Supporting Communities Impacted by COVID-19: Resources
Small Business Strong's business advisors & functional specialists are here to help your business succeed, from raising your revenue and improving your payroll process, to creating digital marketing and sales strategies, and more.
LISC is the program manager for Small Business Strong, a non-profit organization that provides expedited, pro-bono support for women and entrepreneurs of color navigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their businesses.
The LISC Digital Growth Accelerator is a 7-week, post-pandemic boost for businesses. It leverages consulting teams and digital tools to empower businesses of color to strengthen their core business, grow their capacity and double their revenue. Apply to be in the next cohort.
Small businesses across the country are at serious risk. LISC understands these enterprises are the lifeblood of communities, providing critical goods and services as well as jobs to locals. Right now, small businesses desperately need emergency assistance to bridge the gap and stay afloat until the crisis passes. Here are the ways LISC is providing assistance to the small business community nationwide.
Sign up to receive updates from LISC about Rapid Relief and Resiliency initiatives Massachusetts including the Equitable PPP Access Initiative and the Digital Growth Accelerator.
This program is now closed. | This was an SBACOVID-19 relief program for one of the most affected sectors of the economy: food businesses. The RRF was designed to provide $5B in grants to independent restaurants, food trucks, catering business, and other food service businesses with fewer than 20 locations. The Massachusetts Equitable PPP Access Initiative is helping restaurant owners of color and underserved businesses access and apply for RRF.
In preparation for the SBA's SVOG Program, LISC held a webinar to provide information on program eligibility and application preparation, with an emphasis on helping venues in underserved communities prepare for rollout through actionable steps and best practices.
This program is now closed. See instructions on next steps for those who applied and received help from our coalition partners for the State grant program, administered by Mass. Growth Capital Corporation.
The results of a July 2020 survey from The MassINC Polling Group helps answer that question. Click here for more on the comprehensive, statewide data about how small businesses are faring. LISC Boston was a survey co-sponsor.
This program is now closed. Check back for updates. Small Business Owners in MA -- before you kick back to enjoy Super Bowl LV and the Verizon Big Concert for Small Business, be sure to register for Small Business Recovery grants. You’ll need to act fast -- the application for the next round of $10K grants is only open February 8 + 9.
Thanks to generous funders, small businessess can apply to LISC for grants nationwide to weather the immediate financial pressure due to COVID-19.
Las pequeñas empresas de todo el país están enfrentando desafíos económicos extremos como resultado de la pandemia por COVID-19. Ya está abierto el período de solicitudes para la cuarta ronda. Aprende más.
The List Below was Last Updated 6/5/2020 at 6:41 pm.
For Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs
Boston Globe Media Fund to Support Black Owned Businesses Boston Globe Media announced the launch of a new initiative to raise awareness and support for local Black-owned businesses. Working with media partner, Black Owned Bos., a locally curated business directory and resource platform, the Support Black Owned campaign will provide complimentary advertising space in The Boston Globe and on Globe.com and Boston.com to Black-owned businesses in the Greater Boston area.
Eligible businesses can submit an application at Globe.com/SupportBlackOwned to provide their own ads to run in print and digital for a scheduled two-week rotation. A full list of participating businesses will be featured weekly in the Boston Sunday Globe and on both Boston Globe Media and Black Owned Bos. social media platforms.
Madison Park MWBE Contractor Relief Fund - Grant - Rolling Deadline / First Come, First Served
Madison Park Development Corporation's Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise Contractor Relief Fund is accepting applications for grants of up to $2,500 grants for qualified contractors who have been sidelined due to the COVID-19. This opportunity is for minority and women-owned businesses in Boston.
The Red Backpack Fund for businesses and nonprofits led by women - Applications Due June 8
The Red Backpack Fund is an initiative of The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation, managed by GlobalGiving. GlobalGiving is pleased to announce that the application has reopened. Learn more about Fund by visiting our FAQs on here. The business or nonprofit must meet all of the criteria below in order to be eligible to apply including being at least 51% majority women owned.
LCR | BIZ Grow Grants Available - Deadline: Friday, May 28
Lawyers for Civil Rights and Tufts Health Plan are collaborating to provide support to struggling small businesses located in communities that are particularly hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Eligible small businesses affected by the coronavirus can apply for $1000 to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE); technology allowing their employees to work safely remotely; and other health and wellness-related support to help their reopening. Apply by May 28.
LISC's Local Funding Opportunities - Massachusetts and Multistate Resources
LISC is actively curating funding opportunities and resources across the country that may be helpful to our partners. This is a list of funders organized by state that are now accepting – or soon will accept – applications from nonprofit organizations, businesses, and workers who need more support in this time of crisis.
Fairmount Cultural Corridor Artist Relief Fund - Deadline: Friday, May 15
Grants of $1,000 for artists of color living or working along the Fairmount Cultural Corridor (in the communities of Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park) that have been impacted by COVID-19. For more, visit the site and form, here.
