Employers
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Business Assistance
Federal and state business assistance programs can provide low-interest loans, grants and tax relief if certain conditions are met. Please refer to the Small Business Owner's Guide for additional information and FAQs on the small business programs outlined below or contact your local Small Business Development Center.
Program Information
Issued by the Small Business Administration (SBA), provides forgivable loans for small businesses to keep workers on the payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NOTE: $310 billion in additional funding was recently approved by Congress, and the program reopened on April 27 at 10:30am.
Funding Details
Loans can be up to 125% of 2 months of average payment costs from 2019, subject to a $10 million cap.
Loans can be used to support 2 months of payroll and operation expenses (e.g., interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities).
Loans will be deferred for 6 months and will be forgiven if at least 75% is used for payroll. Forgiveness will be reduced if the number of full-time employees declines or if salaries and wages decrease. NOTE: A separate application must be completed to apply for forgiveness of the loan.
Loans are due in 2 years and have a 1.00% fixed interest rate.
Eligibility
Any business with 500 or fewer employees is eligible to apply.
Hospitals that get less than 50% of funding from state or local governments, excluding Medicaid, are also eligible.
Size requirements may be waived in certain cases; see SBA’s size based standards tool and exceptions in SBA’s Franchise Directory for additional information.
Timeline
Apply by June 30, 2020.
Application Process
- Complete the Paycheck Protection Program loan application and assemble payroll documentation.
- Submit the application and required documentation to an approved SBA lender. See SBA’s Lender Match tool for a list of lenders in your area. This table includes a list of approved lenders by state as of April 23, 2020.
- To apply for forgiveness of the loan, complete the application located here and submit it to your lender
Additional Information
Program Information
Issued by the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) provides working capital loans and loan advances for payroll and operating expenses for businesses impacted by COVID-19.
NOTE: This program reopened on May 4, but is only available currently to agricultural businesses.
Funding Details
The EIDL provides low interest loans of up to $2 million with principal and interest deferment at the Administrator’s discretion.
In applying for the EIDL, small businesses can apply for an emergency advance of up to $10,000. These advances do not need to be repaid and will be available within 3 days of applying. Advances can be used on payroll, sick leave, production costs, or other business obligations (e.g., debts, rents, and mortgage payments).
Can be combined with a Paycheck Protection Loan as long as they don’t cover the same expenses.
Eligibility
Must be an agricultural business. Includes those engaged in the production of food and fiber, ranching, and raising of livestock, aquaculture, and all other farming and agricultural related industries.
Business must have 500 or fewer employees to apply.
Timeline
Subject to funding availability
Application Process
Apply here.
Additional Information
Program Information
Provides quick turnaround loans to overcome an immediate loss of revenue for businesses that have an established business relationship with a Small Business Administration (SBA) lender.
Funding Details
Loans with quick application times of up to $25,000. Provides cash flow for businesses waiting on a decision and disbursement of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).
Loan will be repaid with proceeds from the EIDL.
Eligibility
Must be a small business operating for profit.
Must have been an operating business as of March 13, 2020 and be adversely impacted by COVID-19.
Must also have an established banking relationship with an SBA Express Lender.
Timeline
Must apply through March 13, 2021.
Application Process
Contact your local Small Business Development Center or SBA Express Loan Lender for more information on how to apply.
Required documentation will include an IRS tax transcript, documentation providing an existing financial relationship between the business and the lender and a borrower information form.
Additional Information
Program Information
Provides immediate relief to small businesses with non-disaster SBA loans, including 7(a), 504, and microloans.
Funding Details
The SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest, and fees of any current or new 7(a), 504, or microloans issued by the SBA. This relief is not applicable to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
See SBA’s websites on 7(a), 504, and microloans for more information on these loan programs.
If a business has an existing disaster loan in “regular servicing” status on March 1, 2020, the SBA will provide automatic deferments through December 31, 2020.
Eligibility
Small businesses with new or existing 7(a), 504, and microloans.
Timeline
New loans must be issued prior to September 27, 2020 to be eligible for debt relief.
Application Process
Use the Lender Match Tool to find a lender near you to begin the application.
For more information to guide you through the process, contact your local Small Business Development Center.
Additional Information
Program Information
Encourages employers who are not able to provide services due to COVID-19 to keep employees on their payroll by providing payroll tax credits per employee.
Funding Details
The tax credit covers 50% of the qualified wages each employee is paid. The maximum amount of wages taken into account is $10,000, so employers will receive a maximum of $5,000 per employee.
Eligibility
Any business that either:
- Fully or partially suspends operations in 2020 due to COVID-19, or
- Experiences a significant decline in gross receipts during the calendar quarter (i.e., 50% less compared to same quarter in 2019).
Government employees are not eligible for this credit.
Self-employed individuals are not eligible for this credit for their self-employment earnings.
Timeline
Applies to wages paid between March 12, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Application Process
- Report total qualified leave wages for each quarter on the federal employment tax return, typically form 941.
- Employers may retain federal employment taxes to provide qualified leave wages to their employees. If the taxes set aside are not sufficient, request a credit advance by completing Form 7200.
- If requesting an advance, fax a completed Form 7200 to the IRS at 855-248-0552.
Additional Information
Program Information
Employers can delay and defer estimated quarterly tax payments and employer payroll taxes.
