Help for Businesses

Our local, small businesses are currently suffering greatly. Below are some places you can go to get the assistance you may need to survive. Some basic principles are:

  • Encourage buying gift cards
  • Provide curbside pickup
  • Offer doorstep delivery (if you’re short-staffed, try doing it on the way home)
  • Stream virtual classes or programs – try a private Facebook live-feed!
  • Email loyal customers about cleaning, delivery, and gift card purchasing
  • Give and support others the same way (if you’re able to) – it’s only when money circulates between businesses that we can all succeed!
  • Develop your e-business (find something compatible with both your web platform AND your current inventory/register system for quick implementation) – for example https://get.chownow.com/ for restaurant ordering. Consider selling frozen food, too!

SBA Loans

The Small Business Administration has opened up millions of dollars for SBA loans to help small businesses and the Fed has dropped the AFR to 0% through this crisis. https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela Use guides as you apply, like https://bench.co/blog/operations/sba-disaster-loan/ as the process is odd – and do not use Chrome, as it is not government-site friendly.

Bench.co has some wonderful resources, including a blog about the new Paycheck Protection Program. This is a potentially forgivable loan, which is amazing. At the end of the log are other COVID-19 resources for businesses: https://bench.co/blog/operations/paycheck-protection-program/

Kiva Loans

The well-known microlender, Kiva, has opened up loans at 0% for up to $15,000, with a 6 month grace period, to qualifying businesses affected by Coronavirus. Apply here! https://www.kiva.org/borrow

Seattle Foundation

There is a COVID-19 Response Fund being developed by the Seattle Foundation to support small businesses. Click here for more information – https://www.seattlefoundation.org/communityimpact/civic-leadership/covid-19-response-fund

For more information for business information and support during the COVID-19 outbreak, visit https://sustainableconnections.org/business-support-for-impacts-of-covid-19/. For a complete list of the United States Government’s Coronavirus-related programs, click HERE.

Let us know about more solutions or ask for help with virtual business.

Get in touch!

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