Coronavirus Relief Programs by State

By Ben Geier, CEPF®

Though the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides a bevy of recovery measures on the federal level, including stimulus checks for individuals and  small business relief programs, many states have created their own initiatives to help their residents weather the economic downturn this COVID-19 pandemic has fomented.

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Whether they entail industry-specific relief programs to help the struggling restaurant industry in a particular state or micro-loans made available to businesses according their size, the state-based programs are targeted to provide a necessary shot in the arm to certain industries and toss a life raft to business owners.

To see what your state has to offer and what programs you might qualify for, check out what’s available below:

With a strict shelter-in-place order state-wide, California has also implemented a series of unemployment, sick-leave and small business programs to help residents weather COVID-19… read more

Florida’s Reemployment Assistance Program and its Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program provide life rafts to individuals and business owners, respectively, during the COVID-19 pandemic… read more

Though the Peach State hasn’t been hit by coronavirus as hard as some parts of the country, it has issued a state-wide stay-at-home-order and implemented programs to help individuals and businesses… read more

The State of New York — especially New York City — is one of the epicenters for the COVID-19 epidemic in the U.S. But there are plenty of local recovery programs… read more

The COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program (CWCA) offers loans up to $100,000 for Pennsylvania small businesses with 100 employees or fewer. Additional state-level programs can help individuals and business owners alike… read more

Texas doesn’t offer much in the way of state-level programs for coronavirus relief, but there are a few options that complement federal recovery efforts… read more

Given that Seattle was one of the early hot spots for the coronavirusepidemic in the U.S., Washington State has implemented a number of programs to assist its residents… read more

Arizona has passed a $50 million bill for coronavirus relief, but leaves much of the details in the hands of Gov. Doug Ducey. For this reason, more details aren’t available at this time in terms of how exactly it will help small businesses or what businesses will need to do to get funds. The bill does specify that businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 50 employees will receive relief.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has announced that the state will use $12 million from Community Development Block Grants and $4 million from the state’s Quick Action Closing Fund to help small businesses struggling during the outbreak.

Denver, the largest city in Colorado, is offering businesses up to $7,500 if they are in an industry that is particularly impacted by the crisis. There still aren’t many details on how this program will work, but interested businesses can fill out a form here.

Gov. John Carney announced that restaurants, bars, hotels and other hospitality businesses will be eligible for the Hospitality Emergency Loan Program (HELP), offering no-interest loans at up to $10,000 per business per month. The loans have a 10-year term and have payments deferred for nine months. To be eligible, a business must have been operating for at least a year, have annual revenue below $1.5 million and be in a hospitality-connected industry. You can email business@delaware.gov to see if you qualify or call 302-739-4271 with more questions.

Chicago, Illinois’ largest city, is working with the Catalyst Fund and private sponsors to offer the Chicago Small Business Resiliency Loan Fund. It will provide more than $100 million in low-interest loans to businesses severely impacted by the crisis, focusing on historically under-resourced communities. Up to $50,000 will be available to a single business. The program launches March 31, but interested businesses can fill out an interest form here.

The state of Illinois also has three programs. The Hospitality Emergency Grant Program has $14 million in funds for bars and restaurants impacted by the crisis. Businesses that generated less than $500,000 revenue in 2019 are eligible for up to $10,000. Establishments with between $500,000 and $1 million in 2019 revenue are eligible for $25,000. Bars and restaurants with 2019 revenue of between $1 million and $8 million are eligible for up to $50,000. Apply here. Applications are taken through April 1 and recipients are chosen via lottery.

The second program in Illinois is the Illinois Small Business Emergency Loan Fund. These are loans for up to $50,000 available for businesses outside of Chicago with fewer than 50 workers and less than $3 million in revenue in 2019. Apply here.

The final Illinois program is the Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program, offering grants of up to $25,000. Local governments will apply for these loans on behalf of local businesses with 50 employees or less. The application is here.

