Update: The President has signed the PPP Extension Act which extends the deadline to apply for PPP loans to August 8, 2020
If there’s a silver lining in the coronavirus pandemic, it’s that people and organizations have quickly banded together to provide support for one another. Given how hard this is hitting small businesses, it’s great to see organizations, both at the national and local levels, jumping to provide aid and guidance to entrepreneurs. Below is a list of COVID-19 resources and guidance by state.
This list of resources is by no means exhaustive, but we will do our best to update it in the coming days and weeks.
Nationwide Small Business Resources
The message is clear: small businesses across the country need assistance. Here are some of the nationwide organizations that are here to help:
SBA
The Small Business Administration is doing its part on several fronts, starting with its Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. This program offers low-interest loans to small business owners impacted by COVID-19 loans of up to $2 million. There is also a grant of up to $10,000 that does not have to be repaid.
Paycheck Protection Loans of up to $10 million are modeled after the popular SBA 7(a) loan programs. Business owners can also apply to have part or all of this loan forgiven, depending on how the funds are used. Nav matches small business owners to lenders and agents offering these loans. Sign up for a free Nav account to get matched to a PPP lender.
The SBA also has a useful resources page that includes guidance for business owners and employers, other SBA products, information on government contracting, and local assistance.
CDC
If you are an employer, you will appreciate the CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers. It provides details on how you can keep employees healthy and what to do in case of an outbreak.
Social media giant Facebook is stepping in to help small businesses: the company is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries. The program isn’t yet accepting applications, but you can sign up to be notified with updates.
Unemployment Benefits
Pandemic Unemployment extends unemployment benefits to employees impacted by COVID-19, including those who are self employed. Benefits may be available when:
- An employer temporarily closes down due to COVID-19, preventing employees from being able to work
- An individual is quarantined with the expectation of returning to work after the quarantine is over
- An individual leaves employment because of a risk of exposure or infection or to care for a family member
Also important to know: federal law does not require an employee to quit in order to receive benefits due to the impact of COVID-19. Get details on your state’s unemployment insurance program.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Here’s some relief when it comes to filing your taxes: the IRS had delayed the due date for tax payments owed up to $1 million to July 15. You still need to file your tax return by April 15, but you will have an extra three months to pay any balance due. You’ll find more information here.
State-by-State COVID-19 Resources
While the above list of resources is available to anyone in the U.S. each state is offering additional resources to business owners.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Alabama
The Community Foundation of West Alabama, in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, has created the Small Business Relief Fund to aid impacted businesses in West Alabama counties including Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa.
In Alabama, employers whose employees must file unemployment compensation claims for weeks filed due to COVID-19 related issues may see some temporary relief, as all charges will be waived.
And the Department of Revenue is providing relief for state lodgings tax account holders as well as small businesses who are unable to pay their February, March, and April 2020 state transient occupancy tax on time. Late payment penalties will be waived through June 1, 2020.
Alaska
The Governor of Alaska has announced plans to offer a $1 billion disaster relief fund, but details haven’t yet been fleshed out.
The Alaska Small Business Development Center is offering several free on-demand training videos to help businesses navigate through these tricky times.
Arizona
Many states, including Arizona, offer a Shared Work Unemployment Compensation Program: an alternative for employers faced with a reduction in force.
This program allows an employer to divide the available work or hours of work among a group of affected employees instead of laying them off, and it allows the employees to receive a portion of their Unemployment Insurance benefits while working reduced hours.
An approved Shared Work Plan is valid for one year. An employee may be eligible for up to 26 weeks of Shared Work benefits.
Arkansas
Arkansas’ Shared Work Unemployment Compensation program is aimed at preventing COVID-19-related layoffs right now.
The state has a Quick Action Loan Program that provides a loan or loan guaranty of up to $250,000, with priority given to small to medium-sized companies that are in the supply chain of essential goods and services (including healthcare, food manufacturing, logistics).
Additionally, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) provides grants to eligible local governments to provide loans to companies impacted by COVID19, as well as grants to clinics, hospitals, and other non-profits working in rural Arkansas and to vulnerable populations such as the homeless.
The Arkansas State Chamber website has updated information.
