Local and State Government Assistance Programs for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

The worldwide COVID-19 outbreak is an evolving, uncertain situation. For small business owners, this is an especially challenging time. Fortunately, various local and state government agencies are announcing assistance programs for small businesses during the economic slowdown. For more information on federal government assistance programs, check out our COVID-19 resource hub.

Keep reading for a breakdown of the different programs at a local and state level. This article will be updated regularly, as more assistance programs are announced every day. The Chamber of Commerce has also put together a useful guide to small business aid available by state for more information.

If you are looking for more information on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, check out our guides to PPP loan forgiveness and the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act.

**Last updated June 11, 2020

State Government Assistance Programs for Small Business

Arizona

Growth Partners Arizona has added two loan options for small businesses in Arizona—Kiva Tucson crowdfunded loans and the Small Business Success Loan. Because of the unfolding economic challenges, these two small business loans, as well as GPAz’s existing nonprofit loan, now offer more flexible rates and terms for qualified borrowers. Learn more about the different options on their site.

Arkansas

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has announced that the state will use $12 million from Community Development Block Grants and $4 million from the state’s Quick Action Closing Fund to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Learn more about the program here.

Delaware

Delaware created the Hospitality Emergency Loan Program (HELP) to provide funds to some of the businesses and nonprofits in the state most significantly impacted by Coronavirus. It will make no-interest loans of up to $10,000 per business per month available to eligible businesses in the hospitality industry. Learn more about the program here.

Florida

Florida has initiated the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. This program is available to any business in Florida that has experienced “economic damage” due to COVID-19.  Loans are interest free with a 1-year term and amounts up to $50,000. The Bridge program is not meant to be a primary assistance program, but rather is in place to support businesses as they wait for federal support or support from their financial institution. Eligibility, details, application information are available on the Florida Disaster Loan site.  

Illinois

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity now offers the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund, as well as the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program. Learn more about both programs here.

Indiana

The Indy Chamber has launched the Rapid Response Loan Fund, which offers loans of up to $75,000 to small businesses in Marion County. Learn more about the fund here.

Iowa

Iowa has launched a new Iowa Small Business Relief Program for businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The program will offer grants ranging from $5,000-$25,000, in addition to offering a deferral of sales and use or withholding taxes due and waiver of penalty and interest to eligible businesses. More information about this program can be found here.

Kansas

Kansas has allocated $5 million for the Hospitality Industry Relief Emergency (HIRE) fund to provide bridge loans to businesses in the hospitality industry. The loans are for up to $20,000 at a 0% rate over a period of 36 months. Learn more about the fund here.

Maine

The Finance Authority of Maine has launched the COVID-19 Relief Business Direct Loan Program. It provides FAME Direct Loans of up to $50,000 with special terms available to Maine-based businesses experiencing interruption or hardship due to COVID-19. Learn more about the program here.

Maryland

Maryland’s Department of Commerce has released a few initiatives to assist small businesses during the outbreak. The state has launched a $50 million Emergency Relief Grant Fund that offers grant amounts up to $10,000 for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. They have also launched a $75 million Emergency Relief Loan Fund that will provide businesses with 50 or fewer employees loans up to $50,000. You can apply for both programs, as well as existing Maryland small business support programs, on the Maryland OneStop portal.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts launched the Small Business Recovery Loan Fund. This fund offers capital to qualifying Massachusetts businesses with under 50 employees. They are offering loans up to $75,000, with terms of 36 months and no payments for the first 6 months. They have not disclosed rates at this time. More information about this program can be found here.

Michigan

Michigan has launched the Michigan Small Business Relief Program. The program will provide both grants and loans to small businesses who have been affected by COVID-19. They expect to have funds available starting in early April. More information about the program can be found here.

Minnesota

the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development will be providing interest-free emergency loans ranging from $2,500 to $35,000 to Minnesota-based businesses in need. To qualify, a business must prove that they have experienced hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn more about the program here.

New Jersey

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority launched a suite of new programs designed to support businesses and workers facing economic hardship due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The package of initiatives targeted towards small businesses include a grant program and funding for entrepreneurs. The initiatives are meant to complement recently announced federal economic recovery initiatives. Learn more about the programs here.

New Mexico

The New Mexico Economic Development Department created the COVID-19 Business Loan Guarantee Program to aid small businesses seeking emergency loans or lines of credit. The program can guarantee a portion of a loan or line of credit up to 80% of principal or $50,000. Learn more about the program here.

New York

The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE.  The NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90% of all businesses), nonprofits and small landlords that have seen a loss of rental income.  The NYFLF is specifically timed to support businesses and organizations as they proceed to reopen and have upfront expenses to comply with guidelines (e.g., inventory, marketing, refitting for new social distancing guidelines) under the New York Forward Plan. You can learn more about the program here.

