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COVID-19
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Self-Help Credit Union

Resources for Small Businesses and Nonprofits

COVID-19 Relief Resources for Your Business or Nonprofit

This is a stressful and scary time for small business owners and nonprofit leaders. Fortunately, there are resources available to help your business or nonprofit weather this crisis. We're sharing a few below, focused on nationwide resources and the states where we or our sister credit union Self-Help CU have branches.

Jump to state-specific resources: California / Illinois / North Carolina / South Carolina / Florida

Nationwide Resources

  • Funds Offered by Foundations and Corporations
    • LISC: Grants of up to $20,000 each to support small businesses and enterprises across the country, especially those in underserved communities, including entrepreneurs of color, women and veteran-owned businesses. Learn more.
    • Facebook: Offering cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries. Learn more. Also offering small business grants to Black-owned businesses. Learn more.
    • United Way: Many national efforts are being channeled through the United Way. Find your local United Way to see what resources are available in your community.
    • Hello Alice/Verizon: Apply for Business For All grants up to $50,000 to support business growth, including $10,000 emergency COVID-19 Business for All Grants to help small businesses in crisis. Learn more.

 

California Resources

Illinois Resources 

  • Technical Assistance
    • Illinois Small Business Development Centers. SBDCs are located throughout the state and provide information, confidential business guidance, training and other resources to start-up and existing small businesses. Contact the SBDC near you for assistance.
    • Resource Navigator. The City of Chicago has established Small Business Resource Navigators to provide 1:1 assistance to small businesses looking for support during this difficult time. Learn more.
    • Business Education Webinars. Providing supportive resources to businesses and workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn more.
  • Funding
    • Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund. This $60 million fund will support low-interest loans of up to $50,000 for small businesses in every industry. Learn more.
    • Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program. This new $20 million program supports small businesses in suburban and rural counties across Illinois, providing grants of up to $25,000 to small businesses in communities served by DCEO's Office of Community Development. Learn more.
    • Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund. Provides small businesses with emergency cash flow during this immediate health crisis. Learn more.
    • Child Care Restoration Grants:  Grants to support licensed child care providers who have had their capacity reduced by DCFS rule changes. Learn more.
    • Business Interruption Grants (BIG): Grants of $5,000-$150,000 to help businesses with working capital expenses and other operational costs. Learn more.
  • Other IL Resources Lists

 

North Carolina Resources

  • Technical Assistance
    • PPE Products: The Chamber of Commerce has partnered with NewDay to bring small businesses reliable access to personal protective equipment.  Chamber members are eligible for a discount but anyone can purchase through the site. Learn more.
    • Business Link North Carolina. Experienced business counselors take your questions and guide you in the right direction (responses within 3 business days. Call (800) 228-8443.
    • North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Centers. SBTDCs can help you navigate this unprecedented event. Contact the North Carolina SBTDC near you for assistance in developing your overall COVID-19 Recovery plan.
    • NC Pro Bono Resource Center. Offers free 45-minute legal consultation to small businesses and nonprofits to help navigate the legal issues they are experiencing due to COVID-19. Phone and video options available. Learn More.
    • Reboot, Recover, Rebuild (R3) Program for Small Business. If your business has been affected by COVID-19, contact your local community college SBC by requesting free counseling (ask for CARES Act assistance counseling). Learn more.
  • Funding
    • Duke-Durham Fund: (Durham, NC only.) The Fund currently provides grants up to $75,000 for nonprofits. Starting April 30, the Fund will also provide support to small businesses in Durham. Learn more and apply.
    • Guilford CARES Small Business Assistance Grant Program:  Provides one-time grants of up to $10,000 to offset lost revenue and to assist businesses in retaining and paying employees. Learn More.
    • Small Diverse Business Emergency Relief Fund: Supports small minority owned businesses with microgrants of up to $1,000 each. Learn more.
    • Job Retention Grants: Grants up to $250,000 to support business or non-profit organizations that experienced interruption due to the pandemic. Learn more.
    • Mortgage, Utility and Rent Relief: Relief funding of up to $20,000 per business location to cover fixed costs of business that have not been able to open due to COVID-19. Learn more.
    • RETOOLNC. Provides grant funds for small businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to assist in a pivotal change in service offerings to meet the industry need during the pandemic. Eligible businesses are certified HUB and DBE firms with 50 employees or less and revenues under $1.5M.  Businesses that start with A-K learn more here.  Businesses beginning with L-Z learn more here.
  • Other NC Resource Lists

South Carolina Resources 

  • Technical Assistance. South Carolina Small Business Development Centers offer consulting preparation, response and recovery on financial and other business issues related to COVID-19. Signup for consulting here.

  • Funding
    • Minority and Small Business Relief Program. Provides grants up to $25,000 to small and minority businesses to reimburse qualifying expenditures for providing services or for revenue loss due to COVID 19. Applications must be received no later than Nov. 1, 2020. Learn more.
    • Nonprofit Relief Grant Program. Provides grants up to $50,000 to nonprofit organizations to reimburse qualifying expenditures for providing services or revenue loss due to COVID-19. Learn more.

     

  • Other SC Resources Lists

Florida Resources

  • Technical Assistance. Florida Small Business Development Centers provide no-cost, one-on-one confidential consulting to help you prepare disaster loan applications and assist with other post-disaster challenges you encounter. The best and quickest way to receive individual assistance is to contact your local SBDC office.