Financial Assistance for Employers

Federal Financial Assistance

Oregon is working quickly to implement the following federal actions to improve benefits for Oregon workers and businesses.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)—With the additional funding provided by the new COVID-19 relief package, SBA has resumed processing EIDL Loan and Advance applications that are already in the queue on a first come, first-served basis.

May 4, 2020, EIDL and EIDL Advance applications now accepted on a limited basis only to provide relief to U.S. agricultural businesses.

Paycheck Protection Program

The SBA resumed accepting Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on April 27 from approved lenders on behalf of any eligible borrower. Applicants must go through a bank or other authorized program lender, you can search for lenders in the box to the right.

The SBA is also now accepting paperwork directly to forgive the debt of PPP loans. The documents released today will help small businesses seek forgiveness at the conclusion of the eight-week covered period, which begins with the disbursement of their loans. Get the application and instructions.

United States Department of Agriculture

Business and Industry Loan Guarantee for rural businesses

Federal Reserve Main Street Program

The Federal Reserve has established a Main Street Lending Program to support lending to small- and medium-sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will operate through three facilities:

• Main Street New Loan Facility (MSNLF), term sheet
• Main Street Priority Loan Facility (MSPLF), term sheet
• Main Street Expanded Loan Facility (MSELF), term sheet

U.S. businesses may be eligible for loans if they meet either of the following conditions: (1) the business has 15,000 employees or fewer; or (2) the business had 2019 revenues of $5 billion or less. Loans issued under the program would have a four year maturity, and principal and interest payments on the loans will be deferred for one year.

Other Federal Programs

Federal Emergency Aid Legislation—As the federal aid package gets rolled out, Senator Jeff Merkley assembled some helpful FAQs for what is in it and how it can help.

State Financial Assistance

State actions and programs to protect small businesses.

Small Business Relief Funding

• Creation of the "Small Business Stabilization Fund" within the Oregon Community Foundation with initial contribution of $700,000 from the Oregon Growth Fund. This fund will include capital from additional sources to leverage and deploy to intermediary organizations around the state to put money in the hands of small businesses.
• Request for $10 million of the Oregon Cultural Trust fund to create an emergency relief funding program for arts and cultural organizations.
• $300 Above-the-Line Charitable Deduction to support non-profits: for tax year starting in 2020, an individual taxpayer who does not itemize is permitted to claim up to $300 in qualified charitable contributions.

Business Oregon Financial Programs

Business Oregon is the state's economic development agency and operates several direct loan and loan guarantee programs for small businesses.

• Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (EDLF) offers direct loans to help start-ups, micro-enterprises and small businesses expand or become established in Oregon.
• Oregon Business Development Fund (OBDF) provides direct loans that can be used for permanent working capital. Participants must create or retain jobs and must typically be a traded-sector business in manufacturing, processing or distribution.
• Oregon Royalty Fund (ORF) provides direct loans to help early stage (post R & D and prototyping), scalable, and high-margin small businesses obtain short-term working capital.
• Capital Access (CAP) provides a form of loan portfolio loss reserve so financial institutions may make business loans that carry higher than conventional risks while complying with federal and state banking regulations.
• Credit Enhancement Fund (CEF) provides loan guarantees to financial institutions in order to increase capital availability to small businesses.

Small Business Loan Modifications and Forgiveness

• Loan modifications for direct loan programs administered by Business Oregon (OBDF, EDLF, ORF) that defer payments and interest, with no fees.
• Loan modifications for the Business Oregon loan guarantee and loan loss reserve programs (CEF, CAP).
• Forgiveness of existing loans through Business Oregon to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), to strengthen the CDFIs' financial position and ability to continue small business lending.

Accessing Broadband
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has asked carriers to take a Keep Americans Connected Pledge during the pandemic, and more than 700 carriers are pledging to

• Not terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
• Waive any late fees that any residential or small business customers incur because of their economic circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic.
• Open Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them.

Service providers should be contacted directly to see what is locally available in your area.

Emergency Business Assistance Matching Fund
Business Oregon is releasing the latest of the state's recovery efforts for Oregon small businesses suffering in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—funding to stand up local small business grant programs across the state. The Oregon Legislature and Governor Kate Brown allocated $5 million from the state's General Fund, which we are combining with another $5 million redirected from existing programs at Business Oregon.

This funding is being allocated in two rounds for two different types of applicants. We are rolling out multiple RFPs, with two RFPs for the first round, and one for the second, so three total RFPs.

