SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans

The SBA is planning on offering low-interest federal disaster loans for eligible small businesses and non-profits reeling from the financial impact the coronavirus is causing.

The program is being developed in real-time, but you can learn more about your eligibility and how to apply by calling their customer service number (1-800-659-2955) or emailing this address.

• Eligible small businesses can receive loans of up to $2 million.
• The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that can’t be paid because of COVID-19.
• The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without other credit options, and 2.75% for non-profits.
• A long-term repayment plan of up to 30 years can help keep payments affordable.

Your local SBA District Office

Get in touch with your local SBA office to see if they have any additional resources specifically designed for business owners in your area.

Facebook

Facebook created a free Business Resource Hub with resources for businesses struggling to navigate the COVID-19 outbreak. Through the program, Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses.

Verizon

Verizon is waiving late fees incurred by any small business or residential customers due to their economic circumstances related to COVID-19 for the next 60 days. The company will also not terminate service to any customers who are unable to pay their bills due to COVID-19, and is adding an extra 15GB of data to all consumer and small business plans.

AT&T

AT&T will not terminate the service of any wireless, home phone, or broadband residential or small business customers unable to pay their bill due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. For the next 60 days, the company will also waive late payment fees incurred because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it will keep public Wi-Fi hotspots open for any American who needs them.

Comcast

Comcast is providing free Xfinity hotspots, unlimited data, and no disconnects or late fees for all customers experiencing hardship over the next 60 days. Comcast is also offering a free Internet Essentials internet plan for all new customers for 60 days.

Yelp

Yelp created a $25 million fund to provide relief to independently owned restaurant and nightlife businesses and franchisees with fewer than five locations in the form of waived advertising fees and free advertising, products, and services during this period.

Small Business Relief Initiative

Intuit Quickbooks teamed up with GoFundMe and Yelp to launch the Small Business Relief Initiative to provide small business owners with the financial support and resources needed to continue running their businesses during and after the coronavirus crisis.

Each company has donated $500,000 to start the fund, which will provide grants to small businesses across the United States, starting with the hardest hit areas. The fund will also issue $500 matching grants to qualifying businesses that raise at least $500 on GoFundMe.

Wellness Relief Fund

Reclamation Ventures opened a grant opportunity to cover one month of missed revenue (up to $2,500) for wellness spaces and wellness instructors that represent underestimated communities.

Applications will be open until April 30. Click here to apply.

Food Business

This webinar series will kick off TODAY (Monday, March 30) at 2 P.M. ET with “Insurance, the Facts for Restaurants”, a review of the universal rules about insurance in hospitality and food businesses. Register here.

Our advocacy-focused webinar will take place on Thursday, April 2, at 2 P.M. ET with a team from Arnold & Porter, who will talk about various provisions in the relief bills, including unemployment insurance.

Find more information and a list of webinars here.

Unemployment Insurance Work Sharing Program

Employers who are considering laying off employees due to a slowdown in business from the coronavirus can apply for the UI Work Sharing Program, which partially offsets reduced worker hours and wages with UI benefits. The program allows you to retain trained employees and quickly prepare for when business improves.

You can apply for a Work Sharing plan by completing the application and mailing it to the address on the top of the form.

Rapid Response Program

Rapid Response meets with business owners onsite to discuss strategies for avoiding potential layoffs and assist in providing further training to employees to increase the competitiveness and profitability of the business.

To get started, contact America’s Job Center of California.

State tax extension

The Employment Development Department (EDD) of California will grant a 60-day tax extension for businesses that are experiencing hardship due to coronavirus. The tax extension will give more time for businesses to file state payroll reports and deposit state payroll taxes.

You must submit a written request within 60 days of your original delinquent date.

Business Tax Assistance

The City of Oakland’s Finance Department will waive late payment penalties on taxes due March 1, 2020 for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Employers can also apply for a payment plan to decrease the costs.

To apply for a payment plan of learn more about penalty waivers, call the Finance Department customer service line at (510) 238-3704 or email BTwebsupport@oaklandca.gov.

Small Business Technical Help

Oakland’s Business Assistance Center is working directly with employers to connect them with organizations that offer financial help, technical assistance, and more.

To receive the help, visit oaklandbusinesscenter.com and fill out the online assessment form.

Tax Deferment

San Francisco is deferring payment of quarterly business taxes due April 30 for businesses with up to $10 million in gross receipts. The taxes will be deferred to February 2021 with no interest or penalties.

Business Licensing Fee Deferment

San Francisco is also deferring annual small business license and permit fee due dates that make up the Unified License Bill until June 30, 2020.

For information on both the tax and business licensing fee deferments, visit the COVID-19 Tax and License Deferral site.

Small Business Resiliency Fund

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development created the Small Business Resiliency Fund to offer up to $10,000 in emergency grants for businesses affected by COVID-19. You must be able to show a loss in revenue to be eligible for the grant.

To learn more about the grant, visit the COVID-19 Small Business Resiliency Fund site.

Loan Funds

San Francisco provides access to capital and technical assistance through the Revolving Loan Fund, as well as the Emerging Business Loan Fund, which offers loans of up to $250,000 to qualifying commercial projects.

Contact Karla De Leon at 510-830-3226 or email her at sanfrancisco@mainstreetlaunch.org to learn more about your loan options.

Work-Share Program

The Colorado Work-Share program allows employees of businesses affected by COVID-19 to keep working, but with fewer hours. While an employee is working fewer hours, he or she may be eligible to collect part of his or her regular unemployment benefits.

