COVID-19 Resources for Entrepreneurs
Here is a list of resources that include financial support as well as guides. Use these to help navigate your business through COVID-19. BizStarts will continue to update this!
An Open Letter From Our Executive Director, Patrick Snyder:
To Our Entrepreneurs and Community,
We at BizStarts hope you and your families are staying healthy and finding ways to remain harmonious during these crazy times.
In the face of many challenges, BizStarts is moving forward fearlessly to meet the demand for entrepreneurship coaching. Continue Reading…
Begin BizStarts – From the Comfort of Your Home
BizStarts wants you to remain productive during this challenging period! We provide remote and one-stop resource center that helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses. Work with a coach or a mentor, and make connections to resources from the comfort of your home!
Financial Resources
Artist Relief Fund
IMAGINEMKE has opened an artist relief fund for individual artists. Learn more and apply here.
New Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Facebook is creating a new grant program that can offer 30,000 small businesses grants using $100M. They will begin accepting applications in a few weeks, so sign up here.
Kiva Loans
Kiva lenders provide financial assistance and updated the following policies in the wake of Covid-19:
- Expanded eligibility: More businesses in the US will be eligible for a Kiva loan than ever.
- Larger loans: The maximum loan on the Kiva platform will increase from $10,000 to $15,000.
- Grace period: New borrowers may access a grace period of up to 6 months for greater financial flexibility.
If you’re a small business owner who believes you can benefit from a Kiva loan, or you know one in your community, join at kiva.org/borrow.
Small Business Administration Access to Lenders
The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides a number of loan resources for small businesses to utilize when operating their business. For more information on loans or how to connect with a lender, click here. For more guidance and tips from SBA during Covid-19, click here.
Small Business Administration Disaster Loans
The SBA has now granted WI access to disaster loans. Small business owners in Wisconsin are currently eligible to apply for a low-interest federal loan for working capital from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). These federal disaster loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of COVID-19’s impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
Assistance from Banks and Credit Card Companies
Capital One, Citi and Wells Fargo have all issued statements indicating that they are willing to work with customers that experience financial difficulties. Citi issued a statement that for 30 days, small business customers are eligible to have their monthly service fees waived.
WEDC Small Business 20/20 Program
The Small Business 20/20 Program provides grant funds to approved community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Approved CDFIs will award grants of up to $20,000 to their existing loan clients to assist with cash-flow challenges resulting from COVID-19.
Virtual Events & Connections
TopLine Results Free Webinars
Lost leads from canceled trade shows and events? TopLine Results is offering free webinars on how to generate leads with email marketing. Now is the time to lean on digital and email marketing for lead generation. Join our CMO, Jackie Brajner, and VP, Doreen Bridges, to learn best practices that can be applied to any email or digital marketing tool you are using today. Build Emails That Get Results, Wednesday, April 15th at 10AM Central. Register Now. OR Nurture Leads with Email Drip Campaigns on Wednesday, May 20th at 10AM Central. Register Now.
gener8tor Emergency Response Program
gener8tor is hosting emergency one-week virtual programs for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.
These programs will feature daily webinars designed to identify, understand and help small businesses secure resources to withstand the current crisis. One-on-one office hours will also be available. Click here to register!
MMAC and Milwaukee 7 Webinar – Focus on Small Business Needs and Crisis Communications
Join us for the next edition of our webinar series, which we intend to hold every Tuesday at 11 a.m. CT as this crisis develops. We will address different topics every week. This week’s topics are small business needs and crisis communications. Free to participate!
Support and Resources for Small & Micro-Businesses During COVID-19 Webinar
Check out this playback of a webinar from Aurora WDC. It is open to listen to anytime!
MKE Entrepreneur Support Coalition Facebook Group
This space is meant to bring together Milwaukee-Area business owners and their support systems including co-working and development organizations, investors and foundations, business improvement districts and chambers of commerce committed to the livelihood of Milwaukee’s economic health. This is a self serve space.
Safety Guides
OSHA Safety Precautions for Workplaces
This webpage provides information for workers and employers about the evolving coronavirus outbreak. The information includes links to interim guidance and other resources for preventing exposures to, and infection with, the novel coronavirus if your business is one staying open during this time.
Other Resource Centers
National Performance Network List of Resources
The NPN has compiled a list of resources for artists and art organizations. Check out their list here.
Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce – Coronavirus Guide
The MMCC offers a list of Milwaukee Area specific resources and guides to navigate Covid-19. They update their website with the latest legislation that will keep you in the know. They also offer webinars and tool kits.
US Chamber of Commerce Resource Guide
The US Chamber of Commerce has compiled articles, resources, best practices, etc. to help your business continue to thrive during the COVID-19 outbreak. They offer great articles that will give you great advice on navigating this time period.
Michael Best Resource Center
This resource guide is updated often with considerations for business owners. They will continue to keep you informed on the latest updates from lawmakers, industry experts, and health agencies.
Environmental Resource from DNR
The Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) is a free and confidential program that provides resources and answers all types of environmental questions.
Lynden Sculpture Garden List of Resources
There are many great resources specifically for artists on this page. This page will be used to post opportunities and resources of interest to visual artists: grants, requests for qualifications, professional development., emergency resources.
Other Resources
AARP Innovation Labs
AARP Community Connections, a new online platform launched by AARP Innovation Labs this week, allows users to organize and find local volunteer groups to help pick up groceries, provide financial assistance or lend emotional support to neighbors, friends and loved ones.
MKE Entrepreneur & Small Business Health Check Survey
This is the first in a series of surveys to perform a health check on the entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem during the fall-out from Covid-19. The results will be used to inform government entities such as WDEC, ecosystem building organizations, and the wider network for generating informed support and solutions.
LegalCORPS Legal Services During Coronavirus
If you would like to speak with a patent attorney regarding their invention and the protections available, please email iap@legalcorps.org. They will then work with you to schedule a free consultation appointment by phone with a patent attorney. The program continues to screen applications and match qualified inventors with patent attorneys for full representation through the patent process.
MKE Fund
If you’re a local business located in Milwaukee County affected by COVID-19, please submit your business to be included in this directory.
We’re going to list as many businesses for free as we can.