LABEOC Update – 4/16/2020

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LABEOC Update – 16 April 2020

As of noon (12:00 PM) today, Louisiana has 22,532 diagnosed cases, 1,156 deaths and 1,914 patients hospitalized (396 requiring ventilators)associated with the outbreak. There have been 126,586 tests completed. All data is available at www.ldh.la.gov/coronavirus.

Governor Edwards Creates Resilient Louisiana Commission. Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the creation of Resilient Louisiana, a state commission charged with examining Louisiana’s economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic and making recommendations for more resilient business-related activities and commerce in the coming months. The 18-member panel includes Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, and will be co-chaired by Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson and health care leader Terrie Sterling, a Baton Rouge consultant and retired Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System executive. https://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2467

FEMA National Business EOC Call
Friday, April 17, 2pm Central
Dial in 800-619-3427
PIN: 2725748#

PPE & Hand Sanitizer OPEN BID. See LaPAC Website, GOHSEP-RFQ-16. Quoted prices shall include shipping cost FOB Baton Rouge. Quotes not including shipping cost to Baton Rouge will not be considered. Be sure to include quantities available for immediate shipment, pack size, and delivery time. Delivery time should include time from placement of order to delivery in Baton Rouge. Quotes for partial shipments will be considered. The State reserves the right to award this RFQ to multiple vendors. The state reserves the right to award one single item to multiple vendors at quantities which are greater or lesser than the quantity specified in the quote. Quotes are to be e-mailed to:  [email protected] Submit your quote on the price sheet before 2:00 PM CST Friday, 4/17/2020. https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/srchopen.cfm?deptno=all&catno=all&dateStart=&dateEnd=&compareDate=O&keywords=&keywordsCheck=all.

SBA Loan Program – Lapse in Appropriations Notice: SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)-COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding. EIDL applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources

Louisiana Small Business Loan Guarantee Program. While SBA may have expended all funding appropriated by Congress, Louisiana’s state based program is still open for business. Time and again, Louisianans reach out and help their neighbors in times of crisis. The Loan Portfolio Guaranty Program is an example of that service. Governor Edwards has received commitments from banks and credit unions across the state that have agreed to help Louisiana’s small businesses recover from the COVID-19 crisis. (Programa de préstamos de Louisiana creado para pequeñas empresas). https://www.ledbizloan.com/

Cyber Threats. Held for Ransom Webcast – Agency Plans for: Phishing, Cybersecurity, and Resilience. In 2019, 113 state and municipal agencies were hacked. Join this free webcast which will examine how state and local governments can boost their response, recovery, and resilience in the face of an increased cyber threat.  https://www.workcast.com/register?cpak=9787881328203437

Louisiana Cybersecurity Commission Cyber Threat Warning. The IRS and State’s Attorney’s Offices are reporting significant potential for criminals to steal COVID-19 economic impact payments as well as personally identifiable information (PII) through various means of deception. Phishing schemes posing as government officials designed to trick people into turning over their banking information can allow a criminal to steal your identity, file a fraudulent tax return in your name or use your personal data for other illicit purposes.  See attachment for more information.

Save Small Business Fund – U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is offering $5000 grants to small businesses employing 3-20 employees and located in an economically vulnerable community. To register go to: https://www.savesmallbusiness.com/

Festival International de Louisiane (Virtual). Festival International is the largest international music and arts festival in the United States. This annual ticketless festival features musical performances by artists from more than 24 countries, diverse cuisine, open-air art markets, workshops, exhibits, visual art, children’s activities, theater and performance arts and is a major economic driver for the Acadiana region. Due to COVID-19, the festival has been postponed but you will also be able to attend virtually on 24-26 April. https://festivalinternational.org/virtualfest/

Thank you again for your support of Louisiana.

Chris J. DeGuelle
LABEOC Director

The LA BEOC is designed and developed by the NIMSAT Institute under the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP)