Federal Resources

U.S. Small Business Association Funding Programs

The SBA works with lenders to provide loans to small businesses. The agency doesn’t lend money directly to small business owners. Instead, it sets guidelines for loans made by its partnering lenders, community development organizations, and micro-lending institutions

U.S. Small Business Association Paycheck Protection Program

We are currently offering stimulus relief funding under the Economic Security Act (Cares Act). No collateral or personal guaranty required. Lending is at a fixed 0.5% interest rate for two years and the SBA guaranty fee is waived

U.S. Department of Labor Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides financial assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits.

US Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Resources for Small Businesses

The coronavirus is causing financial difficulties for businesses across the U.S. Here are five resources that can help you navigate this difficult situation

CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations

Recommendations on the cleaning and disinfection of rooms or areas of those with suspected or with confirmed COVID-19 have visited. It is aimed at limiting the survival of novel coronavirus in key environments. These guidelines are focused on community, non-healthcare facilities (e.g., schools, institutions of higher education, offices, daycare centers, businesses, community centers) that do and do not house persons overnight.

CDC's Organization Checklist for Preparation

Community organizations are encouraged to prepare for the possibility of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in their communities. Use this checklist to protect the health of those you serve and staff in your care.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

This bill responds to the coronavirus outbreak by providing paid sick leave and free coronavirus testing, expanding food assistance and unemployment benefits, and requiring employers to provide additional protections for health care workers.

IRS/Tax Filing Information

The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus. This page will be updated as new information is available. For other information about the COVID-19 virus, people should visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (https://www.coronavirus.gov) for health information. Other information about actions being taken by the U.S. government is available at https://www.usa.gov/coronavirus and in Spanish at https://gobierno.usa.gov/coronavirus. The Department of Treasury also has information available at https://home.treasury.gov/coronavirus.

Note: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, signed into law on March 18, 2020, requires employers with 500 or fewer employees to grant FMLA leave and/or up to two weeks of paid sick leave for absences related to COVID-19.

Johns Hopkin's Center for Health Security Update

Johns Hopkins' Center for Health Security provides a variety of situation reports, fact sheets, and comprehensive documents updating the public on COVID-19.

Lender Match Platform

Lender Match is a free online referral tool that connects small businesses with participating SBA-approved lenders. Applicants will need to be prepared to provide: business plan, amount and use of fund information, credit history, financial projections, collateral, and industry experience.

McKinsey & Company COVID-19 Briefing - Impact on Businesses

McKinsey & Company compiled a comprehensive analysis on COVID-19 including impacts to businesses, available company actions to take, and dealing realistically with optimism regarding return of demand.

SBA Disaster Loan Assistance

The Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Assistance Program helps businesses, private nonprofits, and startups through crises like COVID-19. Check first to ensure that the geographic location of your business is covered under the SBA Disaster Loan and then apply through the website.

SBA Paycheck Protection Program

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll

SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness

The loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75% of the forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). 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. This loan has a maturity of 2 years and an interest rate of 1%.

Atlanta Resources

Invest Atlanta Offering Loans

Invest Atlanta has created a new $1.5 million loan fund for small businesses that have been disrupted by the new Coronavirus pandemic.The purpose of the Business Continuity Loan Fund is to provide economic assistance to ensure the viability of city businesses and to help sustain employment.

Invest Atlanta Business Continuity Loan Fund (BCLF)

To ensure the viability of city businesses and to help sustain employment, Invest Atlanta has established a Business Continuity Loan Fund (BCLF) with $1.5 million of funding from the City of Atlanta. The fund will offer small businesses zero-interest loans to address a lack of working capital and cash flows as a result of reduced consumer demand, the ability to fulfill product or service orders and other economic conditions.

California Resources

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development Resources

The California Governor's Office provides many services to employers affected by COVID-19. For the most up-to-date state resources for businesses, visit the GO-Biz resource page (https://business.ca.gov/coronavirus-2019). The CA Employment Development Division (EDD) is granting a 60-day extension to file state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest for employers experiencing hardship from COVID-19. For the most up-to-date information, visit CA EDD’s COVID-19 resource page.

California Partial Claims

Partial claims are for employees whose employers want to keep them but have temporarily laid them off or reduced their hours. A partial Unemployment Insurance claim can be used for any claimant who works less than their normal full-time hours, and whose employers want to keep them.

California Small Business Development Center

California's Small Business Development Center provides a wide array of resources to small business owners in California to include multiple websites and resources specific to COVID-19. The SBDC offers a "COVID-19 A Small Business Survival Guide" in PDF format as a free resource for all business owners.

California Work Sharing Program

Employers can apply for the Work Sharing Program if they are looking for alternatives to layoffs due to reduced production, services, or other conditions. This program helps you keep your trained employees so that when business conditions improve, you can avoid the expense of recruiting, hiring, and training new employees, and save your employees the hardship of becoming fully unemployed.

