Emergency Relief: COVID-19 Resources for Businesses

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The nation’s public and private sectors continue to develop plans to provide relief for individuals and small businesses facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. We are committed to helping our community of entrepreneurs navigate this time of uncertainty.

The following information provides details about governmental and private sector emergency resources and programs, as well as a list of related charitable and volunteer opportunities.

Financial Relief Programs

• New: Pre-applications for the New York Forward Loan Fund opened May 26, 2020. New York is making $100 million available to small businesses, with a focus on MWBEs and those with 20 or fewer employees that didn’t receive federal PPP loans. Small businesses and nonprofits that are in industries and regions that have not yet reopened can begin preparing a pre-application here.
• Update: The SBA and Department of Treasury issued a press release and the application for loan forgiveness. The SBA will also issue regulations and guidance for borrowers and lenders. Access the application here. (May 15, 2020)
• Update: The Federal Reserve released an updated term sheet and FAQ for the TALF program. (May 12, 2020)
• Update: The Small Business Administration issued a new FAQ extending the deadline for safe harbor under the necessity certification requirement until May 14, 2020. An employer that repays its PPP loan by the safe harbor deadline will be eligible for the Employee Retention Credit. (May 6, 2020)
• Update: The SBA resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program applications from participating lenders on Monday, April 27, 2020. An updated FAQ is available here.
• Update: The Federal Reserve Board announced it is expanding the scope and eligibility requirements for the Main Street Lending Program. An FAQ with additional guidance is available here. (April 30, 2020)
• The SBA Subsidy Loan Program: The CARES Act provides benefits for businesses with existing Small Business Administration loans. Eligible businesses can apply for the SBA to pay interest and principal payments for 6 months on their existing SBA loans. Learn more here.
• Marketing Tools: Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits to small businesses. More information about eligibility available here.
• Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund: The James Beard Foundation is providing micro-grants to independent food and beverage small businesses in need due to COVID-19. Click here to learn more.

For Individuals

• Update: Governor Cuomo extended the special enrollment period for health insurance through June 15, 2020. New Yorkers without health insurance can apply through NY State of Health and must apply within 60 days of losing coverage. (May 4, 2020)
• Cash relief under the CARES Act: Americans will see direct relief in the form of Economic Impact Payments.
• Child Care Leave: The Family and Medical Leave Act is being temporarily amended to include a new entitlement to up to 12 weeks of leave to employees if they are unable to work (in person or remotely) due to a need to care for a child due to a public health emergency. Employees who worked for the employer for at least 30 days prior to the FMLA leave are covered. Eligible employees include rehired employees if they were laid off not earlier than March 1, 2020 and had worked for at least 30 of the last 60 days prior to the layoff.
• Paid Sick Leave: Governor Cuomo signed legislation to provide immediate assistance to New Yorkers subject to a mandatory or precautionary quarantine order to minimize the hardship they are experiencing through no fault of their own.
  
  Under the new law, workers are guaranteed job protection and financial compensation while they, or their minor dependent child, are under an order of mandatory or precautionary quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19. The provisions of the quarantine legislation take effect immediately. Guidance materials are available here.
• Unemployment Assistance: U.S. Department of Labor publishes guidance on pandemic unemployment assistance. For workers facing unemployment or furlough, the CARES Act added significantly to state benefits. Employees should apply through their states. In New York, the 7-day wait period is waived. More information available here.

For Nonprofits

• Americans for the Arts provides a comprehensive list of emergency grants, financial assistance and relief funds around the country for artists, theaters, and other arts-related organizations.
• Brooklyn Community Foundation’s Brooklyn COVID-19 Response Fund is issuing grants of up to $10,000, with a priority for nonprofits working toward racial equity.
• The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has launched a COVID-19 Response Fund to support nonprofit organizations working directly to respond to the pandemic among the most vulnerable populations in order to help build their capacity for response.
• Empire State Development has released its Guide for Nonprofits and FAQ for Nonprofits on applying for the SBA Paycheck Protection Program.
• FEMA Public Assistance Funds provide supplemental grants to certain types of private non-profits so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies. More information available here.
• New York Foundation for the Arts provides various sources of emergency grants for arts/cultural organizations.
• Robin Hood’s Relief Fund is accepting applications from 501(c)(3) organizations providing services in New York City on a rolling basis for immediate response grants in certain priority areas.
• United Way New York City’s COVID-19 Community Fund will provide grants to the organization’s partner agencies and community-based organizations that work with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak.
• The following websites include links to resources and information for nonprofits: Bridgespan COVID-19 Resources for Nonprofits and Funders, Council on Foundations, Grantspace, National Council of Nonprofits, Nonprofit Finance Fund, NYS Health Foundation and Nonprofit New York

Policy

• New: The New York City Council passed a bill to provide additional relief for small business owners. The bill restricts fees charged by third-party food delivery services during, and for 90 days after, a declared emergency that prohibits on-premises dining. (May 13, 2020)
• Update: Governor Cuomo extended his Executive Order on residential or commercial tenant evictions to August — a period of sixty days beginning on June 20, 2020. The Order also suspends late fees or charges for late payment of rent from March 20, 2020 through August 20, 2020. Residential and commercial tenants may use security deposits as rent payments. (May 7, 2020)
• Governor Cuomo outlined a phased plan to re-open New York starting with construction and manufacturing. New York will re-open on a regional basis as each region meets the 12 criteria necessary to protect public health. Governor Cuomo also issued additional guidance and announced re-opening advisory board. (April 28, 2020)

