'Layoff aversion pilot' helps local businesses

A new program in Southern Nevada is trying to help people keep their jobs.

Astrid Mendez reports.

KEEP THEIR JOBS.13 ACTION NEWS REPORTER ASTRIDMENDEZ SHOWS YOU - HOW THELOCAL CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE -ARE HELPING LOCAL BUSINESSESAVOID LAY OFFS.ASTRID INTRO IT'S CALLED THELAYOFF AVERSION PILOT AND IT'SKEEPING AFLOAT AROUND 60BUSINESSES LIKE THIS ONE BYHELPING THEM PAY SOME OF ITSEMPLOYEES' WAGES.TAKE PKG FLOWER ARRANGEMENTSARE MICHELLE HOWARD'S PASSION.BUT, COVID-19 HAS THREATENEDHER BUSINESS.SHE HAD TO CLOSE HER FLOWERBOUTIQUE IN SUMMERLIN AND ISNOW WORKING FROM HER MAIN STOREWITH HER EMPLOYEES--- MADEPOSSIBLE IN PART BY THE "LAYOFFAVERSION PILOT".SOT "IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLYBENEFICIAL TO HELP US ENSURETHAT OUR TEAM MEMBERS ARE NOTJUST TEMPORARY, IT HELPS OFFSETWHERE WE'RE AT ALONG WITH ANYOF THE OTHER LOANS THAT WE'REAPPLYING FOR AND ALL OF THEOTHER THINGS THAT IT WILL HELPSUS PUTTING US IN A GOODPOSITION ACROSS THE BOARD".IT'S BASICALLY A WAGEREIMBURSEMENT THAT WORKFORCECONNECTIONS PUT TOGETHER, WITHTHE HELP OF LOCAL CHAMBERS OFCOMMERCE.SOT JAIME "THEY ARE THE ONESTHAT ARE HELPING US TO IDENTIFYTHE EMPLOYEES THAT CAM MAXIMIZETHE IMPACT OF THIS PILOT.ONCE SELECTED, EMPLOYERS HAVETO SUBMIT PROOF OF PAID WAGESTO GET REIMBURSED UP TO HALF OFA CURRENT EMPLOYEE'S WAGES---HAVING A MAXIMUM OF $1,600 PEREMPLOYEE AND A TOTAL OF 8,000DOLLARS PER COMPANY.SOT JAIME "IS NOT A LOAN, IS APAYMENT THAT GOES OUT TO AVOIDA LAYOFF, ONCE THAT LAYOFF ISAVOIDED, THAT'S THE ONLYEXPECTATION, THE EMPLOYERDOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY TO PAYANYTHING BACK".LIMITED FUNDS WERE PROVIDED BYDETR AND A ONE-TIME PAYMENTFROM BANK OF NEVADA.SO FAR, 275 EMPLOYEES AND 60COMPANIES HAVE BENEFITED.SOT JERRIE "I WOULD HOPE THATMANY OTHERS WILL SEE THIS ASUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AND ACTUALLYMAKE DONATIONS" ASTRID TAGWHILE IT IS UNCLEAR IF THELAYOFF AVERSION PILOT PROGRAMWILL RECEIVE ANY MOREFUNDS-IT'S RECOMMENDED YOUCONTACT YOUR CHAMBER OFCOMMERCE, SINCE THEY HAVE OTHERPROGRAMS THAT YOU COULDQUALIFY.AS WE CONTINUE TO REOPEN THECOUNTRY...A LOOK AT WHICH SCHOOLS PLAN TOOPEN THEIR DOORS TO STUDENTS