COVID-19 Business Resources

Below is a list of resources for local businesses looking for guidance on how to navigate impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please check this page often. It will be updated as more information and resources become available.

Small businesses who are negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic are eligible for assistance under the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

Register with the Alabama Small Business Development Center

Businesses who are interested in applying for assistance through the SBA and CARES Act should first register with the Alabama Small Business Development Center.

Why? The ASBDC will provide accurate, up-to-date guidance for businesses looking to better understand assistance programs, help businesses understand which programs best fit their needs, and serve as a resource to help businesses navigate the application process – free of charge.

Assistance is available for businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic including the following programs. Some businesses may be eligible for loan forgiveness or advances that are not required to be repaid.

Paycheck Protection Program
Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Advance
Small Business Debt Relief Program
Economic Injury Disaster Loan

Visit www.asbdc.org/covid19 for additional resources.

Related Links

City and State Sales and Lodgings Tax Relief

Effective immediately, the City of Gulf Shores and State of Alabama are waiving municipal and state sales and lodgings tax late payment penalties for all local businesses currently registered as engaging in NAICS Sector 72 business activities, which includes restaurants and food service providers, all local business who currently collect and remit lodgings tax and any local business whose retail sales during the previous calendar year averaged $62,500 or less per month.

For more information about eligibility under this program click here or call the Gulf Shores Revenue Department at 251-968-2425.

Unemployment Insurance Benefits for Covid-19 Related Claims

Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington has temporarily ordered that relief be offered to employers whose employees must file unemployment compensation claims for weeks filed due to COVID-19 related issues. All charges will be waived against those employers who file partial unemployment compensation claims on behalf of their employees. These charges will be waived until further notice. ADOL is encouraging all employers who can file on their employees’ behalf to do so.

This waiver means that employers’ experience ratings will NOT be affected by COVID-19 related claims.

Information regarding partial claims and how to file them is available at: https://labor.alabama.gov/uc/partials/uc-partials.aspx.

FAQs related to coronavirus and unemployment insurance benefits are also available here.

Postponement Of Certain State Tax Obligations

Governor Ivey issued a supplemental State of Emergency Proclamation which authorized the Commissioner of Revenue to postpone the April 15, 2020 due date for the payment of the following state taxes until July 15, 2020.

Individual income tax
Corporate income tax
Financial institutions excise tax
Business privilege tax

Additionally, the Commissioner of Revenue was authorized to waive interest through July 15, 2020 for any tax payment due in connection with a tax return with a due date on or after March 15, 2020.

IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief

The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus. Find out more by clicking here.

Additional Resources:

For information concerning additional business services provided by the City of Gulf Shores, please click here.