Eligibility
Not applicable if the employer has had indebtedness forgiven under the Paycheck Protection Program.
However, if the employer has received a Paycheck Protection Program loan, but it has not yet been forgiven, the employer may defer taxes until the lender issues a decision to forgive the loan.
Timeline
Applies to wages between March 27, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Deferred payroll taxes are due in two installments: 50% by December 31, 2021, and 50% by December 31, 2022.
Additional Information
Program Information
Grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19.
NOTE: Application period for round 3 is now closed. Please register here for updates
Funding Details
Grants up to $10,000
Grants can be used for rent, utilities, payroll, outstanding debt to vendors, and other immediate operational.
Eligibility
For-profit business.
Priority will be given to entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital.
Timeline
Round 3 closes at 11:59pm EST on May 20.
Application Process
Round 3 closed.
Additional Information
Program Information
Provides grants focused solely on critical basic needs (food, shelter, emergency health supplies) and/or adjustments in service delivery models to accommodate these emergency assistance areas.
Requests that assist children and youth, people disproportionately impacted by the crisis including low-wage workers, gig economy workers, people experiencing homelessness or at-risk of experiencing homelessness, healthcare and emergency response workers, Seniors and immigrants, especially those who lack documentation.
NOTE: Grant application closes on May 26 at 5pm. Program will reopen in mid-June with new priorities.
Funding Details
Grandt awards up to $10,000.
Eligibility
Alexandria nonprofits delivering services and programs that are needed by Alexandrians.
Timeline
Deadline is every Tuesday by 5pm. Award decisions will be made one week after an application is submitted.
Application Process
Apply here.
Additional Information
Program Information
$10 million fund established to help Baltimore County’s small businesses harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Administered by the Department of Economic and Workforce Development.
Funding Details
Grandt awards up to $15,000.
Funds may only be used on payroll, operating expenses, business lease or rent payments, and inventory acquisition vital to the business
At least 30 percent of the funds must be used to support payroll for employees who are not owners or part-owners
Funds may not be used for capital improvements or personal expenses
Eligibility
For-profit business with at least two non-owner employees that has not obtained other forms of federal or state COVID-19 assistance at the time of application
Must demonstrate that they have lost at least 40 percent of their revenues since the Maryland Stay-at-Home Order that began on March 30
Employs no more than 25 employees per Baltimore County establishment
In operation for at least one year as of January 1, 2020
Timeline
Application opens Monday, May 11.
Application Process
See here for application link.
Additional Information
Program Information
Goal of fund is to support the ability of DC’s nonprofit system to respond to the immediate health and economic impacts of the crisis.
Key funding priorities include Food Security, Domestic Violence, Legal Services, Medical Care and Access, Housing and Homelessness, Education and Youth, and Workforce and Small Business. More specific funding priorities and priority populations can be found here.
Funding Details
Grandt awards up to $50,000.
Grant funding should be no more than 10% of annual operating budget
Grant funding falls under one of two types:
- Direct Service Support for local nonprofit organizations actively providing services to the community that fit within the funding priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant funds must be expended before July 31, 2020. Funding may be applied retroactively to May 1, 2020
- Support for Advocacy and Community Organizing that fit within the funding priorities. Activities using grant funds will have to begin before July 31, 2020, but it is not required activities be completed by this date. Funding may be applied retroactively to May 1, 2020
Eligibility
Nonprofit businesses located and serving residents in the District, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County
50% of organizations selected for funding will have leadership of color.
Timeline
Applications for phase 2 close May 29 at 5pm.
Application Process
Apply online through the Request for Proposals site at the bottom of the page.
Additional Information
Program Information
Loan established to provide financial assistance to Prince George’s County businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Separate County Grant provides working capital for small County-based businesses.
NOTE: Application period extended through May 29
Funding Details
Loan up to $100,000 for up to 6 months of verified payroll and operating expenses.
- Deferred interest and principal payments for 12 months.
- 3-year term with 3.75% fixed interest rate.
Grant provides up to $10,000 for businesses with more than 10 employees, and up to $5,000 for businesses with less than 10 employees.
Eligibility
Prince George’s County-based for-profit small business, as defined by the Small Business Administration.
Business needs to show evidence of completed applications to SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) or the Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan or Grant Funds.
Business has been disrupted due to COVID-19.
Timeline
Application open April 13th through May 29th.
Application Process
Apply here.
Additional Information
Program Information
Provides $800,000 in grant funding to small businesses located in DC Wards 7 and 8..
NOTE: Grant application closes on May 26 at 5pm. Program will reopen in mid-June with new priorities.
Funding Details
Grants up to $10,000
Grants must be used as short term working capital to fund wages to avoid job losses, rent, utilities, or interim operating expensess
Eligibility
Small, for-profit business located in Wards 7 or 8 in Washington, DC.
Located in a low-moderate area census tract, serves a low/moderate clientele and provides jobs to low-moderate individuals
In need of short-term working capital to avoid job loss caused by business closures related to social distancing.
Demonstrated need for working capital to retain jobs held by low- and moderate-income persons.
Must show economic injury due to COVID-19 (25% or more decrease in revenue).
Businesses that received a previous DC microgrant are eligible, but the previous award amount would be subtracted from this award.
Timeline
Application opens Monday, May 29 at 10a.m.
Application Process
See here for application link.
Additional Information