California
In California, businesses suffering a hardship because of COVID-19 can request up to a 60-day
extension from the State of California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) to file their state payroll reports and/or deposit state payroll taxes without penalty or interest. Here’s more information.
California also has an Unemployment Insurance (UI) Work Sharing Program that can help you minimize or eliminate layoffs.
If you rent commercial (or personal) property, here’s some relief: California Governor Newsom signed an executive order to halt evictions and slow foreclosures until May 31 unless conditions change.
The San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, in partnership with Northeast Community Federal Credit Union, has created the COVID-19 Small Business Resiliency Fund, which allows impacted small businesses to access up to $10,000 for employee salaries and rent.
Here you can learn about deferred quarterly tax payments and annual small business licenses and permits, as well as emergency loan funds available to businesses hit by the pandemic.
In Los Angeles, the Small Business Emergency Microloan Program provides loans of $5,000 up to $20,000, with different repayment options.
The City of San Diego has launched its Small Business Relief Fund (SBRF) to provide grants and forgivable or low- to zero-interest-rate loans between $10,000 and $20,000 to eligible small businesses. The South County Economic Development Council (serving south San Diego county) is offering a no-interest loan to eating establishments in South County of $5,000 with no interest and repayment due on April 1, 2021.
Colorado
Colorado’s Work-Share Program provides an alternative to laying off your employees by keeping them working fewer hours, during which your employee may be able to collect unemployment benefits.
The state also offers a Rapid Response program that allows you to receive consultation on layoff aversion strategies, onsite workshops for employees in transition, job placement assistance, and information on unemployment benefits.
Colorado also has a Small Business COVID-19 Disaster Response Hotline to answer your questions: 303-860-5881.
And here’s something uplifting: the website Support CO Local is helping keep Colorado businesses afloat by selling gift cards on the site during their closure for COVID-19.
In Denver, the Small Business Emergency Relief program will provide up to $7,500 in cash grants to small businesses that may have had to temporarily close, have difficulty with paying their rent and utilities, or have had to lay off staff. The Denver Microloan Program provides loans from $5,000 to $50,000 to support the stabilization efforts of Denver businesses.
And the Denver Department of Finance (DOF) will waive the 15% penalty for late payment of February and March sales, use, and occupational privilege taxes that were due March 20 and April 20, 2020.
Connecticut
In Connecticut, the Department of Revenue Service has extended deadlines for annual state tax returns due on or after March 15, 2020, and before June 1, 2020, by at least 30 days.The payments associated with these returns are also extended. Learn more.
And like others, Connecticut offers a Shared Work program through its Unemployment Insurance division.
Delaware
Delaware has launched its Hospitality Emergency Loan Program (HELP), which offers no-interest loans of up to $10,000 per hospitality business per month.
Delaware.gov provides ongoing updates on resources for small businesses.
Florida
The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is available to small business owners in Florida that have experienced economic damage as a result of COVID-19. If you qualify, you can get a short-term, interest-free working capital loan to help you recover.
Also, the Short Time Compensation program helps employers retain their workforce in times of temporary slowdown by encouraging work sharing rather than laying them off.
Florida SBDC’s Business Disaster Recovery Assistance page offers additional resources on where you can find assistance.
Georgia
In Atlanta, the Business Continuity Loan Fund (BCLF) is offering zero-interest loans of $5,000 to $30,000 for qualifying businesses. There is also the Creative Industries Loan Fund, which provides independent content creators and creative entrepreneurs low-interest loans of $5,000 to $50,000.
The NFIB offers resources and online events to help small businesses in Georgia.
Hawaii
The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii has a page of COVID-19-related content for business owners.
Idaho
Idaho’s SBDC has resources to assist small businesses in the state, including information on disaster recovery. The state also has a resources page on COVID-19.
Illinois
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is waiving any penalty and interest that would have been imposed on late sales tax payments from qualified businesses who operate eating and drinking establishments.
The Illinois Department of Commerce has a resource page for small businesses.
In Chicago, there is a Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund offering low-interest loans up to $50,000 and repayment terms of up to five years to businesses who have seen a 25% or greater drop in revenue due to COVID-19. The University of Chicago has launched the South Side Small Business Support program, offering short-term bridge funds of up to $7,500 for businesses in the Douglas, Oakland, Grand Boulevard, Kenwood, Washington Park, Hyde Park, Woodlawn, Greater Grand Crossing, and South Shore neighborhoods.