MGCC and MACDC - Round 2 of the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program - PPP - (Open 4/27), translation resources, and techncial assistance
MGCC and MACDC urge all Massachusetts Small Businesses Affected by COVID-19 to apply for the second round of SBA's Paycheck Protection Program Once it is available on Monday, 4/27 at 10:30 am EST. Offering multi-lingual translation resources and technical assistance to applicants.
MGCC - COVID-19 Small Business Recovery Loan Fund - PROGRAM CLOSED
A loan fund of $10 million has been created by the Baker-Polito administration to provide financial relief to Massachusetts businesses that have been affected by COVID-19. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will receive and process all applications for this fund. Applications can be found on the MGCC website at empoweringsmallbusiness.org
MassPort Message to Disadvantaged Business Owners-- April 27, 2020 - PDF
MassPort Message to Disadvantaged Business Owners with resources for small businesses (incl. SBA, Black Business Relief Fund, SBA, James Beard Foundation, Microsoft, Center for Women & Enterprise, and more).
LISC Nationwide Grant Program for Small Businesses -- Round III Opens 5/14 -- sign up for updates for future rounds.
With funding from Verizon, Sam's Club, and other supporters, the team at LISC that serves communities nationwide is providing grants to small businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19. LISC is building our nationwide Rapid Relief and Resiliency Fund and our local effort for Massachusetts. Learn more about LISC's programs and initiatives nationwide and sign up to receive alters about future funding rounds here.
LISC Nationwide Grant Program for Small Businesses - in Spanish, En español
Facebook's Small Business Grants Program
Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits to help during this challenging time.
Union Capital's UCB COVID19 Support Fund
Union Capital is seeking everyone's help in a one-time direct gift campaign to send Visa gift cards to those who need it urgently in the Greater Boston area. 100% of everyone's donation will go immediately to families in need. This Fund is open to all Greater Boston area residents, not just UCB Members.
More info about the Fund is below, as well as on the donation site.
CommonWealth Kitchen - Running a Food Business in the face of COVID-19
CommonWealth Kitchen has compiled resources available for HR, financial, and other aspects of food businesses that are impacted by COVID-19 and the precautions around it. The document evolves as new resources come out.
The U.S. Small Business Administration – Massachusetts District Office
Next Steps for Small Businesses
– SBA Resources
-- SBA Website
City of Boston - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates for Boston
-- City of Boston - 3/17/2020 Coronavirus Email Update + Mealsites Information
-- The Boston Resiliency Fund
The Boston Resiliency Fund is the City of Boston’s effort to help coordinate fundraising and philanthropic efforts to provide essential services to Boston residents whose health and well-being are most immediately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. We also working to help first responders and critical care providers.
The emerging priorities of the Boston Resiliency Fund are to provide food for children and seniors, technology for remote learning for students, and support to first responders and healthcare workers.
Massachusetts WorkShare Program
"The WorkShare program is an alternative for employers faced with a cut in workforce. Employers can divide available work between affected employees instead of laying off workers. It allows employees to receive a part of their unemployment insurance (UI) benefits while working reduced hours."
Information Clearinghouses & Resource Lists
MACDC – Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations
Visit MACDC’s website for COVID-19 updates and sign up for the MACDC mailing list.
The Boston Foundation's COVID-19 Response Fund
The COVID-19 Response Fund has been established by a coalition of business, government and philanthropic partners to rapidly deploy flexible resources to organizations in Greater Boston that are working with communities that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus outbreak.
-- TBF's List of Other COVID-19 Response Efforts
CHAPA – Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association
COVID-19 affordable housing updates and resources plus lists of other resources and ways to take action.
Local Housing Solutions - COVID-19 Resources
A running list of resources related to eviction moratoriums, affordable housing and community development, homelessness outreach efforts and related resources and more.
MSGA - Kresge Grassroots Funding Opportunity - Applications Due April 3
Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance Kresge Grassroots funding opportunity for rapid response advocacy and organzing efforts on housing and health equity.
Nixon Peabody
-- Nixon Peabody - HUD issues updates to FAQs for owners of multifamily assisted housing on dealing with COVID-19 and legal guidance for closing transactions (3/19/2020)
Affordable Housing Alert- "HUD has updated previously released FAQs, providing additional guidance for owners and managers of HUD-insured and HUD-assisted multifamily housing. This alert reviews the new guidance and newly established protocols for closing FHA-insured multifamily loans and other transactions during remote work situations."
--Nixon Peabody - COVID-19 Guidance for Owners and Managers of Multifamily Residential Properties (3/16/2020)
Real Estate Alert -"We discuss topics that owners, managers and other providers of market-rate and affordable housing should consider as they make plans to address the COVID-19 virus."
Crisis Communications Resource
JPMorgan Chase- Spitfire Strategies Crisis Communications Webinar Series
JPMC is partnering with the communications experts at Spitfire Strategies to provide access to two webinars that may be helpful to nonprofit partners at this time.
(1) Communicating During a Crisis Webinar - Wednesday, March 18 at 1:00 pm ET
(2) The Smart Crisis Communication Plans Webinar - Wednesday, March 25 at 1 pm ET
Massachusetts State and Local Government Updates and Resources
State of Massachusetts - Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)