NGLCC: The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce | LGBTBE Coronavirus Support from SBA
NGLCC / SBA Webinar Recap:
Economic Relief Resources for LGBT-Owned Businesses
During COVID-19
On Thursday, March 26, 2020, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce convened over 800 NGLCC affiliate chamber leaders, NGLCC Corporate Partners, and LGBT business owners to join Administrator Jovita Carranza of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and her team on how to connect LGBT-owned small businesses with emergency capital and resources during COVID-19.
For general follow-up questions, please contact NGLCC at SBAcall@nglcc.org . For all SBA relief questions, please contact SBA using the phone/email below.
[ Note: All SBA relief loans/grants are contingent upon requirements being met that are unique to each business/industry. NGLCC believes in the strength of our LGBT Business Community and the opportunities provided by SBA during these times. NGLCC is providing the resources below for your benefit. To avoid confusion, please address inquiries to the experts at SBA using the links below.]
Of particular importance to the NGLCC network on yesterday's call, regarding the latest “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” or the “CARES Act” :
YES: 501(c)6 business organizations (ie: NGLCC affiliate chambers) are included in relief
YES: Sole-proprietors, independent contractors, and micro-businesses are included in relief
YES: SBA loans/grants have been expanded to help American small business owners:
Emergency grants: The bill provides $10 billion for grants of up to $10,000 to provide emergency funds for small businesses to cover immediate operating costs.
Forgivable loans: There is $350 billion allocated for the Small Business Administration to provide loans of up to $10 million per business. A portion of that loan used to maintain payroll, keep workers on the books or pay for rent, mortgage and existing debt could be forgiven, provided workers stay employed through the end of June.
Relief for existing loans: There is $17 billion to cover six months of payments for small businesses already using SBA loans.
*A list of SBA approved relief lenders will be shared in the days ahead.
See the most current SBA links and resources below:
Disaster Loan Assistance. ( Click here to apply .)
Federal Disaster Loans for Businesses, Private Nonprofits, Homeowners, and Renters
Small business owners in all U.S. states and territories are currently eligible to apply for a low-interest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) .

Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans at:  SBA.gov/Disaster .

The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. 

SBA Express Bridge Loans
Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program  allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loans or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct  SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan . If a small business has an urgent need for cash while waiting for decision and disbursement on Economic Injury Disaster Loan, they may qualify for an SBA Express Disaster Bridge Loan.
Terms
  • Up to $25,000
  • Fast turnaround
  • Will be repaid in full or in part by proceeds from the EIDL loan
Find an Express Bridge Loan Lender via  SBA’s Lender Match Tool  or by connecting with your  local SBA District Office .


Get Support Directly from the SBA
If you need additional assistance or information, please contact our Customer Service Center. 

By Phone:
   1-800-659-2955 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-877-8339) 

By Email:


Document Delivery Options
Collecting data online is the best way to get your application data to the SBA. If, however, you are unable to provide portions of the required information online, you may use one of the following methods to deliver documents to the SBA. Please understand this will increase the processing time for your application. 

Email your completed document(s) as attachments to:  disasterloans@sba.gov
Any information you send to SBA via email is sent via an unsecured email link. Due to the nature of the Internet, it is possible that unsecured email could be intercepted by third parties. Attachments that you email to the SBA cannot be larger than 5MB due to the SBA's size limitation on emails.

To Fax Documents: (Except for Puerto Rico, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands & Guam) Fax your document(s) to: 1-202-481-1505.

Customer Service Representatives may be available in your area to assist you with submitting your documents. Click here for a listing of field locations near you .

Mail your completed document(s) to:
U.S. Small Business Administration 
Processing & Disbursement Center
Attn: ELA Mail Department
P.O. Box 156119 
Fort Worth, TX 76155

 
Guidance for Businesses and Employers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the most up-to-date information on COVID-19. This interim guidance is based on what is currently known  about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) . For updates from CDC, please see the following:
 
SBA Products and Resources
SBA is here to assist small businesses with accessing federal resources and navigating their own preparedness plans as described by the  CDC’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers .

SBA works with a number of local partners to counsel, mentor and train small businesses. The SBA has 68 District Offices, as well as support provided by its Resource Partners, such as SCORE offices, Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers. When faced with a business need, use the  SBA’s Local Assistance Directory  to locate the office nearest you.

