ACEnet facilities, including the Food Ventures Center in Athens & the Food & Farm Enterprise Center in Nelsonville are and will remain open until further notice. ACEnet staff is available in-person and virtually for our various business counseling services. Please email your needs to info@acenetworks.org and you will be connected with a staff member who can assist you.
Federal Resources for Small Businesses & Nonprofits
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
This loan fund is for Small Businesses and Non-profits who have been economically impacted by COVID-19.They may now apply for a low-interest loan of up to $2 million to be used as working capital to make regular payments for operating expenses, including payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses, and to pay business debt incurred at any time (past present or future). You can apply here: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/ (recommended), or by calling 1-800-659-2955 to have an application mailed to you.
To expedite the application process, applicants should have ready complete copies of their most recent federal income tax return and a completed and signed IRS Form 4506T, which authorizes the release of tax information. Additional information to have available would be a schedule of liabilities, personal financial statement, monthly sales figures, a current year-to-date profit-and-loss statement, and a year-end profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet for that tax year if the most recent federal income tax return has not been filed.
Entertainment Venue Grant
The Entertainment Venue Grant provides grants up to $30,000 to theaters, music venues, spectator sports venues, museums, and other entertainment establishments affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’ loss of revenue in 2020. Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Legislature have designated $20 million for this program. The program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development. For questions about this program, email entertainmentvenuegrant@development.ohio.gov.
Lodging Grant
The Lodging Grant provides grants up to $30,000 to hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast operations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of the individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’ decline in occupancy rate in 2020. Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Legislature have designated $25 million for this program. The program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development. For questions about this program, email lodginggrant@development.ohio.gov.
New Small Business Grant
The New Small Business Grant provides grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses that were established between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020. Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Legislature have designated $10 million for this program to help ensure the survival and stability of these businesses. The program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development. For questions about this program, email newbusinessgrant@development.ohio.gov.
Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) II Grants
OH SHARP II Grants will support humanities projects intended to help communities across Ohio recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible organizations include nonprofit or governmental organizations that sponsor humanities programming even if their mission extends beyond the humanities. The second round of SHARP applications will be accepted between October 1 and October 15, 2021. https://www.ohiohumanities.org/grants/sharp-grants/
Appalachian Growth Capital Loan Program
Appalachian Growth Capital will offer loans up to $500,000 to small businesses with less than $40 million of revenue in the most recently completed tax year at 2 percent interest. Businesses will have the ability to defer payment for up to six months. https://appcap.org/
The Ohio Department of Development and the Governor’s Office of Appalachia will provide $10 million in funding to help Ohio Appalachian region businesses through the crisis. This new loan program provides funding to the Appalachian Growth Capital LLC, which is a U.S. Treasury-Certified Community Development Financial Institution that provides small business financing in the 32-county Appalachian region of eastern and southern Ohio.
JobsOhio Resources
JobsOhio is committed to supporting the well-being of Ohio businesses, especially as they navigate the changing landscape created by COVID-19. JobsOhio Resource Page
USDA Rural Development Federal Rural Resource Guide
USDA and its Federal partners have programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. These programs can support recovery efforts for rural residents, businesses and communities through: technical, training, and management assistance; financial assistance; state and local assistance. https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/USDA_COVID-19_Fed_Rural_Resource_Guide.pdf
Local Resources
Athens County Response Fund for Small Businesses & Nonprofits
The Athens County Response Fund will accept applications as long as funding is available. Due to the decreased number of requests, the Review Committee will be switching the frequency of reviews from bi-weekly to monthly. The committee will be open to holding emergency meetings for urgent requests.
Ohio Home Relief Grant for Individuals
The state of Ohio, working with local Community Action Agencies, will help eligible Ohioans with rent, mortgage, and water and/or sewer utility bills catch up on past payments back to March 13, 2020, and provide additional assistance through December 31, 2021. https://businesshelp.ohio.gov/home-relief-grant.html
Resources for Restaurants & Retail Businesses
Food and Beverage Establishment Grant
The Food and Beverage Establishment Grant provides grants up to $30,000 to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other food and drinking businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’ loss of revenue in 2020. Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Legislature have designated $100 million for this program. The program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development. For questions about this program, email foodandbeveragegrant@development.ohio.gov.
