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Office of Community and Economic Development

covid19

Businesses and Employers:

Fresno County 

Applications are now closed

  • Agency: Fresno Metro Black Chamber, in partnership with the Central Valley Community Foundation
  • Description: RESTART will provide direct grants to small and microbusinesses that have suffered economic loss due to COVID-19. Grants will be made to businesses that have been in existence for one year or more with under 25 employees. Recipients must agree to stay in business, participate in the RESTART Technical Assistance program, and complete the AA COVID-19 survey. Priority will be given to women, people of color, formerly incarcerated individuals, and FMBCC members, all in Fresno's disadvantaged neighborhoods. 
  • Link(s): https://www.fmbcc.com/restartblackfresno
  • Type of assistance: Grant
  • Amount: up to $3,000
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Businesses must have a physical address within the city of Fresno area.
    Grants may be applied retroactively for expenses already incurred by the business. Projects may be backdated as far as March 16th, 2020 with appropriate documentation.
  • Due Date: 11:59 pm on July 16th.
  • Time before assistance is approved: To be determined
  • Who can receive assistance: 
  • RESTART Black Fresno Grant
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

Round 2 is now closed

  • Agency: City of Fresno
  • Description: The City of Fresno has embraced the need for social distancing in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. But the effort has come at a cost for small business owners.To help them weather this public health emergency, the Fresno City Council has created a $750,000 emergency fund for distribution to small businesses and for use to support current cashflow. Applicants must have been required to close or reduce operations by the state or local Shelter in Place orders.To ensure a fair and fast distribution of funds to as many businesses as possible, all applications received by 11:59 pm, Sunday April 12, 2020 will be reviewed and verified for eligibility. Applications will then be sorted by the Administrator, Access Plus Capital and randomly selected.
  • Link(s): https://www.fresno.gov/mayor/economic-development/save-our-small-businesses-program/
  • Type of assistance: Loan
  • Amount: $5,000 for eligible businesses with 5 or fewer employees, as of February 15, 2020$10,000 for eligible businesses with between 6-25 employees, as of February 15, 2020
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Loans shall be forgiven after one year from the date the loan documents are executed if all of the following have occurred; the borrower has maintained a valid City of Fresno Businesses License/Tax Certificate during the term of the loan; they have no outstanding local state, federal tax liens, judgments, municipal code violations; and are operating as permitted by their Conditional Use Permit
  • Due Date: 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 12
  • Time before assistance is approved: Businesses will be notified of the results of the random selections starting Monday, June 15.
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    Save Our Small Businesses Program
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

Applications are now closed

  • Agency: Fresno County, in partnership with the Fresno Economic Development Corporation and Access Plus Capital
  • Description: The County of Fresno has created a $5 million grant program for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 funded by the CARES Act. The grant program will provide $5,000 grants to eligible businesses. Eligible applicants will be pooled by five County Supervisorial Districts and grant awardees will be selected by a lottery system for each Supervisor District.
  • Link(s): https://www.accesspluscapital.com/hub-grant/
  • Type of assistance: Grants
  • Amount: Up to $5,000
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Businesses that meet the following criteria are eligible for the County of Fresno HUB Grant Program: for-profit operation, primary place of business is in the County of Fresno, have 10 or less full-time equivalent (FTE) employees or a self-employed business,
    and been in operation for at least 2 years prior to March 15, 2020 (documentation required). 
    Businesses that have received funds or have been notified of approval of funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) are not eligible for the County of Fresno HUB grant. Businesses that have received funds from the City of Fresno Save Our Small Businesses Loan to Grant program are also not eligible for the County of Fresno HUB grant.
  • Due date: June 1, 2020 at 11:59pm 
  • Time before assistance is approved: All applicants will receive a notification in writing by email and/or mail on the status of their application no later than June 12, 2020.
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    HUB Grant
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

The application window is now closed

  • Agency: Downtown Fresno Foundation, in partnership with the Central Valley Community Foundation and JP Morgan Chase
  • Description: Businesses within the Downtown Fresno PBID area will be able to apply for up to $2,500 in grant funding to help cover business-related expenses. 
  • Link(s): https://www.downtownfresno.org/do-business/re-start-grant
  • Type of assistance: Grants
  • Amount: Up to $2,500
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Businesses must have a physical address within the Downtown Fresno PBID area, Money can not be used for: Non-business-related expenses, Expansion of current business, Expenses incurred after March 16th, 2020
  • Due date: Applications close May 18th
  • Time before assistance is approved: TBD
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    Re-Start Downtown Grant
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

