Arkansas Small Businesses Can Now Apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans

Arkansas small businesses suffering economic injury due to coronavirus (COVID-19) are now eligible to apply for low-interest SBA loans.

See our fact sheet for the documentation you will need for your application.

How can the loan be used?
The loans are for working capital, which includes fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that can't be paid due to the disaster's impact. Lost sales are not covered.

How much can I apply for?
You will not be asked how much you would like to borrow. The SBA uses the information you provide to determine the loan amount. Small businesses can receive a secured loan up to $2 million, and an unsecured loan up to $25,000.

Go to disasterloan.sba.gov/ela to register and apply.
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Disaster Loan Assistance

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Handling Stress of Social Distancing

NEWS ARTICLE
Jean A. Ince
County Extension Agent-Staff Chair

Last week we all thought Covid-19 was going to be on its way out and life would return to normal. However, it looks like it may be around for several weeks and we all need to take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading. Most of us are spending more time at home, avoiding contact with others and basically our lives have turned upside down. Here are some tips to help you manage the stress of being stuck at home, either by yourself or with those you love.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Some common feelings are anxiety, worry, or fear over you or a loved one catching the disease. Worry about how you will meet your financial obligations or how you will get the things you need such as groceries, personal care items and medicines.
You may be concerned over how you will care for your children. Who is going to watch them, if you are working? You may be asking yourself, “What are we going to do with all this time on our hands?” Boredom and frustration may set in because your normal routine has changed.
Frustrated at how long this will last. Loneliness and feeling like you are cut off from those you love.
So, what can you do to handle the stress of isolation? Here are some ways to help relieve the pressures.
Keep a Healthy Diet – When you are at home it can be tempting to become a “couch potato”. Instead of grabbing that bag of chips or cookies, try snacking on fresh veggies or fruit. Try a cup of yogurt with fruit. Canned or frozen fruits are great alternatives to fresh. They are healthy choices when fresh may not be available.
Prepare Healthy Meals – Again, it is easy to grab prepackaged foods and pop them in the microwave. Many prepackaged foods have extra fat, calories and sodium than foods prepared from scratch. Involve the family in helping you prepare a healthy meal. Check out the website www.choosemyplate.gov to see what makes a healthy plate. On a side note, there are games and activities that teaches eating right for children to do on the website. Check it out!
Enjoy Nature – If possible, get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Take a walk in your neighborhood, keeping distance between those you meet. Find activities to do with your children online that gets them outside. You might print off a scavenger hunt or keep a journal of what you see outside. Then research the insect, plant, bird or animal that you see.
Exercise! – There are many exercises you can do at home. There is plenty of research being done that connects our physical health with our mental health. Yoga, stretching or strength training exercises are great. If you still have a gaming system that involves bowling, tennis, baseball or dance moves, pull it out of storage. There are many exercise videos you can move to online. The idea is to get up and get moving!
Maintain a Sense of Routine – If you find yourself staying in your pajamas all day and you haven’t brushed your hair or teeth, maybe it’s time to evaluate your routine. Children and adults thrive on routines. Go to bed and wake up at regular times. Avoid falling into a cycle of sleeping, watching tv, eating and repeating. A routine gives purpose and wards off feelings of depression.
Make a Plan and Stick to It! – Set up a schedule of what you want to accomplish each day. Being isolated allows you time to do those chores you have been putting off. It also allows you time to start a new project! If you have children at home, set a time to play games, make a new craft, try out a new recipe, learn a new feature on your mobile device; such as, skyping, FaceTime, or new app. Read a book or start a garden by planting seeds that can be transferred to your outside garden later.
Stay Connected – Just because you are stuck at home, doesn’t mean you have to cut yourself off socially. Call someone and visit. Stay connected through email and social media.
Limit News and Media – Constantly hearing about the coronavirus can impact your mental health. Take a break from the news on the TV or on social media. Get information and updates at specific times during the day. Make sure the information you are receiving is from a reliable source.
These are challenging times for everyone. We will get through them and life will return to normal. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service has several resources for financial management, managing stress, eating healthy and exercise. Check out the website www.uaex.edu for more information.
The Howard County Extension Office is open and conducting business as much as possible. However, all meetings have been postponed for now. If we can assist you call our office at 870-845-7517. You can also keep up-to-date with activities through our Facebook pages at HowardCountyExtensionFcs, Howard-County-4-H, or howard co. uaex ag & natural resources. Just search and like the page you are interested in.

