Small businesses are the backbone of our community + they have been hit particularly hard by COVID-19.
Many have had to close or operate with less capacity during this time, severely impacting their bottom line. We’ve assembled a list of resources for our small business friends to help assist during this time.
As our world became impacted by COVID-19, we saw people coming together to help one another out. They shopped for their neighbors, donated time + money, delivered meals, and made sure to check in on each other. People also rallied around their favorite restaurants, bars, and shops by purchasing gift cards, ordering curbside pick-up, and shopping online.
As St. Louis City + County begin to open today, small businesses are slowly making their way forward, but are still feeling the effects and wondering if they can survive in this new world. Luckily, there are a growing number of national + regional resources and relief programs for small business owners to turn to for assistance. We’ve listed a few options below along with some other helpful general resources!
Funding Resources
- Show Up for Cherokee
- Any Cherokee Street employee or small business owner that is out of work due to the COVID19 pandemic can submit a request for funds. Application available here.
- The Luminary Futures Fund
- The Luminary, in partnership with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, is offering immediate artist emergency grants totaling $60,000 for artists and arts organizers in the St. Louis region. Applications open June 1 + the application can be found here.
- Pulitzer Arts Foundation
- The Pulitzer Arts Foundation and the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts have established A Sustaining Arts Practice Fund (ASAP Fund) to provide relief to practicing artists, architects, and designers who are facing significant financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. More information can be found here.
- Zero Interest Loan Program
- Businesses are eligible to apply for loans of up to $5,000 for working capital. Any for-profit business in the city of St. Louis or St. Louis County that has sustained economic damage due to the COVID-19 crisis may apply here.
- Small Business Administration
- In addition to traditional SBA funding programs, the CARES Act established several new temporary programs to address the COVID-19 outbreak. More information on those programs can be found here.
Mayor Krewson’s Small Business PPE Healthy Restart Pack
The city is providing free startup PPE to help small businesses with less than 10 employees get back to work on May 18, 2020. PPE Healthy Restart Packs include protective face masks, latex gloves, and instructions on social distancing. Fill out this form to request a pack for your business.
Businesses will need to be able to pick up their PPE Healthy Restart Packs at one of the following locations during the listed times and dates.
• 1408 N. Kingshighway Blvd. (10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on May 14, May 15, or May 18)
• 3115 S. Grand Blvd. (10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on May 14, May 15, or May 18)
• 1520 Market St. (9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on May 14, May 15, or May 18)
Tax Information
The filing deadline for tax returns has been extended from April 15 to July 15, 2020 for Federal and State taxes (Missouri + Illinois) and the City of St. Louis.
MO Small Business Development Centers
Missouri SBDC is offering one-on-one confidential consulting for businesses. They’re available to assist you by email, phone, or videoconferencing. Topics they can assist with include:
- Up-to-date COVID-19 SBA disaster information for small businesses
- Cash flow analysis
- Local, state, and federal resource information
- Long-term strategic planning
- Executive coaching from certified coaches to help during these stressful times
MO Source Link
MOSourceLink’s mission is to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help you need – when you need it. They are now providing Missouri entrepreneurs and business owners with business resources to navigate their businesses through the COVID-19 outbreak. Resources are available here.
STL Regional Resources
This resource guide is a collaboration between grassroots organizations, nonprofits, community volunteers, and users to gather and share an up-to-date and comprehensive set of resources throughout the St. Louis metro region (including St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, East St. Louis, and Metro East). The guide includes information on housing assistance, financial support + resources, jobs, and much more.
Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