Employers must satisfy the following requirements to be eligible for the program:

• Your normal weekly hours must have been reduced by at least 10%.
• The reduction must affect at least of your employees.
• You must have paid as much in premiums as the Colorado
• Department of Labor and Employment paid your former employees in unemployment insurance benefits.

Small Business Emergency Relief Program

The Denver Office of Economic Development will give grants of up to $7,500 to eligible small businesses in the Denver area. Around 250 businesses will receive the cash grants, and employers in industries that are particularly hit hard by COVID-19 (like restaurants and retail) are encouraged to apply.

Businesses can apply online here.

Tax Extensions

Denver businesses won’t have to pay the 15% late fee if they’re unable to pay their business taxes that are due in March or April.

Disaster Relief Fund

Small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Connecticut that have been impacted by COVID-19 are eligible for disaster relief loans of up to $2 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Apply for funding by visiting the SBA Disaster Assistance page.

Tax Extensions

Deadlines for filing and payments associated with certain state business tax returns due on or after March 15, 2020 are extended by at least 30 days. You do not need to take action to receive the extended due date, but if you have questions, visit the Connecticut State Department of Revenue Services website to learn more.

Hospitality Emergency Loan Program

The HELP program offers no-interest loans to restaurants, bars and other hospitality industry businesses impacted by COVID-19. The loans are capped at $10,000 per business and can be used for rent, utilities and other unavoidable bills, but not for personnel costs.

The loans carry a 10-year term and payments will be deferred for nine months. Applications will be available soon, check out Delaware’s Division of Small Business Page to learn more.

Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is activated to support small businesses impacted by COVID-19. The program provides short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury.

Employers with two to 100 employees can apply for loans up to $50,000. The loan is interest free for up to one year. To be eligible, your business must have been established prior to March 9, 2020.

The application period runs through May 7, 2020. To apply, click here.

Tax Assistance

The Florida Department of Revenue dedicated a team to address tax-related issues surrounding COVID-19. To contact the team, email covid19taxhelp@floridarevenue.com.

SBA Consulting and Training

Gener8tor is hosting emergency one-week virtual programs for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. These programs will feature daily webinars designed to identify, understand and help small businesses secure resources to withstand the current crisis. One-on-one office hours will also be available. Click here to register.

Small Business Relief Program

Governor Reynolds announced a new Iowa Small Business Relief Program that will provide financial assistance to small businesses and tax deferrals to any Iowa businesses that have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Application deadline is Tuesday, March 31, at 12 p.m.

Finance Authority of Maine

FAME and participating lenders will make special terms available to Maine-based businesses that have experienced interruption or hardship due to COVID-19. Various benefits include:

• Loans up to $50,000 offered at reduced interest rates
• Interest-only payments
• Up to 75% pro-rata loan insurance on loans up to $100,000
• Interim financing in conjunction with the SBA wherein FAME makes loan proceeds available while approved SBA borrowers await federal funding.

Tax Extensions

The due date for individual and business tax returns has been extended to July 15, 2020. No application for the extended due date is needed.

Loan Fund

Gov. Charlie Baker announced a $10 million loan fund to help support employers whose businesses have been impacted by COVID-19. Massachusetts-based businesses with under 50 employees will be able to receive up to $75,000 in emergency funding. If you are eligible, you will receive the funds immediately and have no payments for six months.

To apply for the loan, visit the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation’s COVID-19 page.

Michigan Small Business Relief Program

Starting April 1, the Michigan Small Business Relief Program will provide $10 million in low-interest loans and $10 million in grants to eligible Michigan businesses. The loans are for employers with 50 employees or less, and the grants are for companies with less than 100 employees.

Keep an eye on this page for updates on both programs and how to apply.

New Jersey Economic Development Authority Grants

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will provide more than $75 million in support for small to mid-sized businesses impacted by COVID-19. The approved package of NJEDA grants includes:

• Small business grant program
• Zero-interest loan program for mid-sized businesses
• Entrepreneur funding
• Technical support and marketplace information

Keep an eye on this page for updates on how to apply and more.

Loans and Grants

New York City businesses with fewer than 100 employees who have seen a sales decrease of at least 25% because of COVID-19 are eligible for up to $75,000 in interest-free loans to make up for profit losses.

Small businesses with fewer than 5 employees are being offered a grant to cover 40% of payroll costs for up to two months. If you’re interested in either one of these programs, fill out the COVID-19 Business Assistance Survey.

State Tax Extension

Employers who have seen an impact on business due to COVID-19 may request a tax extension from the Washington Department State of Revenue. The extension is designed to free up your cash reserves, and give you more time to pay and report your taxes.

If you don’t apply for a tax extension but are late in paying your taxes because of the coronavirus, the penalty may be waived under certain circumstances if you haven’t owed a late penalty in the last two years.

Contact WDOR at 360.705.6705 to find out if you’re eligible for the tax extension.

SharedWork Program

Much like California’s UI Work Sharing Program, the Washington SharedWork Program partially offsets reduced worker hours and wages with UI benefits. This valuable resource can reduce your payroll costs by around 10% and it could allow you to keep your trained staff intact.

Apply for the Shared Work Program here, and refer to the instructions on this page.

Standby

If you need to shut down operations because your employees are sick and need to be quarantined, you can request to place your staff on standby for up to eight weeks. This means your employees will be able to receive benefits and won’t be forced to look for another job.

Washington-based employers must wait for a worker to apply for standby, at which point a “Request for Separation Information” form will be sent in the mail. Fill out the form, mail it back, and you’ll then be sent a decision in the mail.