an Oregon state agency
In the face of a global pandemic and significant wildfires Oregon is resilient. We are resilient because we work together, standing up resources as soon as possible to help our fellow Oregonians. This page contains resources for businesses in the face of COVID-19.
Over at wildfire.oregon.gov, you'll find additional resources and information related specifically to wildfire recovery. Our phone hotline below can help navigate business owners through both wildfire and COVID-19 questions, as we work through both emergencies, together.
Commercial Rent Relief Program
Business Oregon is launching a new program to help small businesses behind on their commercial lease payments. Open for applications for a second round April 22, this program provides grant funding to landlords to clear tenant rent debt that may have accumulated during the pandemic.
Small Business Navigator Hotline 833-604-0880
Resources for Business Owners/Employers
Financial Assistance for Employers
Jump to: State Financial Assistance || Local Financial Assistance || Additional Financial Resources
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)
Who can help me with this?
- 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov Disaster Helpdesk from 5AM to 5PM Pacific Time 7 days a week
The SBA runs the economic injury disaster zone and the EIDL and EIDL Advance programs.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance applications—The EIDL and EIDL Advance programs offer loans to qualified small businesses. Here is data on loans made in Oregon.
The Paycheck Protection Program is a federal loan program designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. The SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses.
State Financial Assistance—Business Oregon
Business Oregon is the state's economic development agency and operates several direct loan and loan guarantee programs for small businesses.
Emergency Business Assistance Grants
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—grants to intermediary organizations that in turn issue grants to small businesses impacted by COVID-19. We issued 94 awards totaling $12.6m in General Fund, Lottery Fund, and CARES Funds through 3 rounds to intermediaries (cities, counties, EDDs, CDFIs) from May through July. A fourth round with new federal funding was issued in September.
- Current list of available funds and applications
- View a map and get a full list of awards and recipients.
Round 1—eligible applicants were 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 were community development financial institutions(CDFIs) and economic development districts (EDDs). The RFP for this round closed on June 1, 2020, and awardees have been posted.
Round 3—eligible applicants were public entities (cities, counties, economic development districts, council of governments) that have or will develop a community business assistance program in response to the COVID-19 crisis and are able to meet the parameters of this program. The RFP for this round closed on July 10, 2020, and awards were announced July 24.
Round 4—In July the Oregon Legislature added $22.5m from the Federal CARES Act. $5M of this was awarded to round 3 intermediaries (community matching funds), remainder was awarded in September and October to these intermediaries.
Commercial Rent Relief Program
Business Oregon's Commercial Rent Relief program targets help to small businesses behind on their commercial lease payments. This program provides grant funding to landlords to clear tenant rent debt that may have accumulated during the pandemic.
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.
Reopening Guidance
Oregon COVID-19 Status
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has a webpage, which is the central place with information on reopening status and has the latest health guidelines. We have pulled some information below to add to our own content, but the Governor’s page has more complete information and content is updated the moment anything changes.
What's open in my county?
Learn more about the vaccine
Oregon Health Authority
Oregon OSHA
Federal
CDC Re-opening Guidelines
CDC Guidance on Face Coverings
Federal OSHA Guidelines
Supply Connector
The Supply Connector resource is Business Oregon’s collaborative project to connect businesses and communities with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) manufacturers and suppliers to fight the spread of COVID-19 and keep employees safe. This tool provides a searchable database of businesses we have identified that can help provide PPE. The system also serves to connect businesses up and down the supply chain from raw materials, manufacturing needs, packaging, distribution, etc.
Other Resources and Guidance
Supplies
- Free masks, gloves, and other supplies for small businesses
Due to supply shortages and after filling more than 8,000 orders, we are no longer taking new applications for supplies for Oregon small businesses. The state of Oregon fulfilled orders at no charge until resources were depleted. Funding for free PPE supplies was allocated from the federal CARES Act by the Governor’s office in partnership with the Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board. - Businesses interested in providing services and/or supplies
Connections
- Webinars and Virtual Sessions
- Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership—series of free webinars on a variety of topics designed to provide constructive information to manufacturers about successfully managing their businesses now and in the future
- RAIN Oregon free weekly entrepreneur support meetings; Fridays at 9:00 am on Zoom
- The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce—webinar schedule and access to recorded webinars.
Planning, Counseling
- Business Survival Tips—English and Spanish
(planning, managing cash flow, insurance, staffing) - Long-Term Business Decisions English and Spanish —Some thoughts and tips on making long-term decisions for your business in the face of this crisis
- Help Avoiding Layoffs
- Workshare (help avoid layoffs)
- Rapid Response Task Force
- Rogue Workforce Partnership
- Small Business Development Centers: centers across the state are offering no-cost advising and training. Currently all centers are operating virtually and are available to assist with general business questions.
- Oregon RAIN (Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network) offering free virtual mentoring, workshops, support groups, and more to any entrepreneur/innovator/startup in the state
- Small Business Advocate—Businesses without employees or with fewer than 100 employees can contact the Office of Small Business Assistance by email or by calling toll free 1-844-469-5512.
- Free and discounted coaching for distressed small businesses from consulting firm [Pregame]
- Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership offering counseling and planning for any Oregon manufacturer
- Nonprofit Association of Oregon
- XXcelerate—strategic business coaching and free emergency business support for underserved entrepreneurs affected by COVID 19, peer mentorship support groups, and online education for growing womxn-owned businesses across Oregon
Business and Industry
- Survey results on small business COVID-19 impacts
- Federal emergency aid FAQ documents and resources by Senator Merkley's office
- Congress passed the CARES Act filled with programs and initiatives to assist business owners on several fronts. The act includes the Paycheck Protection Program, boosts to the SBA's loan and grant programs, and consulting resources among other things. Federal CARES Act Small Business Owner's guide; available in 6 different Asian languages.
- National Governor's Association—a diverse list of resources available from testing facilities for Personal Protective Equipment production to business consulting.
- Technical Assistance for Employers—Guidance for employers on compliance with employment and leave laws
- Oregon Department of Revenue tax relief information
- Am I an essential business?
- Sick Leave Information
- Layoffs, Closures, and Unemployment Insurance
- Resources for Oregon Health Plan partners (OHP)
- Child Care Provider Resources
- Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association
- Industry/Business regulated by OLCC—temporary rules, licensing process changes, and waiving certain fees connected with business and licensing transactions
- Predictive scheduling—hourly and seasonal restaurant workers going to just take out
- Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP)
- Oregon Entrepreneur Network (OEN) twitter feed
- TiE Oregon—non-profit supporting Oregon's entrepreneurs
- MRG Foundation Community Response Fund—funding community-based organizations and accepting donations
- OSU information for small farms, farmers markets
- Oregon Department of Agriculture information and resources
- U.S. Department of Agriculture—Opportunities for immediate relief for rural residents, businesses, and communities
Resources for Employees and Others
Resources for Employees
Loss of health insurance coverage due to COVID-19
Sick Leave for Caring for a loved one
Restaurant Employee Relief Fund
Other Resources
Treasury, IRS tool to help non-filers register for Economic Impact Payments. The tool is designed for people who did not file a tax return for 2018 or 2019 and who don't receive Social Security retirement or disability benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits. Check out the non-filers tool for receiving the federal Economic Impact Payment
Oregon Health Authority
- COVID-19 Updates
211info connects people with health and social service organizations
