Coronavirus Information - Businesses

FOR LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESSES

We recognize the seriousness of the COVID-19 virus and the impact that it will have on our community. Emergency measures - while critical to slowing the spread of COVID-19 - are already having an economic impact on individuals, businesses, and communities and these impacts likely will be felt for months to come. The City understand that our local employers are vital to our community’s economy and is committed to facilitating communications and support from state and local resources during this time. Below are some local resources that can provide assistance during this disruption.

Additional federal and state government resources may be available in the future – as these resources become available, we will update this information.

CDC: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released an interim guide to assist businesses and employers plan, prepare and respond to Coronavirus Disease. The CDC will update this interim guidance as needed and as additional information becomes available.

Small Business Association Disaster Assistance Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as the result of COVID-19.

The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. 

Texas is currently working with the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the SBA to qualify for this declaration. Assistance will only be available to small businesses when the SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere. When the declaration is granted for the SBA EIDL program, applicants will receive information on how to apply for their loan.

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 without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. 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.

Additional information can be found on the COVID -19 Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources Page on the SBA’s website.

Like all states, the process for these loans within the State of Texas is still being developed.

Paycheck Protection Program  Paycheck Protection

This Loan program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. Learn more

 EIDL Loan Advance

EIDL Loan

This loan advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.   Learn more 

SBA Express Bridge Loans

SBA Express Bridge Loans-16

Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.  Learn more

SBA Debt Relief

SBA Debt Relief

The SBA is providing a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Learn more

Paycheck Protection Program (Additional Info)

The Paycheck Protection Program is another program by the Small Business Administration that provides cash-flow assistance through 100% federally guaranteed loans to employers who maintain their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses impacted by COVID-19 between Feb. 15 and June 30, 2020, may have eight weeks of payroll forgiven if they maintain their payroll. Additional expenses, such as rent/mortgage (interest only), utilities, and other expenses during this eight-week period may also be forgiven.

Any additional expenses outside the eight-week period are structured into a loan repayment plan with a 10-year term and interest rates of no more than 4%. The maximum loan size is equal to 250% of a business’ average monthly payroll costs between Feb. 15 and June 30, 2019, and must not exceed $10 million.

Contact any authorized SBA 7(a) lender for more information and application instructions.

Houston-Galveston Area Council Loan Program





The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is offering two loan programs to provide small businesses immediate relief so they can keep their operations running. Both programs are being managed by the Houston-Galveston Area Local Development Corporation (H-GALDC).

Small Business Bridge Loan Program

Businesses applying for an economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) may have to wait six to eight weeks before their loan is approved through the Small Business Administration.

Those businesses may apply with the H-GALDC for immediate access to capital of up to $25,000 to help with costs related to COVID-19. The bridge loan may be paid back once approved for the EIDL. Visit hgaldc.com/business-loan.aspx for more information and to apply.

Harris County COVID-19 Forgivable Loan Program

In partnership with H-GALDC, Harris County has established a $10 million-backed loan program to help area small businesses economically impacted by COVID-19 stay open and meet necessary operating expenses. These zero-interest loans are up to $25,000 each with a five-year term and a loan forgiveness component.

Loan terms include:

  • Up to $25,000 per loan
  • 0% interest
  • Five-year terms
  • Three-month grace period
  • 100% of loan forgiven after five years pending program compliance
  • Option of applying loan forgiveness proceeds to tax bill
  • No prepayment penalty

To qualify for a loan, small businesses must meet the following requirements:

  • Located in Harris County
  • In business on or before Jan. 1, 2019
  • Property taxes in good standing with Harris County Tax Office
  • Proof of negative impact by COVID-19
  • Less than $15 million net worth
  • Average net income of $5 million or less

For more information and to apply, visit harriscountyloan.com.

Additional Resources for Small Businesses


The Small Business Administration is accepting disaster relief applications from small businesses and private non-profits that have been economically impacted by COVID-19.