  • Agency: IRS
  • Description: The employee retention credit is designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll.
  • Link(s): https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/new-employee-retention-credit-helps-employers-keep-employees-on-payroll
  • Type of assistance: Credit
  • Amount: The refundable tax credit is 50% of up to $10,000 in wages paid by an eligible employer whose business has been financially impacted by COVID-19.
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: 

    The credit is available to all employers that have experienced an economic hardship due to COVID-19. This includes tax-exempt organizations. Only two exceptions apply:

    -Federal, state and local governments and their instrumentalities, and
    -Small businesses that receive small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.

  • Due date: Eligible employers can claim this credit for wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021.
  • Time before assistance is approved: Employers can be immediately reimbursed for the credit by reducing their required deposits of payroll taxes that have been withheld from employees' wages by the amount of the credit.
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    New Employee Retention Credit
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

  • Agency: IRS
  • Description: The paid sick leave credit is designed to allow business to get a credit for an employee who is unable to work (including telework) because of Coronavirus quarantine or self-quarantine or has Coronavirus symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis. 
  • Link(s): https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-three-new-credits-are-available-to-many-businesses-hit-by-covid-19
  • Type of assistance: Credit
  • Amount: Employees are entitled to paid sick leave for up to 10 days (up to 80 hours) at the employee's regular rate of pay up to $511 per day and $5,110 in total.
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Employees who are unable to work (including telework) because of Coronavirus quarantine or self-quarantine or has Coronavirus symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis. The employer can also receive the credit for employees who are unable to work due to caring for someone with Coronavirus or caring for a child.
  • Due date: 12/31/20
  • Time before assistance is approved: Employers can be immediately reimbursed for the credit by reducing their required deposits of payroll taxes that have been withheld from employees' wages by the amount of the credit.
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    IRS Paid Sick/Family Credit
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

The application window is now closed

  • Agency: Hello Alice and Verizon
  • Description: To ensure Business for All, Hello Alice with the support of Verizon, Silicon Valley Bank, Ebay, and others is offering $10,000 emergency grants, being distributed immediately to small business owners impacted by this pandemic.
  • Link(s): http://www.covid19businesscenter.com/
  • Type of assistance: grants
  • Amount: $10K in emergency grants
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: your business has been severely impacted by COVID-19
  • Due date: Until funds are depleted
  • Time before assistance is approved: not determined 
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    COVID-19 Business for All Emergency Grant
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

The grant application process is now closed

  • Agency: Salesforce has partnered with Ureeka
  • Description: Salesforce is partnering with Ureeka to offer eligible small businesses the opportunity to receive a $10,000 grant to help them through the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • Link(s): https://apply.salesforce.ureeka.biz/prog/salesforce_small_business_grants_west/
  • Type of assistance: grants
  • Amount: $10,000
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: For-profit company, Have between 2 to 50 employees,Have been in business for 2 full years as of March 2020, Have an annual revenue between $250k and $2M, Have experienced challenges from COVID-19
  • Due date: Applications will open in 2 phases. Each phase will have 1 week to apply. California phase 1 closes on May 4th
  • Time before assistance is approved: You will receive a confirmation email with next steps within 24 hours after you have completed all parts of the application and submitted.
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    Salesforce Care Small Business Grants
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

  • Agency: betterfin
  • Description: Betterfin Launches Free TurboTax-Like Concierge to Assist Small Businesses in Securing $350B in Fiscal Stimulus Funds. Hours filling out forms and, on average, forty-three days for funds is not good enough to save businesses who need help now. Betterfin has built an easy-to-use, consumer facing platform for small business owners and a white-label version for Small Business Development Center advisors to use with small business clients. ReadyRelief™ has digitized and simplified a process that is hindering businesses in dire need. The intention behind ReadyRelief™ is to take the entire process down from forty-three days to less than a week.
  • Link(s): https://www.betterfin.com/blog/readyrelief
  • Amount: NA
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Small Businesses
  • Due date: NA
  • Time before assistance is approved: NA
  • Who can receive assistance: NA

