Covid-19 Funding & Financial Assistance
This page is updated regularly with the latest local information and resources about COVID-19 coronavirus. Updated: August 18, 2020
| PROGRAM | DESCRIPTION | AMOUNT/TYPE | WHO IS ELIGIBLE? | STATUS | ADDITIONAL INFO FOR APPLYING |
| Comcast RISE | Resources & tools to elevate your business. | • consulting • media • creative production • technology makeover • monetary grant |
•Is at least 51% Black-owned and operated* •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 |
•Deadline: Nov. 7, 2020 • As of November 28, 2020 eligibility will be expanded to include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned and operated businesses. |
Apply |
| 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. | Grants will be made up to $10,000 depending on the extent of damage and needs of the business. |
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. |
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 |
| 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; and • Have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees prior to February 15, 2020 |
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 |
| 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. | Grants will be made up to $10,000 depending on the extent of damage and needs of the business. |
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. |
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 |
| 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. |
This program is no longer available due to high demand. |
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| 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 |
Applications for Micro-enterprise Grants closed on April 15. Applications for Small Business Grants and Zero-Interest Loans closed on March 30, 2020 |
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| 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 | |
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| 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 |
As of March 31st no longer accepting applications |
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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. |
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Any small business with less than 500 employees, private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations |
Reopened June 15, 2020 |
• SBA Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources PDF |
| SBA Express Bridge Loans | These loans are designed to supplement an urgent need for cash while waiting for a decision and disbursement on EIDL. |
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Small businesses that currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender | |
Find SBA District Office |
| 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. |
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Any small business with less than 500 employees, private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations |
Applications closed August 8 |
• NEW: Loan Forgiveness Guidelines • NEW: EZ Loan Forgiveness Application • Dept of Treasury Guide to Assistance for Small Business • FAQ |
| 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. |
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Any small business with less than 500 employees, private non-profit organization or 501(c)(19) veterans organizations |
Applications closed August 8 |
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| 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 |
Applications closed Aug 3 |
FAQ |
| 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 |
Applications closed April 17 for 2nd round. |
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| 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 |
Applications closed May 12. |
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| 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) | |
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| 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. |
Application deadline of 5pm Friday April 10th |
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| 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. | Grants between $1,000 and $5,000 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 |
Application closed April 15th |
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| 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 as
Small arts and culture organizations (annual budgets less than $250,000) Mid-sized organizations (annual budgets of $250,000 – $15M) |
Applications closed June 5. |
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| Theatre Philadelphia Emergency Relief | Award micro-grants of $300 to individuals who live in the Philadelphia region, work in theatre, and whose theatre income has been impacted by COVID-19. | Micro-grants of $300 | 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. |
Applications open April 13th at noon |
• Emergency Relief Program Information • FAQ |
| 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. | Maximum award amount of $15,000 per business. | Any small business of 250 employees or less involved in growing, making, or processing food within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. |
Applications open beginning April 10, 2020 through April 24, 2020 |
Application |
| 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 |
Application portal will next open from September 8-15. |
FAQs |
| Salesforce Care Small Business Grants | Soon be offering $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 | |
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| 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. | • Employ between 3 and 20 people
• Be located in an economically vulnerable community • Have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic |
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| 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. |
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• FAQ |
| 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 in grants | Eligible Organizations: • For-profit business enterprises • Cooperatively-owned businesses • Tax-exempt nonprofit corporations • Institutions of higher education • State & local governments & governmental agencies, authorities, commissions & food policy councils • Tribal governments & tribal governmental agencies, authorities, & food policy councilsProject must be in an eligible location. See page 8 of pdf for details. |
Letter of Interest (LOI) due July 10 |
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| 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 April 16, 2020 Deadline Dec 31, 2023 |
Application link |
| 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 |
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Additional Resources may be found at ICIC’s Small Business Resource Center
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