How to Talk To Landlords About COVID-19
Until the government orders a rent freeze, here’s how restaurant/retail owners should talk to landlords about COVID-19. The article may be from Eater, but the advice is good for any brick & mortar business. How To Talk To Landlords
Resources for Farmers, Ranchers & Food Production Businesses
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
This loan fund is for Farmers, Ranchers and other Agricultural Businesses who have been economically impacted by COVID-19. They may now apply for a low-interest loan of up to $2 million to be used as working capital to make regular payments for operating expenses, including payroll, rent/mortgage, utilities, and other ordinary business expenses, and to pay business debt incurred at any time (past present or future). You can apply here: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/ (recommended), or by calling 1-800-659-2955 to have an application mailed to you.
To expedite the application process, applicants should have ready complete copies of their most recent federal income tax return and a completed and signed IRS Form 4506T, which authorizes the release of tax information. Additional information to have available would be a schedule of liabilities, personal financial statement, monthly sales figures, a current year-to-date profit-and-loss statement, and a year-end profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet for that tax year if the most recent federal income tax return has not been filed.
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
If you’ve experienced a price decline or have been unable to sell your product because of market disruptions (including closed or delayed farmers markets), you may qualify for relief payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. USDA’s Farm Service Agency is currently accepting new and modified CFAP 2 applications. USDA re-opened CFAP 2 signup beginning April 5, 2021. Signup will close on October 12, 2021. https://www.farmers.gov/coronavirus/pandemic-assistance/cfap2.
To complete the CFAP 2 application, producers will need to reference their production, sales, inventory, revenue, and other records. However, since CFAP 2 is a self-certification program, this documentation will not need to be submitted with the application. A multilingual call center is available for producers who would like additional one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application process: 877-508-8364
USDA Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program
The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides grants to food processors, distributors, farmers markets, and producers to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers. Applications are being accepted September 23, 2021 – November 8, 2021. Funding requests may range from $1,500 to $20,000. https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda
If you have questions about applying or obtaining a DUNS number, visit this PRS application website or contact the Application Helpdesk by phone at (301) 238-5550 or by emailing usda.ams.prs@grantsolutions.gov. The helpdesk hours of operation are M – F, 9AM-9PM ET.
USDA Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program
Are you a swine, chicken, or turkey producer who suffered losses due to insufficient access to processing facilities during the coronavirus pandemic? USDA’s Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) provides financial relief for those losses and costs associated with depopulation due to COVID-19. USDA’s Farm Service Agency will accept PLIP applications from July 20 through October 12, 2021. https://www.farmers.gov/coronavirus/pandemic-assistance/plip
USDA Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program
USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program (PATHH) will provide financial relief to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that experienced losses in 2020 due to COVID-19. USDA’s Farm Service Agency will accept PATHH applications from July 22 through October 15, 2021. https://www.farmers.gov/coronavirus/pandemic-assistance/pathh
Community Farm Alliance
This CFA page is being updated as new information and resources arise: Community Farm Alliance Resources
Resources for Artists
FreshArts Emergency Funding
FreshArts has provided a list of emergency funding opportunities for artists. https://fresharts.org/emergency-artist-funding/
Artists Thrive
Artists Thrive has compiled a fairly comprehensive list of hundreds of opportunities that have been identified for relief for artists and arts organizations: Artists Thrive Master List. They have also created a webpage with ideas, creative responses & a variety of ways artists are responding to this crisis: https://artiststhrive.org/covid-19
Misc. Resources & Resources for Working Remotely
Communications & Information Sharing Solutions for Staff Working Remotely
As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to fluctuate in the communities where we live and serve, organizations are adapting to remote or hybrid work models. Because the current situation changes so rapidly, the resources TechSoup is providing (most of which are FREE) are options that can be implemented relatively quickly, with little to no external IT support needed, and with a focus on remote communications & information sharing solutions. https://blog.techsoup.org/posts/nonprofit-resources-for-remote-work-during-the-covid-19-outbreak
Ohio CDC Association Resources for Community Development
The Ohio CDC Association website is listing and linking to resources that can help members around the state. Resources include webinars, fact sheets, slides and news. https://www.ohiocdc.org/covid19-resources
Community Update by ACEnet Programs & Communications Coordinator, Meggan Loveland
