(Updated 5/22/2020)
The Seward Visitor Center will be open to the public for limited hours from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm starting on Saturday, May 23rd.
We are working to provide information, resources, and programs to support Seward business during this difficult time. We will be communicating with our membership and updating this page on a regular basis regarding any information and services we are providing during this time.
LOCAL UPDATES
- The City of Seward has a webpage for local COVID-19 Updates
- STATE OF ALASKA
- Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and Health Mandates & Alerts from the Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy
- REOPEN ALASKA RESPONSIBLY PLAN
- STATE OF ALASKA COVID-19 COMMUNICATIONS SITE
- COVID-19 State Health Mandates
- COVID-19 State Health Alerts
- Emergency Regulations - ABC Board - COVID-19 4/17/2020
- Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and Health Mandates & Alerts from the Office of Gov. Mike Dunleavy
- KENAI PENINSULA BOROUGH:
- Local Health & Services Press Releases:
-
- Open Letter to Seward Area Employers from Seward Health Industry Leaders 3/30/2020
- SeaView Community Services Letter to Citizens 3/25/2020
- SeaView Community Services Teleleservices Press Release 3/25/2020
- Seward Prevention Coalition Letter to Citizens 3/25/2020
- Seward Community Library & Museum Letter from the Director 3/20/2020
-
- Local Industry Press Releases:
TRAVEL UPDATES
- Phase 3/4 of the Reopen Alaska Responsibly Plan takes effect on May 22. All businesses may reopen and recreational activities allowed. Intrastate travel is allowed between communities located on the road system and/or the Marine Highway System. All travel to or from a community off the road system or the Marine Highway System remains prohibited, except as necessary per Health Mandate 18.
- On May 15, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services updated COVID-19 Health Mandate 010 to extend the order for self-quarantine on International and Interstate Travel to June 2, 2020.
- All individuals arriving in Alaska – visitors and residents alike – are required to proceed from the airport to a designated quarantine location to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving in Alaska and monitor for illness.
- STATUS OF STATEWIDE ALASKA TRAVEL INDUSTRY (UPDATED 5/6/2020)
- STATUS OF ALASKA STATEWIDE TOURISM INDUSTRY (ATIA 4/6/202)
- Longer-term, Canada has closed all ports to cruise travel through July 1. This closure would affect all Alaska sailings through the beginning days of July.
- Cruise Lines International Association Voluntary Suspension of U.S. Cruise Operations (March 13, industry statement)
- 4/10/2020 - CDC Extends "No Sail Order" for all cruise ships
- SEWARD Cruise Ship Schedule 2020 (5/21/2020)
More Tools & Resources Below
HEALTH & WELLNESS
- Providence Hospital Online Self-Assessment Tool
- CDC Guidelines
- Getting your household ready
- Alaska CDC
- Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
- Red Cross tips/supplies list
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- How to Properly Wash Your Hands
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
- U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RESOURCES
-
- Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist (PPP)
- Guide to SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
- Guide to SBA's Employee Retention Tax Credit
- CARE'S Act Guide for Independent Contractors & Self-Employed Individuals
- U.S. Chamber Corona Virus Toolkit for businesses
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation - Save Small Business Grant Fund
-
- SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA)
- ALASKA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER (AKSBDC)
-
- Alaska Small Business Development Center CV-19 Toolkit
-
Alaska SBDC COVID-19 Resource Center
-
Alaska SBDC On-Demand Workshops are FREE through April
- Alaska SBDC Tips for Food Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
-
- National Restaurant Association - CARES Act Updates & Overview
- U.S. Department of Treasury issued additional guidance regarding the Paycheck Protection Program.
- OSHA on preparing workplaces for COVID-19
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration
- Alaska Business Magazine
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control Interim Guidance for Large/Community Events
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease
- CDC PPE calculator - quickly estimate how long your PPE will last
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control Workplace/School/Home Guidance
STATE OF ALASKA RESOURCES:
- UAA Business Enterprise Institute Update for small businesses
- Innovation Funding - The University of Alaska is offering COVID19 innovation funding, up to $50K for university-affiliated projects and up to $7K through the Center ICE seed Fund. Additional prototype funding is available through the Alaska Seed Fund.
- Department of Commerce and other State of Alaska programs available to Alaska small businesses:
- Unemployment. Who qualifies and how to file for unemployment can be found at this link to the Alaska Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development. Guidance and benefits continue to evolve to keep pace with the crisis, so keep informed here.