Emergency Economic Injury Grants and Economic Injury Disaster Loans

The Small Business Administration is offering emergency economic injury grants and economic injury disaster loans (EIDLs) for Texas for-profit small businesses and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees to overcome temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19.

The grant provides an emergency advance of up to $10,000 to small businesses and private non-profits within three days of applying for an EIDL. The EIDL loan provides up to $2 million in assistance to help businesses meet payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, and other expenses incurred during or due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information and to apply, visit www.SBA.gov/disaster.

LiftFund

(Click below for details) 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.

Loan Grant

We are here for you

If you would like to connect with us, we are currently experiencing a high volume of requests, and ask that you visit us on our website and complete our intake form.

Appointment Form

Stepping up as a small business owner isn’t easy.  But you don’t have to do it alone. LiftFund is there to help you grow my business.                   

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Small Business Daily SBA Webinars

webinar

The US Small Business Administration is offering daily webinars at multiple times of the day this week through April 3rd. These webinars will be done through Zoom Meetings online.

We will give information on how to apply and where you can get additional help with preparing and applying for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan. Sessions will allow for chat Q&A.

The information presented on all calls will be the same- join at the date and time best for you. Spanish webinars will be offered under separate announcement. Below are the times of the Webinars and Zoom Meeting Codes. Click here for all the information from SBA.

Meeting ID: 394 322 660

Join mobile +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

Meeting ID: 847 743 171

Join mobile +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

Meeting ID: 594 295 768

Join mobile +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

Meeting ID: 109 522 548

Join mobile +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

CARES ACT For Information

CaresAct

             Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist  Click for details

SBA Disaster Assistance  

(Click picture for details)

Virus

SBA | Small Business Administration Economic Injury 

Disaster Loan Program - COVID-19

Alvin Manvel Area Chamber Resources-Click Here

The TX Restaurant Association has started a relief fund. It is $5K per store for immediate needs and first come first served. For anyone seeking immediate help you visit:  https://mailchi.mp/txrestaurant.org/txrestaurantrelieffund

Please submit your Economic Injury Worksheet to: TDEMPARecovery@tdem.texas.gov

Business Owners: We need your help!

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has designated COVID-19 as a qualifying event for the provision of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for businesses and private non-profits in affected communities. Texas is currently working with SBA to qualify for this declaration.

Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and some private nonprofit organizations that have suffered substantial economic injury due to COVID-19 may be eligible for an EIDL of up to $2 million, which will provide the necessary working capital to help businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster. EIDL assistance will only be available to small businesses when the SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere.

In order for Texas to receive an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Declaration, the following must occur:

  1. Affected businesses will need to fill out an Estimated Disaster Economic Injury Worksheet certifying the business has suffered substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19 and are in need of financial assistance.
  2. The Economic Injury Worksheet should be submitted via email to TDEMPARecovery@tdem.texas.gov.
  3. Once Texas has received five SBA validated Economic Injury Worksheet, the Governor may request the Economic Injury Disaster Declaration. A county will need to submit at least one valid Economic Injury Worksheet in order to be included on the declaration. Additional counties can be added to the declaration at a later date.

To improve the process by which the state and individual counties will be declared eligible, TDEM is reaching out to business organizations and individual businesses seeking Economic Injury Worksheet submissions. TDEM ask that your organization notify its members of the availability of the program and encourage the submission of an application to determine eligibility.

Your assistance in this effort is critical in order to facilitate the declaration and certification process. TDEM will continue reaching out to your organizations as this process moves forward, and will provide additional information on applying for EIDLs once the declaration has been approved.

Should you have any further questions, please contact your local emergency management office or email the TDEMPARecovery@tdem.texas.gov.

Additional information about Economic Injury Disaster Loans -Click Here
Please submit your Economic Injury Worksheet to: TDEMPARecovery@tdem.texas.gov.

When the declaration is granted for the SBA EIDL program, applicants will receive information on how to apply for their loan.
SBA Economic Injury Loan Program Declaration Process Overview


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