Business Resources

Oct 15 Main Street Relief Fund 2.0 - Governor Sununu authorized $100 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) for continued economic support to NH small businesses suffering from business interruptions as a result of COVID-19. This supports both (1) businesses that did not receive grants from the initial round and (2) businesses that received grants of less than the maximum $350,000 from the initial round of MSRF or the GAP Fund.

Important Dates:
Application Period: October 19, 2020 – October 30, 2020
Deadline to Submit Completed Application: 4:00 PM on October 30, 2020

MORE INFO HERE: https://www.goferr.nh.gov/covid.../main-street-relief-fund

May 15 Announcement from NH Governor

The relief funds announced today come at the recommendation of the Bipartisan Legislative Advisory Committee, and include:

• Healthcare Relief Fund: $50,000,000
• Non-Profit Relief Fund: $60,000,000
• Child Care: $25,000,000
• Main Street Relief Fund: $400,000,000
• Farm and Food: $15,000,000
• Public Higher Education Relief Fund: $15,000,000
• Business Finance Authority Safe Harbor Forgivable Loans: $30,000,000

The NH Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund was established by  the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR). The State will award grants from the allocated $60 million to help nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The NH Center for Nonprofits, the NH Charitable Foundation and the NH Community Development Finance Authority have partnered to administer this program.

Eligibility:

• The organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in New Hampshire.
• The organization must demonstrate that it incurred or will incur necessary expenditures and/or losses due to the COVID-19 public health emergency between March 1 and December 30, 2020.
• Costs or losses cannot be covered by this program if they have been, or will be paid, by other federal emergency relief funds, including the Paycheck Protection Program.
• The program will not make grants to nonprofit hospitals, colleges and universities, and other organizations that are or will be assisted through other funding opportunities. See for example the Healthcare System Relief Fund and New Hampshire Childcare Relief.

https://www.goferr.nh.gov/covid-expenditures/nh-nonprofit-grants

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act  "The programs and initiatives in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress are intended to assist business owners with whatever needs they have right now. When implemented, there will be many new resources available for small businesses, as well as certain nonprofits and other employers. This guide provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to address these needs, as well as some additional tax provisions that are outside the scope of SBA."

CDFA: "The NH Nonprofit Response Fund, funded in part by contributions from the business community, will provide nonprofit organizations (affected by the COVID-19 pandemic) with resources up to $100,000 for working capital, equipment purchases and programming expenses. The NH Nonprofit Response Fund is funded by the following resources:

• Up to $1,000,000 in donations from businesses in exchange for Tax Credits (75% State Tax Credit on BET and BPT). For more information, see the Tax Credit Program Overview.
• At least $500,000 in flexible loan funds from the Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) and the Business Finance Authority (BFA).

The Response Fund will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the front lines of the outbreak and nonprofits supporting the most vulnerable individuals and families directly impacted. The Fund will prioritize the most immediate public health needs and economic impacts of the new disease, focusing on service providers that support vulnerable populations. CDFA and BFA will administer loans including deferred loans to qualified nonprofits.  In order to move resources quickly and not further burden organizations on the front lines of the pandemic, we will provide simplified and flexible application processes, application available for view on April 1st and applications will be accepted on April 13th.  Funds will be released on a rolling basis as funds are raised, continuing throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of the crisis.  Overall, the Fund will be managed so that we can respond rapidly to community demands and adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases. Our Resource Hub has more information and can be accessed by following the link."

*The deadline for eligible small businesses, nonprofits, sole proprietorships, and independent contractors to apply for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan has been extended to December 31, 2021.  Learn more and apply: https://www.sba.gov/disaster*

>>SBA: Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources such as paycheck protection, loans and loan advances, debt relief, guidance, products, gov't contracting and local assistance resources.

>>The US SBA is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Click here for full details.   

• Economic Injury Disaster Advance Loan
• Other Coronavirus Assistance

Contact the SBA with questions or for more details at 800-659-2955 or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

>>The NH SBA District Office

Contact the NH SBA for state and local resources, to sign up for email updates, view daily COVID-19 briefings and to get your specific questions answered.

Contact the NH District Office at 603-225-1400 or email.
Contact Keene's SBA partner, Vardhan Bajpai, at (603) 903-8237 or email.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, signed into law by on provides the Economic Development Administration (EDA) with $1.5 billion for economic development assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.

EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance, which is being administered under the authority of the bureau’s flexible Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) (PDF) program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

NH BEA: Help for NH Businesses including loans and grants, latest updates, state and federal resources, employee/public health, unemployment/layoffs, executive orders, etc.

• COVID-19 supplies needed - Please let BEA know if you can donate, or produce supplies for lab, testing, and diagnostics; personal protection equipment (PPEs), or medical or scientific expertise
   
• Submit your business inquiry as it relates to COVID-19 business or employer assistance or questions, such as employee benefits, essential business, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, unemployment benefits, etc. 

Contact BEA Business Resource Specialist, Mollie Kaylor, at (603) 271-6305 or email.

The NH SBDC COVID-19 Assistance Page helps businesses navigate the myriad of COVID-19 programs and resources available to NH businesses. It includes information specific to small business employer needs as well as best practices and advice from business advisors.

SBDC provides highly individualized advising and education to NH businesses at no cost. Their team of business advisors can help businesses apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans, prepare for relief measures as they are introduced, and discuss concerns related to cash flow, staffing, marketing, accounting, supply chain interruptions, and more.

SBDC also provides a COVID-19 Newsletter.

Contact the Keene SBDC Regional Office at (603) 903-8237 or email.

USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak including foreclosure moratoriums, guaranteed loans, direct loans, assistance for owners and managers of multi-family housing properties, telecom & electric utilities audit extensions and waivers of certain requirements, access to obligated funds, B&I and REAP assistance with temporary cash flow issues, payment deferrals and extension of application deadlines. 

The USDA RD website provides current facts, stakeholder notifications and an FAQ.

SSTI has assembled a list of resources for organizations, small businesses, universities and others to provide guidance on the latest stimulus package as well as other sources of aid.

Contact contactus@ssti.org if you know of a program or resource that should be included here or have suggestions to improve usability.

The State Science & Technology Institute (SSTI) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving initiatives that support prosperity through science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship

The Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce (GKCC) has a list of resources for local businesses and non-profits including assistance funds, guidelines for business continuity, live streaming events, e-commerce and the Hannah Grimes Virtual Resource Center.   

Contact the GKCC at (603) 352-1303 or email.

Eversource is postponing disconnections for nonpayment, suspending late payment fees and offering flexible payment plans (call 866-861-6225) to help decrease economic hardships due to COVID-19.

Eversource is also rescheduling planned outages as well as routine non-outage, service-related work inside residences and businesses.

View the Eversource FAQ page.

The CDC is providing "Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". 

As of December 31, 2020

• Expanded section on in-person or virtual health checks
• Added a section on considerations for testing for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19
• Addressed shortened quarantine options. Shortening quarantine may increase willingness to adhere to public health recommendations; however, shortened quarantine may be less effective in preventing transmission of COVID-19 than the currently recommended 14-day quarantine.
• Clarified that all workers should wear masks (unless respirators or facemasks are required) in accordance with CDC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance and any state or local requirements
• Clarified that, in addition to preventing the wearer’s respiratory droplets from reaching others, masks might be protective to the wearer