued during the pandemic to small businesses, nonprofits, and houses of worship. Small business applications began 9/1/2020 and continued until the $500K was gone. The application can be found here. For more information, you can download the handout here.
U.S. Department of Labor
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the second federal stimulus bill) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for COVID-19 related reasons. The Department of Labor has released guidance and FAQs to explain who is covered and for how long.
CARES Act Program Info and Q&A: Alexandria, VA Session
Tax & Regulatory Changes
Virginia ABC Delivery/Take-Out of Mixed Drinks and License Renewal
Guidance for Delivery/Take-Out of Mixed Drinks: restaurants with mixed beverage licenses and distilleries with approved tasting rooms are now able to provide delivery services and take-out mixed drinks. Virginia ABC has issued the current restrictions and specifics regarding this policy that can be found here.
Updated Guidance for Food Establishments
For the most current guidance and mandates for Virginia food establishments, visit the Virginia Department of Health’s website.
Alexandria Business Tax Changes
Pursuant to the Code of Virginia and the Virginia Administrative Code, extraordinary COVID-19 loans/grants such as Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and AEDP Back-2-Business (B2B) and Weather grants can be excluded from taxable gross receipts when filing the City’s Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax returns.
Details can be found on the City’s Finance Department website. Affected business owners with specific questions about these changes are encouraged to contact the City’s Revenue Division by email at Businesstax@alexandriava.gov.
Restaurant Operations
Until further notice, the City has suspended enforcement of certain regulations and special use permit conditions that limit hours of operation, deliveries, off-premises alcohol sales, and outdoor sales and dining.
Business Outdoor Program
Beginning November 2020, the City introduced a temporary parklet program, allowing restaurants and retail operations in on-street parking spaces, sidewalks or in privately-owned parking lots. Currently, the City has transitioned to a permanent parklet program. For more information of the program, visit the City’s Parklet webpage.
Support for Affected Workers
Unemployment Benefits
If you are a worker who has been totally or partially separated from your job due to COVID-19, go to the Virginia Employment Commission to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance or call 866-832-2363 Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Additional Benefits
To apply for benefits like SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid go to the Virginia Department of Social Services or call 855-635-4370 (to renew your Medicaid by phone call 855-242-8282).
Government
- The City of Alexandria has a dedicated COVID-19 webpage with updates and links to information on the local response to COVID-19.
- For information on the State’s response, visit Commonwealth’s COVID-19 website.
- Click here for the latest press releases from the governor’s office.
How to Support ALX Small Businesses
Visit Alexandria launched a new community resource, ALX at Home, to keep locals and those in the nearby region connected to ways they can still support our local businesses from the comfort of their own home. From curbside pickup at restaurants to virtual ghost tours; from FaceTime shopping to virtual fitness classes, local restaurants, shops and attractions are tapping into their creativity to find new ways to bring their businesses to the community.
Support, Questions, and Recommendations
If you have a question or are a struggling business owner, we want to hear from you. Email us and one of our staff members will respond.
We also want recommendations on how we can better serve the business community- please send us your suggestions.