Round 1—eligible applicants are cities, counties, and economic development districts that have existing small business COVID-relief programs or will stand up new programs to issue grants to local small businesses. This round closed for proposals on May 18, and awardees have been posted.

Round 2—eligible applicants are community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and economic development districts (EDDs). The RFP for this round closed on June 1, 2020.

• Program News Release
• FAQ

Public ports payment relief

Community Development Block Grant Funding Available for COVID-19 Response
Business Oregon has made available $3,750,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for non-entitlement communities impacted by COVID-19. The funds will be divided into two project types: $2,000,000 for Small Business/Microenterprise Assistance and $1,750,000 for emergency COVID-19 response assistance—projects that prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19. All program funds are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Eligible applications will be accepted until all the allocated funding has been exhausted.

Department of Environmental Quality

Workforce Development Repair and Reuse Grants
Materials Management Repair and Reuse Grants support the workforce development needs of small reuse and repair businesses. These grants allow businesses to apply for up to $10,000 in funding per application to cover the costs of retention, training and capital equipment. Small businesses and nonprofits working in salvage, resale, repair, refurbishment or remanufacturing are encouraged to apply and eligible costs covered through this grant program have been broadened to address the challenges small businesses face with employee retention during the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Additional Financial Resources

Banks and Community Lending Resources

• We encourage you to work with your current or local banks, credit unions, or other local lenders. Private lenders are still lending, and are also being amenable to loan modifications on current loans.

Community Development Financial Institution Fund (CDFI)

• Community Lending Works
• Craft3
• MESO

Other Micro Lenders

• Mercy Corps NW
• OAME

Regional and Local Resources

Oregon Community Foundation:

• Oregon Community Recovery Grant Program—funds to nonprofit organizations in Oregon that are particularly affected by the outbreak of COVID-19
• Oregon Small Business Stabilization Fund—for organizations assisting small businesses

Community Lending Works—emergency loan fund for Lane County businesses

Float—Crowdfunding and gift card purchases to support Portland's small businesses

CCD Business Development Corp—microlending program focused on COVID-19 needs

Other Resources

Portland Independent Restaurant Alliance—Grants and Funding for Restaurant and Hospitality businesses

ondeck—small business financing

The Timely Help—free service to sell eGift cards and get donations

Founder Gym—online training on how to raise money

Workforce and Employee Assistance

Who can help me with this?

• Oregon Employment Department

Who can help me with this?

• Division of Financial Regulation

Reopening Guidance

Reopen Guidelines

Oregon
Phase 1—All Oregon Counties except for Multnomah County are in Phase 1
First reopening stage, allowed in specific counties that qualify. Includes limited reopening of restaurants and bars, personal services, gyms, and malls. Gatherings of up to 25 people allowed for recreational, social, cultural, civic or faith events—with physical distancing requirements.

Phase 2—Counties to be announced June 4
After 21 days in Phase 1, counties that meet specific prerequisites may be able to enter Phase 2. Counties that are approved to move into Phase 2 will be able to relax some of the restrictions that have been in place and some sectors will be able to reopen.

Phase 3—Counties TBD
Mass gatherings such as major concerts or sporting events with live audiences will require a reliable treatment or vaccine to be available.

County reopen status

Oregon Health Authority
Oregon OSHA

Federal
CDC Re-opening Guidelines
CDC Guidance on Face Coverings
Federal OSHA Guidelines

Local Information and Resources

• SOWIB local portal for Coos, Curry, and Douglas counties.

Supply and Manufacture Information

Counterfeit Masks

Importing PPE—The FDA's covid19FDAimportInquiries@fda.hhs.gov email is for industry representatives to quickly communicate with the agency and address questions or concerns. The agency is providing maximum flexibility to those seeking to bring PPE into the U.S. and are ready and available to engage with importers to minimize disruptions during the importing process.

Federal Supply of COVID-19 PPE equipment is provided by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA PPE Exchange
Oregon FEMA PPE Dashboard

Manufacture PPE
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently shared that ASTM has made more than 20 of their standards Open Access that relate to medical masks, gowns, gloves, hand sanitizers, and other PPE and medical equipment.

Hewlett Packard (HP) has made available digital files for 3D printing of PPE. These design files will be updated by HP regularly. At this time the files include designs for face masks, face shields, and ventilator components. They are developing 3D printing designs for testing swabs.

Gerber PPE Task Force Resource Center has everything you need to get started switching your production line to PPE. We have more than 10 patterns and cut files available from masks to gowns.

Sewing patterns for isolation gowns

Other Resources and Guidance

For Employees

Other Resources