NON-PROFIT RESOURCES:
MANUFACTURER RESOURCES:
- CDD: Workplaces During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Return to Work Plan
- U.S. Food & Drug: Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019
- U.S. Department of Agriculture:Coronavirus Disease
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 response
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2
TOURISM INDUSTRY CV-19 RESOURCES
- ATIA Coronavirus Guidance
- Visit Anchorage Toolkit & Resources for Businesses
- ATIA Website Travel Advisory
- ATIA Business Resources
- ATIA - COVID-19 Economic Impact Survey Results
INDUSTRY PROTOCOLS & GUIDELINES
- US Travel Association: https://www.
ustravel.org/sites/default/ files/media_root/document/ HealthandSafetyGuidance.pdf - American Hotel & Lodging Association: https://www.ahla.
com/sites/default/files/ SafeStayReport.pdf - Passenger Vessel Association: Click here to access these guidelines
- CHARR: https://www.
alaskacharr.com/coronavirus- and-hospitality.html
HELPFUL ARTICLES
- Getting Cash for your Business Through the CARES Act - Forbes
- USSRBC and Goldman Sachs - Guide to Emergency Relief Benefits
LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD
State and federal elected leaders are scrambling to respond to this national health and economic crisis. Now is the best time to contact them so they can make better-informed decisions. Share what's happening to your family, your business, and be candid on what you need to recover.
-
- Rep. Don Young has set up a coronavirus resource page.
- Senator Murkowski's staff is accumulating Alaska-specific impacts from the outbreak.
- Click to enter them at her online portal.
- Contact Sen. Dan Sullivan with your concerns.
- Same for your state representatives - here's a list of legislators by district, and an excellent map of state senate districts.
DIGITAL MARKETING, SOCIAL MEDIA & ONLINE ADVERTISING
- Grow with Google Small Business Toolkit and Tips for working from home/remotely
- Facebook for Business has put together a collection of ready-made media templates to stay connected with your clients.
- American Express has launched a Small Business Resource Center with ready-to-use social media assets.
- Anchorage-based Element Agency has created a campaign with important, simple, shareable C19 messages. Click on Caring is Easy to access downloadable online assets you can share on your web and social media pages.
- Thompson & Co shares tips around Community support and crisis communications amid COVID-19
- 5 Ways to Do Smart & Responsible Marketing During COVID-19
- ATIA webinar: Managing Your Online Presence in a Time of Uncertainty and slide handout (April 22)
- ATIA webinar: Social Media and Crisis Communications and Social Media Best Practices handout (April 15)
- STATE OF ALASKA SECURITY OFFICE ALERT ON ZOOM & HIJACKING
HELPFUL NEWS ARTICLES & SITES
- Washington Post: Article w/ useful real-time simulation models
- John Hopkins University CSSE site with live data on worldwide cases
- Warning As Dangerous Coronavirus Malware Is Sent To Millions
SEWARD AREA BUSINESS GOOGLE SHEET
We've created a public GOOGLE SHEET listing Seward Chamber members by industry (see tabs across the bottom). We encourage you to ADD your updated business hours, curbside/delivery options, specials, and any other relevant information you'd like the public to know. We would like ALL local businesses to take advantage of this form, whether you are a chamber member or not.
We will continue to share out this document, as well as use it to help with promotional efforts on behalf of our community.
To add a business, simply type information into the spreadsheet directory in the correct location, or add a row in the applicable category if needed. You can also email chamber@seward.com.
HELPING IN THE COMMUNITY
Seward Prevention Coalition has launched "Neighbors Helping Neighbors" for Seward and surrounding areas.
If you are interested in volunteering to help your neighbors or if you need help with anything during this time of crisis, please click on the Airtable link and fill out the form.
Great things happen when the community gets together! #supportseward
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FROM PROVIDENCE HEALTH & SERVICES
Because many people are concerned about potential exposure to COVID-19, Providence wants to let you know how to access their services if you think you have been exposed and are experiencing fever and respiratory symptoms.
- Please call ahead before coming in person to one of our physician clinics, urgent care centers or emergency departments. You can find phone numbers for our providers and locations at providence.org.
- See a provider virtually using Express Care Virtual. With this service, you can visit with one of our providers via online video from the comfort of your home, seven days a week.
- Use our new online coronavirus assessment tool. We developed this “chat” tool to help you assess your risk and to connect you with a provider virtually if you are at a higher risk for the virus.
For more helpful tips visit PSJH Coronavirus site.
SBA LOAN ASSISTANCE
- SBA weekly conference calls: Fridays 4:00 pm ET / 2:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm PT / 12:00 pm Alaska. Click here to register
211
DHSS has enlisted Alaska 2-1-1 as a resource for handling the large volume of calls from the public with questions regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The 2-1-1 information referral specialists are equipped to take and triage these calls, and to refer callers to appropriate resources. Visit coronavirus.alaska.go.
CENSUS 2020
According to the 2020 Census Response rates as of 5/1/2020:
- Seward’s self-response rate is 21.4%
- Alaska’s self-response rate is 36.8 %
- Nation’s self-response rate is 55.6%
Do the Census and raise Seward’s response rate!
Fill the Census out online at my2020census.gov OR Call toll free 1-844-330-2020, Daily - 3 am-10 am, AKST
10 minutes of your time is worth 10 years of economic benefit and impact to Alaska and our communities!
The Census will be used to guide the distribution of more than $675 billion of federal funding to Alaska and our communities each year, impacting local infrastructure (i.e. emergency services, health care, schools, roads…), public services and inform data-driven decisions that affect our economy and government representation for 10 years.
Online self-response will continue for an extra two weeks through August 14, 2020.