Small Business Development Center Penn State

• Small Business Administration Emergency Capital Programs
  • SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center: can be reached at 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) and disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for questions and guidance on the loan application process, including business eligibility.
  • Disaster Assistance Loans (low-interest, long-term loans up to $2 million): the first payment is deferred for 12 months. The application has been simplified and can be completed 100% online through the SBA web portal. 
    
    • US Chamber of Commerce’s Guide to the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans
  • SBA Express Bridge Loan: allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork. These loans can be a term loan or used to bridge the gap while applying for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan funding.
    
    
  • SBA Debt Relief: the SBA is providing a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  • PPP Loan Forgiveness

    • Forgiveness Frequently Asked Questions 

    • PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less 
      • Click here to view the simpler loan forgiveness application. 
      • Click here to view the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application. 
      • Click here to view the Interim Final Rule on the simpler forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less.
• SEDA-COG EDA COVID-19 Loan
  
  The new SEDA-COG EDA COVID-19 Loan Fund is for businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. For-profit businesses can apply for loans of at least $10,000 starting now until funds are exhausted. No payments are due in the first six months. The total amount of the fund is $400,000. The interest rate is 3.25%. Businesses must be in SEDA-COG’s region of Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, and Union counties.
  
  
• Mainstreet Lending Program
  The Federal Reserve developed the Main Street Lending Program to help credit flow to small and medium-sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the pandemic. The program is for businesses with 15,000 or fewer employees who had 2019 revenues of $5 billion or less, and requires minimum loans of $250,000. Loans through this program will go through eligible lenders.
  
  
• GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund
  As part of the Small Business Relief Initiative, GoFundMe, Intuit QuickBooks, Yelp, GoDaddy, and Bill.com have each donated to the Small Business Relief Fund. GoFundMe.org, the charitable and advocacy arm of GoFundMe, started the Small Business Relief Fund to benefit small businesses. Supporters can donate to the Small Business Relief Fund, which will issue $500 matching grants to qualifying businesses that raise at least $500 on GoFundMe. 
  
  
• Open Road Alliance Grants
  Charitable Grants will only be offered to organizations responding directly to COVID-19. Eligible organizations must be one of the following:
  • A US-registered 501c3 nonprofit in good standing
  • A for-profit social enterprise or foreign charity with a U.S.-registered charitable fiscal sponsor/partner organization in good standing (501c3, Private Foundation, DAF, etc.)
• PA 30 Day Fund Grants
  PA 30 Day Fund, a Pennsylvania non-profit, is providing forgivable loans for Pennsylvania-based small businesses. The forgivable loan is intended to provide immediate financial assistance (within maximum three days) to meet payroll, preserve healthcare coverage for employees and save jobs while they await recently approved federal funding.
  
  
• Surdna
  Several grants are available to existing and established businesses owned by people of color. 
  
  
• Grantstation Grant Locator
  This database allows you to find the latest COVID-19 grant funding opportunities for nonprofits, small businesses, journalists, and artists, updated each business day and listed by deadline date.
  
  
• CovidCAP.com
  CASE and CASE i3 at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business launched a searchable website to help any entrepreneur in the world, for-profit or nonprofit, struggling due to the economic impacts of COVID-19, to locate cash relief resources in their community.
  
  

Unemployment Compensation Information

• PA Department of Labor and Industry Information for PA Employees Impacted by COVID-19
  If you are employed in Pennsylvania and are unable to work because of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), you may be eligible for Unemployment or Workers’ Compensation benefits. The Department of Labor & Industry will continue to provide important employment benefit updates as the situation evolves.
  • PA Department of Labor and Industry CARES Act Overview
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) FAQs
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Application Portal
  • PA UC Benefits and COVID-19 FAQs
  • Employer UC and COVID-19 FAQs
  • Article: SBA issues PPP guidance on laid-off employees who refuse to be rehired
• US Chamber of Commerce Backgrounder on Unemployment Insurance Under the CARES Act
  The CARES Act significantly expanded access to the unemployment insurance (UI) system for American workers who suffer job losses or reduced hours through no fault of their own.
  
  
• US Chamber of Commerce’s Guide to Coronavirus Paid Leave Programs

State and Local Information & Resources 

• Updates from the Governor’s Office
  • Process to Reopen Pennsylvania
  • Guidance for Businesses Permitted to Operate During the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency to Ensure the Safety and Health of Employees and the Public
    
    
• Landlord Toolkit for Reopening to COVID-19 Impacted Tenants 
  
  
• Clinton County Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Resources 
  
  
• DCED COVID-19 PPE & Supplies Business-2-Business (B2B) Interchange Directory
  The immediate goal of this B2B Interchange Directory is simple: to provide an opportunity for companies and other entities in need of PPE and other critical items to make a B2B connection as they may choose with manufacturers and suppliers of COVID-19 related items. Company and product information provided in this directory were gathered in good faith as a means of connecting Pennsylvania businesses and organizations that are seeking various PPE and other related items to combat the COVID-19 crisis. The information made available is from those entities who voluntarily contacted the commonwealth through the Manufacturing Call to Action Portal or the Pennsylvania Critical Medical Supplies Procurement Portal.

