Coronavirus (COVID-19)_ Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources.pdf

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3/27/2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

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Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small
Business Guidance & Loan
Resources
Health and government officials are working together to maintain the
safety, security, and health of the American people. Small businesses are
encouraged to do their part to keep their employees, customers, and
themselves healthy.

Content
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
SBA Express Bridge Loans
Guidance for Businesses and Employers
SBA Products and Resources
Government Contracting
Local Assistance

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
Small business owners in all U.S. states and territories are currently eligible to apply for a lowinterest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Click here to apply.
Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans at: SBA.gov/Disaster.

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The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small
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businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans
of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome
the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. 

SBA Express Bridge Loans
Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program allows small businesses who currently have a business
relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork. These loans
can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of
revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loans or used to bridge the gap while applying for
a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan. If a small business has an urgent need for cash while
waiting for decision and disbursement on Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they may qualify for an
SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan.

Terms
Up to $25,000
Fast turnaround
Will be repaid in full or in part by proceeds from the EIDL loan
Find an Express Bridge Loan Lender via SBA’s Lender Match Tool or by connecting with your local
SBA District Office.
 

Guidance for Businesses and Employers
The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America - 15 Days to Slow the Spread
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the most up-to-date information on
COVID-19. This interim guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease
2019 (COVID-19). For updates from CDC, please see the following:

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Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease
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2019 (COVID-19)
Preventing Stigma Related to COVID-19
Share Facts about COVID-19
CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Web page
Information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Prevention, Symptoms and FAQ
 
The following interim guidance may help prevent workplace exposures to acute respiratory
illnesses, including COVID-19, in non-healthcare settings. The guidance also provides planning
considerations if there are more widespread, community outbreaks of COVID-19.
To prevent stigma and discrimination in the workplace, use the guidance described below and on
the CDC’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers web page.
Below are recommended strategies for employers to use now. In-depth guidance is available on the
CDC’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers web page:
Actively encourage sick employees to stay home
Separate sick employees
Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees
Perform routine environmental cleaning
Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps
Check the CDC’s Traveler’s Health Notices for the latest guidance and recommendations
for each country to which you will travel. Specific travel information for travelers going
to and returning from designated countries with risk of community spread of
Coronavirus, and information for aircrew, can be found on the CDC website.
Additional Measures in Response to Currently Occurring Sporadic Importations of the COVID19:
Employees who are well but who have a sick family member at home with COVID-19
should notify their supervisor and refer to CDC guidance for how to conduct a risk
assessment of their potential exposure.
If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19, employers should inform fellow
employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain
confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Employees
exposed to a co-worker with confirmed COVID-19 should refer to CDC guidance for how
to conduct a risk assessment of their potential exposure.
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Common Issues Small Businesses May Encounter:

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Capital Access – Incidents can strain a small business's financial capacity to make payroll,
maintain inventory and respond to market fluctuations (both sudden drops and surges in
demand). Businesses should prepare by exploring and testing their capital access options so
they have what they need when they need it.  See SBA’s capital access resources.
Workforce Capacity – Incidents have just as much impact on your workers as they do your
clientele. It’s critical to ensure they have the ability to fulfill their duties while protected.
Inventory and Supply Chain Shortfalls – While the possibility could be remote, it is a prudent
preparedness measure to ensure you have either adequate supplies of inventory for a
sustained period and/or diversify your distributor sources in the event one supplier cannot
meet an order request.
Facility Remediation/Clean-up Costs – Depending on the incident, there may be a need to
enhance the protection of customers and staff by increasing the frequency and intensity by
which your business conducts cleaning of surfaces frequently touched by occupants and
visitors. Check your maintenance contracts and supplies of cleaning materials to ensure they
can meet increases in demand.
Insurance Coverage Issues – Many businesses have business interruption insurance; Now is the
time to contact your insurance agent to review your policy to understand precisely what you
are and are not covered for in the event of an extended incident.
Changing Market Demand – Depending on the incident, there may be access controls or
movement restrictions established which can impede your customers from reaching your
business. Additionally, there may be public concerns about public exposure to an incident and
they may decide not to go to your business out of concern of exposing themselves to greater
risk. SBA’s Resources Partners and District Offices have trained experts who can help you craft a
plan specific to your situation to help navigate any rapid changes in demand.
Marketing – It’s critical to communicate openly with your customers about the status of your
operations, what protective measures you’ve implemented, and how they (as customers) will
be protected when they visit your business. Promotions may also help incentivize customers
who may be reluctant to patronize your business.
Plan – As a business, bring your staff together and prepare a plan for what you will do if the
incident worsens or improves. It’s also helpful to conduct a tabletop exercise to simulate
potential scenarios and how your business management and staff might respond to the
hypothetical scenario in the exercise. For examples of tabletop exercises, visit FEMA’s website
at: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-planning-exercises

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SBA Products and Resources

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SBA is here to assist small businesses with accessing federal resources and navigating their own
preparedness plans as described by the CDC’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers.
SBA works with a number of local partners to counsel, mentor and train small businesses. The SBA
has 68 District Offices, as well as support provided by its Resource Partners, such as SCORE offices,
Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers and Veterans Business Outreach
Centers. When faced with a business need, use the SBA’s Local Assistance Directory to locate the
office nearest you.