City of Los Angeles Resources

Various resources in the Los Angeles area dedicated to responding to the coronavirus crisis. Additionally, below you'll find business resources specific to Los Angeles small businesses as well as a Los Angeles Small Business Development Center specific resource guide.

Resources for Telecommuting

Employers may be able to avert layoffs or work reduction by offering flexibility in work location and hours through telecommuting. The U.S. General Services Administration website provides an array of resources to help guide employers in offering and managing telecommuting or remote work.

San Diego Small Business Relief Fund (SBRF)

To ensure the resiliency of local businesses and assist in job retention, the City of San Diego has established a Small Business Relief Fund (SBRF) to provide grants and forgivable or low- to zero-interest-rate loans to eligible small businesses for working capital. The goal of the SBRF is to help businesses retain employees and sustain continuity of business operations impacted by federal, California, San Diego County and local emergency declarations regarding COVID-19. Approximately $6.1 million is available in the SBRF, which is being administered by the City of San Diego Economic Development Department.

Chicago Resources

City of Chicago Coronavirus (COVID-19) Local Updates

The goal of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) page is to reduce the impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by detecting new cases quickly and providing guidance to communities to help minimize transmission. CDPH continues to work closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal, state and local partners to monitor and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Chicago Small Business Resources Hub

Chicago is offering a variety of resources for small businesses, startups, and companies to help them through the coronavirus crisis. Some of these resources include loans, grants, tax credits, and workshops.

Denver Resources

Small Business Relief Emergency Program Form

In response to COVID-19, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity is working on connecting the Denver business community to the most appropriate resources in the Denver region. The first step is to let authorities know how your business is being impacted by filling out this questionnaire. Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) staff will evaluate your information and help you identify the most appropriate support for you and your business.

Florida Resources

Florida Small Business Emergency Loan Bridge Program

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is currently available to small business owners located in all Florida counties statewide that experienced economic damage as a result of COVID-19. These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance.

Jacksonville Executive Order for Businesses and Restaurants

Jacksonville recently published an Executive Order for all small businesses and restaurants to abide by. See the link or attached document for more information.

Kansas City Resources

Kansas City COVID-19 Resource Page

Updates on small business assistance for Kansas City businesses specific to the coronavirus (COVID-19) are being provided through a KC SourceLink business resource portal. You can find information here on: 
  • Workplace Health Safety
  • Emergency Planning/Recovery Tips
  • Loans/Grant Programs
  • Remote Working
  • Local Business Resources
  • State Business Resources
  • Federal Business Resources

Massachusetts Resources

Massachusetts State Government Resources

Massachusetts compiled a variety of resources specifically pertaining to businesses operating in the state including financial information, cleaning and disinfecting information, and others.

SBA Small Business Guide for MA

The Small Business Guide for MA includes information on preparing your small business for crisis in many forms, including but not limited to: cash flow limits, hygienic preparedness, and other topics pertinent to your business.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Resources for Small Businesses

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Emergency Loan Program is now available. DEED has established a loan program to assist small businesses affected by Executive Orders 20-04 and 20-08. These loans will:
  • Range from $2,500 to $35,000 and will be based on the firm’s economic injury and the financial need.
  • Be interest free.
  • Be paid back monthly over five (5) years and the first payment will be deferred six (6) months with potentially partial forgiveness.
  • Be provided to only Minnesota-based businesses.
  • For detailed eligibility requirements, application materials, and terms, visit the DEED website.
Small businesses that have sustained losses from COVID-19 in Minnesota are eligible for disaster loans from the Small Business Administration.
  • The disaster loan program provides low-interest loans of up to $2 million to small businesses and private nonprofits. These loans can be spent on payroll, accounts payable and fixed debt payments that you're unable to make due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The current interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for nonprofits.
  • You have the option set up a long-term repayment period of up to 30 years.

NYC Emergency Planning Checklist

NYC provided an Emergency Planning checklist for all businesses to determine the critical operations, staffing functions, investments, and cash flow inherent to the business. Completing the checklist will ensure businesses do not miss crucial links that can help during tough times.

NYC Employee Grant Retention Program

NYC launched the Employee Retention Grant Program to help retain employees as businesses face decreased revenue. This program is available to New York City businesses with one to four employees that can demonstrate at least a 25% decrease in revenue as a result of COVID-19. Eligible businesses will receive a grant covering up to 40% of their payroll for two months. Businesses can access up to $27,000.

New York City Resources

Apply for NYC Zero-Interest Business Loans

NYC will provide relief for small businesses across the City seeing a reduction in revenue because of COVID-19. Businesses with fewer than 100 employees who have seen sales decreases of 25% or more will be eligible for zero interest loans of up to $75,000 to help mitigate losses in profit.

