Clarke County issued the following announcement on Jan. 4
The following COVID-19-related resources are listed here for the convenience of Clarke County residents and business owners. The appearance of a link on this or any other Clarke County government site does not constitute a recommendation nor should the presence of a link suggest the site has any relationship with Clarke County government.
• CommonHelp is a resource for a range of assistance. Its Child Care Subsidy program helps eligible parents and guardians pay for childcare. Apply online, or contact Benefit Programs Supervisor Desiree Minter at the Clarke County Department of Social Services at (540) 955-5194.
• COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, for deaths related to coronavirus. Applications are submitted through a dedicated call center 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday. Call COVID-19 Funeral Assistance at (844) 684-6333. TTY users call (800) 462-7585.
• COVID-19 Virginia Resources connects individuals and businesses to a number of sources of help with childcare, food, employment, finances, insurance, and more.
• COVIDWISE is a free app that quickly notifies users who have likely been exposed, so they can reduce the risk of infection among friends and family — and help Virginia stop the spread of the virus.
• Deciding to Go Out is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention site that offers guidelines for determining potential risks in public places.
• Disaster Preparedness for Small Business is a resource offered by Business.com that includes COVID-19 as well as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods.
• Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides a temporary discount on monthly broadband bills for qualifying low-income households.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers a collection of resources from across the federal government to support people experiencing economic hardship during this crisis.
• Federal Trade Commission provides information about COVID-19-related scams to help consumers avoid thieves who are taking advantage of the fear surrounding the coronavirus.
• Free public Wi-Fi in Clarke County is available at more than a dozen locations. Park near the building, follow social distancing standards, and keep at least six feet from individuals who are not members of your immediate family. These Wi-Fi networks are offered as-is with no guarantee of signal or speed quality.
• Free public WiFi access is being offered by Comcast (where available).
• Get VA Back to Work is a resource offered by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
• Go Virginia grants are available to entrepreneurs, educators, developers, and individuals.
• Lord Fairfax Small Business Development Center is a free community resource that provides confidential one-to-one guidance as well as training for startups and existing businesses.
• Lord Fairfax Workforce Solutions specializes in programs that develop and enhance workplace skills for individuals and organizations.
• Main Street Forward, an initiative of the Main Street America program, is COVID-19 recovery-oriented resource center.
• Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation has compiled COVID-19 resources for fine and performing artists.
• National Endowment for the Arts has compiled COVID-19 resources for fine and performing artists.
• People Inc., one of Virginia’s largest and most successful community action agencies, offers COVID-19-related aid, including rent and mortgage assistance.
• RebuildVA is a $70 million grant fund to help eligible businesses and nonprofits as they work to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. RebuildVA is administered by the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity. Learn more about RebuildVA eligibility criteria, covered expenses, and how to submit an application here.
• StayHomeVirginia provides links to financial help for renters, homeowners, property owners, developers, and the homeless.
• U.S. Small Business Administration provides guidance and loan resources for small businesses.
• Valley Health, which operates hospitals and medical facilities throughout West Virginia and the Top of Virginia region, has a designated phone number for questions about respiratory illness. Call the COVID-19 Respiratory Care Phone Line at (540) 536-0380 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Virginia 2-1-1 connects people with trained professionals, who listen and suggest resources using one of the largest databases of health and human services in Virginia.
• Virginia Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan business advocacy organization.
• Virginia Cooperative Extension shares all the resources of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.
• Virginia Department of Health staffs a 24-hour hotline at (877) ASK-VDH3. Find additional help at VDH COVID-19 Resources. Contact the local Lord Fairfax Health District at (540) 771-3992.
• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles continues to reopen customer service centers for specific services by appointment only to provide specific services. Note: Trip’s Auto Sales (6103 Lord Fairfax Hwy., Berryville; 540-955-1367) is an independent DMV Select office.
• Virginia Employment Commission coordinates workforce services such as job placement services, temporary income support, and training.
• Virginia Mortgage Relief Program has COVID-19 relief funds from the U.S. Treasury to support homeowners facing housing instability resulting from the pandemic. These funds can help prevent and/or ease mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.
• Virginia Ready is an employment and training initiative in response to unprecedented unemployment rates related to COVID-19. Unemployed citizens who enroll in and complete a career/technical education program through the Fast Forward program at any community college is eligible for a $1,000 completion incentive. All tuition costs are paid through the Fast Forward program for individuals who receive SNAP benefits.
• Virginia Rent Relief Program (RRP) assists tenants and landlords with rent payments to avoid evictions because of COVID-19. Find tenant applications here. Find landlord applications here. Additional rent-related resources is available at StayHomeVirginia.com.
• Virginia Small Business Development Center provides customized counseling and education for small businesses.
• Virginia Regional Transit operates an on-demand, curb-to-curb bus service for Clarke County residents. The service is FREE during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seating is limited for social distancing, and passengers are required to wear masks while riding. The 20-passenger, wheelchair-accessible bus runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays. It takes riders to Winchester on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and around Clarke County on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Registration is required to ride the bus. Questions? Call (540) 338-1610.
• Yes Clarke County, Clarke County’s economic development website, includes links to additional COVID-19-related business resources. Contact Director of Economic Development and Tourism Felicia Hart at (540) 955-5107 or fhart@clarkecounty.gov. Her office is in the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center (second floor) at 101 Chalmers Ct. in Berryville.
Here are additional Clarke County community resources.
Need more information? Contact Clarke County Director of Public Information Cathy Kuehner at (540) 955-5103 or pio@clarkecounty.gov.
Original source can be found here.
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