• City offices are following Phase 3 guidelines. Several staff members of Norfolk Economic Development Department are working remotely.  Please call our office at 757-664-4338 if you need to make an appointment, as we are monitoring our calls daily.
  • Norfolk businesses and organizations, please update this survey about your operation status to keep our citizens informed.
  • For more information, please visit the Hampton Roads Chamber COVID-19 Business Resource Guide.

Reopening Information 

  • Open Norfolk boots-on-the-ground campaign continues!  Click here and scroll down to download and use free messaging and view volunteer opportunities
  • NEW (12/10/2020) Forward Virginia updated Guidelines 
  • NEW (11/2020) – Phase 3 Open Norfolk Updated Restaurant Guidelines
  • NEW (11/2020) – Open Norfolk Outdoor Dining Permit
  • Phase 3 Open Norfolk Restaurant Guidelines
  • Phase 2 Open Norfolk Restaurant Guidelines
  • Open Norfolk Use of Right of Way Permit
  • Open Norfolk Toolkit overview
  • Forward Virginia Phase 1 Reopening Guidelines– May 15, 2020 start date
  • Forward Virginia Phase 2 Reopening Guidelines – June 5, 2020 start date
  • Forward Virginia Phase 3 Reopening Guidelines – July 1, 2020 start date
  • Hampton Roads Chamber Covid-19 #SafeReturn757 
  • CDC Guidelines to Prepare your Small Business and Employees
  • The 757 COVID-19 Business Leaders second wave survey full report.
  • The City of Norfolk has received more than $2.6 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding designated to respond to COVID-19.

Staff COVID – 19 Response Teams

  • Business Recovery Tools Team
  • Outreach & Business Intelligence Team
  • Regional Business Recovery Task Force for COVID-19
  • Norfolk Works Workforce Team – Resident Support for COVID-19

We are constantly updating the Norfolk Development Facebook page

Norfolk Business Assistance Programs

  • EDA to Administer Coronavirus Relief Fund Grants (CORE) in August
  • City of Norfolk Economic Disaster Assistance Small Business Grant – Now Closed
    • The City of Norfolk Department of Economic Development is offering a grant product to assist small Norfolk businesses with resuming and/or restructuring their business operations to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Here is the grant’s information sheet and link for the application starting June 12th, 2020.
  • Norfolk Business Loan Product for COVID-19 – Now Closed
  • Interruptions press release and important documents here
  • Norfolk Business Loan Product for COVID-19 application here
  • Due Dates for Payments of Certain Taxes and Temporary Relief of Certain Convenience Fees here
  • Tax Relief – Additional Clarity

Federal Business Assistance Programs

SBA’s Economic Disaster Loans

Review the Disaster Loan Application Form as it is good to have this information before hand. There is no need to submit it, until it is requested. These SBA portal instructions also provide the simplified loan application to be completed online. We recommend downloading both attachments and review them.  Complete the Portal Instructions by hand, prior to going online.

Business Guidance Loan Resources here

Upcoming Webinars on how to apply 

  • Click here to apply.
  • The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
  • Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans here.
  • SBA Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program  here
  • SBA -Guaranteed Loan Funds overview here
  • SBA Advance Loan here

Department of the Treasury’s COVID-19 Stimulus Package

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Webinars for COVID-19  Topics

757 COVID-19 Business Recovery Forum

Exporting Assistance

SBA also provides export loans to help small businesses achieve sales through exports and can help these businesses respond to opportunities and challenges associated with trade, such as COVID-19. The loans are available to U.S. small businesses that export directly overseas, or those that export indirectly by selling to a customer that then exports their products.

  • Export Express loan program gives access to capital quickly for businesses for financing up to $500,000. Businesses can apply for a line of credit or term note before finalizing an export sale or when pursuing opportunities overseas, such as identifying a new overseas customer should an export sale be lost due to COVID-19. Click here for more information.
  • Export Working Capital program helps small businesses to achieve export orders and finance international sales by offering revolving lines of credit or transaction-based financing of up to $5 million. This can be used to engage overseas customers by offering appealing payment terms. Click here for more information.
  • International Trade loan program helps small businesses engaged in international trade to better compete and react to changing business conditions. It can also help exporting firms to expand their sales to new markets or to bring operations back to the U.S. Click here for more information.

