Covid-19 Funding & Financial Assistance

This page is updated regularly with the latest local information and resources about COVID-19 coronavirus.

Updated: March 2, 2021

PROGRAM	DESCRIPTION	AMOUNT/TYPE	WHO IS ELIGIBLE?	STATUS	INFO FOR APPLYING
PA COVID-19 Hospitality Industry Recovery Program (CHIRP)	A new $145M Statewide fund created by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to alleviate revenue losses and pay eligible operating expenses for certain businesses in the hospitality industry severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Philadelphia County is receiving approximately $17.9M in funding to provide grants to eligible businesses through this program.	$5,000 - $50,000	NAICS 721 or 722	OPEN Deadline: 4/5/2021	More Info + Application Link
Main Street Strong Accelerator Program	DoorDash’s Main Street Strong Accelerator Program is an initiative providing financial support and specialized educational resources to women-, immigrant- and people of color-owned businesses, that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.		• restaurant owners and operators • operating three or fewer restaurant locations • operating for 2 or more years • 50 employees or fewer across all locations	OPEN Deadline: 3/2/21	Apply
Philadelphia Covid-19 Restaurant & Gym Relief Program	Designed to provide financial relief to small businesses located in Philadelphia that have been among the most adversely affected by the latest round of pandemic-related restrictions enacted in November 2020	Up to $15,000 in grants	OPEN Deadline: 3/19/2021	CLOSED Applications closed: 2/9/2021	• Application Link • Translated Flyers • Community Partners List
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	OPEN Deadline: 3/19/2021	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	OPEN Deadline: 3/19/2021	OPEN Deadline 12/31/2023	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	• Application Link • 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 1st & 2nd Draw Deadline: 3/31/2021 SBA is opening a 14-day PPP loan application period exclusively for businesses with fewer than 20 employees until March 10, 2021	• 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: 12/31/2021	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	OPENS ON 4/8/21	SBA National Webinar on 3/30 @ 2:30PM ET. Deadline to Register is 3/34.
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: 5/7/2021	Apply
Project Innovation	Project Innovation will award exceptional non-profit programs that are addressing one of the four community issue areas: Culture of Inclusion, Youth Education and Empowerment, Next Generation Storytellers, and Community Engagement.	Award a total of $3,475,000 in 2021 to 11 markets: San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Hartford, Dallas Fort-Worth, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, South Florida, Southern California, and Washington, D.C.	nonprofits	OPEN Deadline: 2/12/2021	Create a login to apply.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Small Business Growth & Recovery Fund Grant Program	The initiative offers U.S.-based small businesses up to $20,000 each, which does not need to be repaid, along with virtual training and mentorship. The program seeks to help U.S. small businesses find their footing in an acutely challenging economic landscape, focusing on those owned by people of color, women, and veterans as well as those in lower-income communities.	$20k		OPEN Deadline: 3/19/2021	Application
“Illuminate the Arts” Grant	Councilmembers Isaiah Thomas and Katherine Gilmore Richardson announced “Illuminate the Arts” grant program as part of City Council’s New Normal Budget Act.	a total of $1M to be distributed	individual artists, mid-size nonprofits and small businesses	Mid-March	Press Release

Covid-19 Funding & Financial Assistance

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