COVID-19 Resources

UPDATED: U.S. Small Business Administration COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) & PPP FAQ

COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance

The COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance program provides grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to small businesses economically impacted by COVID-19. The Pennsylvania CDFI Network will administer several rounds of funding to the best qualified applicants. This is not a first-come, first-served program.

Additional information:

The application is expected to open on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
Western PA CDFIs that will be accepting applications will include:

The IEE will continue to serve in whatever capacity we can and help with whatever situations are impacting business owners as a result of the pandemic. If you have specific questions or wish to contact for other assistance, please email iee@innovation.pitt.edu.

Note: The resource information provided below is subject to change from the source. We here at the IEE are attempting to keep it as current and accurate as possible, and are adding new links as information or updates are communicated.

Federal Government
State Government
Local Resources
Financial Resources (State & Local)
Business Links
Webinars

Paycheck Protection Program

CARES ACT/PPP: UPDATES AND PLANNING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAXIMIZING LOAN FORGIVENESS AND TAX CREDITS

Presented by Cohen & Company
Recorded Tuesday, May 19, 2020 @ 12:00PM
→ Video (YouTube) run time ~ 57:40

Back To Work/Workplace Safety

PDF: Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes (CDC)
PDF: Decision Tool: Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes (CDC)
PDF: CDC Guidance for Childcare Centers (CDC)
PDF: Prepare your Small Business and Employees for the Effects of COVID-19 (CDC)
PDF: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 (OSHA)
Playbook: Powering Manufacturing Potential During and After COVID-19 (Catalyst Connection) – form completion required for download

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Consulting

SBDC Business Consultants are available for individual meetings by phone or real-time video conferencing on multiple platforms. The team will continue to work with our existing clients as well as take on new clients and referrals.

Current SBDC Clients should reach out directly to their SBDC Business Consultant.

New requests for for-profit small business assistance can contact us by:

E-mail: sbdc@innovation.pitt.edu
Call 412-648-1542 and leave a message. We are checking and returning messages regularly

Federal Government

SBA Financial Resources

Disaster Loan Assistance Information (U.S. Small Business Administration)
- - NOTE: The SBA directs the use of Internet Explorer (or Microsoft Edge) to complete the online application
  - NOTE: SBA Disaster Declaration has been approved for PA. Businesses in PA can now apply for the federal assistance.
  - Disaster Loan Assistance Online Application (U.S. SBA)
  - Disaster Loan Assistance Application (U.S. SBA)

US Department of Labor

Federal Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) (U.S. Department of Labor)
Employee Rights: Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) (U.S. Department of Labor)

US Chamber of Commerce

Quick Guide: Small Business Disaster Recovery [PDF] (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)

Other Federal Resources

Cardin, Bipartisan Senate Task Force Secure $377 Billion for Small Businesses (U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship)
COVID-19 Guidance (Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA))
Coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak (World Health Organization (WHO))
Coronavirus (COVID-19) information & resources (CDC)
Three new credits are available to many businesses hit by COVID-19 (IRS)

State Government

Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Directing Public Health Safety Measures for Businesses Permitted to Maintain In-person Operations (PA Dept. of Health)
PA COVID-19 Update (PA Department of Health)
PA Governor Wolf’s Facebook Page (Updates on health, business, etc. relevant information)
Detailed List of Life-sustaining and Non-life-sustaining businesses
- Exemption Request: RA-dcexemption@pa.gov
- Questions regarding mandatory closure: RA-dcedcs@pa.gov
Information for PA Employees Impacted by COVID-19 (PA Dept. of Labor & Industry)
How to file for unemployment (Office of Unemployment Compensation)

Local Resources

URA Announces Additional Steps to Help Mitigate Potential Ramifications of COVID-19 to Small Business Community [PDF] (Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh)
Allegheny Conference on Community Development (Economic Development)
COVID-19 Information (Allegheny County)

Financial Resources (state/local)

Paycheck Protection Program Information and Application (PNC)
Coronavirus Bridge Loan program (Hebrew Free Loan Association Pittsburgh)
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Honeycomb Crowdfunded Small Business Loan Relief (Honeycomb Credit)
URA Loans (Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh)
Economic Development (Allegheny County Economic Development)
Regional Development Funding Corporation
Bridgeway Capital
Progress Fund
Fay-Penn Loan Programs (Fay-Pen Economic Development Council)
Northside Community Development Fund
Washington County Council on Economic Development
Greene County Economic Development
Butler County Economic Development
Financial Programs (Catalyst Connection)

Business Links

Disruption Recovery Resources (PA Small Business Development Centers)
COVID-19 Security Resource Library (National Cyber Security Alliance)
Business Continuity Planner (DisasterSafety.org)
Best Practices for Remote-Managing Your Small Business (USA Today)
65 Free Tools to Help You Through the Coronavirus Pandemic (Entrepreneur)
Henderson Brothers, Inc. (Insurance)
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (Economic Development)
Catalyst Connection (Manufacturer Resource)

Webinars

QUICKBOOKS FINANCIAL STATEMENT ESSENTIALS

Recorded Thursday, May 14, 2020 (run time 57:47)
Presented by Wilke & Associates CPAs

HOW COVID-19 WILL TRIGGER GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN REALIGNMENT

Recorded Tuesday, May 5, 2020 (run time 58:00)
Presented by Dennis Unkovic of Meyer, Unkovic & Scott, LLP and David Iwinski, Jr. of Blue Water Growth

REGIONAL ECONOMIC UPDATE

Recorded Thursday, April 9, 2020 (run time 37:43)
Presented by PNC Chief Economist Gus Faucher