Facebook group page for local restaurants/bars/coffee shops/caterers that are open with either pick up and/or delivery. 

(Updated 5.27.2020)

Resources for employers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latest News

•  NEW  Prepare your business for a safe re-opening! Check out AWB's new Rebound & Recovery website, where you can find or supply critically needed supplies with PPE Connect and download a customizable Business Tool kit.
•  NEW  (5.18.20) The Paycheck Protection Program may be partially forgiven. The U.S. Treasury just released the SBA Form for PPP Loan Forgiveness application which includes the policy rule on how forgiveness will be calculated. Please see "Financial Resources" for further details.
•  NEW  The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is now accepting new applications, but only for U.S. Agricultural businesses. Please see details and apply here if you qualify. Applications for the loan already in queue will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. More details on this loan can be found in "Financial Resources" below.
•  APPLY NOW  USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) - This program will provide direct relief to agricultural producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19. See details about CFAP here.
•  NEW  Check out the Rebound and Recovery page, for the latest info on Washington state's phased re-opening, comparisons to other state's plans and links to guide you as you prepare your business.
• Washington State's official Coronavirus Response (COVID-19) page for business and workers

AWB's COVID-19 Employer Resources Webinar Series

Previous webinar: Crisis Communication - May 18

More COVID-19 webinars and videos available at AWB's COVID-19 Videos page.

Audio only is available on our Soundcloud channel.

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How to Help

State

•  NEW  Washington makers of PPE are encouraged to connect with businesses in need of these supplies. Fill out the form to be added to the list of suppliers for Washington's PPE Connect here!
• Washington State's How You Can Help website
• Washington Mask Challenge - initiative to make, wear and donate masks. Businesses can request masks for their organization here.
• Manufacturers who are willing to step up to help aid, fill out this form.
• If you have a large quantity of certified PPE items you are willing to sell and deliver quickly, read the information here and fill out this form.

Federal

• Manufacturers needed
  • If you are a company willing to shift gears and re-purpose manufacturing operations to help with the COVID-19 crisis, fill out this form.
  •  NEW  National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)
    • Has created a COVID-19 portal on its Manufacturers Marketplace. This is a free site for manufacturers to register what they can create, and a place to find suppliers.
    • Creators Respond - Resources for manufacturers desiring to take action
• FEMA's How To Help page and the contact information for private sector liaisons.
• To sell medical supplies or equipment to the federal government, submit information here.
  • This requires registration with the System for Award Management (SAM). Registration information can be found at www.sam.gov.
• If you have medical supplies or equipment to donate, provide details here.
• If your company is willing to produce a product related to the COVID response, email nbeoc@max.gov.
• If you are a hospital or healthcare provider in need of medical supplies, contact your state, local, tribal or territory department of public health and/or emergency management agency.
• If you are willing to do business with FEMA to support the COVID-19 response with non-medical goods and/or services, submit inquiry to DHSIndustryLiaison@hq.dhs.gov.

FAQs

All topics

• AWB's Frequently Asked Questions has the most relevant answers to employer-specific questions.
• Washington state's official COVID-19 Spread the Facts page
• Cathy McMorris Rodgers' FAQ page has great info on Phase 3 Response. Scroll down to the section specifically for Small Business, Nonprofits, & Farmers.

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's "What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws"
• Ryan Swanson Law's Employer's FAQs

