• Norfolk businesses and organizations, please update this survey about your operation status to keep our citizens informed.
  • All City offices are closed; all staff members of Norfolk Economic Development are working from home.  Please call our office at 757-664-4338 – we are monitoring our calls.
  • For more information, please visit the Hampton Roads Chamber COVID-19 Business Resource Guide.

Reopening Information 

  • Phase 1 Open Norfolk New! Signage. Click here and scroll down to download and use them.
  • Phase 1 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)
  • Hampton Roads Chamber Covid-19 #SafeReturn757 
  • CDC Guidelines to Prepare your Small Business and Employees
  • The 757 COVID-19 Business Leaders second wave survey.
  • The City of Norfolk has received more than $2.6 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding designated to respond to COVID-19. We seek resident and business input on the most significant needs created by the COVID-19 shutdowns. Please, take this new survey to help us make informed decisions in allocating this funding. Local non-profits may apply for the funding through May 15. Find more information here.

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

  • City of Norfolk Economic Disaster Assistance Small Business Grant – First Round Now Closed – Round 2 opens on June 12th through June 19th
    • 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 May 15th, 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

05/08/2020 – The SBA today reduced the maximum EIDL loan from $2 million to $150,000, effective immediately.  They are still not accepting new applications, except for agricultural enterprises.

Business Guidance Loan Resources here (updated 4-7-2020)

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 (updated 4-7-2020)
  • 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

  • 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

Industry Specific Resources

  • Updated on 5/26/2020 – 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