Grants for Small Businesses
The following grants can be found on Grantwatch.com. This grant search engine lists grants for individuals, for-profit businesses, and nonprofits. You can sign up for their free newsletter to be alerted of new grants. To see full grant details and apply, a fee from $18 for one week's access to $199 for a one-year subscription will apply.
Grants to USA Businesses and Individual Food Producers to Mitigate the Financial Impacts of COVID-19: (8/28/20) Awards up to $250,000 to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline or who had losses due to market supply chain disruptions due to COVID-19.
Grants for USA Nonprofits, For-Profits, and Individuals to Participate in a Contest for Carbon Reduction Projects: (8/31/20) Winners will receive funding of up to $20,000 to support their project. Projects can also focus on plastics and waste reduction as well as climate justice.
Grants to USA Small Businesses to Support Business Expansion: (9/1/20) Up to $10,000 in funding is intended to help small business owners build their businesses. Applicants must describe how they overcame a past business challenge or how they are addressing a current challenge.
Grants to USA Small Businesses to Mitigate the Negative Impact of Coronavirus: (9/15/20) This $5,000 grant is intended to help cover business expenses and help to maintain safe, healthy, and sustainable work environments. Eligible businesses must employ between 3 and 20 people.
State and Federal Policy Responses to COVID-19
The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved Governor Cooper's request for NC Businesses to access SBA Disaster Assistance Loans to aid with COVID-19 response. Businesses can Apply Online here.
Governor Cooper Issues Executive Order to Make State Unemployment Benefits More Widely Available.
The Senate cleared a multibillion-dollar aid package Wednesday afternoon to help those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing paid sick leave, free diagnostic testing, expanded unemployment assistance and food aid, and $250 billion in direct payments to Americans.
The tax-filing deadline is still April 15, but the IRS will waive penalties and interest on tax payments for 90 days.
General Information and Resources to assist
Businesses Dealing with COVID-19
Resources for Businesses and Employers by the Centers for Disease Control
Small Business Majority's COVID-19 resource portal with links and information about upcoming informational webinars updates on Capitol Hill.
When Business Threats Are Contagious: 10 Answers for Employers Navigating Coronavirus by ThinkHR
Preventing COVID-1 Spread in Communities by the Centers for Disease Control
Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources by the Small Business Administration
Combating the Coronavirus by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Workplace Health and Safety Resources
● Protecting Workers During a Pandemic (OSHA)
● Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the Americans with Disabilities Act (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
● When May Employers Require Workers to Self-Quarantine? (Society for Human Resource Management) When and where can employers draw the line for workers to stay away from the workplace after traveling
● Get Your Workplace Ready for Pandemic Flu (CDC) Guidance for workers to help slow the spread of illness and for workplaces to develop new contingency plans or modify existing emergency operations plans that reflect considerations specific to your workplace setting and community
Employee Benefits and Human Resources
● Health, Wellness and Leave Benefits Help Employees with Coronavirus (Society for Human Resource Management) Ensure employees are using their health, wellness, and leave benefits to stay healthy or recover, and be aware that benefit programs may need tweaked if widespread illness becomes common
● Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Workplace: Legal and Regulatory Considerations (HUB International) Guidance to help employers understand the legal and regulatory considerations associated with responding to illness in the workplace (including but not limited to the Coronavirus)
● Coronavirus: Employers Should Plan, Not Panic (Foley & Lardner, LLP) The extent to which the coronavirus will take hold in the U.S. is unknown, but employers should take steps now to plan ahead so they will be able to maintain normal business operations.
Technology Resources
● Workflex and Telework Guide (Society for Human Resource Management)
● Considerations for a Remote Work Policy (Society for Human Resource Management)
● Coronavirus Impact: Google Hangouts Meet, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex Made Free to Encourage Work From Home (Gadgets 360) Several companies temporarily offering communications tools and platforms for free
Today, some NC small business lenders announced they are offering NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program, sponsored by the Golden Leaf Foundation.
LOAN DETAILS
Loans are available for up to $50,000, based on the business’s current revenue. According to https://ncrapidrecovery.org/ loan agreements are structured as follows:
Loan sizes capped at approximately two months of current revenue.
Six months of no interest and no payments, followed by 48 months of principal and interest payments at 5.5% interest.
Interest will begin to accrue on any unpaid balance at the beginning of the seventh month.
There are no prepayment penalties.
Defaulted loans are subject to collections.