  • Agency: SBDC
  • Description: Most entrepreneurs know that a well-conceived business plan is critical to the success of a new business. It should be just as clear that a business resiliency plan will be critical to the sustainability and success of your business. Every business will face an unexpected disruption at some point. The planning you do now can mean the difference in how quickly—or whether—your business recovers.
  • Link(s): https://americassbdc.org/protect-your-business/
  • Amount: NA
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: NA
  • Due date: NA
  • Time before assistance is approved: NA
  • Who can receive assistance: NA

Notice: PPP Resumes April 27, 2020

  • Agency: SBA- Small Business Administration
  • Description: This loan program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. NOTE: Please contact your local participating bank for additional infomation, online applications vary per local bank. MORE INFORMATION FROM SBA HERE
  • Link(s): https://www.sba.gov/document/sba-form-2483-paycheck-protection-program-borrower-application-form
  • Type of assistance: FUNDING $$$ - LOAN
  • Amount: $1K to $100K
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Any small business concern that meets SBA’s size standards (either the industry based sized standard or the alternative size standard)
  • Due date: Until funds are depleted
  • Time before assistance is approved: Varies by bank application. Check with local bank
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    Paycheck Protection Program
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

SBA will begin accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance applications on June 15 to qualified small businesses and U.S. agricultural businesses.

Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Agency: SBA- Small Business Administration
  • Description: Apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. 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. MORE INFORMATION FROM SBA HERE

    The loan advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. This loan advance will not have to be repaid.

  • Link(s): https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/economic-injury-disaster-loan-emergency-advance
  • Type of assistance: CASH $$$ ASSISTANCE
  • Amount: Up to $2,000,000
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. For agricultural businesses that submitted an EIDL application through the streamlined application portal prior to the legislative change, SBA will process these applications without the need for re-applying.
  • Due date: Until funds are depleted
  • Time before assistance is approved: Varies by application. Check with local SBA office
  • Who can receive assistance:
    EIDL Loan Advance
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

 

  • Agency: SBA- Small Business Administration
  • Description: Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
  • Link(s): https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-express-bridge-loans
  • Type of assistance: Express Loan
  • Amount: SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: TermsUp to $25,000Fast turnaroundWill be repaid in full or in part by proceeds from the EIDL loan
  • Due date: Until funds are depleted
  • Time before assistance is approved: Varies
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    SBA Express Bridge Loans
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

 

  • Agency: SBA- Small Business Administration
  • Description: As part of SBA's debt relief efforts,The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
  • Link(s): https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/sba-debt-relief
  • Type of assistance: SBA's debt relief
  • Amount: Based on your current SBA loan 
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of current 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.The SBA will also automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of new 7(a), 504, and microloans issued prior to September 27, 2020.
  • Due date: December 31, 2020
  • Time before assistance is approved: Call your local SBA office or lender who approved your current SBA loan
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    SBA Debt Relief
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

  • Agency: The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
  • Description: Effective March 30, 2020 all taxpayers who file a return less than $1 Million dollars will have an additional 3 months to file their return, between now and July 31, 2020.If you qualify for this extension it is automatic and you do not need to apply.
  • Link(s): https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/covid19.htm#small-business-payment
  • Type of assistance: DEFERRAL PAYMENT 
  • Amount: Based on your current sales tax liability-will vary 
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: taxpayers who file a return less than $1 Million dollars
  • Due date: 7/31/2020
  • Time before assistance is approved: Automatic - based on qualifications 
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    Free Deferral
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

 

  • Agency: The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)
  • Description: Effective April 2, 2020, small business taxpayers, those with less than $5 million in taxable annual sales, can take advantage of a 12-month, interest-free, payment plan for up to $50,000 of sales and use tax liability.
  • Link(s): English- https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/covid19.htm#small-business-payment  Spanish: https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/covid19-es.htm
  • Type of assistance: Payment plan requests
  • Amount: Based on your current sales tax liability-will vary 
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: At this point, the program is only available for sales and use tax liabilities.
  • Due date: Effective April 2, 2020
  • Time before assistance is approved: Payment plan requests can be made through our online services system in the coming months. Please bookmark this page and check back for additional updates.
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    Small Business Relief Payment Plans
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