Access to Capital
SBA provides a number of loan resources for small businesses to utilize when operating their
business. For more information on loans or how to connect with a lender, visit:
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans.
How to get access to lending partners?  SBA has developed Lender Match, a free online referral
tool that connects small businesses with participating SBA-approved lenders within 48 hours.
7(a) program offers loan amounts up to $5,000,000 and is an all-inclusive loan program
deployed by lending partners for eligible small businesses within the U.S. States and its
territories. The uses of proceeds include: working capital; expansion/renovation; new
construction; purchase of land or buildings; purchase of equipment, fixtures; lease-hold
improvements; refinancing debt for compelling reasons; seasonal line of credit; inventory; or
starting a business.
Express loan program provides loans up to $350,000 for no more than 7 years with an option to
revolve. There is a turnaround time of 36 hours for approval or denial of a completed
application. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.
Community Advantage loan pilot program allows mission-based lenders to assist small
businesses in underserved markets with a maximum loan size of $250,000. The uses of
proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.
504 loan program is designed to foster economic development and job creation and/or
retention. The eligible use of proceeds is limited to the acquisition or eligible refinance of fixed
assets.
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Microloan program involves making loans through nonprofit lending organizations to
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underserved markets. Authorized use of loan proceeds includes working capital, supplies,
machinery & equipment, and fixtures (does not include real estate). The maximum loan
amount is $50,000 with the average loan size of $14,000.

Exporting Assistance
SBA provides export loans to help small businesses achieve sales through exports and can help
these businesses respond to opportunities and challenges associated with trade, such as COVID-19.
The loans are available to U.S. small businesses that export directly overseas, or those that export
indirectly by selling to a customer that then exports their products.
Export Express loan program allows access to capital quickly for businesses that need
financing up to $500,000. Businesses can apply for a line of credit or term note prior to finalizing
an export sale or while pursuing opportunities overseas, such as identifying a new overseas
customer should an export sale be lost due to COVID-19.
Export Working Capital program enables small businesses to fulfill export orders and finance
international sales by providing revolving lines of credit or transaction-based financing of up to
$5 million. Businesses could use a loan to obtain or retain overseas customers by offering
attractive payment terms.
International Trade loan program helps small businesses engaged in international trade to
retool or expand to better compete and react to changing business conditions. It can also help
exporting firms to expand their sales to new markets or to re-shore operations back to the U.S.

Government Contracting
SBA is focused on assisting with the continuity of operations for small business contracting
programs and small businesses with federal contracts. For more information on federal
contracting, visit https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide
More specifically:
8(a) Business Development program serves to help provide a level playing field for small
businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people or entities, and the
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government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate. The 8(a)
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program offer and acceptance process is available nationwide, and the SBA continues to work
with federal agencies to ensure maximum practicable opportunity to small businesses. 8(a)
program participants should stay in touch with their Business Opportunity Specialist (BOS).
HUBZone program offers eligibility assistance every Thursday from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET at 1-202765-1264; access code 63068189#.  Members of the HUBZone team answer questions to help
firms navigate the certification process.  For specific questions regarding an application, please
contact the HUBZone Help Desk at hubzone@sba.gov.
Women-owned Small Business firms who have questions, please visit
www.sba.gov/wosbready or write to wosb@sba.gov.
 
If a situation occurs that will prevent small businesses with government contracts from successfully
performing their contract, they should reach out to their contracting officer and seek to obtain
extensions before they receive cure notices or threats of termination. The SBA’s Procurement
Center Representatives can assist affected small businesses to engage with their contracting officer.
Use the Procurement Center Representative Directory to connect with the representative nearest
you.

Local Assistance
SBA works with a number of local partners to counsel, mentor, and train small businesses. The SBA
has 68 District Offices, as well as support provided by its Resource Partners, such as SCORE offices,
Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers and Veterans Business Outreach
Centers. When faced with a business need, use the SBA’s Local Assistance Directory to locate the
office nearest you.

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