University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service

Protect you and your family during the COVID-19 outbreak by practicing proper hand washing techniques. Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap. Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

Arkansas Department of Health Actions Against COVID-19

Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson COVID-19 Press Conference Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Curfew Issued for Howard County in Arkansas 8:30PM - 6:00AM

Arkansas Community Foundation Accepting Proposals for Mini-Grants to Nonprofits Assisting in COVID-19 Relief

Little Rock, Ark. (March 20, 2020) – Arkansas Community Foundation is accepting proposals for $1,000 mini-grants for organizations responding to the immediate needs of vulnerable populations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants will help organizations maintain their operations and respond to increased demand from clients during this first phase of pandemic relief. Nonprofit organizations with 501c3 status, churches, hospitals, schools or government entities based anywhere in Arkansas are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to organizations that:

· Provide human services and emergency assistance (for example, food, shelter, transportation, living expenses, rent/utility assistance, etc.

· Primarily serve vulnerable populations, including children who are out of school in families without childcare, people who have lost a source of income due to the pandemic, people who are at high risk medically, people who are homeless or incarcerated, individuals who lack paid sick leave or health insurance.

· Disseminate factual safety and response information to vulnerable communities such as non-English speaking residents, rural residents, senior citizens, etc.

Organizations may use funding to support client’s needs that cover costs associated with decreased staffing or remote-working due to quarantine/social distancing; provide mental health programming for clients or staff or coordinate/facilitate in-kind goods; and donations to sites and organizations that provide human services and serve vulnerable populations. This is not an exhaustive list, and other needs will be considered.

Businesses and individuals are not eligible to apply; however, we will consider grants to nonprofit organizations that provide direct financial assistance to individuals.

Visit www.arcf.org/COVID19 to apply online. Mini-grant applications will be accepted and grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until available grant funds are expended. All grants will be awarded in the form of a $1,000 award for general operating support. Organizations may receive only one mini-grant at this time.

Responding to COVID-19 in Arkansas

Arkansas Community Foundation has established a statewide COVID-19 Relief Fund. Your contribution will be pooled with contributions from other Arkansans to help our neighbors affected by the pandemic. How will the Arkansas COVID-19 Relief Fund be used? In the short term, the fund will provide rapid-response grants to nonprofit organizations working on the front lines.

Sevier County Night Time Curfew

With the first case of the Coronavirus now being reported in Sevier County, Judge Greg Ray visited our De Queen studio this morning to announce a night time curfew, effective immediately, in Sevier County.

From Dr Glenn Lance of Nashville Family Dentistry

As a precautionary measure, the Arkansas State Dental Association has recommended that all dental clinics in the state close their doors for a brief period of time. Dr. Glenn Lance agrees,with this recommendation, so effective Friday, March 20, Nashville Family Dentistry will be closed. They hope to reopen Monday, March 30th. Until then, let's stay home and stay healthy. A message from Dr. Glenn Lance and Nashville Family Dentistry. If you need emergency dental assistance, please call 870-845-5207.

From Howard Memorial Hospital Rehab Services

⚠️UPDATE
As ordered by Governor Asa Hutchinson, all gyms are to be closed. This includes our 8am-8pm access to the facility for all gym members. We apologize for any inconvenience.

👍🏼On the bright side: OUR THERAPY DEPARTMENT REMAINS OPEN (8am-5pm) We are taking ALL necessary precautions for our patients safety and health and will continue to see patients as allowed.

✅Please follow our Facebook page for more updates. We will be posting home exercise tips in the mean time 💪🏼

Stay healthy, friends!

Note from Simple Simon's Pizza of De Queen

Simple Simon's Pizza of De Queen has closed the dining room but is still available for curbside and delivery. Simple Simon’s is also able to cater for businesses that must continue to work!

ADEM Urges Families to Sign Up for Smart911

Arkansas Division of Emergency Management Urges Families Statewide to Sign Up for Smart911 to Enable Coronavirus Awareness for 9-1-1 and Emergency Responders

“Take Control, Let Us Know” campaign empowers individuals to share critical medical information for more informed emergency response

North Little Rock – As Arkansas responds to the spread of the coronavirus, public health and safety officials ask all Arkansans to sign up for the Smart911 national safety profile registry, a free service that allows individuals and families to provide critical medical information to 9-1-1 and first responders. Arkansas is launching the “Take Control, Let Us Know” campaign to empower the community to take action, and provide valuable and accurate health data that increases the awareness of 9-1-1, first responders, and Emergency Management to an individual’s risk level for coronavirus.

Members of our community are looking for ways to improve the safety of their families, friends and neighbors as the coronavirus spreads. By signing up for Smart911, individuals can help first responders get the key information they need about every person who may need assistance, not only during this outbreak, but during any emergency.