Federal Updates

• Families First Coronavirus Response Act
  • Fact Sheet for Employees
  • Fact Sheet for Employers
  • Questions and Answers
• Tax Credits for Coronavirus
  Small and mid-size employers may begin using two new refundable payroll tax credits to obtain reimbursement for the costs of providing coronavirus related leave to their employees, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced on March 20, 2020. This Compliance Bulletin provides the DOL and IRS’ guidance.  
  
  • IRS FAQS: Employee Retention Credit
  • IRS Overview of New Tax Credits
  • US Chamber of Commerce’s Guide to the Employee Retention Tax Credit
    
• CDC Reopening Guidelines
  The CDC published detailed guidelines for reopening schools and businesses that have been shut down in the coronavirus pandemic. The 60-page document is the most extensive guidance yet offered by the health agency.
  
  • CDC decision tools for Business and Workplaces:
  • Agriculture Workers and Employers
  • COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings

Disaster Assistance Information & Resources for Small Businesses

• ASBDC and AWBC USA’s Federal Resources for Small Businesses 
  America’s SBDCs are working to help small businesses address the challenges of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This website has compiled resources, events, and resiliency guides for small business owners. 
   
• PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Business COVID-19 Resources
  Businesses have a vast network of services that they can contact to discuss the impact of the Coronavirus on their daily operations and the future of their business. Staff at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), as well as local partner networks, are available to help businesses through this challenging time.

• PA Chamber Business Resources for Coronavirus
  The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is dedicated to helping business across the Commonwealth. Now that the coronavirus has made its way to the U.S., the chamber is providing resources for Pennsylvania businesses about how to help their company, their employees and their families.

• US Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Resource Page
  Complete coronavirus coverage, updated daily with new resources to assist you and your business.
  • Ready to Reopen: Playbook for Small Business: A guide to helping businesses of all types and in all regions navigate the complex process of reopening and evolving post-coronavirus pandemic.
  • Reopening Business Digital Resource Center
  • Business Reopening Digital Resources Toolkit
  • State by State Reopening Guide: The latest guidance and information to America’s employers, including an interactive state map and state guides.
• SCORE Guidance for Small Businesses During the Coronavirus Outbreak
  With the recent news and concerns of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), SCORE is sharing the latest business resources, assistance and guidance. 
  
  
• Google for Small Business COVID-19 Resources
  Google has compiled tips, resources, and recommendations to help small businesses navigate COVID-10 for their employees and customers. 
  
  
• Facebook for Business Resource Hub
  Facebook has developed a resource center to provided small businesses with resources to help them navigate any unexpected challenges they may face during the COVID-19 outbreak.
  
  
• eBay  “Up and Running”
  The new program was created to help new small businesses transitioning to e-commerce through the COVID-19 crisis. The program includes free basic eBay store subscription and waive selling fees for 3 month, 500 free listing, and guidance and resources needed to run business on eBay. 
  
  
• Hello Alice COVID-19 Business Resource Center
  Updated daily, with real-world funding, resources, and support for small business owners adapting to the impacts of coronavirus.
  
  
• Goldman Sachs US Small Business Resource Center
  Goldman Sachs believes small business owners and start-up entrepreneurs fuel the engine of local and national economies all over the world. Here they share clear, tangible steps to access capital and additional resources.
  
  
• American Express Stand for Small
  Educational resources, network connections, offers and mentorship opportunities from global companies to help address your business needs.
  
  
• Mainstreet America
  As COVID-19 begins to have an increasingly significant impact on communities across the country, Mainstreet America has compiled resources and opportunities to help Main Street districts during this crisis. The site includes information regarding Federal guidelines and programs to Main Street program support and small business resources.
  
  
• UPMC Back to Business Resource Guide
  The safety guide below addresses a number of common questions about how to prepare for, and deal with, the coronavirus in the workplace. We hope you find it useful as you prepare your plans on “getting back to business.”
  
  
• The Suddenly Remote Playbook
  Topal’s playbook offers learnings across all areas of the remote work experience, from Slack best practices and Zoom etiquette to advice for managers of remote teams and, critically, how to create a culture and work environment built on trust.
  
  
• COVID-19 Information on help for Women Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits
  A comprehensive list of resources for nonprofits and women entrepreneurs to navigate Coronavirus (COVID-19). 
  
  
• Coronavirus Tech Handbook
  A crowdsourced library of tools, services and resources relating to COVID-19 response. It is a rapidly evolving resource with thousands of expert contributors. 
  
  
• COVID-19 Health Insurance Resources
  
  • Tip sheet on health coverage options
  • Marketplace FAQs
  • Additional resources
• Artist Relief
  To support artists during the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition of national arts grant makers have come together to create an emergency initiative to offer financial and informational resources to artists across the United States.

Business Resiliency Resources

• Bizminer LookUP Initiative – Free reports for small business owners that include customized operational, financial and local market comparisons to their competition. 
  
  
• The Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Business Resiliency Toolkit
  
  
• Ready.gov – Toolkits, videos and plans for business continuity. Disasters and Emergency preparation by topic.
  
  
• FEMA Business Continuity Plan and Emergency Preparation