Covid-19 Funding & Financial Assistance
This page is updated regularly with the latest local information and resources about COVID-19 coronavirus.
Updated: January 15, 2021
PROGRAM | DESCRIPTION | AMOUNT/TYPE | WHO IS ELIGIBLE? | STATUS | INFO FOR APPLYING |
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The Federal Reserve’s Main Street Lending Program | Designed to help credit flow to small and medium-sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, but now need loans to help maintain their operations until they have recovered from, or adapted to, the impacts of the pandemic. | Loan ranges: $250,000 to $300 million | • Small and medium-sized companies • 15,000 employees or fewer, or 2019 revenues of $5 billion or less | CLOSED | |
PA 30 Day Fund | The non-profit Pennsylvania 30 Day Fund provides forgivable loans for Pennsylvania-based small businesses. The forgivable loan is intended to provide immediate financial assistance (within maximum three days) to meet payroll, preserve healthcare coverage for employees and save jobs while they await recently approved federal funding. | Forgiveable loans up to $3,000 | • Small businesses that employ 3-30 • Based in PA and operating for at least one year • Owned and operated by a PA resident | OPEN Open April 16, 2020 Deadline Dec 31, 2023 | Application |
Healthy Food Financing Initiative | America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative aims to improve access to healthy food and expand economic opportunity in underserved areas. | Up to $3M grants | See website for details | CLOSED Applications closed Sept 25, 2020 | |
Small Landlord Rental Improvement Fund (RIF) pilot program | PHDC in partnership with Impact Loan Fund has piloted RIF to assist landlords with fewer than 10 rental apartments, improve and repair units and stabilize the supply of affordable rental housing in the City. | Loans from $10,000 to under $25,000 | • Landlords with fewer than 10 rental apartments. • Participating landlords must maintain affordable rents for the term of the loan, meet fair housing guidelines, and have a rental license. • The first phase of this pilot program will take place in the following zip codes: 19120, 19122, 19124, 19125, 19133, 19134, 19137, and 19140. | OPEN | • Application • FAQ |
Save Small Business Fund | Funded by corporate and philanthropic partners, the Save Small Business Fund is a collective effort to provide $5,000 grants to as many small employers as possible. | $5,000 GRANTS | • Employ between 3 and 20 people • Be located in an economically vulnerable community • Have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic | CLOSED | |
Salesforce Care Small Business Grants | $10,000 grants to U.S. small businesses to provide capital to help them weather this crisis. A total financial commitment of $5 million. | $10,000 Grants | CLOSED | ||
The Red Backpack Fund | The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation donated $5 million to support female entrepreneurs in the wake of COVID-19 and teamed up with GlobalGiving to establish The Red Backpack Fund. | $5,000 Grants | Female entrepreneurs | CLOSED Application closed September 15, 2020 | |
Emergency Agriculture Assistance Grants | In partnership with Team Pennsylvania, The GIANT Company has provided $250,000 in funding for an emergency grant program to support farms, processors, and other small food businesses in Pennsylvania’s food supply chain impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. | Up to $15,000 | Any small business of 250 employees or less involved in growing, making, or processing food within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. | CLOSED Applications closed April 24, 2020 | Application |
Theatre Philadelphia Emergency Relief | Micro-grants to individuals who live in the Philadelphia region, work in theatre, and whose theatre income has been impacted by COVID-19. | $300 to $500 | Individuals who live within a 35-mile radius of Philadelphia’s City Hall. Must be active participants in the Philadelphia Region’s theatre community and have evidence of income loss due to COVID-19. | OPEN | • 1st Time Applicants • 2nd Time Applicants • FAQ |
COVID-19 Arts Aid PHL Fund | Emergency support fund focused on the arts and culture sector from The City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund | • Individual artists • Small arts and culture organizations (annual budgets less than $250,000) • Mid-sized organizations (annual budgets of $250,000 – $15M) | CLOSED Applications closed June 5, 2020 | ||
University City District Small Business Emergency Fund | Thanks to a gift by the University of Pennsylvania, UCD is facilitating $250,000 in emergency funds to support small businesses in the UCD coverage area impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. | $1,000 to $5,000 grants per business | • Businesses must be located within UCD’s program area • A brick and mortar, for-profit retail location • Independent operators with five or fewer locations • Have been in operation on or before January 1st, 2020 | CLOSED Application closed April 15, 2020 | |
