Resources for Oregon Small Businesses | Re: COVID19

Greetings small business owner,

We are working to assemble all of the information in one place for you to easily apply for the resources that you need to get through this time.  Please check back daily for updated information.  We will continue to update as we get more data.  Please excuse any spelling or formatting errors.  We are working to get this to you as quickly as possible.

Don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions that you have.    - Mindy Aisling, Executive Director, DBBA

Most Recent Update: 3/26/20 2:00 PM

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Most Recent Updates:

• Details on the Coronavirus Economic Relief Package passed in the Senate on 3/25/20 - Details from NPR or Read the Bill yourself here
• Details on the Main Street Emergency Grant proposal from Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley - Read the press release from Merkely, or read the plan overview
  
• Details on the Oregon Community Grant Foundation's for COVID Community Recovery.

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Bartender Emergency Assistance Program

https://www.usbgfoundation.org/beap
 
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

In order to qualify for grant assistance from the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program, the recipient must satisfy all of the following requirements:

Be a Bartender or the spouse or child of a Bartender. The Bartender Emergency Assistance Program defines a “Bartender” as an individual employed in serving beverages or otherwise engaged in the production, promotion or distribution of alcoholic beverages. An individual is considered “employed” as a Bartender if, for not less than one year prior to the application, the individual performed services as a Bartender on a regular full- or part-time basis or, if the catastrophic event or emergency hardship giving rise to the application prevents the individual from performing such services, for not less than one year prior to the event or hardship the individual performed services as a Bartender on a regular full- or part-time basis.

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SBA Loans

Apply for a disaster loan: https://disasterloan.sba.gov
More #Coronavirus resources for small businesses: https://sba.gov/coronavirus

For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov)

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Additional SBA Loan info

For businesses with limited time in operations and collateral, obtaining private financing can be challenging. It is possible that a credit enhancement program can help. These are programs that lenders use for customers that “nearly” qualify for their financial assistance. If your financial institution turns you down, inquire about these programs offered by the federal government and the State of Oregon.
Small Business Administration (SBA) (www.sba.gov )

• 7(a) guarantee
• SBA Express
• Export Express
• Export Working Capital
• Veterans Advantage
• CAPLines

United States Department of Agriculture

• Business and Industry Guarantee  (https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-industry-loan-guarantees)

Business Oregon

• Capital Access Program (https://www.oregon4biz.com/How-We-Can-Help/Finance-Programs/CAP/)
• Credit Enhancement Fund (https://www.oregon4biz.com/How-We-Can-Help/Finance-Programs/CEF/)

Local Bend Small Business Development Center

https://bizcenter.org/centers/central-oregon-sbdc/
541-383-7290

Local Credit Unions
(Offering credit cards with no annual fees or balance transfer fees)

https://www.selco.org/  

https://www.nwcu.com/ 

Bank Loans and Lines of Credit

US Bank is offering a number of reduced rate loans for businesses impacted by COVID-19. More information available here.
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WAFD Bank is offering 5-year business lines of credit with the first 90 days interest free. Those who have seen a 10% or greater drop in revenues can apply to receive up to $200,000 on business lines of credit with 90 days interest-free. You can find more information here.

Tax Relief

Oregon Department of Revenue: The state’s tax collection agency is allowing extensions for personal income tax payment and will not penalize businesses for underpayment of the Corporate Activity Tax due to difficulty estimating revenue at this time. You can find a brief overview of current plans here.

Utility Information

• The City of Bend is suspending water service disconnections during the COVID-19 response
• Cascade Natural Gas Is suspending gas disconnections due to nonpayment during COVID-19 response.
• Pacific Power is suspending power disconnections due to nonpayment during the COVID-19 response.

Disaster Relief, Healthcare Assistance, Financial Assistance, Loans

Apply here: www.benefits.gov ​

Pandemic Partners-Bend

Community Resource Link:
​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dMNoL4BR2W-VVheAZP9a7nBGDE0B9nAyEsbFlLF35u0/edit?usp=sharing

Unemployment Information

https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1776
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Temporary Benefits:  UI benefits may be available to those who are on a temporary layoff. These benefits occur for claimants whose employer stops operation for a short period of time, such as cleaning following a coronavirus exposure. In these cases, employees expect to be back to work in four weeks or less. Workers can get UI benefits, and do not need to seek work with other employers. They must be able to work, stay in contact with you as their employer, and be available to work when called back.​

What if my employer goes out of business as a result of COVID-19 coronavirus/Long term benefits​​Generally, you will be eligible for unemployment benefits. To find out if you are eligible, file an initial claim. We will gather information from you and your employer about your circumstances to determine your eligibility.​
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More info on unemployment benefits: CLICK HERE

PDF in English
​PDF in Spanish

Medical Insurance | Food Stamps

For state medical insurance for kids/families:  https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/
For food stamps:  https://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ASSISTANCE/FOOD-BENEFITS/Pages/Eligibility-Apply.aspx

Information in English (PDF)          Information in Spanish (PDF)

Free Meals Map

http://bit.ly/2QiqZrp

Home Internet Access

If you need internet at home for work or school, there are several options through providers:
Comcast Internet Essentials, a low-cost home internet package for qualifying individuals and households, is not available for free for the first two months
Access from AT&T is a low-cost home internet package for qualifying individuals and households.

Business Interruption Insurance

We're not sure if it's too late - but you can look into purchasing business interruption insurance, available from many major insurance companies. Law firm Tonkon Torp breaks down the definition of interruption insurance here.   We know that food service is already impacted, but I would recommend all businesses look into this as a possible option. 

Additional Resources

• Business best practices and templates: ​https://resources.acce.org/crisismanagement
• Business Finance Officer Tom Schnell put together this helpful guide that walks businesses through steps they can take to deal with coronavirus fallout, including managing cashflow, payments and guidance on long-term planning: https://oeda.biz/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Business-Survival-Tips-During-Coronavirus.pdf
  
• Central Oregon Emergency Information Network: (Local, state and federal agencies in Central Oregon are working together to provide the public easy and quick access to joint emergency updates): http://coemergencyinfo.blogspot.com/