Recommendations & Assistance For Employers Impacted By COVID-19

COVID-19 Business Loan Guaranty Program

The New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) has created a program to assist businesses seeking emergency loans or lines of credit to deal with negative economic impacts from COVID-19. NMEDD can guaranty a portion of a loan or line of credit up to 80% of principal or $50,000. Loan proceeds are flexible and can be used for (and not limited to) the following: working capital, inventory and payroll.

Lenders and borrowers can apply online, https://gonmbiz/about-us/covid-19-response/.

LEDA Zero-Percent Interest Loans

• Limited to expenditures for land, building and infrastructure
• Can be used for lease abatement or mortgage assistance
• Company must be a qualified entity (manufacturer, non-retail service business with more than 50% of revenue generated out of state, or a retail business in a community or less than 15,000 in population)
• All loans will be required to provide security equal to the amount of the loan

For assistance with LEDA loans, find & contact your Regional Representative, https://gonm.biz/community-development/ or contact Mark Roper, Mark.Roper@state.nm.us or 575-562-0327.

Small Business Administration- Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Disaster loan assistance is available for businesses in all 33 counties.

• SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance.
• The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible (request for financial forms to make assessment of cash flow and asset). The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
• Long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years.

SBA.gov/disaster 1-800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are hearing impaired may call 800-877-8339.

The closure of businesses, cancellation of events, and the prohibition of large gatherings may result in individuals being dismissed or suspended from work through no fault of their own; certain workers may be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.

• Employees who are laid off some or all as a result of the impact of COVID-19;
• Workers who are self-quarantined or directed to be quarantined, or who have immediate family who is quarantined, or
• Workers who have their hours reduced as a result of COVID-19

A claimant may be eligible for benefits if their hours are reduced significantly even if the claimant was not a full-time employee prior to the reduction. This is an exception to the regular UI partial benefits provisions and will only apply to claimants affected by COVID-19 during the time the state is under a state of emergency.

There are two ways to file an initial claim:

• Online by going to the New Mexico Workforce Connection Online System at www.jobs.state.nm.us. Individuals can then access the UI Tax & Claims System. The online system is available to take initial claims and weekly certifications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• By phone at 1-877-664-6984. The UI Operations Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  Information for workers affected by COVID-19 can be found at https://www.dws.state.nm.us/COVID-19-Info.

In light of the March 11 public health emergency declared by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the New Mexico Environment Department Occupational Health and Safety Bureau is issuing the recommendations below to employers in the state.

The New Mexico Environment Department Occupational Health and Safety Bureau also recommends the following precautions for the workplace:

1. Actively encourage workers to stay home or go home if they are sick and send workers with acute respiratory illness symptoms home immediately.
2. Provide workers, customers and worksite visitors with a place to wash their hands.
3. Train employees on: handwashing hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, avoiding touching your face, avoiding sharing personal items with co-workers (i.e., dishes, cups, utensils, towels).
4. Minimize contact among workers, clients and customers.
5. Do not allow workers to use another worker’s equipment.
6. Maintain regular housekeeping practices, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces, equipment and other elements of the work environment.
7. Discontinue nonessential travel.
8. Develop an emergency communication plan and provide a forum for answering workers’ questions and addressing concerns.

Contact Information

New Mexico OSHA NMENV-OSHA@state.nm.us
Federal OSHA https://www.osha.gov/
Centers for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

For questions and/or concerns related to COVID-19 or for exception requests to any licensure requirements due to COVID-19 concerns, you will be directed to send their concerns in writing to the appropriate board or commission email address, to ensure that all matters are properly tracked and submitted to the appropriate board or commission.

Individual board or commission websites are located at the following internet link: http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/.

Board of Pharmacy

New Mexico Board of Pharmacy-licensed pharmacists and facilities not signed up to receive e-alerts should consider requesting to be added to the list (email request to: Cheranne.mccracken@state.nm.us)

Consider registering to receive NM Department of Health information via the Health Alert Network (HAN) through which healthcare providers receive urgent messages regarding evolving outbreak situations and recommendations. https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085613008#/signup

Alcoholic Beverage Control Division

ABC is open for business, but is recommending that all interaction with division be by email, phone or U.S. mail rather than in person. We will try to schedule any meetings telephonically. Our number is 505-476-4875.

Construction Industries Division and Manufactured Housing Division

CID and MHD continue to service these needs however, both divisions are implementing social distancing, general health safety policy, teleworking, and the use of technology such as Cisco Webex Meetings / FaceTime when possible.

Field staff (Inspectors) will continue to provide the life/safety services necessary to keep our citizen safe in their homes and places of business. As this pandemic evolves the Divisions will continue address any issues as arise.

Financial Institutions and Securities Division

Questions and concerns will be addressed via email or by phone, all contact information is available at rld.state.nm.us.