Mayor of Chapin Declares State of Emergency

While it is imperative for local government to continue to operate during States of Emergency, it is equally imperative for local governments to take steps to minimize the need for large gatherings in order to protect public health and safety and the health and safety of local government officials and staff.

The evidence is clear and mounting daily that it is imperative to protect the health of our citizens, by doing what we can to slow the spread of COVID-19. Therefore we are temporarily reducing or suspending normal operations of Chapin Town Hall, while maintaining essential services of the Police and Utility departments.

The services of Chapin Town Hall are minimized until further notice, to include reduction in hours of operation, minimum staffing, limitation of transactions to electronic media or deposit box, postponement of municipal court proceedings, and cancellation of boards and commission hearings until the emergency is lifted. A decision whether to hold or cancel the regular Council Meeting scheduled for April 7 will be announced no later than March 26.

You can find the Mayor's Proclamation in its entirety and the latest updates on our webpage.

Show Your Support for Chapin Businesses

The Town of Chapin urges our citizens to support local retailers, restaurants and other businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our community’s small businesses are vital to providing core services and employing our friends, neighbors and families. You can show your continued support by:

Buying gift certificates to use in the future
Ordering delivery or carry-out options
Shop online – focus on local businesses before corporations
Tip a little more than usual
Encourage others to do the same

Chapin community stores have met the most recent government mandates to keep themselves and the public safe. They have modified their hours of operation, developed convenient carry out menus, expanded to provide delivery service and shifted sales to social media to meet the demands of our consumers. Now more than ever we need to support our local business community.

The Town has provided an easy to use page with current Chapin store information including store hours, current operations and contact information. For the latest on COVID-19 impacts on our community visit our website.

Resources for Business Owners

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.

For questions, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center at 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

SCDEW FAQ’s https://dew.sc.gov/docs/default-source/covid-19/coronavirus-and-unemployement-benefits.pdf?sfvrsn=9e21cba5_4

Filing Claims for Your Workers
Employers who have a temporary shutdown, are experiencing a slow or smaller workload than normal, or have temporary/seasonal work can request permission to file claims on their workers' behalf. You are allowed to file up to six weeks for your affected employees. Your employees are exempt from work search requirements during those six weeks.

To file for your workers, you must contact DEW's Unemployment Insurance department and sign an agreement letter in order to become authorized to file your employees' claims. You are required to report any earnings the employee may have received from you or any other employer during the particular week filed. You also must submit an electronic file to our department each week you wish to file by clicking here. The claim must be submitted after the week of layoff is over but within 14 days of the claim week ending date.To access tutorials and guides for the system, visit the Employer's Bridge to Benefits page.

Resources for Displaced Workers

Unemployment Insurance
Apply for unemployment insurance immediately by submitting a claim to South Carolina’s Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW). In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, DEW is taking extra steps to quickly extend benefits to unemployed workers.
The department eliminated its usual one-week waiting period for people who apply for unemployment insurance between March 15 and April 18. That means payment to approved claimants should arrive one week earlier.

Check eligibility requirements and disqualifications on the DEW website, dew.sc.gov.
To speak to a representative about a claim, call the DEW toll-free line at 1-866-831-1724 and select option 3. Other useful phone numbers can be found at dew.sc.gov/contact. Stay on top of communications from the agency.

On March 19, DEW also suspended the requirement that unemployment insurance claimants apply to two jobs per week in order to receive benefits. That waiver applies to those who apply for unemployment between March 15 and April 18.

Additional Assistance
United Way of the Midlands has created a COVID-19 Response Fund where 100% of donations will go to Community Impact Partners helping people in Richland, Lexington, Fairfield, Newberry, Orangeburg and Calhoun counties meet basic needs including food, shelter, rent/utility assistance, and hotel vouchers due to lost wages.

SC 2-1-1 serves as a safety net for all individuals needing help finding assistance, by helping improve the effectiveness and coordination of health and human services across the state. The statewide program provides information about and referral to health and human service resources. Contact them today to get connected to a number of different resources.

"It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.” – Doe Zantamata