Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates and Resources
Local governments and cities looking for business owner input.
For Delaware based businesses
(fill out the form linked below and send it back to DSB at  [email protected] ) :
For Philadelphia based businesses:
SBA Providing Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses

The SBA released a press release on March 12, 2020 to let the public know that they will be providing Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses impacted by Coronavirus as states request an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. The interest rate is currently listed at 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. For more information about SBA's Coronavirus Disaster lending, read the full brief here. 
City of Philadelphia Restricts Non-Essential Commercial Activity

Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 at 5 p.m. and through at least March 27, 2020, businesses considered as non-essential must halt operations. Only essential businesses will be allowed to operate.

Read the official statement in English here .
Read the official statement in Spanish here .
Updates & Resources

It's clear by now that this situation is impacting all of our lives - and businesses. We at WBEC-East want to share any and all resources that can help your business weather this storm.

1) Stay up to date:


2) Manage the impact on your business as best you can. One of the major problems for small businesses during disasters is that many may not have working capital available for more than a month of operations.
  • Check if you have business interruption coverage. Contact your insurance to see if your coverage includes business interruption coverage and whether it covers this situation.

Forbes has these recommendations for small business owners:

  • Apply for a small business loan. Interest rates are as low as they've ever been, so if your financials have been strong in recent years, consider taking advantage of them. Note that there may be Disaster Assistance Loans available as well; see update from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  • Open a business Line of Credit. This is one of the best solutions for temporary cashflow shortages. The business only pays interest on the funds used.
  • Consider a merchant advance for quick funding. This is a higher cost solution, but may meet your needs in the case of a dramatic shortfall that requires an urgent solution.
  • Continue marketing your business. It's tempting to cut your advertising budget if sales are down, but it's still important to remind customers that your business is still there. You might also use this time to launch offerings suited to "social distancing," like online appointments or services, gift cards, remote consulting, discounts for online orders, etc.

3) Find ways to support other businesses when you can. CNN had these suggestions:
Consider ordering takeout from your favorite local restaurant.
Buy a gift card to use later.
Shop local online.
WBEC-East is Still Open for Business!

While we are following the advice of health officials and taking appropriate precautions, we have the technology and resources to continue to serve you! 

Precautions Include:
Heeding the advice to work from home & enacting our Continuity of Operations Plan.
Postponing our in-person events through the end of May 2020. Rescheduled dates for events will be announced later in the summer and fall.
Transitioning our classroom education to a web-based format through May 2020.
Please Note:
All staff are accessible via the  About: Our Team link on our webpage.
Certification applications for Women Business Enterprises are continuing to be processed and have not been impacted by any changes made internally.  
Remember to bookmark our Events page and check it often!
We are fortunate to have a strong network of WBEs, Council Members, corporate partners, board members, staff, and entrepreneurs who are working together during this time. 

We will continue to make communication a top priority during these uncertain times. As circumstances continue to develop in the U.S. and elsewhere, we will review and update our protocols and offerings, as appropriate.

Please stay healthy and safe during this time, and know that WBEC-East remains a resource to you and your business.
If there are any helpful resources you've come across & would like to share with our WBEC-East network, please email our engagement coordinator, Afy, and we'll share it on our resources page.