Navigating Corona Virus for CT Local Businesses

Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce webinar

LINK TO RECORDED WEBINAR

Surviving the coronavirus pandemic: a webinar for small businesses in greater new haven"

City of New Haven, Small Business Resource Center webinar

link to recorded webinar coming soon

Q&Working From Home – How to Run Effective Virtual Meetings

Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce webinar

click here for link to recorded webinar

Business Strategies for Dealing with the Crisis

Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce webinar

click here for link to recorded webinar

Loans, Grants, & Fundraising: What Nonprofits Need to Know Today

During this webinar, join us to learn what every nonprofit should be aware of as we navigate these uncertain times. 

Download Presentation              
View Recording Here

Town Hall about federal relief programs for small businesses

This discussion will be hosted by Cathy Graves, Director of the City of New Haven’s Small Business Resource Center.  Expert guest Joe Williams from State of Connecticut Small Business Development Center will present on the CARES Act, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Check back soon for the recorded webinar!

Navigating the Coronavirus Threat in the Restaurant, Hospitality, & Retail Industries

Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce webinar

click here for link to recorded webinar

Understanding the Federal Stimulus Program

Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce webinar

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO RECORDED PRESENTATION

CARES Act Info

Are you an essential business in need of masks for you and your staff?

The CBIA is taking requests for masks, as they are now required for all employees working in essential businesses. Supplies are limited, so please apply ASAP if this is needed.

Apply here.

SAVE SMALL BUSINESS FUND

U.S. Chamber Save Small Business Program - The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has created a Save Small Business Program to provide small businesses with grants of up to $5,000. 

Starting today at 3:00 PM, interested businesses may apply online. 

For more information, please visit Save Small Business.

State of CT/Hedco/DECD COVID -19 Business Response Program Line of Credit 

Eligibility - To be considered for this program, your small business must:

• Be a for-profit business with no more than 20 full-time and/or part-time employees

• Be a minority-owned and/or woman-owned small business (minimum 51% of minority/woman ownership required)

• Be in good standing with the Department of Revenue Services (DRS)

• Have been conducting business for a minimum of six-months

Terms & Conditions

• Line of Credit up to $20,000

• 0% interest rate

• One-year Line of Credit, payable in full 12 months from the date of closing 

• The debt is eligible to be forgiven if the company can demonstrate that the funds were used to cover the first 3 months of expenditures due to COVID-19.  In order to receive forgiveness, the business must show documentation of expenditures in accordance with your cash flow projections

Click here for website with full info and application instructions

tax filing extension & yale law school Small Business Support Project assistance

On March 20, 2020, the IRS officially extended the federal income tax filing deadline from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020. That means taxpayers who will owe money don't need to file a tax return until this date, and if they owe money they don't need to make payments until then.

From Yale Law School page:
The Community and Economic Development (CED) Clinic and the student-run COVID Student Small Business Support Project may be able to assist you at no cost in addressing COVID’s impact on your organization. Support may include:

• Providing information about government loans and grants

• Navigating state and local resources to obtain financing

• Making emergency modifications to lease terms

• Understanding changes to tax law

• Other legal issues that may arise

Support is available to small businesses, nonprofits, and self-employed people in the Greater New Haven area. 

If you are interested in assistance, contact us at COVID.CED@ylsclinics.org or 203-432-4022.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL INFORMATION ON YALE LAW SCHOOL PROGRAM

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM

The PPP Program application period has closed. We will update this listing if the program opens for applications again.

Click here to check your status

RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE RELIEF PROGRAMS

We realize many business owners in downtown New Haven are also residents of this wonderful City. Below is a summary of the recently approved program as well as the link to the portal.

• 90-day grace period for all mortgage payments: Participating financial institutions are now offering mortgage-payment forbearance of up to 90 days, which will allow homeowners to reduce or delay monthly mortgage payments. In addition, the institutions will:

• Relief from fees and charges for 90 days: For at least 90 days, participating financial institutions will waive or refund mortgage-related late fees and other fees including early CD withdrawals.

• No new foreclosures for 60 days: Financial institutions will not start any foreclosure sales or evictions.

• No credit score changes for accessing relief: For those taking advantage of this COVID-19-related relief, late or missed payments will not be shared with credit reporting agencies.

CT State Mortgage Relief Portal

MARKETING YOUR OPEN BUSINESS

Join a national gift card program - The Dining Bond Initiative

• There is no fee to any restaurant to participate in the initiative. The restaurant gets 100% of the sale. This is a philanthropic cause.

• You should have an existing gift card fulfillment mechanism in place or you should be willing to set one up.

• In order to participate in the Dining Bond Initiative and for Dining Bonds to benefit you, your restaurant needs to incentivize your gift cards/vouchers/certificates by offering a discount. 

• Without incentivizing gift cards/vouchers/certificates, Dining Bond may not be the right platform for you. 

• Bottom line: offer your guests an incentive to buy a bond. Be creative with incentives. Use your imagination. The sweeter the deal, the more likely your guest will buy a bond.

Click here to sign up and for the program FAQ

• Marketing Your Business page - Town Green District

• Make sure your biz is on this INFONewHaven.com/nhvbizupdates list that is being shared widely throughout Connecticut.
  If you are not listed and would like to be, please email: francesca@downtownnewhaven.com

• Join the City of New Haven “Together New Haven” promotional campaign. Click here for examples and where to send your participation information

• Start offering gift cards!

  • Gift Up

  • Merchant Maverick

  • Square Up (by Square & Squarespace)

• Tag us in your Instagram and Facebook posts - we are @DowntownNHV! We will help share and promote your businesses offerings to our followers through posts, stories, our new “Eat Local” and “Shop Local” take-away/delivery and online shopping highlight buttons

yelp marketing resources

• Yelp announced $25 million in relief, focused on supporting independent local restaurant businesses

• This looks like:

  • waived advertising fees

    free advertising, products and services

  • free access to Yelp page upgrades, including Business Highlights and Call To Action, as well as Connect

  • $100 in free search advertising for restaurant clients that offer delivery and/or takeout

Visit Yelp for info and full details.

New Haven creative sector relief fund

The New Haven Creative Sector Relief Fund will distribute immediate financial assistance to individual creatives and arts institutions most impacted by the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). This is a partnership between the City of New Haven’s Department of Cultural Affairs and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven.

Application
Donate

• Disposable Head Covers/Caps

• Disposable Gowns

• Disposable Gloves

• N95 Respirator Face Masks

• Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs)

• Disposable Face Masks