In the midst of today’s unprecedented challenges, our top priority remains the safety, health and well-being of our residents and visitors. By leveraging our many communications platforms, Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR) is here to help keep all of our local partners and residents informed amidst the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Visit VBR will continue to monitor updates related to COVID-19, sending out pertinent information via subsequent e-blasts, social channels and our resource pages. 

Below are recent updates and resources:

The Paycheck Protection Program Application Portal is now live.

  • Eligible small businesses and nonprofits can begin applying for these loans beginning today, April 3.
  • For a top-line overview of the program click here
  • If you are a borrower, more information can be found here
  • Note - FAQs for Small Businesses, prepared by the US Senate Committee on Small Businesses

The Small Business Administration (SBA) released its streamlined application for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). With this new online portal, participants can now quickly identify whether they are eligible for disaster loan support.

Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge office and Visitor Center (101 Shenandoah Ave. NE Roanoke VA, 2016) is closed to the public. All Visit VBR staff remain available by phone and email. Staff contact information can be found here. 

In an effort to gauge and support our regional tourism industry, Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge needs to better understand how COVID-19 is impacting your business. We have developed a survey in order to track the impact and may adjust a follow-up survey for additional data. Please complete the survey here; https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/vbrimpactsurvey

Please refer to these links for helpful resources amid COVID-19: 

Please join us in being wise about the decisions we make. If you go outdoors for a neighborhood walk, a run, a hike, or a bike ride - please do so with social distancing at top of mind. It is important to stay informed, be prepared and know that the actions taken on a federal, state and local level are to help flatten the curve with the intent of slowing the spread of the virus. 

We are in this TOGETHER! Thank you and stay healthy. 

Catherine Fox
Vice President of Public Affairs & Destination Development
cfox@visitvbr.com
(540) 342-6025, ext. 114