Indiana
The Indiana Small Business Development Center is a hub of all information relevant to small businesses.
Iowa
The Iowa Department of Revenue extended the filing and payment deadlines for income, franchise, and moneys and credits taxes until July 31, 2020.
The Iowa Workforce Development site has useful information about unemployment insurance and the Voluntary Shared Work program, as well as free webinars. NFIB is another resource, as is the Iowa Economic Development site.
Kansas
In Kansas, the Hospitality Industry Relief Emergency (HIRE) Fund allows impacted hospitality businesses to receive a loan of up to $20,000 at 0% interest for a period of 36 months. There will be no principal or interest payments for the first four months.
The Community Development Block Grants program has been streamlined to get suffering businesses funds within two days.
KCSourceLink has resources for small businesses.
Kentucky
Team Kentucky has resources and links related to COVID-19 for small businesses. The Kentucky SBDC has a useful ebook entitled “Checklist for Managing in Times of Financial Difficulty.”
Louisiana
The Louisiana Economic Development website has resources at the federal, state, and regional area on COVID-19, and the Louisiana SBDC has useful content.
The New Orleans Business Alliance will be awarding $500 to $1,000 to gig workers who have been impacted by the pandemic.
Maine
The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) is partnering with the SBA and local Maine lenders to offer limited-time loans up to $50,000 and up to 75% pro-rata loan insurance on loans up to $100,000.
The CEI website has coronavirus resources, as well as information for specific industries like farming and child care. The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development also has resources.
Maryland
Maryland has several relief programs in place, including the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, which provides working capital loans up to $50,000, with 0% interest for the first 12 months and 2% for the remaining 36 months. The loans have deferred loan payments for the first 12 months.
Apply for Maryland’s Work Sharing Program here if you’re struggling to keep employees working in your business.
The state is also extending the deadline for tax payments (business and individual) by 90 days, with no interest or penalties. The deadline for business-related tax filings is now June 1. And licenses, permits, and registrations that would expire during the current state of emergency will be extended until at least the 30th day after the state of emergency is lifted.
Stay informed on the Maryland Business Express website.
Massachusetts
Massachussetts’ WorkShare program could be the resource you need to keep from laying off employers due to COVID-19: regular sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes that would be due in March, April, and May are now due on June 20 with no penalties or interest.
Businesses that paid less than $150,000 in regular sales plus meals taxes in the year ending February 29, 2020 will be eligible for relief for sales and meals taxes. And those that paid less than $150,000 in room occupancy taxes in the same year will be eligible for relief for room occupancy taxes. Here’s more information.
Certain licensed professionals whose licenses or registrations are due during the COVID-19 emergency will receive a 90-day extension to renew.
Michigan
With Michigan’s Work Share program, unemployment benefits are based on a percentage of the reduced hours of work and pay. The reduction in work hours must result in an equivalent reduction in wages. Details here.
The Michigan Small Business Relief Program will provide up to $20 million to small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19, divided into $10 million in small business grants and $10 million in small business loans to support businesses facing drastic reductions in cash flow and the continued support of their workforce.
Minnesota
Restaurants, bars and other hospitality businesses who had to temporarily close in Minnesota because of COVID-19 have a 30-day grace period to pay sales and use tax, and they will not have to pay penalties or interest
The Governor has issued an executive order that relieves employers of unemployment benefit charges associated with COVID-19; they will not see an increase in their UI tax rate if they have workers who collect unemployment benefits.
The Economic and Employment Development site, as well as the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce have coronavirus updates and resources.
Mississippi
The Mississippi SBDC has resources and a toolkit for business owners. The Department of Employment Security has information on unemployment benefits.
Missouri
The NFIB in Missouri has resources related to small businesses and COVID-19.
Montana
Montana employers who have had to lay off or let go of employees because of coronavirus may not have to pay unemployment benefits for those workers, thanks to recent temporary measures.
Nebraska
In Nebraska, the Governor has made an executive order for restaurants and bars impacted by COVID-19, including allowing restaurants to sell alcohol with take-out and delivery orders, waiving excise tax penalties, and extending temporary operating permits.
