Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) - SBA Forgivable Loans

These loans were just announced for small business owners in an effort to encourage businesses to maintain their staff's payroll and health insurance as well as pay rent and mortgages. Using the funds for the intended purposes will qualify the loan to be forgiven. These are non-recourse loans and are intended to be quick sources of capital relief to small business owners.

North San Antonio Chamber - Local | State | Federal | Business Resources

Stay connected: Small business resources, funding options, safeguards and actions. 

SBA Disaster Loans

Process for Accessing SBA’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disaster Relief Lending
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Upon a request received from a state’s or territory’s Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
  • Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available statewide to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
  • SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance will coordinate with the state’s or territory’s Governor to submit the request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance.
  • Once a declaration is made, the information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be made available to affected small businesses within the state.
  • These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
  • SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower’s ability to repay.
  • SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government’s coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible.
  • If you applied before March 30th, go back and re-apply for the $10k emergency grant. 
​
You may be eligible to access low cost disaster loan funds from the SBA
  • Apply: 1) online; 2) in-person at a disaster center; or 3) by mail.
  • Apply online at the SBA’s secure website disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. 
  • As a business of any size, you may borrow up to $2 million for physical damage.
  • As a small business, small agricultural cooperative, small business engaged in aquaculture, or private non-profit organization you may borrow up to $2 million for Economic Injury.
  • As a small business, you may apply for a maximum business loan (physical and EIDL) of $2 million.
  • As a homeowner you may borrow up to $200,000 to repair/replace your disaster damaged primary residence.
  • As a homeowner or renter, you may borrow up to $40,000 to repair/replace damaged personal property
  • The Texas Division of Emergency Management has an Economic Disaster Injury Worksheet for Businesses form that you can fill out and submit via email to TDEMPARecovery@tdem.texas.gov. Read more here

Existing SBA Loans

In the past, the SBA has granted borrowers in disaster areas deferments on their SBA loans.  For information on if this applies to your loan contact your SBA Loan officer.

Employee Retention Credit under the CARES Act 

​The Employee Retention Credit is a fully refundable tax credit for employers equal to 50 percent of qualified wages (including allocable qualified health plan expenses) that Eligible Employers pay their employees. This Employee Retention Credit applies to qualified wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before January 1, 2021. The maximum amount of qualified wages taken into account with respect to each employee for all calendar quarters is $10,000, so that the maximum credit for an Eligible Employer for qualified wages paid to any employee is $5,000.

The credit is available to all employers regardless of size, including tax-exempt organizations. There are only two exceptions: State and local governments and their instrumentalities and small businesses who take small business loans.
Qualifying employers must fall into one of two categories:
  1. The employer's business is fully or partially suspended by government order due to COVID-19 during the calendar quarter.
  2. The employer's gross receipts are below 50% of the comparable quarter in 2019. Once the employer's gross receipts go above 80% of a comparable quarter in 2019, they no longer qualify after the end of that quarter.
These measures are calculated each calendar quarter.
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May an Eligible Employer receive both the Employee Retention Credit and a Small Business Interruption Loan under the Paycheck Protection Program that is authorized under the CARES Act? 

No.  An Eligible Employer may not receive the Employee Retention Credit if the Eligible Employer receives a Small Business Interruption Loan under the Paycheck Protection Program that is authorized under the CARES Act (“Paycheck Protection Loan”). An Eligible Employer that receives a paycheck protection loan should not claim Employee Retention Credits.

COVID-19 Business Recovery Accelerator - UTSA

​The UTSA Institute for Economic Development today launched the Small Business Development Center COVID-19 Business Recovery Accelerator (SBDC COBRA) to help small businesses weather the financial hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic. COBRA is the only recovery accelerator of its kind in Texas to help stabilize and rebuild the small-business economy. COBRA will provide small businesses with the counseling and resources to pursue loans from the financial industry and to begin recovering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The accelerator will serve businesses in Bexar County and 10 surrounding counties. It will be funded by a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

To speak with someone in the new SBDC COVID Business Recovery Accelerator, their team is available Monday thru Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm CST by calling 210-458-2272 or by sending an email to businessrecovery@utsa.edu. You can also become a client to fully explore your overall business needs by clicking in the Keep Calm and Small Business On box. 
  • Businesses can access COBRA resources by calling 210-458-2272 or emailing businessrecovery@utsa.edu. Assistance provided in English and Spanish.

Utility Services

CPS and SAWS have been instructed to work with residents and businesses and to not discontinue services at this time.  You may contact them for more information.

Zapier Small Business Assistance Program 

Zapier is creating a $1 million small business assistance program for businesses with 10 employees or fewer, a solo entrepreneur, privately owned business, businesses impacted by “social distancing” in an outsized way (the tourism, food service, hospitality, salon and spa, fitness, and education industries are some examples). Criteria? the small business is Zapier customer. Small business in need can qualify for a free 3-month credit for a Starter plan.

Bexar County Grant & Loan Program with LiftFund

LiftFund is ready to assist you during this time. We have special public and private partnerships to assist small business across our footprint. Please note that there is limited funding for the special programs, but we are offering a LiftFund COVID-19 loan to assist small businesses during this time.

