Wednesday COVID Update: Preston tells self-employed to wait 3 weeks, but unemployment checks have been issued

See Key Notes, Statistics, and Video below for Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s news conference on Wednesday, April 8th, 2020 to update on the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Governor stated that $3 million has been allocated to AEDC’s Bridge Loan Program and he is now adding another $1 million from the Quick Action Closing Fund. He said there have been about 800 applications so far.

Mike Preston, Secretary of Commerce of the Arkansas Economic Development Council (AEDC)gave a presentation regarding Unemployment Insurance (UI), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and small business loans. For Preston’s presentation, we give you the detailed transcript as close as we can, since the information is important to so many.

Unemployment Insurance Claims:

Preston stated there is an overload of people (over 110,000) applying for unemployment in person, by phone and by internet. They ask everyone to apply through the website if possible at: ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov
The first Pandemic Unemployment Compensation checks were disbursed. “This is the additional $600 that was provided by the CARES Act that folks are getting on top of their normal UI claims from the state. If you already applied, you don’t have to reapply. If you are filing for the first time and have never been through this, you have to go re-certify each week and check in to show that your status has not changed. Once you do that, it will release you in the system and will be able to process you again, including that $600.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Claims:

For independent contractors, self-employed, freelancers and gig economy workers, Preston stated that the AEDC received guidance from the United States Department of Labor on Sunday night and the AEDC will have to build an entire new system to process the claims “because it’s never been done before, and our system is not able to be compatible with the information that we’re going to have to receive.” He stated that every state is going through the same process. He said, “for those individuals, you’ll have to wait. We’re probably about a three-week time frame to build out that system and start to process those claims.” He said that they are able to backdate the payments once the system is running.
Preston asks that if you fall in this category as described above, to wait the three weeks, so that the phone resources aren’t tied up for others. “We will continue to update on social media, and send out press releases and try to notify folks as best we can when we have a certain date on that. Our team is partnering with other state departments as well as some outside contractors to come in and helped build the system as quick as we possibly can.”

AEDC Loans:

Preston said, “We are pleased to see the number of applications that are coming in. We don’t want to keep people in a holding pattern as we wait for the SBA funds to release, so the Governor has released another million dollars from the Quick Action Closing Fund to continue to be able to do those loans to small businesses. Right now we have 138 of those, representing about 47 counties. These are a 0% interest loan up to $25,000 no payment for 12 months. What we’re requiring is that you maintain a level of jobs so you can continue to have people employed.”
He went on to say that if you are interested in SBA loans (Federal loans) then you should to talk to your banker.

Dr. Nate Smith, State Secretary of Health listed the current statistics for COVID-19 patients below:

1023 cases (up by 77)
76 hospitalized
18 deaths
68 counties (out of 75)
814 tests were processed Tuesday (6.6% positive tests)
14255 total tests processed
24 age 18 or less
69 age 18-24
310 age 25-44
368 age 45-64
252 age 65+
30 are currently on a ventilator (up by 4)
208 are recovered (up by 56)
68 in nursing homes
147 healthcare workers (up by 13)
- 16 are doctors
- 47 are nurses
- 22 are CNAs
24 Federal inmates at Forrest City correctional unit (same as yesterday)