You can find answers to questions you may have about unemployment benefits, short-term compensation, and other coronavirus-related topics here.
Nevada
Find resources on the Nevada SBDC and NFIB pages.
New Hampshire
Employers are temporarily relieved of paying unemployment benefits to employees they have to let go because of COVID-19. And the state’s WorkShare program is designed to help you keep employees working.
The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) has a comprehensive web page of resources.
New Jersey
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board has several programs to help businesses, including the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program, a $5 million program that will provide grants up to $5,000 to small businesses in retail, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, food service, and other services including repair, maintenance, personal, and laundry services.
The Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program will provide working capital loans of up to $100,000 (0% for the first five years; 10-year terms) to businesses with less than $5 million in revenues. The NJ Entrepreneur Support Program will provide 80% loan guarantees for working capital loans to entrepreneurs.
The Small Business Emergency Assistance Guarantee Program will provide 50% guarantees on working capital loans, and will waive fees on loans made through institutions participating in the NJEDA’s existing Premier Lender or Premier CDFI programs. And the Emergency Technical Assistance Program will provide technical assistance to New Jersey-based companies applying for State and US Small Business Administration programs.
The Department of Labor and Workforce Development in New Jersey has a website with answers to common questions. So does the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
New Mexico
The New Mexico Economic Development Department has launched the COVID-19 Business Loan Guarantee Program, which guarantees a portion of a loan or line of credit up to 80% of principal or $50,000. There are also LEDA zero-percent interest loans available, which can be used for land, building and infrastructure, as well as lease abatement or mortgage assistance.
Personal and corporate state income taxes have an extended deadline with no penalty or interest for payments.
New York
Here are state resources on COVID-19 from Empire State Development and New York State Restaurant Association.
If your business has seen a reduction in revenue by 25% or more because of COVID-19 and you have 100 or fewer employees, you may be eligible for zero-interest loans up to $75,000 through the NYC Small Business Continuity Fund.
North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Revenue has extended the tax filing deadline to July 15 for individual, corporate, and franchise taxes with no penalties.
Employers will not be charged for individuals who are paid unemployment benefits for reasons related to COVID-19.
North Dakota
To align with the extension provided by the IRS for tax filing and payments, the North Dakota state tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15.
The North Dakota Development Board has voted to suspend all payments, both principal and interest for all outstanding NDDF loans for 30 days.
The Greater North Dakota Chamber as well as the SBDC have small business resources.
Ohio
In an effort to aid restaurants and bars in Ohio who are struggling due to closures, the Ohio Department of Commerce will offer a liquor buyback option.
Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) system has deferred insurance premium installment payments for March, April, and May until June 1, 2020.
Employers can now defer health insurance premium payments interest free for up to 60 days.
The state’s TechCred program offers employers up to $2,000 in reimbursement for every technology-focused credential earned by an employee, up to $30,000 per employer per round. SharedWork Ohio allows workers to remain employed and employers to retain trained staff.
And the state tax deadline in Ohio has been extended, as it has with many other states.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Commerce has staff available to help small businesses fill out disaster loan application forms. The NFIB has resources related to COVID-19.
Oregon
WorkShare Oregon provides an alternative for employers and workers who may be facing the prospect of a lay off situation, particularly due to COVID-19.
The Oregon Economic Development Association, as well as the SBDC and Business Oregon have resources for business owners.
In Portland, small businesses operating in the Jade District and Old Town Chinatown neighborhoods can apply for emergency funding of up to $190,000, with priority given to Asian- and Pacific Islander-owned businesses. The Portland Small Business Relief Fund will also provide grants and no-interest loans to Portland small businesses.
The Hillsboro Small Business Emergency Relief Program is offering $3,000 in emergency grant funding to small businesses in the city of Hillsboro.
Pennsylvania
The COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program (CWCA) is a $60 million fund through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority’s (PIDA) Small Business First Fund for businesses with fewer than 100 employees impacted by the outbreak, with loans up to $100,000.
To qualify for Pennsylvania’s Shared-Work plan, you must certify that the plan is in lieu of layoffs that would involve at least 10 percent of the employees in your business and would result in an equivalent reduction in work hours.
The Pennsylvania Chamber website has additional resources for small businesses.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Commerce has addressed common questions business owners have about coronavirus.
