The Coronavirus pandemic is affecting small businesses in a variety of ways. From loss of business to remote work, things are changing fast during the COVID-19 outbreak and businesses are being forced to adapt.
We’ve pulled together a list of resources to help you and your business during this time.
(This list is no longer being actively updated. Please check out our COVID-19 Small Business Toolkit or subscribe to our newsletter).
Original post: 3/25/2020 – Updated: 11/17/2020
- Upcoming Ascender Events
- Top 5 Resources to Navigate Funding Packages for Businesses/Nonprofits
- Resources related to the PPP and EIDL funding packages
- PA State Department Resources
- Coronavirus Tax Relief
- Financial Assistance
- Emergency Funds & Grants
- Entrepreneur Resources
- Nonprofit Resources
- List of Shared Resources
- Special Offers (services, software, etc)
- Ways to help the Pittsburgh Community
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Upcoming Ascender Events
- (Program) Check out our Event Calendar for the most up-to-date program information.
- (General Resource) Explore our Small Business COVID-19 Toolkit for curated questions, articles, templates, and videos to help your small business figure out its next steps.
- (General resource) View all upcoming and past programming and events here.
- (General resource) Ascender’s now on Medium. Visit to find useful tips for entrepreneurs, event recaps, Ascender member highlights, and more.
Top 5 Resources to Navigate Funding Packages for Businesses/Nonprofits
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- Dr. Kelly Hunt, District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), joined the Pittsburgh Technology Council to provide an update on the latest SBA disaster loans and criteria. Slides
- Emergency Loans Guide and Checklist for Small Businesses and Nonprofits by U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
- Assessing Your Organization’s Stimulus Program Options by Babst Calland.
Resources related to the PPP and EIDL Funding Packages
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- Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
- (Presentation) KPMG has compiled an extensive presentation, COVID–19: CARES Act Small Business Administration (SBA) and Other Funding: From the Borrower’s Perspective, to guide small businesses as they navigate the multitude of relief efforts currently offered by federal, state, and local governments. The presentation summarizes and compares each funding opportunity and explores real-world scenarios that businesses may face.
- (Guide/Checklist) To help small business owners and entrepreneurs better understand the new programs that will soon be available to them, the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has created a comprehensive guide to many of the small business provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was just passed by Congress.
- (Guide/Checklist) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has created a Coronavirus Emergency Loans Guide and Checklist for Small Businesses and Nonprofits in response to the passage of the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP loans).
- (Article) For an article that describes the CARES Act in simpler terms, check out this Medium post.
- (General resource) Pro Bono Consultations and Services to African American Businesses Impacted by COVID-19, offered by Jackson Kelly, PLLC.
- (Resource list) The U.S. Small Business Administration is providing low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to qualified Pennsylvanian small businesses experiencing economic injury as a result of the coronavirus. These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the COVID-19 impact.
- (Guide/Checklist) Babst Calland, a Pittsburgh-based law firm, has compiled a quick reference guide to help small business owners better understand stimulus options, including EIDL, PPP loans, and the CWCA.
- (Webinar) The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers is hosting a series of regular webinars designed to help small business clients understand who is eligible for an SBA Emergency loan and how to apply.
- (Article) Duquesne Small Business Development Center has compiled an article to assist businesses with completing an application. The center is also offering to answer questions and assist with identifying necessary documents for the online application.
- (Consultation) CWE is offering telephone counseling hours dedicated specifically to answering questions and assisting with applications for SBA funding packages. To schedule an appointment, complete the New Client Signup online.
- (Guide/Checklist) The National Council of Nonprofits has created a chart that provides information on the CARES Act loan options, eligibility criteria, terms, and application information.
PA State Department Resources
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- (Resource list) COVID-19 Business Resources (PA Department of Community and Economic Development Business Resources)
- The COVID-19 Working Capital Access (CWCA) Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) and provides critical working capital financing to small businesses located within the Commonwealth that are adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Coronavirus Tax Relief
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- (General resource) The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.
Financial Assistance
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- (General resource) Hebrew Free Loan Association of Pittsburgh has announced a Coronavirus Financial Bridge Loan Program to provide interest-free loans on a nonsectarian basis for up to $5,000 to residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland, Washington, and Armstrong counties who are facing financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Applicants must have a family income lower than $115,000.
