Support for Small Businesses during COVID-19

Dear Small Business Community,

In light of ongoing closures and cancellations due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we wanted to reach out to you to share resources to help support small businesses. 

As we stay vigilant to protect our physical health from the virus, we also need to protect the economic health of our community. Freelancers and small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, and right now, this lifeblood is at risk.   

The economic impacts of COVID-19 will likely have a ripple effect for months to come. And, while Hack the Hood does not have direct service to support our small businesses during these challenging times, we hope these resources shared below can:

• The Employment Development Department of California provides a variety of support services to individuals affected by COVID-19 in California- both for employees and employers. Employees whose work hours have been reduced may file for Unemployment Insurance, Rapid Response Services, and Tax Assistance. Learn more here.
• The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Find out more information here.
• For artists of all disciplines, there are emergency funds available to help support the cost of living. Please take note that some of these grants may only be available for certain states. Check out www.womenarts.org for more info.
• In collaboration with their partners, Uptima is offering business retention services for small businesses and non-profits. This includes free business advising services to assist small businesses that are at high risk of closure. Find out more about the retention program.
• The Small Business Majority has put out a Coronavirus Preparedness Survey for small business owners. This will hopefully provide more data to the government to support additional policies/funds for small businesses impacted by COVID-19. 

We hope you stay safe and also want to share these resources to help cope with the coronavirus situation:

• Health tips from the WHO
• The list of coronavirus-related updates (e.g. cases) that is the most comprehensive and closest to real-time in the US and Canada
  
  

Stay safe!

In community,
Hack the Hood