Coronavirus Business Recovery Resources & Info

Business Reopening Guidance

General:

• Connecticut Small Business Reopening Resource Guide from CT.gov.
• Connecticut Business Reopening and Recovery Center

Hair Salons & Barber Shops:

Museums & Zoos:

• May 20, 2020 Reopening Rules/Guidance (Outdoors Only) (Link)

Offices:

• May 20, 2020 Reopening Rules/Guidance (Link)

Restaurants:

• Temporary Expansion of Outdoor Dining and Retail:
  • Temporary Outdoor Patio Food Service Guidelines (PDF)
  • Executive Order No. 7MM (PDF)
• May 20, 2020 Reopening Rules/Guidance (Outdoors Only) (Link)

Retail & Malls:

• Temporary Expansion of Outdoor Dining and Retail:
  • Temporary Outdoor Retail Business Guidelines (PDF)
  • Executive Order No. 7MM (PDF)
• May 20, 2020 Reopening Rules/Guidance (Link)

PPE Resources

• Community Social Responsibility and Creating Employment and Opportunities for People Supported by the Kennedy Center (PDF)

Financial Resources for Business Recovery

• The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is accepting applications for its CARES Act Emergency Relief Grants. These grants are for Connecticut non-profit arts organizations that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Funds may be used for:
  • Salary support, full or partial, for positions that are critical to an organization’s mission
  • Fees for artists and/or contractual personnel to maintain or expand the period during which such persons would be engaged
  • Facility / occupancy costs, such as rent and utilities
  • Costs directly associated with an organization’s ability to continue operations now and in the future

Due to limited funds and anticipated high volume of applications, grantees will be randomly selected from the pool of eligible applicants with attention to geographic distribution.  Click here for details and to apply

• Public Utility Assistance:
  • Taking Action on Behalf of CT Businesses-Public Utilities Companies Response to COVID-19 (PDF)
  • Webinar-Taking Action on Behalf of CT Businesses-Public Utilities Companies Response to COVID-19 (PDF)
• U.S. Chamber Grants for Small Business
• Connecticut Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program (MVP): Connecticut manufacturers can apply for state grants of up to $75,000 to assist in the production of critical equipment and supplies needed to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. The grants, offered through the state’s Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program, can be used for working capital, new equipment, and other purposes that help companies build capacity or repurpose their operations. Funding for this short-term program is limited to $1.3 million and requires a one-to-one match from participating businesses.
• Zero interest loans for CT Minority and Women Owned Businesses: HEDCO, Inc. has partnered with the State of Connecticut, the CT Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) and the CT Minority Business Initiative to provide financial relief to minority-owned and women-owned small businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.  
• Mortgage Forbearance Assistance
• Small Business Debt Relief Program: This program will provide immediate relief to small businesses with non-disaster SBA loans, in particular 7(a), 504, and microloans. Under it, SBA will cover all loan payments on these SBA loans, including principal, interest, and fees, for six months. This relief will also be available to new borrowers who take out loans within six months of the CARES Act’s enactment.  
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans & Emergency Economic Injury Grants: These grants provide an emergency advance of up to $10,000 to small businesses and private non-profits harmed by COVID-19 within three days of applying for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). To access the advance, you must first apply for an EIDL and then request the advance. The advance does not need to be repaid under any circumstance, and may be used to keep employees on payroll, to pay for sick leave, meet increased production costs due to supply chain disruptions, or pay business obligations, including debts, rent and mortgage payments.
• Connecticut Recovery Bridge Loan Program
• U.S. Small Business Assistance Disaster Loans: Businesses can now apply for loans of up to $2 million through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA also has valuable information for businesses. Here is a link to a webinar that explains how to apply for the SBA loan. There are also step by step instructions on completing the loan application. If your business needs assistance with SBA loans or any other DECD program, call the business hotline at 860-500-2333 or visit U.S. Small Business Assistance Disaster Loans.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to help small businesses stay open and provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.
  • SBA will forgive portions of loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
  • The Paycheck Protection Program will be available April 3, through June 30, 2020.
  • Visit the U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program for more information.
• Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Coronavirus Business Recovery

Free Technical Assistance Resources

• State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) - Business Recovery Hotline 1-860-500-2333
• The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is converting its entrepreneurial programs and business counseling to virtual classrooms via Zoom or on-demand webinars. You can find all the information you need on the website, https://ctwbdc.org. WBDC is also prepared to assist clients who will apply for the SBA Small Business Disaster Relief Loan.  Please contact us at info@ctwbdc.org
• Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC): The center has 14 Business Advisors available to assist with the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan application. Advisors provide no-cost, confidential assistance with forecasting loss, explaining impacting, reviewing statements, and discussing other loan and assistance options. CTSBDC continues to offer online training courses and assistance with business plans, marketing strategies, and market research. Visit CTSBDC’s COVID-19 Resource Center at https://ctsbdc.com/covid19-businessresourcecenter and register for EIDL assistance at https://ctsbdc.com/request-advising/grow-a-business/
• SCORE (Senior Corp of Retired Executives): For over 50 years, SCORE has served as America’s premier source of free business mentoring and education.  As a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE has helped more than 11 million entrepreneurs through mentoring, workshops and educational resources since 1964. They are providing mentoring to help navigate business recovery resources.  Connect with SCORE at https://www.score.org/.

Employee Resources

• Tracking Coronavirus Unemployment in Connecticut
• How to Pay for Coronavirus Healthcare
• Your Rights If You Have to Miss Work Due to Coronavirus
• How Small Business Can Stay Afloat During Coronavirus
• Mortgage Forbearance Assistance
• Unemployment Insurance:  Information on Filing for Unemployment Benefits If you become unemployed due to coronavirus (COVID-19), you should file for unemployment benefits. Click here for more information. For frequently asked questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) for workers and employers click here.
  • http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/UI-online/unemployedduetocoronavirus.pdf
  • http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/DOLCOVIDFAQ.PDF
  • http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/UI-online/index.htm
• Student Loan Relief: The bill defers payments, principal, and interest for all federally-owned student loans through September 30, 2020. Student borrowers will also continue to receive credit toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Driven Repayment forgiveness, and loan rehabilitation.
  
  Starting in August, student loan borrowers will begin to receive notices to help inform them that their regular loan payments will resume at the end of September. These notices are intended to provide a transition period to help borrowers stay on track as regular loan payments begin again and to enroll in other relief options (such as income-driven repayment) at such time.
  
  Please review https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/coronavirus for more information.
  
  Student Loan Debt Collection: The CARES Act suspends forced collections, which includes garnishment of wages, tax refunds, or other federal benefits, for borrowers that defaulted on their student loans. Negative credit reporting is also prohibited through this time period.
  
  Federal Work-Study Support: CARES allows schools to make work-study payments available to students unable to work due to work-place closure.
  
  Exclusion from Loan Limits: If a student dropped out as a result of COVID-19, it excludes the term from counting toward lifetime subsidized loan eligibility and lifetime Pell Grant eligibility.
  
  Employer Educational Assistance: For this year, only employers can also contribute up to $5,250 towards an employee’s student loan debts tax-free.
• The WorkPlace, Inc. - The American Job Center: 
  • Information for employers and jobseekers due to COVID-19.   
  • List of online services for employers. 
  • Rob Hebert heads up business services in the American Job Center.