EXIM Bank

  • Exporter’s Guide to Working Capital Loan Guarantees
  • Additional EXIM Bank resources and contacts here

Other Resources for Norfolk Businesses

  • NEW – Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Guide During the COVID-19 Pandemic
    • The full text of Executive Order Sixty-Nine is available here.
    • Additional planning resources are available here.
    • Evacuation may become necessary depending on the track of the storm. Review Virginia’s evacuation zones here.
  • Norfolk City Map for Businesses to share operation status information here
  • VisitNorfolk’s COVID-19 information on restaurant, city virtual tools, and other services
  • Medical Devices PPE types, uses and authorizations – Genedge video
  • Building Operations here

Planning & Inspections

  • During the current COVID-19 period, the Development Services Center will continue
    to conduct limited plan review by digital submittals and from the online portal only.
  • Please see this document for Site Plan Protocols information
  • Please see this document for Inspection Permit details
  • Land subdivision submission process overview here. Please access the current subdivision applications here.

News for Norfolk Job Seekers

  • NorfolkWorks newsletter for April job listings, unemployment information, and other relevant services and resources.

State of  Virginia News Link

Unemployment and Family Assistance Programs

  • Virginia Employment Commission website
    • “Employers : Click here to provide information concerning individuals you have rehired, paid with PPP funding during the COVID-19 pandemic or who have refused an offer to return to work.” 
    • Complete an entry form for each situation or individual:
      1. I recently attempted to recall an employee from a layoff/furlough and that person has refused this offer of work.
      2. I have received funds from the Small Business Administration under the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) and I am paying my employee his or her wages or I am paying wages from another source.
      3. I recently hired or rehired an individual and would like to report this action to the VEC.
  • YMCA of South Hampton Roads providing emergency child care for essential personnel such as first responders and health care workers
  • United Way of South Hampton Roads Announces Plans to Lead Coronavirus Response Efforts, Establishes Fund here
  • Virginia Career Works Contact Information here
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) recent guidance

COVID-19 GRANTS

  • NEW! –Virginia Food Access Investment Fund applications now open to provide grants from $5K to $50K
  • NEW! – Applications are being accepted for the following annual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant programs: CDBG, ESG, and HOME. Click here for news and updates.
  • The Rebuild VA Grant Fund  – Application open until 12/31/2020 or when funds are depleted
  • Truist-LISC Partnership Grant. The LISC grant portal will be open to accept applications. Round 4 start date is July 27, 2020
  • Dominion Energy Foundation Community Rebuilding Grants – requests on rolling basis
  • The Red Backpack Fund grants (rolling dates)
  • National Endowment for the Arts Grants 
  • Virginia 30 Day Fund – Deadline: 12/31/2023
  • Pioneers Assistance Fund (not COVID related)
  • USBG Bartender Fund (not COVID related)

Apply now for future replenishment:

  • Freelancers Relief Fund
  • Restaurant Employee Relief Fund

Industry Specific Resources

  • VDH Interim Guidance on Screening, Monitoring and Testing Employees Returning to Work: Critical Infrastructure Employees (Non-Healthcare)
  • Virginia Department of Health Business Toolkit for COVID-19
  • Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s “Blueprint for Getting Virginians Back to Work”
  • VHD Environmental Health Resources and Information for:
    • Food establishments
    • Lodging, Pools, and Campgrounds establishments
    • Onsite System Workers
    • Real Estate Professionals
    • Grade A Milk Safety
  • National Restaurant Association Coronavirus Information and Resources
  • GENEDGE: COVID-19 Information & Resources For Virginia Manufacturers
  • GENEDGE New Resource Website
  • GENEDGE Virginia Supply Chain Connector
  • Yelp Restaurant Promotion Program

City Updates

  • norfolk business loan