COVID-19 UPDATE: Gov. Justice makes applications available for West Virginia CARES Act Small Business Grant Program; WV again sets national example

​CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice joined West Virginia health leaders and other officials today for his latest daily press briefing regarding the State’s COVID-19 response.

WEST VIRGINIA CARES ACT SMALL BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS
Following his briefing Wednesday, Gov. Justice made applications available online for small businesses seeking to receive funding through the Governor’s West Virginia CARES Act Small Business Grant Program.

The initiative will provide $150 million of West Virginia’s CARES Act funding to qualifying businesses across the state. Any West Virginia-based small business, in existence on February 29, 2020, with 1-35 employees, will be able to apply for up to $5,000 in grant funding.

Businesses planning to apply must first register as a vendor with the State. Guidelines for the grants and instructions on how to apply are available at Grants.wv.gov.

“We’re going to continue to work to try to figure out a way that we can also help our self-employed West Virginians who have no additional employees,” Gov. Justice said. “We really want to help these people too, but we have to figure out how to get them properly registered so we can eliminate the possibility of fraud.

“So, I want to have another discussion with our State Auditor, JB McCuskey, and get more input when it comes to our self-employed West Virginians,” Gov. Justice continued. “In the meantime, we’re going to move forward with our small businesses with 1-35 employees and start pumping that money out now and we’ll continue to work toward helping our self-employed.”

TAX FILING DEADLINE TODAY: JULY 15, 2020
Gov. Justice took time out of his address to remind all West Virginians that income tax returns, which were originally due April 15, 2020, are now due today, July 15, 2020.

On March 26, 2020, Gov. Jim Justice extended the April 15, 2020 filing deadline by three months in response to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor’s decision aligns with federal income tax relief provisions issued March 20 by the Internal Revenue Service in response to the coronavirus.

This three-month extension applies to income taxes and returns for individuals, corporations, fiduciaries, and pass-through entities, including declarations of estimated tax that would have been due April 15, 2020. If the taxes due April 15, 2020 are paid by July 15, 2020, no interest or additions to tax will apply.

More information is available at Tax.wv.gov.

WEST VIRGINIA AGAIN SETS NATIONAL EXAMPLE IN COVID-19 RESPONSE
Additionally Wednesday, Gov. Justice pointed out that one of the nation’s leading governmental health agencies has once again followed West Virginia’s lead in its COVID-19 response.

“When we saw our numbers really start to spike, we made it mandatory for everybody in our state to wear a face covering,” Gov. Justice said. “Yesterday, the CDC followed our lead and is now officially calling for all Americans to wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Other states like Ohio and Kentucky have followed suit.

“This has happened over and over in West Virginia,” Gov. Justice continued. “We were the first state in the nation to test every resident and employee at all of our nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Once again, the CDC followed us there too and asked all states to do the same.

“I am very, very proud of this and, West Virginians, you should be very proud too. You are doing the right things and pushing the right buttons.”

NEW REGULATIONS UNDERWAY STATEWIDE; IN MONONGALIA COUNTY
Also on Wednesday, Gov. Justice offered a reminder that several new regulations are now in effect across the state in efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The limit for all purely social gatherings has been reduced to 25 individuals statewide. The limitation does not apply to any activity, business, or entity that has been deemed essential. Additionally, all fairs, festivals, carnivals, or similar events, as well as all indoor or outdoor concerts, are prohibited throughout West Virginia.

In Monongalia County, all bars have been ordered closed through at least July 24, 2020. Monongalia County restaurants that also include bars must close their bars, but are permitted to continue restaurant service, including the sale of alcoholic beverages to dine-in customers.

The additional restrictions in Monongalia County are the result of the area accumulating the highest number of active cases in the state. In Monongalia County, 74 percent of the positive cases confirmed since July 1 are among those 18-29 years old.

“What does that tell us? It tells us the most probably place for that age group to spread this disease would be in a bar setting,” Gov. Justice said. “The bars, we know, are the number one place we had to shut down.

“We shut them down for 10 days and we may very well have to extend that, especially if our numbers continue to climb like they are,” Gov. Justice continued. “That said, we are still pitching good numbers compared to other states, especially our surrounding states.”

MUNICIPAL HOME RULE PROGRAM PAYMENT EXTENSION
Additionally Wednesday, Gov. Justice issued an executive order, extending the deadline for municipalities participating in the Municipal Home Rule Program to pay their annual assessment until September 1, 2020.

GOVERNOR STATEMENT ON GUILTY PLEA IN CLARKSBURG VA MEDICAL CENTER DEATHS
Gov. Justice took time out of his address Wednesday to discuss the news, yesterday, that a former nursing assistant at the Clarksburg VA Medical Center pleaded guilty to killing seven veterans by injecting them with insulin.

