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Grants to help your business during the coronavirus outbreak
Look to your local government and private companies for cash you don't have to repay.
Last updated:
We’ll continue to update this page with resources and information as new details emerge in the world’s response to COVID-19.
Some local governments and private organizations are offering grants to small businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak. These are often highly local, so most options are only available to a select few businesses.
Grants are also typically smaller than loans, so you might need to combine multiple types of financing to fully cover your overhead.
WATCH: How your business can survive the coronavirus
What's in this guide?
Federal grants for businesses affected by COVID-19
The federal government launched a few grant programs as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the $2 trillion stimulus package passed in March 2020.
EIDL grants
Businesses that apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan can now can apply for a $10,000 advance on the loan in the form of a grant. You can apply by signing a document certifying that you meet the requirements for the loan three days after you submit your application. Even if you don’t get approved, you don’t need to repay the grant.
Business education center grants
The SBA is offering grants for centers that offer education and training to small businesses dealing with the coronavirus outbreak, like Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). While small businesses might not see this money directly, you’ll likely have more access to resources to help you find funding — including other grants.
Trade grants
The SBA is expanding State Trade Expansion grants from 2018–2019 to continue into the 2020–2021 fiscal year. And businesses that have lost revenue due to canceled trips abroad and trade shows can apply to get reimbursed. The SBA hasn’t issued guidelines on how to apply yet.
How else can your business benefit from the stimulus package?
Does the Paycheck Protection Program offer grants?
Not exactly. The Paycheck Protection Program is a new loan program established by the CARES Act. Your business can apply for forgiveness on the first eight weeks of documented overhead expenses. If that doesn’t cover your full balance, you have to pay off the pay off the rest of the loan over two years at a 1% interest rate.
Private grants for businesses affected by COVID-19
A few large corporations started to offer grants to businesses that have lost revenue due to the coronavirus outbreak. More may follow suit as the impact on small businesses grows.
Amazon grant
After Amazon asked employees to work from home, it launched a $5 million grant program to help small businesses near its Seattle and Bellevue campuses cope with the loss of business. Grant amounts are based on how much the business is expected to lose in revenue in March 2020.
Arizona Community Foundation
The Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) created the Arizona COVID-19 Community Response Fund (CRF) in order to assist Arizona nonprofits. Grants are split into two types: immediate relief and long-term recovery.Immediate relief grants can be used to directly help Arizona residents with basic necessities like housing, utilities, health services and more. It can also be used to cover general operations affected by the outbreak. Every 30 days nonprofits can reapply for an immediate relief grant, as needed.
Long-term recovery grants are intended to assist with the lasting effects of lost revenue due to COVID-19. Nonprofits can apply for one long-term recovery grant.
CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and Vogue have announced the launch of a fashion fund to provide grants to businesses in the industry during the COVID-19 outbreak. Guidelines for the grant program are still in the works, but applications will be available on the CDFA website starting April 8.
CSFA
The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) has launched two donation-based grant programs for nonprofits: The CFSA COVID-19 Community Support Fund and Nonprofit Event Relief Fund. The community support fund offers grants from $3,000 to $20,000 to cover general expenses. The nonprofit event fund offers funding from $3,000 to $10,000 to nonprofits that had to cancel fundraisers due to the outbreak.
Cisco grant
Tech company Cisco announced that it would be offering a total of $8 million in cash grants to small businesses. Cisco also plans on offering $120 million in free access to its products, some of which can help businesses adapt as employees work from home. As of April 1, it’s unclear when the grants will be available, how to apply or which businesses qualify. You can find more information Cisco’s coronavirus page as details emerge.
Facebook grant
Facebook launched a $100 million small business grants program offering cash and ad credits for up to 30,000 companies across 30 countries. Applications and requirements are not available as of April 1, but you can sign up for updates on the Boost with Facebook website.
GoFundMe matching grant
This crowdfunding platform teamed up with QuickBooks and Yelp to offer $500 grants to small businesses. Grants go to small businesses that have raised that amount through independent crowdfunding campaigns.
Local grants for businesses affected by COVID-19
Some cities that placed restrictions on small business operations have started to offer grants to affected businesses.
Beaverton, OR
Beaverton, Oregon is offering grants through its Emergency Business Assistance program. This grant offers reimbursements for up to 100% of mortgage or rent expenses for small businesses after March 16, 2020 — up to $2,500.
Denver, CO
Denver is offering grants to businesses affected by COVID-19 through the Denver Small Business Emergency Relief Fund. Businesses can get up to $7,500 in free funding to cover operating expenses
Hillsboro, OR
Hillsboro is offering grants of up to $5,000 through the Hillsboro Small Business Emergency Relief Program between March 23 and April 30, 2020.
New York, NY
New York City recently launched an Employee Retention Grant program. This program offers grants to cover up to 40% of payroll costs for two months or up to $27,000 to keep employees on staff. Applications close at 5 p.m. on April 3, 2020. It’s unclear if the city has plans to reopen the grant program in the future.
4 more financial assistance programs for New York businesses
San Francisco, CA
San Francisco is offering a similar program to small businesses called the COVID-19 Small Business Resiliency Fund. This fund offers up to $10,000 for small businesses to cover rent and payroll after experiencing a loss during the coronavirus outbreak. It’s administering the grants in partnership with Northeast Community Federal Credit Union.
State grants for businesses affected by the coronavirus
These states have started offering cash injections for small businesses that have been affected. Check with your state’s chamber of commerce to learn about other financial assistance programs if you don’t see your state listed here — or just want to know more.
Maryland
Maryland established a $50 million Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund for small businesses and nonprofits affected by the outbreak. You can get funding for up to three months of operating expenses or $10,000 — whichever is less.
Michigan
The State of Michigan is offering grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses through the Michigan Small Business Relief Program. Like its loans program, grants will be available starting on April 1, 2020. Details on how to apply are not available as of March 24.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin offers grants of up to $20,000 to cover operating expenses and other costs associated with the COVID-19 outbreak, like paid sick leave. These will be available through CDFIs across the state. Currently there isn’t any information about which CDFIs are participating in the program or application criteria. But it should be available by the second week of April.
Additional ways to finance your business
Grants aren’t widely available or substantial enough to cover most small business needs during the outbreak. You’ll likely need to combine them with other types of funding. Many businesses are also setting up crowdfunding campaigns to avoid taking on more debt.
After you exhaust no-cost options, look for government resources. Some state and local governments have started offering low- and interest-free loans to combat the coronavirus impact. And the Small Business Administration (SBA) now has two low-interest loan programs, including disaster loans and Paycheck Protection Loans.
If you need money fast, look into more traditional cashflow solutions like lines of credit and business loans. Talk to your bank, or consider applying online. Online lenders tend to have a faster turnaround and more flexible requirements — though they’re often more expensive. Small businesses and nonprofits in particular might also want to apply for other types of business grants to cover costs.
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Apply for a Paycheck Protection Loan today
Below is a list of online lenders offering SBA Paycheck Protection Loans. We recommend applying as soon as possible, since funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Updated April 8th, 2020
Bottom line
Coronavirus business grants aren’t readily available to most small businesses. But they may become more widespread as the coronavirus outbreak continues to affect your bottom line. Reach out to your local Small Business Development Center to stay up to date on the options available to you. And read our guide to the coronavirus outbreak for more resources.