NYC Emergency Planning Checklist

NYC provided an Emergency Planning checklist for all businesses to determine the critical operations, staffing functions, investments, and cash flow inherent to the business. Completing the checklist will ensure businesses do not miss crucial links that can help during tough times.

NYC Employee Grant Retention Program

NYC launched the Employee Retention Grant Program to help retain employees as businesses face decreased revenue. This program is available to New York City businesses with one to four employees that can demonstrate at least a 25% decrease in revenue as a result of COVID-19. Eligible businesses will receive a grant covering up to 40% of their payroll for two months. Businesses can access up to $27,000.

Ohio Resources

Columbus Chamber of Commerce Small Business Guide to Respond to COVID-19

Columbus assembled a helpful series of resources to assist small business owners in responding to the pandemic. Additionally, the Vice President for the Columbus Chamber of Commerce compiled an analysis on how the CARES Act affects Columbus small businesses.

SharedWork Ohio

SharedWork Ohio is a voluntary layoff aversion program. It allows workers to remain employed and employers to retain trained staff during times of reduced business activity. Under a SharedWork Ohio plan, the participating employer reduces affected employees’ hours in a uniform manner. The participating employee works the reduced hours each week, and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) provides eligible individuals an unemployment insurance benefit proportionate to their reduced hours.

Philadelphia Resources

Philadelphia Guidance for Business Activity

This new order does not impact the delivery of food or essential goods.  

However, there have been changes to permitted business activities. These changes include:  

  • Walk-in takeout orders at restaurants are now prohibited. Food can be picked at a drive through.  Food may also be pre-ordered via telephone or internet and either picked up or delivered. 
  • Food trucks and ice cream trucks are now prohibited.  

Grocery stores and other essential businesses should discourage leisure or idle conduct by customers and manage store occupancy to allow for social distancing.

Consistent with the Governor’s order, the City clarifies that the following are life-sustaining businesses or services: 

  • Laundromats
  • Veterinary hospitals and services, and pet stores
  • Consumer banks and credit unions using drive-through, ATM and limited lobby services
  • Stores that primarily repair cell phones
  • Bicycle repair shops
  • Emergency household repairs and maintenance including extermination services

Businesses required to suspend physical operations may only have essential on-site personnel to maintain critical functions, such as security, and processing of essential operations that cannot be done remotely

San Francisco Resources

Deferred Business Taxes for Small Businesses

For businesses with up to $10M in gross receipts, San Francisco is deferring payment of quarterly business taxes due April 30, 2020 nine months to February 2021 with no interest or penalties. This will provide immediate cash-flow assistance to 8,050 small businesses.

Deferred Business Licensing Fee

San Francisco is deferring collection of annual small business license and permit fees that make up the Unified License Bill for three months to June 30, 2020. This will support more than 10,000 businesses.

COVID-19 Small Business Resiliency Fund

San Francisco has established a fund administered by OEWD to offer emergency grants up to $10,000 for microbusinesses. Businesses must be able to show a recent loss in revenue.

Texas Resources

Texas-specific Coronavirus Updates

Supported through Texas’ Department of Health and Human Services, the coronavirus website has helpful tips and guidance relating to running a business through the pandemic.

Small business, credit, and micro-loans in and around San Antonio

NGO headquartered in Texas that helps small business owners with limited access to capital. LiftFund also provides small business loans and minority business loans for women, startups, and entrepreneurs. LiftFund partners with SBA lenders and other lending institutions to provide startup loans, SBA 504 Loans, and microloans in Texas and throughout the SE USA.

COVID-19 Disinfection Information Specific to Houston, TX

This document provides landlords, managers and cleaning/facilities staff of commercial or residential buildings with cleaning and disinfection guidance. Building operators should ensure staff take extra effort with daily cleaning practices as the City of Houston responds to COVID-19. It may be updated as the situation is rapidly changing, and new information becomes available.

Virginia Resources

Funding to Preserve Farmland

Governor Ralph Northam announced $350,000 in grants from the Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund to help six localities protect their farm and forest land. The grants will be used as matching funds to permanently preserve working lands through local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. Interested companies should contact Jen Perkins, Coordinator, Office of Farmland Preservation at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, at Jennifer.Perkins@vdacs.virginia.gov or (804) 786-1906.

Virginia-specific Coronavirus Updates

Virginia.gov’s website for coronavirus updates is comprehensive and covers a wide range of topics applicable to businesses, including but not limited to: support for impacted employers, support for affected workers, utilities, and transportation.

Washington, DC-Metro Resources

COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund

Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Department of Labor launched the new COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund, which is designed to support businesses undergoing economic stresses due to the pandemic by preventing or minimizing the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs. The award (up to $50,000 per applicant), will be a quick deployable benefit and customizable to the specific needs of your business to minimize the need for layoffs.

