
June 1, 2020
To aid the entrepreneurs in the Lakeland area during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have compiled a resource pack, featuring funding streams, productivity tools, and information updates from local, statewide, and national sources.
RECENTLY UPDATED
Polk CARES Small Business Grants
• Polk CARES Small Business Grants requirements + grant amounts have recently been updated
• Grant amounts have been doubled, and now range from $2,000 – $10,000
• Applicants can now apply whether or not they have received other stimulus funding, such as PPP, EIDL, or SBA debt relief
• Read full grant details + updates here
LOCAL RESOURCES
Disaster Loans for Small Businesses COVID-19 by the SBDC
• Resources around working remote, selling online, funding help, & staying healthy
• Updated with new information regularly
Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
• Checklist & FAQ’s from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Payroll Protection Program Update Slide Deck from CenterState Bank
• List of needed documentation to apply for the SBA Payroll Protection Program
Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
• Clarifies answers to frequently asked questions about emergency loans
• More Coronavirus resources form the US Chamber of Commerce can be found here
State of the Spark Corona Recovery Dashboard
• Resources around working remote, selling online, funding help, & staying healthy
• Updated with new information regularly
• Complimentary website updates regarding COVID-19 information by contacting
support@stateofthespark.com with your request
CareerSource Polk: Short Time Compensation Information
• Information, links & examples about this program from the Florida DEO
• Helpful clarification for both employers and employees
Good Intents Free Local SEO Updates
• Catapult Members Good Intents are offering free changes to Google Business Listings
• Update customers on how your operations have been affected by COVID-19
• Good Intents has also written an article with tips about remote working as a team
State of the Spark Free Website Updates
• Complimentary website updates regarding COVID-19 information
• Email support@stateofthespark.com with your request
City of Lakeland Cancellations & Closures
• List of government offices and closures
• Website will be updated as pandemic develops
Bridge Local Zoom Meetings
• Calendar of scheduled Zoom meetings around Lakeland small business support
• View recordings of past meetings on their Facebook page
Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Resource Guide
• Includes links to Florida Chamber information + general business tips
• List of Lakeland Chamber Restaurant Takeout & Delivery Options
• List of local businesses offering gift cards for purchase, submit an addition to the list here
STATEWIDE RESOURCES
The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program
• Short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses experiencing economic hardship
• Small business owners with two to 100 employees can apply
• Up to $50,000 of relief available per business
Embarc Collective Open Source COVID-19 Database
• Professional and personal resources for startup operators
• Work from home tips, productive tools, collaboration software
• Accepting contributions to the database here.
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
• Online applications available for Reemployment Assistance
• Reemployment Assistance Hotline available at 1-800-204-2418
• Provides a COVID-19 FAQ resource for those filing
Florida Health Department COVID-19 Information
• Florida specific resources surrounding the state’s response to COVID-19
• Dashboard featuring information about COVID-19 cases in Florida
NATIONAL RESOURCES
Building a StoryBrand Podcast: Your Checklist for Getting Through a Crisis
• Host Donald Miller + StoryBrand CEO share a 6-part checklist for business survival
• 43 minute listen, available on all podcast platforms
Save Small Business Grants
• $5,000 grants available from U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
• Eligible businesses must have between 3-20 employees
• Application requires a business’s W-9 and roughly 10 minutes to complete
• Applications go live on Monday, April 20th at 12:00 p.m. PT.
Medium Article: Dear Non-Profits, Small Businesses, Artists, Freelancers, Gig Workers, Self-Employers, Part-Timers, and Solo Shop Warriors Wondering What’s Next: This Money is For You. Please Take It.
• Plain language breakdown of stimulus funding streams
• Written by Amanda Kool, lawyer and founder of AfLARA
• Updated as new information comes available
CO.STARTERS Recovery Guide
• Aggregated list of outside nationwide resources
• Offers a free weekly “REFOCUS” workshop to help founders adapt their business model to COVID-19
• Hosts a “Straight Talk with Starters” weekly call to help founders connect and brainstorm with others
Salesforce Cares: $10,000 Small Business Grants + Business Resources
• Salesforce is giving $5,000,000 away in the form of $10,000 grants to help keep businesses afloat
• They are also offering free access to Salesforce Essentials
Up and Running Program by eBay
• eBay is giving new businesses a free basic eBay story for 3 months
• This will allow business owners to get help on marketing and merchandising
Inc. Stimulus 2020 Q&A
• Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted a virtual town hall to answer questions about the PPP
• Important takeaways from the town hall are available in bite-sized videos on their website
• Inc. will be hosting another town hall on April 10th to review stimulus program updates.
U.S. Dept. of the Treasury: Paycheck Protection Program Update
• Small businesses will be able to apply for a loan under PPP starting Friday, April 3
• Dept. released a top line overview of the program
• Information for borrowers can be found here
• Application for borrowers is now available
U.S. Senate Summary of All Small Business Administration Support Options
• Overview document compiled by the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
• Breaks out FAQs for small business owners about programs established by the CARES Act
• Includes Paycheck Protection Program, Disaster Loans, and the Small Business Debt Relief Program
NYTimes: F.A.Q. on Stimulus Checks, Unemployment and the Coronavirus Bill
• Commonly asked questions regarding new legislation
• Includes information around unemployment updates and stimulus checks
Shopify’s Ecommerce Business Blueprint
• Resource compiled by Ecommerce platform Shopify
• How to build, launch, and grow a profitable online store
• Key tips around shipping costs, online store design, and more
SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans
• Loans available of up to $2 million in assistance
• Long-term repayments available, up to a maximum of 30 years
• Apply at disasterloan.sba.gov
CO.STARTERS Recovery Guide
• Broad list of outside links to nationwide resources
• Funding resources and tips for micro loans and grants
Facebook for Business Resource Hub
• Resources such as toolkits, action guides, and more
Startup Commons Free Online Innovation Entrepreneurship Course
• Offer 100% discounts for online courses
• Modules covering the startup journey, formation, validation, scaling
RESTAURANT INDUSTRY RESOURCES
Rally for Restaurants
• Platform for buying gift cards to independent restaurants
• Use a ZIP Code search to find local favorites link Good Thyme or Mojo Federal
• Invite restaurant owners to platform via link
Women in Hospitality United
• A crowd sourced Google Sheet around restaurants’ responses to COVID-19
• Ideas for how to adjust service during outbreak
• Ideas for how to support staff
One Fair Wage
• Applications currently open for emergency relief for service workers
• Providing emergency cash gifts to applicants
• Accepting donations to continue relief efforts
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United
• A national fund for restaurant worker relief
• Applications currently open
• Accepting donations here
Restaurant Workers Community Foundation
• Nationwide fund for displaced restaurant workers
• Fund currently under construction
• Email covidhelp@restaurantworkerscf.org to join waitlist
USBG National Charity Foundation
• Launched the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program to aid needs
• Do not need to be a USBG member to apply for a philanthropic grant
Lakeland’s newest small business – Local online newspaper Lakeland Gazette website http://www.lakelandgazette.info Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LakelandGazette
I would love to include that many Lakeland businesses perhaps have no knowledge of an employee payroll tax credit that is still available to qualify for. Even for businesses that received PPP Loans. The ERC (Employee Retention Credit) is part of The Cares Act and is still up and running for a few months more for businesses that retained their employees during Covid time. Businesses from 5-500 employees can qualify and it’s not a loan they must repay. I found this information to share. To Verify check: https://www.erctaxcredit.today