- Coronavirus Financial Bridge Loans are repayable in monthly installments of $150–250 depending on the size of the loan.
- A cosigner is required for all loans, unless the borrower is a homeowner with a credit score of 670+.
- (General resource) Bridgeway Capital’s COVID-19 Response Fund makes flexible financing available to help small businesses manage business disruptions and sustain vital services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan program is designed to help businesses under 50 employees and starts with a 4% interest rate.
- (Resource list) Urban Redevelopment Authority’s loan program assistance for current borrowers and non-borrowers. URA halting small business loan payments for URA borrowers — see “Resources for Businesses” section for information and additional support.
- (General resource) Honeycomb Relaunch Loans, community-sourced loans with interest rates starting at 5% to get your small business back to work.
- (General resource) Honeycomb Credit’s Loyalty Bonds Program provides capital to small businesses today through the sale of ‘maturing’ gift cards.
- (General resource) Kiva loans up to $10,000 at 0% interest. Contact the Riverside Center for Innovation.
Emergency Funds & Grants
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- (General resource) Emergency Fund for Artists by the Greater Pittsburgh-Arts Council.
- Artists living in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Washington, Lawrence, Indiana, Greene, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties are eligible.
- Financial losses due to cancelled events, including performances in all performing arts, disciplines, readings, and speaking opportunities
- Offsetting loss of income for teaching artists who could not teach during this time because of cancelled classes and school closures
- (General resource) Business for All ensures business owners have access to the funding, advocacy, and networks needed to succeed. Led by Hello Alice, Business for All is offering $10,000 emergency grants up to support small businesses in immediate need due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis.
Entrepreneur Resources
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- (Webinar) Bouncing Back: How to build resiliency into your business – As the ‘new normal’ sets in, businesses need a plan more than ever to be prepared for unforeseen events. Watch a recording of the presentation from Ascender’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Tammy Szijarto, as she guides us through scenario planning exercises that will help you make informed decisions instead of reactionary outcomes.
- (Article) The One Good Thing Caused by COVID-19: Innovation, an article from Harvard Business School (explore the HBS site for other relevant resources).
- (General Resource) What lessons can U.S. employers learn from how other countries are dealing with coronavirus, a podcast episode produced by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
- (General resource) Preparing to Reopen, a guide for small businesses created by America’s SBDC.
- (General resource) 9 Experts on How to Communicate With Customers During Coronavirus, a recent article that provides tips for maintaining consistent and relevant communication with customers.
- (Webinar) Managing Your Business’ Finances During COVID-19, a webinar presented by Tammy Szijarto, Ascender’s Entrepreneur-In-Residence, provides ways for businesses to become lean and flexible. [Worksheet] [Slides]
- (Webinar) How to market and do business online: Head of Marketing at Honeycomb Credit, Sophia Fang, shared how she applies creative strategies to engage new audiences online.
- (Guide/Checklist) Small Business Resiliency Guide that helps entrepreneurs take steps to bring their businesses back to normal created by America’s Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and Grow with Google.
- (General resource) PwC’s COVID-19 Navigator digital financial assessment tool to help assess the potential impact to your business and gauge your readiness to respond.
- (Webinar) Join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation for twice-weekly conversations on helping America prepare to restart the economy in the wake of COVID-19. The Path Forward webinars are held every Thursday at 3 PM.
- (Article) Women business owners can learn where to turn for COVID-19 financial help in this article from BizWomen.
- (Resource list) Techstars has compiled a list of resources, general advice, and upcoming virtual events to aid small businesses and tech startups.
- (Resource list) The Creative Business Accelerator has curated a list of resources and upcoming events to help creative businesses endure.
- (Consultation) The CBA is also hosting virtual office hours: Schedule Virtual Technical Assistance with the CBA Team
- (Webinar) “Business as Usual” daily webinars from the Pittsburgh Technology Council – Learn directly from state representatives, local CEOs and others experts about ways to keep up with more of a sense of “business as usual” throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
- (Article) The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation answers common questions posed by small businesses and nonprofits as they navigate the various loan and grant opportunities launched in wake of the pandemic. You can read through the answers here: A guide to helping small businesses navigate and recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
- (Article) The Harvard Business Review has distilled the following 12 lessons to Lead Your Business Through the Coronavirus Crisis. The article discusses responding to unfolding events, communicating, and extracting and applying learnings.
