| Covid-19 Information | Personal Protection | Support Local Business | Local Restaurants |
| Business Continuity | SBA Loans | Federal Stimulus | Webinar |
| Business Continuity | SBA Loans | Federal Stimulus | Webinar |
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SHREVEPORT Business HELPDESK |
BUSINESS HOTLINE - 225.342.4321 |
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A partnership including the City of Shreveport, SUSLA, Cohab, The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, and the Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber has launched Shreve.biz, a helpdesk for Shreveport and Caddo area businesses navigating the economic strains imposed by the COVID-19 crisis.
The Shreve.biz website contains useful information about the various forms of financial assistance available to businesses, and in-depth support for small businesses is available via phone and video. A volunteer team consisting of local professionals with banking, accounting, legal, and business backgrounds will offer free, private, one-on-one counseling for local business owners and managers. These volunteers will be equipped to answer common questions and help business owners understand and access SBA Disaster Loans, federal stimulus dollars, and private credit options. To learn more or to schedule an appointment visit Shreve.biz.
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Louisiana Economic Development is launching a telephone hotline service to answer questions from the business community as the COVID-19 emergency continues. The LED staff will field business-related inquiries from small businesses, major industries and other regional and local partners and stakeholders. Our team will seek to provide information directly or provide referrals to available resources elsewhere in state government.
The current hotline number is 225.342.4321. A toll-free hotline number is coming soon. LED also maintains a resource page for businesses to get information, clarity, and answers. |
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3/27 Chamber Covid-19 Webinar
featuring:
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3/20 Chamber Covid-19 Webinar
featuring:
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USeful Links
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Families First Act - Details
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SBA Disaster Loan Details
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RECOMMENDED STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYERS TO USE NOW
Actively encourage sick employees to stay home:
- Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
- Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until:
- they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer),
- signs of a fever and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants).
- Ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies.
- Talk with companies that provide your business with contract or temporary employees about the importance of sick employees staying home and encourage them to develop non-punitive leave policies.
- Do not require a healthcare provider’s note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work, as healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.
- Employers should maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. Employers should be aware that more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other sick family members than is usual.
Separate sick employees:
CDC recommends that employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees and be sent home immediately. Sick employees should cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available).
Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees:
- Place posters at workplace entrances and in other high traffic workplace areas that encourage:
- Provide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.
- Instruct employees to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% to 95% alcohol, or wash their hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
- Provide soap and water and alcohol-based hand rubs in the workplace. Ensure that adequate supplies are maintained. Place hand rubs in multiple locations or in conference rooms to encourage hand hygiene.
- Visit the coughing and sneezing etiquette and clean hands webpage for more information.
Perform routine environmental cleaning:
- Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label.
- No additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is recommended at this time.
- Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls and desks) can be wiped down by employees before each use.
Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps:
- Check the CDC’s Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest guidance and recommendations for each country to which you will travel. Specific travel information for travelers going to and returning from China, and information for aircrew, can be found at on the CDC website.
- Advise employees to check themselves for symptoms of acute respiratory illness before starting travel and notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
- Ensure employees who become sick while traveling or on temporary assignment understand that they should notify their supervisor and should promptly call a healthcare provider for advice if needed.
- If outside the United States, sick employees should follow your company’s policy for obtaining medical care or contact a healthcare provider or overseas medical assistance company to assist them with finding an appropriate healthcare provider in that country. A U.S. consular officer can help locate healthcare services. However, U.S. embassies, consulates and military facilities do not have the legal authority, capability and resources to evacuate or give medicines, vaccines or medical care to private U.S. citizens overseas.
3 work-from-home solutions
- Hosted Phone - Pair your desk phone to your mobile phone, tablet or desktop PC. You can be reached anywhere, all through one number. This service can also include features like conference calling, voicemail, chat and integrated contacts.
- Online Meetings - Conduct face-to-face meetings, chat, share your desktops, applications and whiteboard with anyone, anywhere, anytime.
- Business Backup and Recovery - Make sure your data is backed up at all times.
Communicate and collaborate
- Evaluate your current business practices.
- Are there ways you can offer services with less face-to-face customer contact?
- Can you offer delivery, take out or other options that can support quarantined or home bound customers?
- Develop policies and practices that build trust with customers and colleagues
- Encourage employees to take their temperature every day, regardless of how they feel. Catching a fever early may spare both customers and colleagues from exposure.
- Insist that sick employees stay home, for their health and everyone's safety.
- Increase use of cleaners and frequency of cleaning
- Post steps you are taking online and at your establishment so customers know you are aware and vigilant
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400 Edwards St. | Shreveport, LA 71101-6134
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday |
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Phone: (318) 677-2500
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