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 20^th 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 10^th 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