DC Dept. of Small and Local Business Development

Mayor Bowser and the Council of the District of Columbia are investing $25 million in the COVID-19 Recovery Effort and the DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program, which will be housed in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Pursuant to the “COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act of 2020” effective March 17, 2020 (D.C. Act 23-247), the DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants Program will offer grants to small, local businesses, independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and nonprofits to meet their short-term financial needs. The grant can cover employee wages and benefits (including fringe benefits associated with employment, such as health insurance), accounts payable, fixed costs, inventory, rent, and utilities.

Funding to Preserve Farmland

Governor Ralph Northam announced $350,000 in grants from the Virginia Farmland Preservation Fund to help six localities protect their farm and forest land. The grants will be used as matching funds to permanently preserve working lands through local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) programs. Interested companies should contact Jen Perkins, Coordinator, Office of Farmland Preservation at the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, at Jennifer.Perkins@vdacs.virginia.gov or (804) 786-1906.

Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loan Relief Fund

The COVID-19 Emergency Relief $75M Loan Fund offers working capital to assist Maryland for-profit small businesses disrupted operations due to COVID-19. Loan assistance is intended to provide interim relief complementing actions with its bank, business interruption insurance, and financial partners.

Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation Maryland

Maryland has authorized $130 million in loan and grant funding for small businesses and manufacturers that have been impacted by COVID-19. This emergency assistance can be used to pay cash operating expenses including payroll, suppliers, rent, fixed debt payments and other mission-critical cash operating costs. Both Maryland Departments of Labor and Commerce are continuously updating information to keep communities informed.

Washington Resources

Startup Washington (Chamber of Commerce) Resources

Washington state's Chamber of Commerce collected a wide range of resources to help startups in Washington weather the crisis- from information on Small Business Administration loans to health updates for the situation in Seattle, the website can help your business weather these tough times

Seattle Emergency Fund for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

To mitigate barriers to capital for Seattle's most vulnerable businesses, the City of Seattle is committing approximately $2.5 million in Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to the Small Business Stabilization Fund. The Small Business Stabilization Fund is an emergency fund that provides working capital grants in amounts up to $10,000 to qualifying small businesses. 

Private Sector Resources

Amazon Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund

Amazon is providing a total $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund to provide cash grants to small businesses in the Seattle area that need assistance.

AMEX Financial Hardship

Amex is evaluating accounts on a case-by-case basis under its Financial Hardship Relief program to provide support for cardholders impacted by COVID-19. If approved, your interest rate may be lowered to rates as low as 0%, and you may receive a waiver on late and other account fees. Just note that if you accept the relief, your accounts may be frozen, and you won’t be able to use them until paid off. Your Membership Rewards balance will also be frozen, and the issuer may notify the credit bureaus that your account limits were lowered.

Council on Foundations Call to Action

Various philanthropic foundations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector businesses have taken a pledge to loosen or eliminate the restrictions on current grants, make new grants as unrestricted as possible, reduce asks of nonprofit partners, and other commitments to assist during the crisis. See if any organizations you may work with or seek assistance from have taken the pledge so you can best integrate with their practices.

Facebook for Business

Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits to help businesses during this challenging time for up to 30,000 small businesses in over 30 countries (for all the Veteran entrepreneur ex-pats out there!). Facebook for Business also has a Resilience Toolkit for companies of all sizes to help determine the best way to continue a business throughout the crisis.

People Fund Veteran Loans

PeopleFund’s small business loans help entrepreneurs enhance their businesses and keep local economies growing. With financing available for equipment purchases, permanent working capital term loans, and revolving lines of credit, we provide access to capital with low down payment or equity contribution, flexible underwriting, no pre-payment penalties, and a lending team dedicated to help you succeed through one-on-one training and business assistance & education

Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund

Thanks to a $2.5 million investment from Verizon, we are offering grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they can resume normal operations or until other more permanent financing becomes available

Zoom Basic Plan

Host up to 100 participants in a meeting and hold unlimited one-on-one meetings with the video-conference provider’s complimentary plan. This does provide a 40-minute limit on group meetings, though you’re not limited to the number of meetings.

VEIP POP-UP WEBINAR

SBA DISASTER LOANS

What every business needs to know

Veteran Entrepreneur Town Hall

Pop Up Webinar

COVID-19 response

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PenFed Veteran Entrepreneur Investment Program (VEIP) has taken preventive measures to ensure the safety of others. Effective immediately, our Master’s Program will be rescheduled until the fall and our Pop-Up labs will be conducted virtually. We will continue to focus on advancing the veteran entrepreneur eco-system and the resources available to accessing capital. Stay informed by visiting us at https://veip.penfedfoundation.org/

 

Coming together as a community and nation is very important! Our economy and businesses have been put to the test during these times. If you’re interested in co-hosting a pop-up webinar and continuing to support the entrepreneur community or simply have questions, please contact us at veip@penfed.org

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