SBN’s Response to COVID-19

We can’t stop thinking about you, your businesses, and your employees, or the ways SBN can best help in the rapidly changing circumstances around COVID-19 precautions. 

Somehow there is both a plethora of resources being offered and not enough or not the right ones, which is contributing to your feelings of confusion and overwhelm. 

SBN will continue to curate resources for you. We remain your community of practicing triple bottom line businesses; please lean on us so we can ensure we know your needs and ideas for additional resources, and raise them to the attention of decision-makers in the City and State. We have created a task force and are meeting regularly to discuss the greatest challenges and needs that we can bring to the powers that be. 

Meantime, please continue to communicate with us and track your losses.  What resources or ideas do you want to share with SBN and your peers to help our community?  Please email: [email protected].

This is not an easy time, so please also allow yourself to feel your feelings, remember you are not alone, and reach out for support. 

Sincerely,

Anna and Allegra

Anna Shipp

Executive Director

Allegra Derengowski

Chief Operating Officer

The Latest:

In addition to what you’ll find here, we are diligently putting together more information for our small business owners. We are wary of moving too quickly – there are many professionals giving advice that differ from each other, and we are taking the time to sort through the advice our members are receiving.

Gov. Wolf announces The COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program to provide up to $100,000 in loans to small businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees.

Congress and the White House strike a deal for a $2 trillion stimulus package that will provide critical financial support to distressed businesses, direct payment to taxpayers and for jobless benefits.

The City and PIDC launches the Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund.

Philadelphia issues Stay at Home order as of 8am March 23rd:

https://mailchi.mp/phila.gov/city-issues-stay-at-home-order-clarifying-restrictions-on-business-activity-in-philadelphia?e=fa9c7824f0

Governor Wolf orders all non-life-sustaining businesses in PA to close:

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/03/all-non-life-sustaining-businesses-in-pa-must-close-gov-wolf.html

COVID-19 resources for your small businesses

The Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund offers grants or zero-interest loans to local small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

An incredible resource page from our friends at the U.S. Federation of Worker Co-ops, linking to webinars, CDC news and updates, financial relief resources, emergency planning checklists, and more. 

PA and Philadelphia-specific resources can be found here.

The City and PIDC are working to launch a program to support Philadelphia businesses, help maintain payroll obligations, and preserve jobs impacted by the spread of COVID-19. The program will be a tiered program that aims to provide targeted support for small businesses. The program will include a mix of new grants and zero-interest loans for Philadelphia businesses that make under $5 million in annual revenue. PIDC will continue to offer its existing lending programs for small and midsize businesses on flexible terms to provide working capital, fund contract receivables, refinance high-interest debt, and meet other needs. To inform them of local business’ most pressing needs, they are asking Philadelphia’s business community to please fill out this brief survey. 

NOTE: The more responses they receive, the higher likelihood they will be able to offer the appropriate resources. More details about the program, including how businesses can apply, will be announced in the coming days, and the Commerce Department’s Office of Business Services is available to answer questions businesses may have during this difficult time. They can be reached through the business services hotline (215-683-2100) and email ([email protected]).

Pennsylvania is actively working to declare a state of emergency in order to access SBA emergency financing: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources.  Please contact your lenders for temporary payment plans.

Some state tax agencies have begun issuing tax filing and/or payment extensions for those affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.  So far PA is not one of them, but you can check here for updates.

The US government’s website where you can check your eligibility for benefits: https://www.benefits.gov/

“There was a recent change to the bankruptcy law which makes it more useful to save small businesses. It is called sub-chapter 5 and seems to be a timely and potentially perfect fit for small businesses that run into financial problems because of Covid-19. …Call an experienced bankruptcy lawyer to find out if you can [make] a plan…”
Note: The firm that shared this post represents creditors, but had the needs of small businesses in mind when sharing.

COVID-19 resources for your employees

The US government’s website where your staff can check their eligibility for benefits: https://www.benefits.gov/

Mental health and addiction services remain available to Philadelphia residents: https://www.phila.gov/2020-03-16-mental-health-services-available-through-covid-19-closures/

Philadelphia courts have a temporary moratorium on evictions: https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-halts-evictions-as-coronavirus-bears-down/

PHA has suspended evictions for 30 days: https://www.globest.com/2020/03/16/courts-housing-authority-suspend-evictions-in-philadelphia/?slreturn=20200218124831

GSI Partners

PWD’s Stormwater Incentives Team Update: Stormwater Grant application deadline is pushed back to July 1st, and pre-application meeting deadline has been extended. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/PAPHILAWATER/bulletins/281af09

General Resources