Small businesses shuttered by coronavirus can turn to these state-by-state resources
Small businesses across the country are being forced to shutter and even lay off employees
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Small businesses across the country are being forced to shutter and even lay off employees as the coronavirus pandemic causes all but the most essential businesses to close.
Cities and states, as well as the federal government, are offering relief to these employers. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday the small business relief included in the massive $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package could keep 50 percent of Americans at work.
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The largest relief bill in recent memory includes more than $370 billion in funding for small businesses.
Here's how cities and states hit hardest by the pandemic are responding.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio helps load a carton containing some of 250,000 face masks into a truck on a loading dock at U.N. headquarters Saturday. (Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office via AP)
New York City
New York City, which is considered a virus hot zone with more than 38,000 cases, has launched the NYC Small Business Continuity Loan Program.
The program provides interest-free loans up to $75,000 for New York City businesses with fewer than 100 employees "that can demonstrate at least a 25% decrease in revenue as a result" of coronavirus.
California
Small businesses in California can obtain loans through the California Capital Access Program, or CalCAP. Since early March, CalCAP has been allowing supplemental contributions for credit enhancements for loans if the businesses can prove they are directly affected by the pandemic. CalCAP for Small Business applies to firms with fewer than 500 full-time employees.
Pedestrians walk through an empty parking lot at Venice Beach, Saturday, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Some California businesses are also expected to seek help from the Small Business Administration's Disaster Loan Program. The program has a section known as the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which can help qualified small businesses.
In order to qualify for such a loan, a business must prove substantial economic injury – that it is unable to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. The point of the loan is to help a business ride out a disaster period until normal operations can resume. It applies to situations where there is no physical damage.
California exceeds 7,300 confirmed coronavirus cases.
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Louisiana
Louisiana small businesses have access to SBA disaster funds as of last week after the state's disaster declaration. The state has the third-highest number of deaths with 151. Its total cases number 4,025 as of Tuesday.
Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans on March 19. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Washington state
Small businesses in Washington state, regardless of county, can apply for SBA disaster loans as of late March.
There are more than 5,000 confirmed cases in Washington state and more than 200 deaths. In King County, home to Seattle, there are 150 deaths, according to the latest research from Johns Hopkins University.
In addition, the City of Seattle Small Business Stabilization Fund is an emergency fund that provides working grants of up to $10,000 to qualifying small businesses. Business owners must have income that is less than or equal to 80 percent of the area median income, five employees or less, a physical establishment and must be able to prove loss of income due to the pandemic.
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Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has focused efforts on helping suburban and rural small businesses, while Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced the $100 million Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund.
The fund will help with emergency cash flow with seed money from both the city and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, Fifth Third Bank and construction firm Clayco.
Pritzker announced $14 million in hospitality emergency grants for bars, restaurants and hotels. The money was originally budgeted for job training, tourism promotion and other purposes.
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Any small business outside of Chicago can apply for low-interest loans of up to $50,000 through the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund. The businesses must have fewer than 50 workers and less than $3 million in revenue in 2019.
Illinois has more than 5,000 confirmed cases.
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Florida
Florida activated its Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program on March 17 until May 8. The short-term, no-interest loans total $50,000 per business and $100,000 in special cases.
Florida allocated up to $50 million for the program and received more than 6,300 applications in its first week, NBC 6 reported. Small businesses can also apply for the SBA's federal disaster loans.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks during a press conference at a coronavirus mobile testing site Monday, March 23, 2020, in The Villages, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Florida has reported more than 5,700 cases of the coronavirus.
Michigan
Michigan small businesses can apply for SBA disaster loans, and local and nonprofit economic development organizations around the state have teamed up to offer up to $20 million in grants through the Michigan Small Business Relief Program.
The state is in the top five for most coronavirus cases, with a count of more than 6,400.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has told residents to stay at home and announced a $10 million loan fund for small businesses affected by the pandemic in mid-March. The state is approaching 6,000 cases of coronavirus.