COVID-19 Resource Center for Kenosha Area Employers

In an effort to keep Kenosha Area employers up to date during the public health emergency surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, KABA has developed the following collection of resources.

Latest News & Information

U.S. Department of Commerce invests $4 million in CARES Act funding to capitalize RLF to help small businesses in Wisconsin respond to Coronavirus

August, 31, 2020 – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $4 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc., Kenosha, Wisconsin to capitalize and administer a Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) that will provide critical gap financing to small businesses and entrepreneurs that have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic in Wisconsin. Kenosha Area Business Alliance, Inc., a current EDA RLF grantee, is one of the more than 850 existing, high-performing EDA Economic Development District, University Center, Tribal, and RLF grant recipients invited to apply for supplemental funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Kenosha COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Fund

KABA, in conjunction with the City of Kenosha, is excited to announce the recipients of the Kenosha COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Fund. Approximately 130 applications were received. The applications were reviewed and awarded by a 12-person committee comprised of volunteers from the business and non-profit communities.

Additional details about the program, including how to apply, will be available soon.

Employer Resources to help navigate the next normal in education

Many local school districts, including the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD), have announced that some learning will take place virtually for at least the beginning of the fall semester. KUSD includes the City of Kenosha, Village of Pleasant Prairie and the Village & Town of Somers.

KABA has assembled resources for employers to help them support employees with childcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Employer Back to School Toolkit

Kenosha County Kickstart Plan

The City and County of Kenosha, in partnership with the Kenosha Area Business Alliance, on May 27, 2020 released the final draft of a plan to help guide businesses through the process of restarting operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more. The plan is available for the public and businesses to review at https://bit.ly/KCKickstart.

KABA, in conjunction with Kenosha County, has developed signage for Kenosha County businesses to promote the fact that they are committed to keeping their customers and employees safe, and that they are making every attempt to adhere to guidelines consistent with the Kenosha County Kickstart Plan. Businesses may download and print a .pdf file in the link below. Vinyl clings – measuring 5″ x 7″ – will also be available for companies and businesses starting next Tuesday, June 2 at the Northside and Southwest branches of the Kenosha Public Library. They will be available during their regular curbside pickup hours: Tuesday – Saturday from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Kenosha County Kickstart Signage

Kenosha County Resources

The latest from the Kenosha County Division of Health: KCDOH COVID-19 Situation Report (January 5, 2021).

Statement from the Kenosha County Office of the Corporation Counsel regarding mask mandates

For timely updates and information about the local response to the pandemic, be sure to visit the Ken osha County COVID-19 Response Center.

Events

Kenosha County Kickstart Update

KABA hosted a webinar on October 9 featuring a panel discussion, moderated by KABA President Todd Battle, with Kenosha County Division of Health Director Jen Freiheit and members of the Kenosha County Kickstart Plan Oversight Committee about continuing to implement the Kenosha County Kickstart Plan amid a surge in cases in Wisconsin and new mandates instituted by Governor Tony Evers.

View the recorded webinar

Getting back to business – Implementing the Kenosha County Kickstart Plan

KABA hosted a webinar on June 2 featuring a panel discussion, moderated by KABA President Todd Battle, with Kenosha County Division of Health Director Jen Freiheit, employment law attorney Nick Infusino, and several business and organization leaders about how they are getting back to business and implementing the Kenosha County Kickstart Plan.

View the recorded webinar

Kenosha County Small Business Forum: Where are we now and where are we going?

KABA hosted a webinar on May 12 featuring a panel discussion, moderated by KABA President Todd Battle, with WEDC’s Missy Hughes, local CPA Joe Clark, and several small business owners about how they’re remaining viable during Governor Ever’s ‘Safer at Home’ order as it relates to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

View the recorded webinar

What’s Next for Kenosha County? A Community Update about the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
KABA hosted a webinar on May 1 featuring a panel discussion, moderated by KABA President Todd Battle, with representatives from various public sectors about where Kenosha County and Wisconsin are in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

View the recorded webinar

Navigating the New Business Environment: A Kenosha County Employer Panel
KABA hosted a webinar on April 28 featuring a conversation with four local employers. Moderated by Derek Kling, Senior Manager at Wipfli, they discussed how they have transitioned their business, steps they’ve taken to keep their employees and their customers safe, and other insights into their operations as they have adapted to doing business amidst the COVID-19 public health emergency.

View the recorded webinar

Unpacking the Families First Coronavirus Response Act

KABA hosted a webinar on March 31 about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Employment law attorney Oyvind Wistrom, with Lindner & Marsack, S.C, led an informational session about the Act – which requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The new law will took effect on April 1, 2020.