 

  • Agency: Small Business Finance Center (SBFC)
  • Description: The SBFC helps businesses create and retain jobs, and encourages investment in low- to moderate-income communities. The SBFC has several programs to support small business, including a Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee, a Jump Start Loan Program and more. The State of California is allocating $50 million to the Small Business Finance Center at California’s IBank to mitigate barriers to capital for those small businesses (1-750 employees) that may not qualify for federal funds (including businesses in low-wealth and immigrant communities). The $50 million allocation will be used to recapitalize the IBank Small Business Loan Guarantee Program.
  • Link(s): https://www.ibank.ca.gov/small-business-finance-center/
  • Type of assistance: Loan
  • Amount: This disaster program provides guarantees for loans of up to $50,000 for small business borrowers in declared disaster areas
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Small Businesses located in California with 1-750 employees that have been negatively impacted or experienced disruption by COVID-19 Eligible Nonprofits
  • Due date: Based on Funds availability
  • Time before assistance is approved: Varies on Bank process 
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    California Diaster Relief
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

 

  • Agency: Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund
  • Description: Thanks to a $2.5 million investment from Verizon, we are offering grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they can resume normal operations or until other more permanent financing becomes available.
  • Link(s): https://www.lisc.org/covid-19/verizon-small-business-recovery-fund/
  • Type of assistance: Grant
  • Amount: up to $10,000
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: LISC will use the Verizon funding to provide grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19—especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital.
  • Due Date:  Applications for round 3 are now closed. Register here to sign up for updates.
  • Time before assistance is approved: 28 days upon approval
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    Verizon Recovery Fund
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

  • Agency: CDTFA 
  • Description: Under the program released today, qualifying businesses can enter into payment plans to distribute up to $50,000 of sales tax liability over a 12-month period, interest-free. For taxpayers choosing to defer their 1st quarter 2020 liability, for example, up to $50,000 of the obligation would now be paid in twelve equal monthly installments, with the first payment not due until July 31, 2020.
  • Link(s): https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/news/20-07.htm
  • Type of assistance: Payment plan
  • Amount: varies
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: gives all businesses with less than $5 million in annual taxable sales the ability to defer payment on up to $50,000 in sales and use tax liability without incurring any penalties or interest.
  • Due Date: Check website for updates
  • Time before assistance is approved: Check website for updates
  • Who can receive assistance: 
    Interest-Free Payment Plans
    US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
    Yes Yes

  • Agency: CPUC 
  • Description: Utility Consumer Protections During California COVID-19 Outbreak
  • Link(s): https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/covid19protections/
  • Type of assistance: Payment plan requests
  • Amount: Based on current utilities
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: Utility customers
  • Due date:Based on Utility company
  • Time before assistance is approved: N/A
  • Who can receive assistance:
Consumer Protection
US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
Yes Yes

  • Agency: EDD
  • Description: Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic. 
  • Link(s): https://www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019/pandemic-unemployment-assistance.htm
  • Type of assistance: Financial Assistance
  • Amount: up to $600.00 per week
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: February 2, 2020, through the week ending December 26, 2020
  • Due date:12/26/2020
  • Time before assistance is approved: Based on Eligibility 
  • Who can receive assistance:
PUA
US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
Yes Yes

  • Agency: IRS
  • Description: Form 7200, Advance Payment of Employer Credits Due to COVID-19
  • Link(s): https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-7200
  • Type of assistance: IRS Credit
  • Amount: up to 10,000 per qualifed Employee
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: US employers
  • Due date: December 31 2020
  • Time before assistance is approved: Check with IRS 
  • Who can receive assistance:
Employer IRS Credits
US Citizens and Legal Residents: ITIN and/or Undocumented:
Yes Yes

 
  • Agency: United States Department of the Treasury
  • Description: If you received communication from someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, please report that activity to the Social Security Administration’s Fraud Hotline.
  • Link(s): https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml
  • Type of assistance: Public Information
  • Amount: N/A
  • Restrictions/Eligibility: N/A
  • Due date: N/A 
  • Time before assistance is approved: N/A
  • Who can receive assistance: N/A