COVID-19 Response and Resources

Contact Your Elected Officials

Your voice matters and needs to be heard. Let the government know just how crucial our industry and your business is to the nation. By doing this, you are supporting the advocacy teams in Washington, D.C., to make certain that our elected representatives and policymakers recognize that manufacturing work is critical to our nation’s pandemic response, and that our industry’s concerns are taken into consideration when developing stimulus and assistance legislation. Not all fabshops are being considered essential, and this needs to change. If we can all collectively do this, we are taking action to put manufacturers and metal fabricators in the forefront of ensuring economic resilience instead of sitting back and crossing our fingers. 

• Use the letter template in this article: FMA stands up for metal fabricators to send to your elected officials or find it here.
• Keep it simple with an automated template from National Association of Manufacturers 
• Advocacy on the Move: Find your local elected officials

Employee Development and Continued Education

Now more than ever, it is important to maintain employee engagement. FMA (Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Int’l) is offering FREE classes to anyone through April 30 that are normally $245 each. Their e-Fab learning courses combine traditional live seminars with the flexibility of online learning. If you have an operator that needs to brush up on his skills or learn new ones, take advantage of these classes:

• Intro to Tube Bending Operations
• Shearing Basics
• Math Calculations for Sheet Metal Fabrication 
• Fundamentals of Press Brake Operations
• And more! 

For the next 30 days, e-Fab® courses can be purchased through their bookstore at no cost. Site registration is free, and the prices of e-Fab materials have been reduced to zero. 

Three FabCast® webinars covering the economic, legal, and cyber liability impacts of COVID-19 have been scheduled as well. 

Government Relief Support

• If you are a small business owner who has been impacted by COVID-19, there is help on the way. The CARES Act was just passed for small businesses and covers major programs and initiatives that will soon be available for paycheck protection, loan assistance, debt relief, additional tax provision and even general counseling.  
• Disaster Loan Assistance for Small Businesses – how to apply for assistance and more.

The following is important information specifically regarding Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program loans sourced from PMA.

SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loans

• On March 31, 2020, the SBA released its sample application for the Paycheck Protection Program loan that stems from the recently passed COVID-19 CARES Act, which President Trump signed into law on March 27, 2020. While the Federal Government, through the SBA, provides a 100 percent guarantee of these loans, businesses must still go through a traditional private lender such as a bank, community bank or credit union, that is authorized to provide an SBA loan – a nationwide network of more than 1,800 certified lending institutions.
• Please contact your lender immediately. More information on the loan can be found on the SBA website and below; please note, the Paycheck Protection Program loan is separate from the SBA Disaster Loan Program previously created. The Department of Treasury also posted information sheets for borrowers and lenders.
• Lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020, with loans under the Paycheck Protection Program available through June 30, 2020. This loan has a maturity of two years and an interest rate of .5%, and businesses with up to 500 employees are eligible, though SBA has made exceptions for certain industries that meet specific size standards.
• SBA will fully forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75 percent of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if salaries and wages decrease.
• Loan payments will also be deferred for six months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. Neither the government nor lenders will charge small businesses any fees.
• To the extent feasible, the applicant will purchase only American-made equipment and products.
• Applicants will use the loan funds for the average payroll for 2019, permitting salaries up to $100,000 covered under this loan (a company with an employee making a $120,000 salary can use up to $100,000 from the loan to cover up to that portion).

The applicant must confirm and comply with the following statements:

• Current economic uncertainty makes this loan request necessary to support the ongoing operations of the Applicant.
• The funds will be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage payments, lease payments, and utility payments; I understand that if the funds are used for unauthorized purposes, the federal government may pursue criminal fraud charges.
• Documentation verifying the number of full-time equivalent employees on payroll as well as the dollar amounts of payroll costs, covered mortgage interest payments, covered rent payments, and covered utilities for the eight-week period following this loan will be provided to the lender.
• Applicant, to the best of their knowledge, is in compliance with applicable OSHA requirements, displaying the EEOC poster, and does not discriminate in employment.

How Can My Business Help?

Uniting to Fight Covid-19 Crisis is crucial during this time. If you have the capabilities or resources to donate or want to find out how you can make a difference, be sure your information gets to the right people by responding to the organizations below. 

• Answer the Call for Covid-19 Assistance
• COVID-19 Emergency Supply Sourcing & Manufacturing
• Together for Industry

Human Resources

Here are some helpful articles on everything from making your workplace safe to transitioning to working remotely. 

• Prepare to protect your employees – Guidelines from OSHA 
• Don’t forget HIPAA 
• Remote Worker Contingency Plan
• Legal Issues: benefits, paid sick leave, time off 

Industry Support

Trade organizations and associations are here to help YOU. Take advantage of them, reach out and get questions answered or just stay up-to-date on the most current information. 

• COVID-19 Resources from NAM (National Manufacturers Association)
• FMA (Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Int’l) – Exclusive Resources Now Available to Everyone 
• Manufacturing Leadership Council
• Manufacturers Resource Center
• The Manufacturers Association (PA & MD)

Positive News

With so much negativity in the media, it’s easy to get wrapped up in an attitude of impending doom. Check out the articles below for some refreshing positive outlooks and remember to focus on what is within your control. 

• FMA economist: Turning the coronavirus corner in four to five weeks
• Pulse of the Industry: 20-Second Survey Results Upbeat for End of Year
• Light at the end of COVID-19 tunnel for metal fabricators

Supply Chain Disruptions

There is no doubt that metal fabricators are experiencing supply chain disruptions and in the future, things may look very different as companies look to re-shore.

In the meantime, if you need help finding a solution now, find a new partner here and consider “going local.”