At this time, due to high demand no more grants are available. However, on April 13th Governor Abbott, Goldman Sachs, and LiftFund announced $50 Million in Loans For Texas Small Businesses. 

Visit the COVID-19 loan application which includes an initial 120 day deferment of payment as part of the product. If you have questions, please email info@liftfund.com. 

Qualifying conditions: 
  • Business must be in operation as of August 1, 2019
  • Business has experienced a decrease in revenue by at least 15% as a result of COVID-19 
  • Business owners are able to have a consultation reviewing a six month recovery plan and working capital plan
  • Applicant must be able to properly cover expenses and new loan payment
  • Must be in good standing with creditors for the past six months 

Coronavirus Care Fund National Domestic Workers Alliance 

Qualifying applicants who are experiencing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic can receive $400 in emergency assistance from the Fund. At this time, the Coronavirus Care Fund application is open to domestic workers who have participated in activities of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), NDWA chapters, affiliate organizations, circles and current Alia users. The Fund will open for applications from other domestic workers as soon as funding allows. If you do not currently qualify to apply, please complete their form. They will let you know as soon as the Fund is open to all domestic workers.

Facebook Small Business Grants 

Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where we operate. They’ll share more details as they become available. The grant will be around $3,333 to each small business to help them with rent, operational costs or to keep the workforce strong.

​​AssistHer Emergency Relief Grant
$1 Million Grant Program to Aid Women’s Businesses Hurt by COVID-19 

Texas Woman’s University Chancellor Carine M. Feyten announced that the Center for Women Entrepreneurs is launching the AssistHER grant program, which will provide 100 $10,000 grants to women-owned small businesses in Texas that have been impacted adversely by the coronavirus pandemic. Grant funds can be used for operating expenses (excluding payment of sales tax and payroll, advertising, purchase of food for consumption, penalties and fees, and charitable donations), technology upgrades or help adapting to a new business model.

To be eligible for the $10,000 grant:
  • Existing woman-owned businesses (at least 51% directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens) may apply
  • The business must be a for-profit corporation, partnership, LLP or LLC, or sole proprietorship. Not-for-profit corporations or similar nonprofit entities are not eligible.
  • The business must be suffering an economic hardship due to COVID-19.
  • If the business or business owner owns the premises from which the business operates, all property taxes must be current.
  • All sales taxes, payroll taxes and other taxes must be current.
  • Businesses must be located and/or operated within the state of Texas.
  • The business, business owner and applicant must not be involved in any pending or current litigation.
  • Awardees will be required to complete online training on how to maintain business operations in the current environment and report all expenditures of grant funds.
  • Eligible businesses must be up to date on payroll, sales and other taxes and be properly permitted.
  • The business, business owner and applicant are operating with all required permits and licenses and are conforming to all required laws.
  • The business owner must not have any felonies or conviction of a crime of dishonesty or breach of trust.

To Apply, complete the AssistHER COVID-19 Business Emergency Relief Grant Application. All of the following must be included with the application:
  • Grant applications will be accepted electronically ONLY, not to exceed ten pages (application included), and will be assessed for funding on a rolling basis until available funding is expended. Please combine all materials into a single PDF and submit to smantaro@twu.edu. Any applications that are incomplete, contain multiple documents, or not in a PDF format will be rejected.
  • Proof of woman-owned and controlled documentation must show at least 51% ownership and could include any woman-owned certification, sole proprietor/assumed name filings, LLC or LLP documentation, certification of organization, articles of incorporation, partnership agreement or bank signature card. If one document alone doesn’t show this, send the corresponding agreement with it.
  • All questions must be answered, and all required information and documentation must be included; when submitting an application, the applicant must attach documentation for all expenses they want the grant to cover (for example operating costs, proposals from a vendor, quotes or estimates, invoices, etc.). These could be provided on a spreadsheet, cash flow statement, IRS Tax filing, P &L or Income Statement. Incomplete applications will be automatically rejected.
  • The purpose of this grant is to help sustain your business while you are under economic hardship due to COVID-19. The funds can be used for technology upgrades or other items needed to change or adapt your business model and operating expenses (excluding payment of sales tax and payroll, advertising, purchase of food for consumption, penalties and fees, and charitable donations).
As a prerequisite for award eligibility, awardees must view an instructional video on best practices for maintaining grant funds and long-term business sustainability. This will be sent if awarded. Award recipients will have an opportunity to engage in one-on-one conversations with a CWE business advisor, if needed. You will be notified as to whether or not you have been approved for the AssistHER grant within 30 days.

Assistance for paying or remitting taxes - San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. 

We understand that virtually all of our taxpayers are doing their best to remain in compliance and be responsible in submitting the taxes they collected from their customers. With that in mind, our agency is here to offer assistance to those businesses that are struggling to pay the full amount of sales taxes they collected in February. For businesses that find themselves in this situation, our agency is offering assistance in the form of short-term payment agreements and, in most instances, waivers of penalties and interest. We ask that you contact our Enforcement Hotline at 800-252-8880 to learn about your options for remaining in compliance and avoiding interest and late fees on taxes due.