View the recorded webinar View the PowerPoint presentation

Other News, Resources & Information

The United Way of Kenosha County’s COVID-19 Response Fund

The United Way of Kenosha County’s COVID-19 Response Fund has been established to provide flexible financial resources to Kenosha County 501(c)(3) organizations that have had their ability to help the community restricted due to COVID-19. 100% of the funds raised through the COVID-19 Relief Fund will be used to help organizations affected throughout our community.

Thanks to a generous donation from Meijer, this fund is significantly closer to its goal of $100,000.

Several companies are hiring temporary workers

If you or your employees currently out of work due to the closures in place, there are several companies that are currently in need of temporary workers, including Amazon, Gordon Food Service and Meijer.

More information

If your company is temporarily in need of additional employees, please contact Brooke Infusino at binfusino@kaba.org.

Kenosha County businesses, can you help?

There are several community organizations that have mobilized to help those that are currently and will be adversely affected by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. One area of particular need is food pantries which are running critically low of food and other essential items.

At a time of crisis like this, the business community has an unique opportunity to provide assistance. If your company can donate food, water, cleaning services, other goods or services, or is able to help in any other way, please consider doing so. Below is a list of some of the local organizations that are in need of additional donations so they can continue helping the most vulnerable in our community.

Boys & Girls Club | Contact: Jake McGhee, CEO
ELCA Urban Outreach Center | More information
Grace Welcome Center | Contact: Leif Peterson
Journey Church | Contact: Bob Griffith
Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services, Inc. | Contact: Cathy Coleman | More information
Salvation Army | Contact: Marie Lewis
Shalom Center | Contact: Tamarra Coleman
Sharing Center | Contact: Sharon Pomaville

From the Wisconsin Emergency Management: If your business is able to help supply resources & supplies needed to help fight COVID-19, please contact Lacey Shoemaker at Lacey.Shoemaker@wi.gov. Full list of items needed: https://bit.ly/3dlO72g

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact KABA at info@kaba.org.

Below is a list of local,regional and national resources specifically for employers as they deal with the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

WEDC | COVID-19 Business Resources
MMAC | Coronavirus Guidance & Resources
Kenosha County Division of Health | COVID-19 (coronavirus) information center
From Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) | COVID-19 Q & A
WMEP Manufacturing Solutions | COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) – Resources for Manufacturers
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development | Coronavirus General Information
MRA | Contagious Diseases and Pandemic Toolkit
Advocate Aurora Health | COVID-19 Resource Center
Wisconsin Manufacturer’s & Commerce and Wisconsin Safety Council | Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Resource Center
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers: Plan, Prepare and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019
U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) | Coronavirus and COVID-19
U.S. Small Business Adminstration (SBA) | SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus
U.S. Chamber of Commerce | Guidance for Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Other updates, information, and upcoming events:

WEDC announces targeted grants to small businesses suffering losses due to COVID-19 emergency | Read more
Business Lending Partners | COVID-19 Financial Resources
UPCOMING EVENT: Virtual Job Fair | April 15-29, 2020 | Presented by Wisconn Valley Media Group | Learn more
UPCOMING EVENT: Southeast Wisconsin Virtual Job & Resource Fair | May 7, 2020 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Presented by Southeast Wisconsin Works! nad its partners | Learn more
DAILY WEBINARS | 10 AM and 2 PM | Half-hour webinars to help you complete the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loan application. Register now by following these links: 10AM Webinar > bit.ly/3dqVxBf | 2PM Webinar > bit.ly/39fksVo
Many employees may be experiencing increased anxiety and other mental health-related issues. Below is information about EAPs and other resources to help your employees in this critical time:
- The State of Wisconsin EAP program, now FEI/Workforce Resilience
- Manage Anxiety & Stress during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Froedtert South opened a drive-thru coronavirus testing site in Kenosha County. The testing will take place in the parking lot of Froedtert South’s Pleasant Prairie clinic, located at 10256 Old Green Bay Rd. If you are experiencing symptoms or believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are asked to call (262) 671-7777 for an initial phone evaluation. | Read more
Treasury announces extension of tax payments | Read more
Watch a recording of the informative webinar: How your business can withstand a global pandemic, presented by the MMAC (broadcast on March 17) | Watch now

KABA recently conducted a third survey of Kenosha Area employers to gauge what companies and organizations are doing to get back to business. The United States has rarely faced a public health emergency of this magnitude and as businesses try to figure out the best courses of action, we hope you find it helpful to hear what other local companies are doing at this time.

July 28, 2020 Employer Survey Results June 5, 2020 Employer Survey Results April 17, 2020 Employer Survey Results March 18, 2020 Employer Survey Results

Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce (RAMAC) surveyed its members on March 19-20, 2020. Click here to view those results.