Individuals can create a Smart911 Safety Profile for their household at www.smart911.com or on the Smart911 App that provides critical medical information for those who may be at higher risk of developing a serious COVID-19 illness. As identified by the CDC, the vulnerable population includes older adults, and those with a history of chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, respiratory conditions, and compromised immune systems. When an individual calls 9-1-1, their Smart911 Safety Profile is automatically displayed, allowing our public safety agencies to send emergency response teams to the right location with enhanced medical data.

Individuals can additionally self-identify if they are under quarantine, and whether it is self-imposed or directed by a health professional. The Smart911 App allows quarantined individuals to receive check-in messages on their health status. Smart911 also allows individuals to sign up for alerts from emergency management officials to receive reliable information about the changing coronavirus situation. Individuals who sign up will also receive tailored alerts based on their specific needs and geographic location. With enhanced coronavirus awareness, individuals and first responders have vital information to take proper precautions.

“As the coronavirus continues to be a major public health concern, we are doing everything we can to prepare, respond, and mitigate risk to those in our community who need assistance,” said A.J. Gary, Director of the Division of Emergency Management. “The information provided in a Smart911 Safety Profile enables us to know who is at the greatest risk in our community. We can provide individuals with critical updates based on their location and health history. Ultimately, Smart911 gives our state the chance to be proactive, and lets us know who requires our services. We urge all Arkansans to take action, sign up for Smart911, and help us address the coronavirus outbreak.”

To sign up or update your Safety profile, visit www.smart911.com or download the Smart911 app in the Apple Store or Google Play.

Smart911

This service helps 9-1-1 protect your family by providing more information to first responders. You should sign up too, it is free!

A Note from Wilkerson Funeral Home

During these uncertain times, Wilkerson Funeral Home is monitoring guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, the National Funeral Directors Association, as well as state and local organizations regarding the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases and public health. We would like to share some of our thoughts with you.

The Center for Disease Control guidelines are telling us to keep gatherings to 10 or less. We suggest limiting the funeral services to immediate family members and minister, holding the smallest gathering possible. We also recommend doing this at our facility or more preferably at the graveside to reduce risk of spreading the virus and honoring our duty to the general public. At a later date, if you desire, hold a public memorial service at no additional cost. These things at this time are not mandatory, but important for the health of our community.

Also, if you are not comfortable coming to the funeral home to make arrangements, we can come to you or make them over the phone. Another thing to think about is using our online registry to send a condolence or simply calling the funeral home and having us add your name.

We will honor your wishes to the best of our ability to ensure you receive the type of service you wish to have. Again, our family and staff are here to serve each family as we have done for the last 90 years.

Sarah Wilkerson Casteel
Wilkerson Funeral Home

From the Office of the Chancellor

Effective at 3:00 PM on Thursday, March 19th all UA Cossatot campuses will be closed at least until March 30th.
We take the COVID-19 outbreak very seriously and to protect our students, employees, and our stakeholders, we feel it is in everyone’s best interest to shutter our campuses.
Our students have already been moved to our online learning platforms and we will keep that in place for the foreseeable future.
Our employees will be working from home during this time and we will continue to encourage them (and our students) to practice social distancing and proper hygiene in their personal lives.
We know that we are all in this together and will beat this epidemic together. We all have to make well informed and sensible decisions that may not be popular, but they are for the good of us all.
Even though next week is spring break, we will still be closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak. If we must extend the campus closings beyond March 30th, we will make that determination later next week.
In the meantime, we are still teaching and working, we are now just doing it from a distance.
Please be safe and God Bless.
Regards,
Dr. Steve Cole
Chancellor, UA Cossatot

VIDEO: Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson Update on COVID-19

Governor Asa Hutchinson has announced public schools in Arkansas to remain closed until April 17. Bars and restaurants will be closed to dine in customers, drive through and take out only. There are currently 62 cases of the Coronavirus in Arkansas. 9 new counties are affected. Sevier County is the only county in Southwest Arkansas with a positive Covid-19 test.

