U.S. Small Business Administration Resources
I wanted to share a few resources regarding vaccine scheduling and transportation:
DPH Guide to Assist Those Who Schedule Vaccine Appointments for Others
- Scheduling Navigator Guide: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Coronavirus/Vaccine-Scheduling-Navigator-Guide.pdf
Resources for Homebound Individuals
- United Way/211 Resources for Transportation to Vaccine Locations: https://uwc.211ct.org/categorysearch/transportation/
- Homebound Intake Survey for those interested in getting on the waitlist the be scheduled to receive the vaccine at home: https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/homebound
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Answers Frequently Asked Questions
People have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. In order to build vaccine confidence, the CDC has shared answers for some Frequently Asked Questions found below and attached to this email. Please feel free to share this information with your friends, family, co-workers and community members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a message from the U.S. Small Business Administration highlighting events and resources for small businesses:
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Updates
SBA Increases Lending Limit For COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans
Starting the week of April 6, 2021, the U.S. Small Business Administration is raising the loan limit for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Applicants can now receive a maximum loan amount of $500,000. The lending limit increased from 6-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $150,000 to up to 24-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $500,000.
Requesting EIDL Increases
Business that have already received the Economic Injury Disaster Loan do not need to submit a request for an increase at this time. SBA will reach out directly via email and provide more details about how businesses can request an increase closer to the April 6 implementation date.
New and Pending EIDL Applications
Any new loan applications and any loans in process when the new loan limits are implemented will automatically be considered for loans covering 24 months of economic injury up to a maximum of $500,000.
EIDL Deferment Update
The SBA announced on March 12, 2021 extended deferment periods for all disaster loans until 2022. SBA will extend the first payment due date for disaster loans made in 2020 to 24-months from the date of the note and to 18-months from the date of the note for all loans made in calendar year 2021.
Read more
Questions?
If you have questions about the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, the SBA Customer Service Center is available to provide assistance from the hours of 7:00 am to 7:00 pm CST, 7 days a week, at (800) 659-2955, or via email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Please also see more EIDL resources below.
- Refer to frequently asked questions about the EIDL program.
- Read more about EIDL increases.
- Learn more about the Targeted EIDL Advance program.
5 Things to Know about the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
- The SBA will begin accepting SVOG applications on April 8.
The SBA has launched a splash page for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal in anticipation of opening grant applications for the critical economic relief program on Thursday, April 8.
Visit SVOG portal
- Register for the national SVOG webinar on March 30; submit questions by March 29.
Prior to the SVOG applications opening on April 8, the SBA will host a national informational webinar to highlight the application process for potential eligible entities from 2:30 to 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 30. Potential applicants can suggest topics they’d like to see covered via e-mail to SVOGrant@sba.gov by 12 p.m. ET on Monday, March 29. The SBA will make every effort to address the question categories on the webinar and future FAQs, but cannot provide specific, individual answers.
Register for the webinar
- You can now receive both a PPP loan and an SVOG.
To ensure eligible venues do not miss a window to receive assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program, the American Rescue Plan Act amended the SVOG program so entities that apply for a PPP loan after Dec. 27, 2020 can also apply for an SVOG, with the eligible entity’s SVOG to be reduced by the PPP loan amount. The PPP loan applications have been updated to reflect this change. However, under the law, entities will be ineligible for a PPP loan after they receive an SVOG.
More on relief programs
- Get prepared with these multiple tools.
The SBA has created several tools and resources to help potential SVOG applicants prepare, including:
- Regularly updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Video tutorials, including how to register on the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), a federal requirement to receive an SVOG
- A Preliminary Application Checklist to help you gather documents and other information that may be needed
- An Eligibility Requirements Chart to help determine qualifications
- Tap local SBA partners for technical assistance.
The SBA Resource Partner Network provides advising and counseling services to help organizations prepare for funding opportunities like the SVOG, PPP and other business recovery needs.
Find assistance near you
PPP Forgiveness Webinar Series
Get Your Questions Answered:
- Do you wonder when you need to apply for forgiveness on your PPP 1st draw loan?
- What are hold codes and how do I fix them?
- Why haven’t I heard from my Lender, I applied weeks ago?
Learn about the PPP Forgiveness process, eligible payroll and non-payroll expenses, forms and instructions, the forgiveness timeline and much more. Find out answers to your questions. Join the SBA in a series of webinars every Tuesday in April from 11:30 am – 12:30 pm on the PPP forgiveness process.
Register Here!
Government Contracting Series
The U.S. Government is the largest customer in the world, buying all types of products and services — in both large and small quantities. By law, the U.S. Government is required to consider buying from small businesses. The U.S. Government buys from small businesses to: |
Small Business Events Calendar
State And Federal Resources For Connecticut Firms
- Date: Tuesday, April 20, 2021
- Time: 9:00am Eastern
- Registration: Please register here
- This event is free of charge, but pre-registration is required.
While the U.S. exports some $2 trillion in goods and services to world markets annually, there is vast opportunity to increase both the number of U.S. exporters and the markets they are selling to— particularly among small and medium-sized firms. With more than 95% of the world’s consumers being outside of the US, your firm can greatly increase its global market share and profitability.
Join the CT Department of Economic and Community Development, Small Business Administration, EXIM Bank, CT Small Business Development Center, and US Department of Commerce for an informational webinar on the resources available to both current exporters as well as businesses looking to develop an export plan. Learn about the CT STEP Grant Program, which can reimburse qualifying Connecticut companies for certain export-related activities.