This COVID-19 small business resource guide is committed to providing the latest information, tools and support available to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19/novel coronavirus outbreak. This page will be update weekly as new federal, state and private resources to assist small businesses become available. Additionally, you can also receive professional business advice and free or low-cost business training from your local Small Business Development Center!
About COVID-19, also known as the Novel Coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, is the formal designation for the virus that causes COVID-19, or Coronavirus Disease 2019. Comprehensive information regarding the virus, disease and protection measures can be found at the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. With global spread at an alarming rate, the World Health Organization declared this outbreak a pandemic on March 11th, 2020.
COVID-19 Assistance for Small Business
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced on March 12, 2020 that they will be processing disaster assistance loans for small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19/novel coronavirus and the federal, state and local efforts to combat the spread. These assistance programs provide targeted, low-interest disaster recovery loans to small businesses impacted by the outbreak. The following includes information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program as well as federal, state and private resources for small businesses dealing with the impact of COVID-19.
Accessing SBA’s COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Disaster Relief Lending
- The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering disaster-designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the COVID-19/coronavirus outbreak. Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
- Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the COVID-19/coronavirus outbreak.
- SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance will coordinate with the state’s or territory’s Governor to submit the request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance.
- Once a declaration is made for designated areas within a state, the information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be made available to all affected communities.
- These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
- SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.
- SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible.
Small Business Eligibility
Who is eligible:
- A small business concern
- Most private non-profits of any size
- A small business engaged in aquaculture
- Small agricultural cooperative
Eligibility criteria:
- Located (physical presence) within the disaster-declared areas
- Have suffered, or are likely to suffer, substantial economic injury as a result of the disaster
- Do not have Credit Available Elsewhere
- The size of the applicant alone (without affiliates) must not exceed the size standard for the industry in which the applicant is primarily engaged and
- The size of the applicant combined with its affiliates must not exceed the size standard designated for either the primary industry of the applicant alone or the primary industry of the applicant and its affiliates, whichever is higher.
- Must be an independently owned and operated business
For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov (link sends e-mail).
SBA Resources
Disaster Loan Assistance Application
Presidential and SBA Declared Disaster Areas (check for Coronavirus (COVID-19) SBA declared disaster by state or by county)
Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Other Federal COVID-19 Small Business Resources
U.S. Department of Labor Coronavirus Resources covering issues such as workplace safety; wage, hours, and leave; unemployment insurance flexibilities; and injured federal workers.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19.
Resources for Businesses and Employers and community resources from the Centers for Disease Control
FEMA Coronavirus best practices, fact sheets, and other community resources
State COVID-19 Small Business Resources Resources
While the SBA designates disaster areas at the county-level, it is possible that an entire states be declared disaster areas. The SBA Emergency Injury Disaster Loan is one component to support small businesses. Some states or municipalities may provide financial assistance to small businesses. The following are COVID-19 specific state resources.
Alabama
Alabama Department of Revenue Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak Updates
Business Resources for Coronavirus Response from the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama
Alaska
Business Resources for Coronavirus from the Alaska Chamber
Arizona
Resources and Information for Arizona Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19
Coronavirus Information Center a project of Chamber Business News
Arkansas
COVID-19 Resources for Businesses and Employers from the Arkansasa Economic Commission
Update on State Actions Regarding COVID-19 from the Arkansas Chamber of Commerce
California
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources – information for employers, employees and residents compiled by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
Small Business Finance Center (SBFC)
Colorado
COVID-19 Small Business Response Resources – statewide resources from the Colorado SBDC
Information and Resources on Coronavirus – resources for employees and employers from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Connecticut
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Business Resources
COVID19 Business Resource Center – from the Connecticut SBDC
Delaware
COVID-19 Information for Delaware Small Businesses
Florida
COVID-19 Business Resources & Economic Relief
Coronavirus: Small Business Updates and Resources from the Tampa Bay SBDC
Georgia
Georgia Department of Economic Development: COVID-19 Updates
Hawaii
Hawaii Chamber of Commerce: Preparing your business for COVID-19
Idaho
Idaho Department of Commerce COVID-19 Information
Illinois
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity – COVID-19 Information for Small Business
Indiana
Information and Resources for Small Businesses – from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Indiana COVID-19 Business Resource Center
Iowa
COVID-19: Iowa Business Recovery Assistance
Kansas
Kansas Department of Commerce Resources for Businesses
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Resources & Updates
Kentucky
Kentucky Chamber Business Resources for Employers for Coronavirus
Louisiana
Louisiana Economic Development (LED) Resources for Impacted Businesses
Maine
COVID-19 Relief Loan Programs – from the Finance Authority of Maine
Maryland
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Businesses – resources are available through the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor.
Massachusetts
COVID-19 Resources and Guidance for Businesses
Massachusets Growth Capital Corporation Emergency Loan Fund
Michigan
Resources for Michigan Businesses during COVID-19 – from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Minnesota
COVID-19 Business Toolkit – from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Mississippi
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 Resources – state of emergency declaration, testing sites, and closures
Missouri
Small Business Disaster Loan Program
Montana
Montana COVID-19 Community Resources
Nebraska
Nebraska COVID-19 Community Resources
Nevada
Guidance to Nevada’s Employers and Workforce – resources from the Department of Health and Human Services
New Hampshire
COVID-19 NH Business Resources
New Jersey
COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus Information for New Jersey Businesses
New Mexico
Information for Workers & Businesses Affected by COVID-19
New York
Assistance & Guidance for Businesses Impacted Due to Novel Coronavirus
North Carolina
COVID-19: Resources for Businesses and Employers
North Dakota
COVID-19 Business and Employer Resources
Ohio
Businesses/Employers – COVID-19 Checklist
Oklahoma
COVID-19 Resources from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
Oregon
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources for Businesses
Pennsylvania
Responding to COVID-19 – for businesses
Business Resources for Coronavirus – from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Rhode Island
COVID-19 Resources – from the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
South Carolina
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
South Dakota
COVID-19 Resources – from the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Tennessee
COVID-19 Small Business Resources
Texas
COVID-19 Business Resources – from the Texas Economic Development
Utah
Coronavirus Resources for Businesses
Vermont
COVID-19 Guidance for Vermont Businesses
Virginia
COVID-19 Resource Center – from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Washington
COVID-19 Resource List for Impacted Washington Businesses
Washington, DC
Recovery Resources for Businesses
West Virginia
Coronovirus Disease (COVID-19) – information from the Department of Health and Human Resources
Wisconsin (see Business tab)
Wyoming
COVID-19 Response Tips for Small Businesses
Additional Resources
Already in business or thinking about starting your own small business? Check out our various small business resources:
- View small business help topics here: Small Business Information Center
- View business reports here: Small Business Snapshots
- View industry-specific research here: Market Research Links
Remember, you can also receive free professional business advice and free or low-cost business training from your local Small Business Development Center!
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