The Alexandria/Arlington Emergency Layoff Aversion Assistance Program will award 11 grants to local small businesses who require financial assistance in order to retain their workforce during the COVID-19 emergency. The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

Layoff aversion funds could be used for innovative strategies to maintain business operations, including, but not limited to:

Yesterday, Governor Northam issued a statewide order to protect the health and safety of Virginians and reduce the spread of COVID-19. The order requires the closure of certain non-essential businesses, bans all gatherings of more than 10 people, and closes all K-12 schools for the remainder of the academic year. The Governor also urges all Virginians to avoid non-essential travel outside the home. This order will go into effect at 11:59 p.m. tonight and will remain in place until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 23. 

Additional guidance and a Frequently Asked Questions guide can be found here.

During these unprecedented times, it’s important that we, as a collective Arlington community, remain informed and prepared. We encourage you to take Arlington Economic Development’s (AED) COVID-19 Business Survey to keep AED apprised of the impacts your business is experiencing. Your responses help AED and its partners provide necessary resources to Arlington’s businesses, and you're providing AED with essential data to inform County leadership and community stakeholders.

The Arlington Chamber joined with business leaders from around the DMV in a letter to the Congressional delegation for Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia to encourage the passing of a stimulus package that delivers economic security needed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.