Small Businesses and COVID-19: Relief and Assistance Resources - EveryCRSReport.com

Summary

CRS Insight IN11301, updated April 5, 2021 and written by Maria Kreiser, Senior Research Librarian, lists selected websites and CRS products for small businesses seeking relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. It says the Emergency EIDL Advance program provided advances of up to $10,000 that did not need to be repaid and are no longer available, while Targeted EIDL Advances go only to businesses invited by SBA. It says the Paycheck Protection Program is accepting applications until May 31, 2021, and describes the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and Restaurant Revitalization grant programs. It also points to resources at USDA, HUD, the Department of Labor, the Treasury, the Economic Development Administration and the Minority Business Development Agency.

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Small Businesses and COVID-19: Relief and Assistance Resources

April 1, 2020 –
 April 5, 2021 IN11301

INSIGHTi

Small Businesses and COVID-19: Relief and

Assistance Resources

Updated April 5, 2021

This CRS Insight presents selected websites and CRS products potentially relevant to small businesses

that are directly affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and seeking economic

relief and assistance.

For an analysis of the small business provisions contained in various congressional legislation throughout

the pandemic, see CRS Report R46 284, COVID-19 Relief Assistance to Small Businesses: Issues and

Policy Options .

For businesses interested in supporting COVID-19 mobilization efforts, see CRS Insight IN11419,

COVID-19: Selected Federal Resources for Businesses Seeking to Assist with Research and

Manufacturing Efforts .

For a list of CRS products related to COVID-19, see the CRS COVID-19 Resources page.

Selected Resources

Note that the federal government typically assists businesses throug h loans rather than grants— though

there are exceptions. Sometimes local and state governments may offer business grants (see section below

on “State, Local, and Philanthropic Resources”). Additionally, during the pandemic, Congress has

authorized grant, loan, and loan forgiveness programs for business relief.

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) webpag e Coronavirus Relief Options provides information

on assistance programs made available by Congress.

 SB A Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) ar e low-interest loans and are still available

to eligible small businesses.

 The Emergency EIDL Advance program provided EIDL advance payments of up to

$10,000, which did not need to be repaid, and which are no longer available. The SBA is

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now offering Targeted EIDL Advances, b ut those grants are only available to businesses

by SBA invitation.

 The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), per haps the most prominent program, is

currently accepting applications until May 31, 2021.

 The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program (SVOG) provides grants to shuttered

venues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible participants include live venue

operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organizations, and other

entities. See CRS Report R 46689, SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program

(SVOG) .

 The Restaurant Revitalization grant program will provide grants to restaurants and other

food and beverage-related establishments that have experienced COVID-19-related

revenue loss.

Businesses may contac t local SBA district offices with questions about these COVID-19-related

assistance programs.

SBA continues to offer a number of nondisaster loans and grants. For more information, contact local

SBA affiliates:

 SBA district offices

 Small Business Development Centers

 Other SBA-affiliated resource partners

For summaries of nondisaster SBA assistance programs, see CRS Report RL3324 3, Small Business

Administration: A Primer on Programs and Funding .

Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers a number of programs to agricultural producers whose

operations have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic; see CRS In Focus IF1 1764, U.S. Agricultural

Aid in Response to COVID-19 .

USDA’ s Rural Development Business programs also provide financial and technical assistance to

qualified rural businesses; see CRS Report RL318 37, An Overview of USDA Rural Development

Programs . USDA also has announc ed measures to assist businesses affected by COVID-19 and has

publishe d a COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is a flexible program that provides funds to address a

wide range of community development needs, principally for low- and moderate-income persons. In

response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some U.S. localities have announced efforts to support small

businesses with existing CDBG funds, an d HUD has issued a guide for infectious disease response; see

CRS Insight IN1 1277, Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic with Community Development Block

Grant (CDBG) Authorities , and CRS Insight IN1 1315, Community Development Block Grants and the

CARES Act . For more information on eligible activities, see HUD’s “CDBG Infectious Disease

Response” webpage or contact local or state CDBG administrators.

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Department of Labor

The U.S. Department of Labor ha s resources to help employers and workers prepare for and respond to

COVID-19, including information on workplace safety; wages, hours, and leave; unemployment

insurance; and other topics.

Department of the Treasury

The Treasury’ s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund supports organizations that provide

loans to businesses, homebuyers, community developers, and investors in distressed areas; see CRS

Report R 42770, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund: Programs and Policy

Issues .

Federal Government Contracting Opportunities

Incumbent and potential contractors may access federal agencies’ solicitations on t he beta version of the

System for Award Management. For example, t he Biomedical Advanced Research and Development

Authority (part of the Department of Health and Human Services) iss ued a solicitation for advanced

development and licensing of COVID-19 diagnostics, vaccines, or medicines. Although some

solicitations might include the term “COVID-19,” contracting opportunities related to the pandemic may

not necessarily include this term or related terms.

Small businesses may find information about the federal procurement process in the SBA’ s contracting

guide; see CRS Report RS2 2536, Overview of the Federal Procurement Process and Resources .

Economic Development Administration

The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration administers a revolving loan

fund (RLF) program. Eligible businesses may receive a loan from one of the approximately 400

organizations administering EDA-funded RLFs. According to the EDA, eligible businesses can apply for

loans from an RLF for working capital or fixed assets for operating expenses, business growth, job

retention, or similar efforts. See CRS Insight IN1 1418, COVID-19: EDA Revolving Loan Funds for

Businesses .

Minority Business Development Agency

The Department of Commerce’ s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is the lead federal

agency dedicated to supporting the development and expansion of the minority business community.

Through a network of local business development centers, the MBDA provides a variety of business

assistance services t o minority-controlled business enterprises of all sizes. Local Minority Business

Development Centers are available in a number of communities.

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Manufacturing Extension

Partnership

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’ s Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a national

network of centers that provide custom services to small and medium-sized manufacturers to improve

production processes, upgrade capabilities, and facilitate product innovation. For more information, see

CRS Report R4430 8, The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program .

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Internal Revenue Service

The Internal Revenue Service provides updated information on tax relief for individuals and businesses

affected by COVID-19, including news releases and frequently asked questions, on it s Coronavirus Tax

Relief page; also, see CRS Report R 46279, The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)

Act—Tax Relief for Individuals and Businesses .

State, Local, and Philanthropic Resources

State and local economic development or commerce agencies may provide assistance to new and

established businesses. Many city and state governments are offering COVID-19 business relief in the

form of loans, grants, or tax-deferral programs.

Althoug h foundations do not typically award grants to businesses, some private grantmakers or local

community foundations do. For example, some private grantmakers have provi ded relief funds to women-

and minority-owned businesses. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has compiled a resources

guide of financial assistance to small businesses affected by COVID-19.

GovLoans.gov

GovLoans.gov is a collaborative effort across federal agencies that provides information on loan

programs. See th e “loan finder” tool, an d th e coronavirus resources page.

USA.gov

USA.gov lists a number of resources on the federal government response to COVID-19. See t he

“Businesses” section for links to the Department of the Treasury, Export-Import Bank, Farm Credit

Administration, and other federal agencies.

Author Information

Maria Kreiser

Senior Research Librarian

Disclaimer

This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff

to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of

Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of

information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.

CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United

States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However,

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IN11301 · VERSION 12 · UPDATED

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