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Financial Resources

Loans

• A comprehensive summary of loan facilities from the Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness - Small, Medium and Large Business Financing under the CARES Act
• The Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), is offered through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). An advance up to $10k is available within 3 days and will not have to be repaid. There is an interest rate of 3.75% for small businesses. Nonprofits are eligible for a 2.75% interest rate. See this EIDL guide for further information and to find answers to your questions on the SBA Disaster Loan FAQ page.
  • These loans will be capped at $15k to allow more businesses access.
  •  UPDATED  (5.5.20) The EIDL program will now continue to process applications in the queue on a first-come, first-served basis. It is now accepting new applications, but only for U.S. Agricultural businesses. Please see details and apply here if you qualify.
•  APPLY NOW  (4.27.20) The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)  is once again accepting applications. 
  •  NEW  The U.S. Treasury just released the SBA Form for PPP Loan Forgiveness application which includes the policy rule on how forgiveness will be calculated.
  • PPP - a provision of the CARES Act that authorized loans with forgiveness and deferral possibilities. Here is an easy to read overview, a fact sheet , a technical summary of terms, more affiliation rules, the Interim Final Rule legal document and info for lenders. See details from the SBA here. Still have questions? Try the SBA FAQ page or this FAQ page from the Treasury Department.
  • This loan is available for small businesses, sole proprietors, self-employed and independent contractors. Here is the application. Use this searchable map to find a SBA lender in your area.
  • U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Paycheck Protection Program FAQs for Small Business
  • The US Chamber has an easy to read guide for How to Get a Coronavirus Emergency Paycheck Protection Loan.
  • Specific guidance for religious organizations can be found here.
  • This explanation from Lane Powell - Every PPP borrower should CARE about forgiveness
• Express Bridge Loans through the SBA enable small businesses who already have a relationship with an SBA lender to access up to $25k quickly.
• Kiva provides 0% interest loans up to $15k with a 6 month grace period allowed for greater flexibility. See details and apply here.
• Business Impact NW provides loans to small business and nonprofits. They are more flexible than traditional financial institutions.
• Craft3 offers business lending services between $25k to $3 million to new clients and is extending revised terms to existing clients.
• Local Loans
  • 10 Eastern Washington county rural areas Rural Opportunity Loan Fund - see details and apply here.
  • Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Pacific or Wahkiakum County - Coastal Communities Loan fund
  • Jefferson County - LION COVID-19 Emergency Loan
  • Pierce County - Emergency Small Business Relief Loan Program
  • Skagit County Loan Fund - up to $25k for working capital with 2.44% interest rate. See details here.

Grants

• Department of Commerce has awarded $1.8 million to 17 rural county governments. The Community Development Block Grants can be used for small business support, food and rental assistance, health services and more. Click here for more information.
• The official main website for federal grants is www.grants.gov
• Delta Dental pledges $10M to help dentists shut down by COVID-19 with two new programs -- the Reimbursement Advance Program and the Practice Assistance Fund. Read more and apply here.
• GoFundMe Small Business Relief fund - matching micro-grants up to $500. See details here and click here for FAQs.
• Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund - Next round of applications for grants up to $10k begins mid-April. Sign up here to register.
• Good Farmer Fund is granting relief funds to small farms. Apply here.
• Amazon has created a $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund to help small companies located within a few blocks of its Seattle headquarters. Click here to learn more and apply for the Amazon neighborhood small business relief fund.
• Social Justice COVID-19 Crisis Fund - Click here if you are a previous grantee of a Social Justice Fund. If not a previous grantee, consider applying for their ongoing Rapid Response Fund.
• Humanities Washington CARES Act Humanities Relief fund for cultural nonprofit organizations. Apply here for grant opportunities up to $5k. Decisions will be provided within 10 business days.
• Local Grants
  • Asotin, Garfield or Whitman: Information here and grant application.
  • South Lake Union Chamber Small Business & Nonprofit Relief Fund
  • Edmonds WISH fund grant
  • Seattle Sounders FC Relief Fund

Insurance

• Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) urged all insurers to extend coverage to delivery driver's auto policies in order to ensure delivery of prescriptions, food and groceries.
• OIC Emergency Order regarding Dental Plan grace period
• If employers have bought the right endorsements, insurance policies may cover cancelled events or businesses losses. Contact the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner at 1.800.562.6900 or go to www.insurance.wa.gov for more information.
• Travelers Insurance is providing billing relief, a 15% credit on April and May premiums. Call your insurance provider to see what relief options might be available.