Iowa has launched the Iowa Small Business Relief Program, giving assistance to businesses impacted by COVID-19. The program offers grants of between $5,000 and $25,000 which can be used to help maintain operations or reopen following the pandemic. Funds cannot be used to pay debts incurred before March 17, 2020. The application deadline is March 31, and the application is available here.

Iowa also has a business tax deferral, allowing businesses to defer taxes and have penalties waive. Apply for that program here.

Kansas allocated $5 million for the Hospitality Industry Relief Emergency (HIRE) fund to provide bridge loans to businesses in the hospitality industry. The loans are for up to $20,000 at a 0% rate over a period of 36 months. Kansas has allocated all of the initial funds but is still asking businesses to fill out the form here to continue to collect information about businesses that need help.

Maine has launched a program for small businesses to get loans of up to $50,000 at the Wall Street Journal Prime rate minus 1%. The term is 12 months but can be extended. The application package is here and can be sent to business@FAMEmaine.com.

Maine also has a $100,000 loan available for businesses waiting to receive SBA loans — which would then pay off the state loan. Apply for that program here.

Penalties for paying certain taxes late have been waived for businesses impacted by the pandemic, such as restaurants.

There are two programs for small businesses available in Maryland:

• The Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund is a $75 million fund offering loans at no interest or principal payments due for the first 12 months, then converts the loan to a 36-month loan with a 2% interest rate per annum. Apply here.
• The Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grant Fund is a $50 million program offering grants of up to $10,000, not to exceed three months of demonstrated cash offering expenses for the first quarter of 2020. Apply here.

The Michigan Small Business Relief Program will be offering grants of up to $10,000 and loans of between $50,000 and $200,000 with interest rates of 0.25%. A total of $10 million loans and $10 million in grants will be available. Loans are for companies with 100 employees or less while grants are only for companies with 50 employees or less. Funding will be available around April 1. Application details aren’t available yet but will be posted here.

Minnesota has created the Small Business Emergency Loan Program, making available $30 million for loans to small businesses. The loans will be for between $2,500 and $35,000. Each will be 50% forgivable and offered at a 0% interest rate. The application is not yet live but those with questions can email elp@state.mn.us

There is no specific COVID-19 small business assistance in New Mexico, but the state is adjusting its business-loan guarantee programs to make capital more readily available for business owners who are impacted by the crisis.

The Garden State launched the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program. This program offers grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 for businesses with between 1 and ten employees. Applications are not yet available but will be here.

New Jersey also has a Small Business Emergency Assistance Loan Program, offering loans of up to $100,000 to companies with less than $5 million in revenue with a physical commercial location in the state.  Applications are set to open soon here.

The state also has a Small Business Emergency Assistance Guarantee Program. This program offers $10 million in working capital loans to businesses with less than $5 million in annual revenue. The loans are guaranteed at 50% not to exceed a total of $1oo,ooo with premier lenders. The application will be here.

The following programs are available in Oregon:

• The town of Beaverton — a suburb of Portland — has formed an Emergency Business Assistance Program. The program is for businesses with a Beaverton business license who have seen their business impacted by mandatory state guidelines. For now, that means restaurants. The program reimburses up for $2,500 a month for those businesses with 50 employees or less who can verify they are seeing an economic loss due to COVID-19. Apply here.
• Hillsboro, Oregon put committed up to $500,000 for businesses impacted by COVID-19 but the program has stopped accepting applications due to demand.
• The Jade District in Portland has up to $190,000 available for businesses impacted by the outbreak. Apply here.

• Find out if you live in one of the cities where the most people will benefit from the coronavirus stimulus checks. Be sure to check how big your stimulus check will be by using our stimulus check calculator.
• If you’re a small business owner, explore ways the federal government is offering small business coronavirus relief. You might do well to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan. Be sure to use our PPP calculator and locate PPP lenders who might best suit your needs.
• Don’t go it alone. If you’re especially worried about your finances or business during these uncertain times, enlisting the help of an expert professional. To find a fiduciary financial advisor who’s a good fit for your needs and concerns, use SmartAsset’s pro matching tool. It is free, takes five minutes and will recommend up to three advisors vetted by us.

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