North Carolina

The North Carolina COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Loan Program supports North Carolina small businesses and family farms as they recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. This rapid recovery loan helps small businesses bridge the gap between when crisis strikes and when federal loans and other relief funds are approved, or businesses have time to recover. Learn more here.

Utah

The Utah Economic Response Task Force has created a tool to help Utah-based businesses locate the appropriate local, state or federal financial assistance for their business. Check out the tool here.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin has launched the Small Business 20/20 Program. The program will provide grants of up to $20,000 to assist targeted businesses with cash flow challenges resulting from COVID-19. Program funds will be made available through approved community development financial institutions (CDFIs).  Wisconsin is also working to expand access to funding through other programs as more resources become available. Learn more about the program and other small business support efforts here.

Local Government Assistance Programs for Small Business

Atlanta

The Atlanta City Council approved Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom’s call for a $7 million coronavirus emergency fund that will allocate $1.5 million to small businesses. Check out the city of Atlanta’s COVID-19 page for more information.

Birmingham, AL

A coalition of public, private, and civic partners launched the Birmingham Strong Emergency Loan Fund, which is providing zero-interest, 180-day loans up to $25,000 to small businesses with less than 50 employees. Learn more about the program here.

Chicago

Chicago has launched the Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund. The fund will provide small businesses with loans of up to $50,000 with terms of up to 5 years. The business must use the loan for working capital, with 50% of proceeds used for payroll. The business must also commit to keep at least 50% of their employees on staff. The business must have suffered at least 25% drop in revenue from the outbreak, employ less than 50 employees, and have had gross revenues of less than $3 million in 2019. Learn more about the program here.

Denver

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced the creation of a $4 million small business relief fund for businesses affected by COVID-19. Denver business owners can apply for cash grants up to $7,500, with businesses that have been hardest hit by the outbreak first in line for funds. Visit the Denver Economic Development and Opportunity page for more information on how to apply.

District of Columbia

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office announced that applications are open for the D.C. Small Business Recovery Micro-grant Program, which makes grants available for workers’ wages and benefits, as well as rent and other operating expenses for businesses and nonprofits. The program is also open to self-employed people and independent contractors. The grants run up to $25,000. Learn more about the program here.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles has established a Small Business Emergency Microloan Program. The program offers loans ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 with 0-3% interest rates.

New York City

New York City has announced they will offer relief for small businesses who are struggling due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Businesses with fewer than 100 employees who have seen sales decrease by more than 25% will be eligible for an interest free loan of up to $75,000. NYC is also offering small businesses with fewer than 5 employees a grant to cover 40% of payroll costs to help avoid layoffs. Learn more about the assistance program here.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia has launched a COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund. The program will provide immediate relief to local small businesses in the form of grants and zero-interest loans. Learn more about the fund here.

Portland

The Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon in partnership with Prosper Portland has launched a COVID-19 Small Business Response Fund. Small businesses located in Portland’s Jade District or Old Town Chinatown are eligible to receive support through the city’s $190,000 emergency fund. Asian and Pacific Islander business owners will be prioritized. Learn more about the program here.

Sacramento

Sacramento has established a $1 million economic relief fund for businesses that provides 0% interest loans up to $25,000 per business. Learn more about the program here.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City has launched an Emergency Loan Program for businesses affected by the outbreak. Business owners based in the area can apply for 0% interest loans up to $20,000, which can be used for working capital needs, inventory or marketing. Learn more about the program here.

San Diego

To ensure the resiliency of local businesses and assist in job retention, the City of San Diego established a Small Business Relief Fund (SBRF) to provide grants and forgivable or low- to zero-interest-rate loans to eligible small businesses for working capital. The goal of the SBRF is to help businesses retain employees and sustain continuity of business operations impacted by federal, California, San Diego County and local emergency declarations regarding COVID-19. Learn more about the program here.

San Francisco

San Francisco has launched the COVID-19 Small Business Resiliency Fund. The fund will provide grants of up to $10,000 for small businesses to use towards payroll and rent. To qualify, the business must employ 5 people or less, demonstrate a loss of revenue of at least 25%, and have gross receipts of less than $2,500,000. Learn more about the fund here.

Seattle

The city of Seattle has announced a Business Stabilization Fund. The fund will award grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses that meet the following criteria: the business must employ 5 or fewer employees, have a physical location, and have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn more about the program here.

Syracuse

The Syracuse Economic Development Corporation has created a $500,000 fund to provide zero-percent interest, 180-day emergency loans up to $25,000 to the city’s small businesses. Learn more about the program here.

Tucson

The Community Investment Corporation of Tucson is offering community-backed and emergency loans to small businesses. Learn more about your options here.

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We’ll continue to update this page as the situation evolves. For more helpful information related to local and state small business assistance, check out this guide from the Chamber of Commerce.