Kiva - ​Support local businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic

Kiva lenders have shown their commitment to providing financial assistance to all by making 0% interest loans to entrepreneurs in the U.S. on Kiva.org for the last 10 years. In today's difficult circumstances, we'd like to make it as easy and impactful as possible for small businesses in the U.S. to have access to affordable capital on the Kiva platform—capital that may be the difference between shutting down and keeping their doors open. We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has global impact, and we'll continue to explore ways to help as many people affected by this crisis as possible. Currently, the U.S. market is the place we have the most agility to deploy financial assistance.

Effective immediately, U.S. applicants for a Kiva loan will have access to the following:
  • Expanded eligibility: More businesses in the US will be eligible for a Kiva loan.
  • Larger loans: The maximum loan on the Kiva platform will increase from $10,000 to $15,000.
  • Grace period: New borrowers may access a grace period of up to 6 months for greater financial flexibility.
If you’re a small business owner who believes you can benefit from a Kiva loan, or you know one in your community, reach out. To apply for a loan visit  kiva.org/borrow and apply for a loan. 

​A List of Relief Funds for Restaurants, Bars, and Food Service Workers

Nonprofits and other grassroots organizations nationwide are working to help those affected by COVID-19

Help for Restaurants 

Dining Bond Initiative 
Seeks to bring in immediate cash in exchange for future restaurant purchases. Diners can buy gift certificates sold at 25% discounts ($1oo worth of food for a $75 bond) to be redeemed in the restaurant within the next month or two, depending on how individual restaurants decide to honor the bonds. Open to all restaurants. ​
​Southern Smoke Foundation
Houston chef Chris Shepherd’s Southern Smoke Foundation is accepting donations from well-wishers and applications for funds from restaurants and restaurant employees.
​Give Local
Support Local is an initiative that lets you show your support for your local businesses during this challenging time. The platform is built by Gannett, a news media company that includes USA TODAY and hundreds of local media brands. Our news brands have always had a special relationship with their local businesses and are dedicated to supporting them. We hope that our efforts will allow them to continue to serve their communities in the future.
Here’s how you can help:
  • Search for a local business
  • If your favorite business isn’t on the list, add it
  • Purchase a gift card now so that you can enjoy it later
Local for Later
Many restaurants are banking on gift cards to help defer costs until the pandemic subsides. An ongoing list of local businesses you can support during social distancing​
​World Central Kitchen
José Andrés and WCK have already been pitching in on coronavirus relief, feeding quarantined cruise ship passengers, but the organization’s chefs need financial help to continue preparing meals for those in need during the crisis.
Help for Restaurant and Delivery Workers

Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation
The RWCF, which works across a number of labor issues in the restaurant industry, launched the RWCF COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund. The fund collects donations to provide relief to individual workers affected by the coronavirus and to create zero-interest loans to businesses.
​One Fair Wage
The OFW campaign, a nonprofit advocating against sub-minimum-wage laws for tipped restaurant workers, launched the OFW Emergency Fund. The target $213,000 (based on the federal tipped minimum wage of $2.13/hour) will provide immediate cash assistance to restaurant employees, delivery workers, and other tipped workers in the food industry. Demand from restaurants on OFW is already surging.
​Unite Here Education and Support Fund
A labor union representing groups in the U.S. and Canada, is collecting funds to help its 300,000 members with things like rent, groceries, health insurance, and lost wages. The union represents other industries beyond food service, including hotels, airports, and casinos, but you can select a specific local group if you prefer to target your money to particular restaurant industry workers.
​ROC Disaster Relief Fund 
The nonprofit Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United has set a target of $500,000 for its emergency relief fund, which seeks to help documented and undocumented restaurant workers who lose their jobs during the pandemic.
​Spill the Dish 
A database of financial aid that combines donor funds with resources from government agencies and non-profits. It allows users to search by state, and breaks down results for restaurant workers, business owners, and individual donors. Users can also add new donation programs to the database.
Help for Bars and Bartenders 

USBG Bartender Emergency Assistance Program 
The United States Bartenders Guild is helping bartenders affected by the virus through its emergency assistance program. See if you meet the qualifications. 

Red Backpack Fund for Female Entrepreneurs 

Sara Blakely, Founder and CEO of SPANX, has decided to donate $5 million directly to female entrepreneurs to help their businesses, families and employees. This donation will immediately provide 1,000 female business owners here in the United States with $5,000 in funding each. Her hope is that this gift will help alleviate some of the pressures caused by this horrible pandemic.​ The applications to receive these donations will open April 6th and will be available for the next five months. All you have to do is visit GlobalGiving’s website at www.globalgiving.org/redbackpackfund and complete an application for The Red Backpack Fund.

In addition to the financial gift, each woman will also receive a “lucky” red backpack. ​Thanks to MasterClass’s generous donation, all 1,000 women will also receive a free annual All-Access Pass to all 80+ Masterclass instructors, including her class on entrepreneurship.
This website is underwritten by Foresite Commercial Real Estate to provide a a non-profit resource to the retail industry impacted by COVID-19.  If you would like to support this resource please do so by purchasing goods or services from a local retailer near you.