Last night, the U.S. Small Business Administration approved Governor Stitt’s request for disaster loans for small businesses across all 77 counties who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Governor Stitt said Friday, “These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact.”

Businesses and nonprofit groups can apply for up to $2 million in loans through the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.

Information for loan applications can be found at www.sba.gov/disaster. 

ADDITIONAL NEW STATE ACTIONS TAKEN

• Governor Stitt suspended the one-week waiting period before unemployment benefits can be paid.
• The Governor has engaged a Joint Task Force for COVID-19, with the assistance of the National Guard and located at the Regional Training Institute in Oklahoma.
  • Brig. Gen. Tommy Mancino, executive director of the Oklahoma Military Department and the Oklahoma National Guard assistant adjutant general, stating,  “Our Guardsmen are planning ahead for future operations we are anticipating the Governor may request of us through the lead agency - the Oklahoma State Department of Health.”
  • The Governor has not requested any additional assistance from the Oklahoma National Guard at this time.
• The U.S. Department of Education approved Friday the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s request to suspend assessments and Oklahoma School Report Cards for the 2019-20 school year. 
  • “These waivers provide some measure of stability and flexibility for our schools to move forward during this period of uncertainty,” said State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. 
• Oklahoma Department of Education scheduled a board meeting for Wednesday, March 25 to determine further actions on school closures and other matters. 
• Oklahoma Commerce department posted a page of resources to help homeowners impacted by COVID-19: https://www.okcommerce.gov/assistance-options-for-homeowners-impacted-by-covid-19/ 

For accurate information and updates as this evolves, please visit the Oklahoma State Department of Health website at coronavirus.health.ok.gov. For questions, please call the OSDH Coronavirus Call Center at 1-877-215-8336.