uschamber.com – Oct, 2020
Disaster Assistance Loans

From disaster assistance loans to fee forgiveness from banks and credit card companies, there are many resources offering relief to struggling small businesses during COVID-19. — Getty Images/PeopleImages

One way or another, coronavirus has likely impacted your business — for better or worse. We’ve been busy creating content to help you through this challenging time. It is organized here by category to help you easily navigate through it all.

If you’re just getting started with reading our coverage, we suggest you start here first. These are our general articles on small business resources available during the coronavirus outbreak:

If you’re trying to get a better understanding of the federal government’s coronavirus stimulus legislation, you can read about that here:

If you’re looking for financial assistance and considering applying for a small business loan, we’ve got you covered. Here is all of our coronavirus small business loan content:

Now is also a challenging time for managing employees, keeping morale and productivity up and ensuring your company culture stays intact. Here is all of our content about managing your team through coronavirus:

Staying connected with customers is always challenging, but it’s more important now than ever. If you’re looking for creative ways to do that, check out our customer-focused marketing content:

Trying to run your business from home? With kids running around in circles? We get it. Here is some of our best advice on how to adjust to your new headquarters:

Looking for some inspiration? Here are some examples of how small businesses are adapting in the face of coronavirus:

How will coronavirus impact businesses in the long run? Here we ask experts to provide analysis on the ongoing outbreak and how businesses are adapting and will continue to adapt:

COVID-19 has brought the world’s economy to a grinding halt. The economic impact and recovery will last for months, and potentially even years. As congress and other government authorities move to save different areas of the economy, it’s important to understand what resources you have available to you as a small business owner.

Everyone’s first priority during this pandemic should be to stay safe and healthy — but maintaining your business’s health can be equally important. Take advantage of the following resources so you can stay informed and lessen the impact of the crisis.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assistance This section was updated with new information on 3/30/20:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put together a number of resources for small business.

  • This toolkit to help businesses and citizens alike understand how to navigate the coronavirus. There are guidelines on how small business owners can ensure they are keeping their customers and employees safe. The toolkit also includes a business preparedness checklist. This checklist can help you figure out what to prioritize and to create a plan of communication for your employees.
  • This customizable flyer allows small businesses to communicate their coronavirus efforts to their customers. You can find the flyer here.
  • This Chamber guide walks you through the SBA loan applications process. You can see it here: U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Loan Guide.
  • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has created a full list of programs providing financial assistance to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. You can find that here.
  • You can also connect with your local Chamber of Commerce to see what local programs are being implemented and connect with other business owners in your area. You can find your local Chamber of Commerce here.

Assistance from the SBAThis section was updated with new information on 3/31/20:
The SBA is offering a few key programs to help small businesses survive the coronavirus outbreak. They are:

  • SBA Disaster Assistance Loans
  • SBA-Backed Paycheck Protection Program Loans (which will be from your bank)
  • Emergency $10,000 grants

You can read our full coverage of SBA assistance here.
The SBA has created a comprehensive Coronavirus page with all of its resources in one place. You can find that page here.

The SBA announced it would offer disaster assistance loans for up to $2 million for small businesses affected by the coronavirus. These low-interest loans are available to businesses that have sustained “substantial economic injury” due to the spread of the coronavirus. You can apply for one of those loans here.

The SBA is also backing what are called Payroll Protection Loans. These loans are convertible to grants and do not have to be paid back provided you use the money for a list of acceptable expenses, primarily payroll. These loans are available from private lenders. The treasury department has just release more information on these loans. You can learn more here and see the application here. You will still need to apply at your local bank. You can also learn more about these loans in this Emergency Small Business Loan Guide from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

[For a full breakdown of SBA loans and federal response read: Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus Federal Small Business Stimulus Aid Programs]
In addition to disaster relief loans, the SBA has a comprehensive list of resources available to small businesses during the crisis. This includes COVID-19 fact sheets; strategies for employees to adhere to; common problems small businesses may face, like supply chain shortfalls; and local assistance information.

Export-Import Bank of the United States. Additionally, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has announced relief measures for U.S. exporters and financial institutions that include waivers, deadline extensions, streamlined processing and flexibility for its customers for an initial period of 30 days, with the possibility of more, for the following programs:

  • Working Capital Guarantee Program.
  • Multi-Buyer and Single-Buyer Short-Term Insurance Program.
  • Medium-Term Single-Buyer Insurance Policies Issued to Exporters.


For everything you need to know about applying for a small business loan, see the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Loan Guide.

SCORESCORE is offering advice and assistance from its business mentors including help navigating financial challenges and assistance in applying for SBA disaster assistance loans. SCORE has centralized all of its assistance options here.

SBDCSmall Business Development Centers are local offices sponsored by the SBA to help small businesses. While the SBA has provided its own resources, SBDCs are also offering extensive help to small businesses throughout America.
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This includes OSHA resources and information, like preparing workplaces for COVID-19, preventing worker exposure to COVID-19 and additional OSHA resources. You can also find links to the National Cyber Security Alliance for information on how to stay safe online during the pandemic and avoid typical scams associated with the disaster.

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