- (Webinar) Association of Fundraising Professionals Western Pennsylvania is hosting a series of webinars that will cover strategies for engaging donors and sustaining fundraising efforts during these uncertain times. View upcoming webinars here.
- (Consultation) Kit Mueller’s newsletter: For local founders seeking experienced mentorship via virtual office hours. Sign up here.
- (Guide/Checklist) Bridgeway Capital’s COVID-19 Small Business Checklist.
- (Resource list) Bridgeway Capital’s COVID-19 Technical Assistance for Small Businesses Entrepreneurship Hub.
- (Consultation) Schedule virtual technical assistance for creatives by the Creative Business Accelerator, Bridgeway Capital. Email: Katie Johson at Kjohnson@bridgewaycapital.org
- (Guide/Checklist) University of Pittsburgh Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence: COVID-19 Small Business Preparedness Checklist
- (Guide/Checklist) U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Coronavirus Small Business Guide
- (Resource list) Partner4Work provides a number of resources for businesses, workers, job seekers, and youth as companies face both downsizing and upsizing their workforces.
- (Consultation) The Pittsburgh Financial Empowerment Center is providing a free one-on-one financial counseling session to help you devise a plan of action that will work for your unique situation.
Nonprofit Resources
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- (General resource) Managed by The Pittsburgh Foundation, which is also a contributor, the Emergency Action Fund, which has grown to more than $5 million and is receiving donations daily, will provide financial support quickly to nonprofits and government agencies.
- (Consultation) Trina Leigh Walker is offering free 30-minute consults with nonprofits about their communication strategy during this crisis. Sign up here.
- (Webinar) Association of Fundraising Professionals Western Pennsylvania is hosting a series of webinars that will cover strategies for engaging donors and sustaining fundraising efforts during these uncertain times. View upcoming webinars here.
List of Shared Resources
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- (Resource list) Shine Registry, COVID-19 list of resources
- (Resource list) Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – COVID-19 Resources: Pittsburgh Job, Business, and Nonprofit Resources
- (Resource list) Community Resources in Pittsburgh responding to COVID-19
- (Resource list) Allegheny Conference – Pittsburgh region response to COVID-19
- (Resource list) Urban Redevelopment Authority – COVID-19 Resources (including information about the Housing Stabilization Program)
- (Resource list) New Sun Rising’s list to support small businesses, creatives, and small businesses in need
- (General resource) Hootsuite is offering free access to its Professional plan
Special Offers (services, software, etc)
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- (Resource list) Deals for businesses in the time of COVID-19
- (General resource) Adobe Creative Cloud – 2 months free
- (General resource) Atlassian – free collaborative work from home tools
- (General resource) Calendly – free virtual meeting integration
- (General resource) Cisco Webex Video Conferencing
- (General resource) 6 month free trial Microsoft Office 365
- (General resource) Safety4Data – 3 months of free data transfer and encryption services
Ways to help the Pittsburgh Community
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- (General resource) Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program, a grant program for Pennsylvania homeowners who are at least 30 days delinquent in their monthly mortgage payments.
- (General resource) The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and Strip District Neighbors are teaming up to provide funds for the Gift Card Give Back Initiative.
- (General resource) 412 Food Rescue Response to COVID-19 – Resources & Volunteer
- (General resource) Greater PGH Restaurant Workers Emergency Fund organized by Taylor Stessney
- (Guide/Checklist) NEXTPittsburgh’s Guide on How you can help others in Pittsburgh during the coronavirus crisis
- (General resource) Pittsburgh Covid-19 LGBTQIA Emergency Relief Fund organized by SisTers PGH
- (General resource) Pittsburgh City Paper – Support local restaurants by ordering takeout and/or curbside pickup
- (General resource) Pittsburgh Virtual Tip Jar Listings
- (Resource list) Pittsburgh Mutual Aid – Pittsburgh Mutual Aid is a collective of organizers and individuals who are coming together to assist the community during the COVID-19 crisis through providing economic relief. This fund aims to deliver at least $5k a week to those in Pittsburgh who are in need because they have lost income due to the COVID-19 crisis.