Small Business Development Resources
Open for Business Mentorship Webinar Series
Each Tuesday from 1 - 2 p.m., the City of Charlotte will host a virtual panel discussion with local experts and entrepreneurs to share tips, resources and insight to help small businesses rebound from the impacts of COVID-19. Watch the discussion on the City of Charlotte Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Small business owners can contact OpenforBusinessDashboard@charlottenc.gov with any questions.
Central Piedmont Small Business Center
The Small Business Center has moved its programming and free one-on-one business counseling to a virtual platform, including hosting bi-weekly free webinars to help business owners gain skills to pivot during this time.
https://www.cpcc.edu/business-and-industry/small-business-center
North Carolina Restaurant Workers Relief Fund
Any hospitality employee of a North Carolina restaurant or hotel facing significant financial hardship due to a lay-off, furlough or reduction in hours as a direct result of COVID-19 can apply for the NC Restaurants Workers Relief Fund.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
NCDHHS has a comprehensive list of executive orders passed by Roy Cooper that impact businesses in North Carolina, and resources guidance on how to continue modified operation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/information/business/businesses-and-employers
North Carolina Business Relief Resources
Business Link North Carolina (BLNC) staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. BLNC staff will connect your business to the appropriate organization for assistance. All inquiries will receive a response from a confidential business counselor within three (3) business days.
Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Inner City Innovation Hubs Program
The Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Inner City Innovation Hubs program will focus on research and technology transfer, digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship in support of minority-owned start-ups and entrepreneurs with innovative products or services. The program will fuel minority business innovation in inner city areas with high concentrations of minority persons and minority-owned businesses.
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=326321
Carolinas Alliance COVID-19 Match Site
Carolinas Alliance COVID-19 Match Site is dedicated to matching the needs of the Carolinas’ healthcare providers, businesses and government organizations with manufacturers, vendors, suppliers and talent who can help deliver crucial supplies and Personal Protection Equipment.
Resources for Economic Development
RestoreYourEconomy provides up-to-date information related to COVID-19 and its economic impacts.
Restaurant Strong
Samuel Adams and The Greg Hill Foundation are expanding its Restaurant Strong Fund to 20 total states to aid the restaurant workers impacted by the COVID-19 closures.
Small Business Financial Resources
North Carolina COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan
The Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIFund) North Carolina COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan program is primarily designed to be a timely source of bridge financing until businesses can access SBA Disaster or other federal disaster funding.
https://www.ncifund.org/what-we-do/nc-covid-19-rapid-recovery-loan
Rapid Recovery Loans
In response to the unique economic challenges of COVID-19, a consortium of public, private, and nonprofit partners has come together and launched a recovery lending program to support entrepreneurs and stabilize the North Carolina small business sector.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance & Resources
SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters. Applicants can apply online using the Electronic Loan Application.
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
https://charlottenc.gov/covid19/Documents/NC_SBTD_%20Summary_SBA_Emergency_Loans_Overview.pdf
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
The U.S. Department of Treasury CARES Act provides fast and direct economic assistance for American workers, families and small businesses, and preserves jobs for American industries.
https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares
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 will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program
GoFundMe Small Business Relief Initiative
The Small Business Relief Initiative was started by GoFundMe to help small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and empower their communities to rally behind them. GoFundMe has partnered with Yelp, Intuit QuickBooks, GoDaddy, and Bill.com to provide small business owners with the financial support and resources needed to continue running their businesses during and after the coronavirus crisis.
https://www.gofundme.com/c/small-business-relief-initiative-and-fund-faqs
Hello Alice Business Resources Center
The Hello Alice business resource center is updated daily to provide the latest funding, resources and support information for small business owners adapting to the impacts of COVID-19.
https://covid19.helloalice.com/
James Beard Foundation Relief Fund
The James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund provides critical financial assistance to small, independent restaurants that, due to the COVID-19 national disaster, have an immediate need for funds to pay set operating expenses and keep from going out of business.
https://www.jamesbeard.org/openforgood
LinkedIn Learning Courses
LinkedIn Learning is offering free learning paths to help employees better adapt to remote working, learn new skills and manage teams through uncertain times.
Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation (RWCF)
RWCF is collecting information and links to resources that will help restaurants and workers deal most effectively with the COVID-19 Emergency.
Small Business Rebound Program
The Small Business Rebound Program leverages MBA talent from top universities such as Stanford, Duke, UNC and Clemson. MBAs will assist with general strategy and business model redesign, finance and cash management plans, marketing, data and analytics, and more.
https://www.cpcc.edu/business-and-industry/small-business-center/business-rebound-program