Taxes

• Update: The IRS issued revised guidance on qualified wages eligible for the Employee Retention Credit and other clarifications. (May 7, 2020)
• Employer Payroll Taxes: The CARES Act allows taxpayers to defer paying the employer portion of certain payroll taxes through the end of 2020.
• Employee Retention Tax Credit for Employers subject to Closure or Experiencing Economic Hardship: Employers that do not take a PPP loan are eligible to receive a refundable payroll tax credit of 50% of wages paid against the employment taxes for each quarter (not to exceed $10,000 for all quarters in qualified wages with respect to any single employee). To be eligible, the employer must have (i) fully or partially suspended operations as a result of a government authority limiting commerce, travel, or group meetings due to COVID-19; or (ii) experienced a greater than 50% reduction in quarterly gross receipts measured on a year-over-year basis. Provides a refundable payroll tax credit for 50% of wages paid by employers whose operations have been fully or partially suspended as a result of government order.
• Tax Help in the CARES Act

Workforce

• New: The CDC released new interim guidance for employers on reopening. Additional CDC resources for reopening are available here. (May 20,2020)
• New York City and state are hiring employees and supervisors for COVID-19 contact tracing. Learn more about New York City opportunities here. NYS Contact Tracing initiative opportunities can be found here.
• New York State on PAUSE: Nonessential businesses will stay closed through May 15th.
• Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has re-issued its guidance, confirming specifically that the COVID-19 pandemic permits employers to measure employees’ body temperatures before allowing them to enter the worksite. (March 21, 2020)
• The U.S. Department of Labor FAQ

Relevant Resources

• CARES Act overview (webinar)
• COVID-19: CARES Act, SBA Loans, and Payroll Relief Programs (webinar)
• Key Provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
• NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer has launched a COVID-19 Resource Center that maintains comprehensive list of recent policy changes regarding health and safety, financial support and resources for businesses and individuals alike.
• NYS Department of Health COVID-19 tracker.
• SBA Disaster Assistance Resulting from COVID-19 (podcast)
• Staying Afloat: PPP Loan Forgiveness, Accounting, Tracking, & Reporting (webinar)
• Tech:NYC and AlleyCorp launched an NYC Tech Talent and Opportunities board. Companies with available talent or open roles and submit them here.
• The New York Legal Assistance Group has launched a Financial Crisis Planning Guide for New Yorkers affected by COVID-19.
• The Speaker’s office to Members of Congress’s Families First Coronavirus Constituent Service Resource Toolkit for individuals, families and small- and medium-sized businesses.
• The US Chamber of Commerce’s Coronavirus Emergency Loan Small Business Guide and Checklist.
• The US Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship’s guide to programs and initiatives in the CARES Act.
• US Small Business and Emerging Growth Company Resource Guide.
• The White House in collaboration with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has launched http://coronavirus.gov with information on the federal response to the pandemic.

Charitable and Volunteer Opportunities

• The Coalition for the Homeless is distributing meals and other essential items to people living on the street in addition to staffing a crisis hotline to help find shelter and meet other essential needs of the homeless. More information can be found here.
• The City University of New York has established the Chancellor’s Emergency Relief Fund to help students facing financial hardship during the COVID-19 crisis. The Fund is initially capitalized at $3.2 million and will distribute grants of $500 each to CUNY students who are coping with the severe economic fallout of COVID-19. More information can be found here and donations can be made here.
• Empire State Development needs volunteers to counsel an estimated 500,000 small businesses across New York state that are eligible to apply for the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans. Volunteers will be part of the Empire State Development’s COVID-19 Volunteer Task Force through the Business NY Mentor program. Institutions that are prepared to field a team of volunteers or individuals who are interested should contact Ashanti Pratt at apratt@pfnyc.org for more information.
• Governor Cuomo has established the First Responders Fund to directly support the purchase of medical equipment and supplies for healthcare workers and public health officials, scientific research related to COVID-19, public outreach and nonprofits contributing to response efforts. Information on donations can be found here.
• The Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), which represents over 160 hospitals and health systems, is requesting that companies with hospital-grade medical supplies and equipment donate them for use by frontline healthcare providers. There is an ongoing need for surgical and N95 masks. GNYHA has established a “COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund” to accept donations that will be directed to financially challenged facilities for COVID-19-related purposes. A form for mask donations can be found here.
• The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York is currently raising money to support frontline staff at the 11 hospitals and other facilities in the New York City Health + Hospitals system. Funds are needed for meals, hotel rooms for workers who cannot go home due to risk of infection, laundry services and other needs. More information can be found here.
• NY Cares, in coordination with New York City Emergency Management, is mobilizing volunteers to support vulnerable populations through programming such as phone calls to support seniors living in isolation, virtual learning to support students, and on-the-ground packaging and meal deliveries. More information on volunteer opportunities and donating to support NY Cares can be found here.
• In order to support firefighters, EMTs and paramedics working on the frontlines, the New York City Fire Department Foundation is asking for donations to purchase personal protection equipment and cleaning supplies, and to provide alternative housing for workers unable to go home due to risk of infection. More information can be found here.
• The New York City Fund for Public Schools is soliciting funds and equipment to support distance learning. More information on the Fund for Public Schools can be found here.
• The New York City Police Foundation is raising emergency funding to secure masks, gloves and hand sanitizer for police officers on patrol across the city. Donations are being raised through the New York City Police Foundation and can be made here.
• The New York Immigration Coalition has launched the #NYunitedFund to support the work of 140 member organizations that are providing services to immigrant communities that have been especially hard hit by loss of employment and illness. More information can be found here.

For more information regarding any of the opportunities above, please contact Ashanti Pratt at apratt@pfnyc.org.