
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