“There are some bad people out there in the world, there really are,” Gov. Justice said. “It’s hard to fathom why someone would do such a hideous thing to the very people that we owe everything we have to.

“I ask you to join us in praying for these great heroes we lost through an absolutely hideous act,” Gov. Justice said. “Please continue to pray for these people and all their loved ones.”

UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO DECREASE IN WEST VIRGINIA
Also on Wednesday, Gov. Justice that West Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped more than two percentage points in June to 10.4 percent.

“The number of unemployed state residents decreased by 21,400 people,” Gov. Justice said. “And we’re doing slightly better than the national unemployment rate of 11.1 percent in June.

“We’ve got a long way to go to get all of our people back to work,” Gov. Justice continued. “But we’re going to work as hard as we can to achieve exactly that.”

GOVERNOR THANKS WEST VIRGINIA RETAILERS
Additionally Wednesday, Gov. Justice expressed his appreciation for the many retailers across West Virginia that have stepped up to offer special accommodations to shoppers during the pandemic, especially among those that are at high risk.

“Some are offering special shopping hours, or delivery and pick up options to help protect those that are the most vulnerable,” Gov. Justice said. “I thank all the stores across West Virginia that are taking the right steps to make sure West Virginians are protected and safe while they are shopping.”

MORE THAN 13 MILLION MEALS PROVIDED TO WEST VIRGINIA CHILDREN SINCE MARCH
Also on Wednesday, Gov. Justice reported that from March through July 13, more than 13.5 million meals have been provided to West Virginia children through the variety of feeding programs underway across the state.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” Gov. Justice said. “I can’t thank the Department of Education, all of our county boards of education, all of our community partners enough. All who have stepped up, all the volunteers, and all the food sites; what a good job you’ve done.”

Department of Education leaders anticipate that a total of more than 17 million meals will be provided to children by the end of the summer through the State’s feeding programs.

WEST VIRGINIA STRONG SUMMER FOOD ASSISTANCE MAP
Also, Gov. Justice reminded West Virginians that an interactive free-feeding location map, designed to help connect citizens in need to food resources across the state, is available online.

Click here to view the map

More than 690 free-feeding locations have now been made available through a multi-agency effort between the West Virginia National Guard, the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Bureau of Senior Services, the West Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WV VOAD), and the United Way.

If food distribution locations aren't available in some communities, individuals are encouraged to call 211 for further assistance.

FREE TESTING: BARBOUR, BERKELEY, JEFFERSON, MERCER, AND MONONGALIA COUNTIES
Gov. Justice also announced that the next round of free community COVID-19 testing will continue through this week at various dates and times in Barbour, Berkeley, Harrison, Mercer, and Monongalia counties.

The effort is part of a plan to provide free optional testing to all residents in several counties that are experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 transmission. It targets residents who have struggled to be seen by a physician or do not have insurance to pay for testing. However, other residents, including those who are asymptomatic are welcome to be tested.

Testing is scheduled as follows:

Barbour County
Thursday, July 16
11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Philip Barbour High School: 99 Horseshoe Drive, Philippi, WV

Berkeley County
Friday, July 17 & Saturday, July 18
7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Patriot Antique Center and Flea Market: 615 King Street, Martinsburg, WV

Jefferson County
Friday, July 17 & Saturday, July 18
7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Ranson Civic Center: 432 W. 2nd Avenue, Ranson, WV

Mercer County
Friday, July 17
9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mercer County Health Department: 978 Blue Prince Road, Bluefield, WV

Monongalia County
Saturday, July 18
8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WVU Coliseum: 3450 Monongahela Boulevard, Morgantown, WV

CITIES/COUNTIES GRANT FUNDING: $42.2 MILLION HAS NOW BEEN AWARDED
Also today, Gov. Justice provided an update on cities and counties throughout West Virginia applying for funds through the federal CARES Act, reporting that more than $42.2 million has now been awarded all across the state.

A new web portal is now available for city and county government officials to apply for this grant funding, at grants.wv.gov. Interested parties can also call the helpline: 1-833-94-GRANT.

Each of the recipients of CARES Act funding, along with grant amounts, are now available to view through the COVID-19 transparency web portal provided by West Virginia State Auditor’s Office.

WEST VIRGINIANS URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN CENSUS
Once more today, Gov. Justice asked all West Virginians to participate in the 2020 United States Census.

Every West Virginian who does not respond to the Census represents a loss of $20,000 in federal funds over the next 10 years for the state and its local communities. The funds can go toward things like healthcare, education, infrastructure, school lunch programs, and more.

Be counted in minutes: 2020census.gov.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Click here to view all Executive Orders and other actions taken by Gov. Justice to combat the spread of COVID-19 in West Virginia.

For more information about COVID-19 prevention and more, call the State’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-887-4304 or visit Coronavirus.wv.gov.