Access to Capital
SBA provides a number of loan resources for small businesses to utilize when operating their business. For more information on loans or how to connect with a lender, visit:  https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans .
How to get access to lending partners? SBA has developed  Lender Match , a free online referral tool that connects small businesses with participating SBA-approved lenders within 48 hours .
  • 7(a) program offers loan amounts up to $5,000,000 and is an all-inclusive loan program deployed by lending partners for eligible small businesses within the U.S. States and its territories. The uses of proceeds include: working capital; expansion/renovation; new construction; purchase of land or buildings; purchase of equipment, fixtures; lease-hold improvements; refinancing debt for compelling reasons; seasonal line of credit; inventory; or starting a business.
  • Express loan program provides loans up to $350,000 for no more than 7 years with an option to revolve. There is a turnaround time of 36 hours for approval or denial of a completed application. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.
  • Community Advantage loan pilot program allows mission-based lenders to assist small businesses in underserved markets with a maximum loan size of $250,000. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.
  • 504 loan program is designed to foster economic development and job creation and/or retention. The eligible use of proceeds is limited to the acquisition or eligible refinance of fixed assets.
  • Microloan program involves making loans through nonprofit lending organizations to underserved markets. Authorized use of loan proceeds includes working capital, supplies, machinery & equipment, and fixtures (does not include real estate). The maximum loan amount is $50,000 with the average loan size of $14,000.

Exporting Assistance
SBA provides export loans to help small businesses achieve sales through exports and can help these businesses respond to opportunities and challenges associated with trade, such as COVID-19. The loans are available to U.S. small businesses that export directly overseas, or those that export indirectly by selling to a customer that then exports their products.
  • Export Express loan program allows access to capital quickly for businesses that need financing up to $500,000. Businesses can apply for a line of credit or term note prior to finalizing an export sale or while pursuing opportunities overseas, such as identifying a new overseas customer should an export sale be lost due to COVID-19.
  • Export Working Capital program enables small businesses to fulfill export orders and finance international sales by providing revolving lines of credit or transaction-based financing of up to $5 million. Businesses could use a loan to obtain or retain overseas customers by offering attractive payment terms.
  • International Trade loan program helps small businesses engaged in international trade to retool or expand to better compete and react to changing business conditions. It can also help exporting firms to expand their sales to new markets or to re-shore operations back to the U.S.

Government Contracting
SBA is focused on assisting with the continuity of operations for small business contracting programs and small businesses with federal contracts. For more information on federal contracting, visit  https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide

More specifically:
  • 8(a) Business Development program serves to help provide a level playing field for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people or entities, and the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate. The 8(a) program offer and acceptance process is available nationwide, and the SBA continues to work with federal agencies to ensure maximum practicable opportunity to small businesses. 8(a) program participants should stay in touch with their Business Opportunity Specialist (BOS).
  • HUBZone program offers eligibility assistance every Thursday from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET at 1-202-765-1264; access code 63068189#. Members of the HUBZone team answer questions to help firms navigate the certification process. For specific questions regarding an application, please contact the HUBZone Help Desk at hubzone@sba.gov.
  • Women-owned Small Business firms who have questions, please visit www.sba.gov/wosbreadyor write to wosb@sba.gov.

If a situation occurs that will prevent small businesses with government contracts from successfully performing their contract, they should reach out to their contracting officer and seek to obtain extensions before they receive cure notices or threats of termination. The SBA’s Procurement Center Representatives can assist affected small businesses to engage with their contracting officer. Use the  Procurement Center Representative Directory  to connect with the representative nearest you.

Local Assistance
SBA works with a number of local partners to counsel, mentor, and train small businesses. The SBA has 68 District Offices, as well as support provided by its Resource Partners, such as SCORE offices, Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers and Veterans Business Outreach Centers. When faced with a business need, use the  SBA’s Local Assistance Directory  to locate the office nearest you.
Need ANY support?

Team NGLCC is here for you at info@nglcc.org
Perhaps most importantly of all: we must be there for one another. NGLCC's Supplier Diversity Team and Engagement Center Team are standing by to assist you with resources and B2B connections to keep your business, and our community strong, during this time.

Log into my.nglcc.org to explore our extensive LGBT Business Enterprise database for:

  • Online resources for your business, including Work from Home solutions, teleconferencing, document security, etc

  • Coaching, business development, RFP support, and online mentors who can help you pivot your business online during this time

  • Legal, financial, and healthcare advisors who understand the unique needs of the LGBT business community
NGLCC: The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
202.234.9181| info@nglcc.org | nglcc.org