An Open Letter from Howard Memorial Hospital

130 Medical Circle, Nashville, AR 71852 www.howardmemorial.com 870-845-4400 main 870-845-4178 fax
March 2020
To the communities we serve:
Our hospital follows the Centers for Disease Control’s recommended infection prevention and control practices, including minimizing the chance for exposures, placing any patient with known or suspected COVID-19 in a separate location, providing personal protective equipment to health care personnel (gloves, gowns, masks and goggles), and educating staff, patients and the community on proper hand hygiene.
Our hospital is educating the public that the best way to prevent infection is by following the same preventive measures used during the normal cold and flu season. Wash hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home from work or school if you are sick to prevent the spread of infection.
Our hospital participates in emergency preparedness training year-round and is prepared to handle an influx of patients, should that occur. Hospitals communicate and coordinate directly with each other regularly and, in times of large-scale disasters.
Since, last week, Howard Memorial Hospital has been meeting internally and with local officials to ensure the safety of our patients, staff and community. Here are the things that we have in place at this time to address COVID-19:
o Screening everyone that enters into the facility via the ER and Main Lobby by asking three questions and obtaining a temperature. If a patient meets criteria for COVID-19, the patient is escorted outside to a separate area for medical screening exam.
o Using testing guidelines from the Health Department in Little Rock along with our private reference labs.
o All area ambulance services have been asked to screen patients over the phone before going into the home and transporting to the hospital and make the hospital aware of symptoms and screening results so proper precautions can be made prior to the patient arriving to the Emergency Department.
o Patients with respiratory symptoms have a mask placed and our staff will utilize the appropriate personal protective equipment before interacting with the patient.
o Our main lobby entrance is closed at 5:30pm Monday through Friday and reopens at 7am. On weekends, everyone must enter through the Emergency Department entrance. Staff are located in these areas to conduct screenings of everyone entering the facility.
o If we have a confirmed case in our area (Southwest Arkansas or Texarkana) we will move to the next stage for a much more aggressive lockdown of the facility.
Improving the health of the communities we serve
130 Medical Circle, Nashville, AR 71852 www.howardmemorial.com 870-845-4400 main 870-845-
4178 fax
As always, Howard Memorial Hospital is here for your healthcare needs. We continue to
be prepared for any emergency, large or small. If you have any questions, please feel
free to contact us.
Sincerely,
Howard Memorial Hospital
Administration and Staff

Arkansas Map of Covid-19 Positive Cases 03.19.20

A Message to UA Cossatot Students!

I wanted to personally let each and every student who attends UA Cossatot know that everything we are doing during this crisis is to make sure you stay safe and still receive the education you expect to get from UA Cossatot. Currently we have moved all of our courses online and we will keep offering them online as long as we need to in order to keep you as safe as we can from COVID-19 exposure.

During this trying time, please reach out to us for ANY help you need. I also wanted to remind students that we can’t beat the COVID-19 outbreak without your help. Please take this virus very seriously and please practice good hand-washing habits and PLEASE refrain from meeting closely in large groups. This virus spreads mainly by close human contact and if we can eliminate that behavior, at least for a while, we can limit the spread of this virus.

What you do and how you respond personally to this epidemic will define your entire generation!

Please be safe, call or email me any time, and GO COLTS!

Chancellor Cole

Sevier County Has First Positive Case of Covid-19

From State Representative, DeAnn Vaught…

Please don’t panic! Let me say that again Please Do Not Panic! Breathe... Sevier County does have a positive case.. that is all I can tell you at this point! Let me say this again, STAY HOME if at all possible! The attached picture stresses why it is important to stay home. Take a few seconds and read it.

We knew it was a matter of WHEN not IF, that is why I try so hard to inform you as soon as I know that way you have facts.

Governor Hutchinson Announces Relief for Businesses, Child-Care Providers To Ease COVID-19 Impact

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas will tap Community Development Block Grant funds and the state’s Quick Action Closing Fund to support small businesses and nonprofits that are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced today during a press conference at the Capitol.

The Governor has made a formal request for a disaster declaration for small businesses, which will open up loans of up to $2 million in working capital.

“Arkansas and the nation are enduring a jolt to the economy and a huge loss of revenue,” Governor Hutchinson said. “The state cannot cover every loss of business, but we can help with bridge loans to assist companies, nonprofits, and child-care-voucher providers weather this slowdown and retain workers during this national emergency.” 

The state will allocate $12 million in block grant money and up to $4 million from the quick-action fund to provide bridge loans to help midsize companies and nonprofits remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor also announced that the state will increase reimbursement for child-care voucher providers who care for children who receive federal child-care assistance and that remain open through March 27.

The Department of Human Services (DHS) will suspend the renewal process for child-care vouchers for 30 days. DHS will expedite the process and temporarily relax limits on capacity for providers. More than 800 child-care providers have closed.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will suspend the work requirement through the end of April. DHS also will expedite decisions about SNAP eligibility for those who lose income because of COVID-19.

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson With COVID-19 Update to Media (03.18.20)