Resources for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

24 Mar 2020

Business Resource Guide

Resources and Guidance for Businesses in response to COVID-19 as of March 20, 2020

The Baker-Polito Administration assembled resources and guidance for businesses that include loan programs, administrative tax relief measures, and programs for employers to help avoid layoffs, such as the WorkShare program and the Rapid Response program.  For more information, click here.

Massachusetts is also launching a $10 million fund that will offer loans to small businesses affected by the fallout of the coronavirus. The loan fund would offer eligible small businesses up to $75,000 with no payments for the first six months. The Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation will oversee the fund and administer loans to small applicants with under 50 full-time and part-time employees, including nonprofits. Visit empoweringsmallbusiness.org and send completed applications to MGCC@massGCC.com with the subject line “2020 Small Business Recovery Loan Fund."

Business West has compiled a list of resources on a special page on their website: https://businesswest.com/coronavirus-news-updates/

Common Capital is working to support small businesses in western Massachusetts during this unprecedented time, such as with the Fast Track Loan Program and working with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  For more information, click here.

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network homepage has up-to-date information on Economic Injury Disaster Loans.  

OSHA’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 – Click here for link to PDF.

Verizon is waiving late fees for small businesses. For more information, click here.

Both Eversource and National Grid utility companies are posting updates on their policies related to the COVID-19 crisis.

U.S. Treasury and IRS guidance on deferring tax payments due to COVID-19. For more information, click here.

1Berkshire has assembled a comprehensive list of resources, including Facebook Small Business GrantsResources for Freelance Artists, and Tipped & Service Workers Fund.  For more information, click here.

 

Emergency Preparedness Resources for Businesses:

Whether it is a blizzard, flood, or in this case, a pandemic, business can’t always control what happens in the future. However, there are steps to be better prepared. And when you can respond and recover quickly, you can get back to business! Information on how businesses can be prepared for emergencies is available at  WesternMassReady.org and Ready.gov/Business, or download the Getting Back To Business brochure (PDF, 875KB).