Citizen Bank Small Business Recovery Program | This program supports Citizen Bank small business customers and will provide 134 small businesses with grants for a total of $2 million in grants overall. Out of the 134 small businesses, 32 will be distributed to small businesses in Pennsylvania. | $15,000 Grant | Citizens Bank’s business customers as of February 14th, 2020. | CLOSED Application deadline of 5pm Friday April 10, 2020 | |
Grow Philadelphia Capital Initiative | Partnership between The Enterprise Center, Brandywine Realty Trust, and Jannie Blackwell offers low interest loans to qualified minority-owned construction businesses to cover the cost of service contracts | Construction loans for a maximum of $50,000 | Any construction business owned and operated by ethnic minorities working on a contract(s) | OPEN | |
Philadelphia Emergency Fund for Stabilization of Early Education | The William Penn Foundation and Vanguard launched a $7 million grant program, distributed by Reinvestment Fund, for Philadelphia pre-k, daycare and other early childhood education programs. | Grants up to $20,000 | Licensed child care, family child care homes, pre-k, early intervention and home visiting programs | CLOSED Applications closed May 12, 2020 | |
LISC’s Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund | To help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they can resume normal operations or until other more permanent financing becomes available | Grants of up to $10,000 | Businesses especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities | CLOSED Applications closed April 17, 2020 for 2nd round. | |
LISC’s Small Business Relief Grant | Help small businesses keep functioning and remain vital facets of their local economies through this challenging period | $5,000 -$20,000 | Businesses especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities | CLOSED Applications closed Aug 3, 2020 | |
PPP Through Lendistry | Goldman Sachs, in partnership with Lendistry, a community development financial institution (CDFI), has dedicated $10 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans to help Philadelphia small businesses that may not have relationships with traditional lenders. | • Low interest Loan w/ 2 year term • Total cap $10M • Covers the period Feb 15,2020 – June 30, 2020 | Any small business with less than 500 employees, private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations | OPEN | • Lendistry SBA PPP Process • Process & Portal Guide |
SBA Paycheck Protection Program | Loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. | • Low interest Loan w/ 2 year term • Total cap $10M • Covers the period Feb 15,2020 – June 30, 2020 | OPEN Deadline: March 31, 2021 • Jan 11: CDFIs • Jan 15: Small Lenders • Jan 19: All lenders | • Program Update • 1/13/21 Press Release • 17 language translations • NEW: Loan Forgiveness Guidelines • NEW: EZ Loan Forgiveness Application • Application Form • Dept of Treasury Guide to Assistance for Small Business • FAQ | |
SBA Express Bridge Loans | These loans are designed to supplement an urgent need for cash while waiting for a decision and disbursement on EIDL. | • Temporarily increasing the maximum loan from $350,000 to $1,000,000 for loans approved from March 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020. • All loans to veteran-owned small businesses approved on or after March 27, 2020, the upfront guaranty fee will permanently be zero. | Small businesses that currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender | OPEN | Find SBA District Office |
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan & Advance | Working capital loans that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. | • Loans up to $2 million dollars w/ up to 30 year term • Advance of up to $10,000 does not have to be repaid • Covers the period Feb 15,2020 – Dec 21, 2020 | Any small business with less than 500 employees, private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations | OPEN Deadline Extended: Dec 31, 2021 | SBA Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources PDF |
PA COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program | Administered by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) and provides critical working capital financing to small businesses located within the Commonwealth that are adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. | Max loan $100,000 per company | Any for-profit businesses located in PA and with 100 or fewer employees worldwide | CLOSED As of March 31, 2020 no longer accepting applications | |