South Carolina
Tax returns and tax payments in South Carolina now have an extended due date of June 1. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce has a list of relevant resources.
South Dakota
Find COVID-19 related resources on the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation page, as well as NFIB.
Tennessee
Find the latest news on the website of the Department of Economic and Community Development, as well as a list of resources on the Tennessee Municipal League site.
Texas
If you are looking for an alternative to laying off Texas employees, check out the Shared Work program. You can find additional resources on the Texas Economic Development page.
Utah
The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development is offering bridge loans to Utah small businesses with 50 or fewer employees of $5,000 to $20,000. There will be 0% interest for up to 60 months, and loan payments are deferred for 12 months.
The World Trade Center Utah offers a variety of services to businesses, including free consulting, grants, and relief provisions.
Rapid Response services are designed to reduce unemployment insurance costs and minimize disruption in the event that you have to lay off staff because of COVID-19.
And in Salt Lake City, qualified businesses can apply for 0% interest loans up to $20,000 as part of the Emergency Loan Program. Salt Lake County has a COVID-19 hotline for all businesses in the country that need guidance on resources and information available related to COVID-19 relief: (385) 468-4011. If you are unable to call between 8 am and 8 pm, Monday through Friday, email questions to COVID-business@slco.org.
There is also an initiative with the Downtown Salt Lake City Alliance called Tip Your Server, which is collecting donations for Salt Lake City food and beverage workers displaced by the Coronavirus pandemic and SLC earthquake.
Vermont
The Vermont personal and corporate income tax deadline has been extended to July 15 with no penalty or interest. Businesses that owe Meals and Rooms Tax or Sales and Use Tax who can’t meet the March 25 and April 25 filing deadlines will not be charged penalty or interest for late submissions.
Find a detailed list of COVID-19 resources in Vermont here.
Virginia
February sales tax payments, which were due March 20, can be extended by 30 days with a written request. Income tax filing must be complete by May 1, however, payments can be deferred until June 1.
Get additional information on the Virginia SBDC page, as well as NFIB.
Washington
Washington Department of Revenue will provide extensions for filing and paying tax returns upon request.
The Employment Security Department has a helpful page on questions you may have about shared work, layoffs, and other topics. The Governor also has a page of resources for small businesses.
In Seattle, there’s a Small Business Stabilization Fund, an emergency fund that provides working capital grants in amounts up to $10,000 to qualifying small businesses. The city recently added $1.5 million to this fund.
Amazon is helping support businesses with less than $7 million in annual revenue or fewer than 50 employees with a few blocks of its Seattle headquarters through its Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund.
Washington, D.C.
In Washington, D.C., an Emergency Relief for Small Businesses bill has been passed that will extend unemployment compensation due to COVID-19, create a small business grant program for those who don’t qualify for unemployment insurance, and delay retail sales tax payments, among other measures.
West Virginia
Here is a Coronavirus Guide for Employers that you may find helpful if you are a business owner in West Virginia.
Wisconsin
The Small Business 20/20 program is designed to support small businesses and micro-enterprises negatively impacted by the COVID-19 Virus. The program provides funds to Wisconsin-based Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to make grants to existing loan clients to help with short-term cash flow issues
The Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (HWCC) has an Emergency Loan Fund (COVID-19) that can be used for working capital to cover rent, payroll, and other fixed expenses. Loans between $5,000 and $10,000 will be given with an interest-only option for the first three months.
Wyoming
Find coronavirus-related links and resources through Wyoming’s SBDC as well as The State of Wyoming’s Economic Development Agency.
Please keep in mind this information is changing rapidly and is based on our current understanding of the programs. It can and likely will change. Although we will be monitoring and updating this as new information becomes available, please do not rely solely on this for your financial decisions. We encourage you to consult with your lawyers, CPAs, and Financial Advisors. To review your real-time funding options with one of Nav’s lending experts, please contact us.
This article was originally written on March 24, 2020 and updated on July 6, 2020.
How would the SBA in MD affect employees whom already qualified and have been receiving payments from DLLR in MD ? Does the laid off employee HAVE to take the employers SBA payroll loan ? Which is less than a 1/3 of what Unemployment Benefits offer them?