Tax Help

• Federal:
  • Employee Retention Tax Credit - part of the CARES Act (see more info about the CARES act in "Legislation of Note" below)
  • Credit for Sick and Family Leave
  • Tax credits are available for small and mid-size businesses. Overview and FAQs here
  • IRS Coronavirus tax help - Tax relief and economic impact payments and tax relief for businesses and tax-exempt entities
  • Tax filing and federal tax payment deadline extended to July 15
• State: The Department of Revenue offers extensions on tax filings and certain late fees, as well as rescheduling audits and more time to file or renew a business license. Contact the department at 360.705.6705 for more information.

Help to pay your employees

• The Employment Security Department (ESD) has new emergency rules in place. This FAQ page for workers and businesses answers questions and gives resources. This ESD Unemployment chart can help determine which benefit applies to your situation. See this informational chart to compare the benefits.
  • Paid sick and safe leave (FAQs)
  • Paid Family Medical Leave (FAQs)
  • Workers' Compensation FAQs and link to apply
  • Unemployment
    • This helpful video and this summary quickly explain the latest changes.
    • For fastest processing, here are some strategies that work. Follow the steps on this sharable graphic: sign up for action alerts, determine your eligibility, review and gather the items on the checklist, set up an account (see video for helpful explanation), and apply online.
    • Please be aware they are experiencing very high volume, so please be patient and keep trying.

Utilities, Rent and Other help

• Uber is donating rides to organizations, health care providers and governmental entities. Fill out the form here.
• COVID-19 Business Impact Calculator - use this tool to see the potential impact COVID may have on your business and options for next steps you can take
• Seattle Mayor signs emergency order to temporarily halt evictions for small business and nonprofits
• Many lenders have adjusted terms for those affected by COVID-19. Check your lender's website to see if options are available for payment deferrals, low cost loans, etc.
• Gov. Inslee signed a proclamation that prohibits certain utility companies from disconnections, charging late fees and more -- effective until May 31. See details here.
• Utilities' COVID-19 responses
  • Clark Public Utilities
  • Comcast Xfinity
  • Century Link
  • T-Mobile
  • Puget Sound Energy
  • Avista Utilities
  • Cascade Natural Gas
  • Pacific Power
  • NW Natural
  • Seattle City Light
  • Frontier Communications

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Nonprofit Funding and Resources

• Washington Nonprofits
• DoorDash is offering at-cost or subsidized delivery for nonprofits. Fill out the form here.

• Innovia Foundation COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Funds
• Snohomish County Coronavirus Response Fund grants
• Seattle Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund - for community based organizations helping priority populations at the front lines of the crisis
• Orcas Island Community Foundation's Community Emergency Response Fund
• Yakima Valley Community Foundation's Resilience and Response Fund - Will give grants to nonprofit businesses. Stay tuned for further details.
• Community Foundation SW Washington COVID Response fund - See this page for details and email them if you think your nonprofit aligns with their fund's purpose.
• Benton and Franklin county - Nonprofits in these counties helping with food and/or childcare can apply beginning March 25. Details and application link is found here.
• Bainbridge Community Foundation's Community Response Fund - Granting limited financial resources to nonprofit organizations for urgent health and human service needs
• Lewis, Mason and Thurston counties - The Community Foundation's COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund - Please fill out the Nonprofit Survey to be considered. For more details, please contact Melissa Rosscup at mrosscup@thecommunityfoundation.com.
• ArtsFund COVID-19 Arts Emergency Relief Fund - provides short term relief to arts organizations

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Small Business Guidance

• Need financial relief? See the Small Business Administration Coronavirus Relief Options here and find more details in the "Financial Resources" section above. This info is changing quickly. We recommend signing up for updates here.
• Google is offeringfree 1:1 digital skills coaching, including webinars on online marketing and E-commerce.
• Sitecrafting's Small Business Thrival Guide
• Ryan Swanson Law Options for distressed small businesses in Washington, Oregon, and California
• Small Busi