PHL COVID-19 Fund | To aid nonprofits that are on the frontline of the pandemic, providing urgent resources throughout the Philadelphia region | Grants | 501c3 nonprofits | CLOSED | |
Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund | City of Philadelphia and PIDC tiered fund designed to provide immediate relief to Philadelphia businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. | $5,000 grant | Businesses under $500,000 in annual revenue | CLOSED Applications for Micro-enterprise Grants closed on April 15, 2020. Applications for Small Business Grants and Zero-Interest Loans closed on March 30, 2020 | |
SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant | Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program included in the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020. | Receive up to a $10 million grant | Organizations with a reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic | n/a | Sign up for free SBA webinar. Jan 14, 2021 @ 3:00 PM EST Will be recorded. |
The Black Restaurant Accelerator Program (National Urban League & PepsiCo Partnership) | Boost approximately 500 Black-owned businesses over the next five years. The PepsiCo Foundation is providing a $10 million grant to fund the program. | Access to capital, training, mentorship and other support services | n/a | na/ | Sign up for more info. |
COVID-19 Relief PA Statewide Small Business Assistance | Provides grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to small businesses that have been economically impacted by COVID-19. The Pennsylvania CDFI Network is a coalition of 17 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that will support small businesses throughout the Commonwealth to access the grant funds. | $5,000-$50,000 grants depending on business revenue size | •Be physically located, certified to do business, and generate at least 51% of their revenues in Pennsylvania • Have annual revenue of $1 million or less prior to the impact of COVID-19 • Have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees prior to February 15, 2020 | CLOSED Round 2 is open. Second application window is open for 15 business days from 9AM on August 10 to 11:59PM on August 28. | • Application Instructions • Application Video • Upload Documents Video • FAQ • Designated Communities |
Restore & Reopen Program | To provide grants to small, independently-owned businesses in historically disadvantaged communities that have suffered property damage, vandalism or inventory losses during the recent civil unrest. | Receive up to a $10,000 grant | Occupy a storefront, retail, or commercial space physically located in Philadelphia, which includes kiosks on the street. Have experienced more than $500 in damage during civil unrest between May 30, 2020 and time of application. Be independently-owned; franchises are eligible only if independently-owned. Earn annual revenue of less than $2 million at the impacted location. Be in compliance with all local, state, and federal taxes (or on an approved payment plan). Have required federal, state, and local licenses and permits to legally operate. | CLOSED The application period closed on June 29 | Various community partners can provide free assistance to businesses who may need help completing the application. Other questions about program should be directed to the City of Philadelphia’s Dept. of Commerce hotline, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Email: business@phila.gov Phone: 215-683-2100 |
DoorDash | To help Philadelphia restaurants prepare for colder weather and continue to serve customers throughout the winter. | $5k grants | • Restaurants must be located in Philadelphia, PA • Must have 3 stores or fewer currently operating • Must have $3M or less in 2019 annual revenue per store • Must employ 50 people or fewer per store | CLOSED Deadline: Nov. 6, 2020 | Apply |
Restart PHL | This loan program provides flexible low-cost capital to small businesses with less than $5M in revenue for costs associated with improved business resilience or growth, including working capital, fit-up, inventory, technology, mobilization, re-hiring, and employee training. | $25k-$250k Loans | The fund is targeted to historically disadvantaged communities with a specific focus on minority, women, and immigrant-owned businesses located on commercial corridors in low-income areas. | CLOSED This program is no longer available due to high demand. | |
Comcast RISE | Resources & tools to elevate your business. | • consulting • media • creative production • technology makeover • monetary grant | • Is independently owned and operated • Is registered to conduct business in the US • Has been operating for one or more years • Is located within the Comcast Business or Effectv service area footprint | OPEN Deadline: February 7, 2021 | Apply |