Resources for Managing Employees
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) is a great resource as you consider making difficult decisions about your business.

The Work-Share Program gives you an alternative to laying off your employees. It allows you to let your employees keep working, but with fewer hours. While they are working fewer hours, CDLE pays them part of their regular unemployment benefits.

You figure out how many hours you can continue to pay. Your employees share those hours as part of the work-share plan. All your employees can be in the Work-Share Program, or employees from a certain unit can be in the Program. It depends on your needs for your employees.

Talk to your local workforce development center . They can guide you through the process.

Your local workforce development center also offers workforce services related to restructuring and/or downsizing your business. Services include, but are not limited to, consultation on layoff aversion strategies, onsite workshops for employees in transition, job placement assistance, and information on unemployment benefits.
Additional Funding Opportunities
Our last email discussed details surrounding the SBA Economic Injury and Disaster Loan . Below are other funding opportunities from various organizations. If you need assistance with your SBA loan application, call SBA's customer service at 1-800-659-2955 or email them at [email protected] .  

Review funding opportunities from the following organizations.
  • KIVA 0% Interest Loans: KIVA, a nonprofit organization, provides 0% interest loans to small businesses worldwide. They are expanding eligibility and the amount of loans provided during this crisis.
  • Facebook Small Business Grants: Facebook announced a $100 million program to help small businesses as governments throughout the country urge gyms and restaurants to close their doors to slow the coronavirus pandemic.
  • El Pomar Assistance Fund: El Pomar Foundation announced the establishment of the Colorado Assistance Fund, a $1 million fund offering immediate aid to nonprofit organizations supporting Colorado communities, organizations and individuals affected by the recent outbreak of COVID-19.

Review funding opportunities specific to your region. Below are a few examples of funding we've seen pop up across the state.
  • Denver Relief Package: The city created an initial relief fund of $4 million to support small businesses during this time. These programs are aimed at supporting businesses so they can support their employees.
  • Telluride Regional Loan Fund: This fund is designed to work with entrepreneurs to obtain financing through low-interest loans.
  • Region 10 Small Business Impact Loans: These loans provide up to $10,000 for small businesses at a reduced interest rate of 4%.
Filing Unemployment Claims
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) system has been overwhelmed the last week due to an unprecedented increase in benefit demand as a result of COVID-19.

CDLE has made a number of changes to address these issues:
  • Added 90 new staff members
  • Implemented a new voluntary gating system
  • If you need to file an unemployment claim and your last name begins with the letter A - M, file a claim on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or after 12 noon on Saturday.
  • If you need to file an unemployment claim and your last name begins with the letter N - Z, file a claim on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or before 12 noon on Saturday.
  • Developed a comprehensive FAQ document based on common questions and issues

Pro tip: Online filers are encountering two common errors: one, on the eligibility screen and another on the employer verification screen. Make sure to save your application throughout the filing process, so you can return to it at a later time.
Small Business Navigator Hotline & Email
The Small Business Navigator hotline is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can also email the Small Business Navigator team.

Hotline: (303) 860-5881
Thank you for signing up for COVID-19 email updates from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. We expect to email you whenever we have news to share, which could be daily or weekly depending on the situation.

Please be sure to visit OEDIT's COVID-19 Business Resource Center , as that webpage has the most recent news and resources.
Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade
1600 Broadway Suite 2500 Denver, Colorado 80202
choosecolorado.com | 303-892-3840