There are several funding options for businesses affected by COVID-19.
St. Louis County Small Business Relief Program
The St. Louis County Small Business Relief (“SBR”) Program will provide financial relief to small businesses that were closed during the Stay at Home Order. The grant can be used to pay for the costs of business interruption as a result of the business closing during the Stay at Home Order and to cover costs associated with reopening safely. Business interruption costs could include fixed operating costs during closure. Reopening costs could include acquiring personal protective equipment for employees or customers or installing plastic shields to reduce the risks of transmission between customers and employees.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility:A business is eligible for an SBR grant if the business (including for-profit entities, sole proprietorships, and non-profit organizations) has its principal place of business in St. Louis County, had 50 or fewer full-time employees as of March 1, 2020, and was closed during the Stay at Home Order.
Total Amount of Grants per District: At this time, the SBR Program will award a maximum total of $2.5 million in grants per County Council district. Additional funding may be provided in the future.
Size of Grant: The SBR Program will award a one-time grant of $15,000 or less to a qualifying business. Any two or more businesses with common ownership of 25% or more are considered to be the same business for purposes of this paragraph.
Conflicts of Interest: No business may receive an SBR grant if the business has a director, officer, employee, agent, or sub-contractor that is an elected or appointed official of St. Louis County, an elected or appointed official of any municipality within St. Louis County, or is a member of the immediate family of any such elected or appointed official.
Non-Discrimination: In considering whether to award a grant, no person involved shall unlawfully discriminate against any business because of race, creed, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or any unlawful basis.
Local Marketing Grant Program
Local businesses are an important part of a community’s identity. Whether it is the jobs they create, the uniqueness they add, or the services they provide, they truly are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods. As the local leader in news and advertising, we want to be there for you during these uncertain times. Our Local Marketing Grant Program is another way we are looking to strengthen our communities, one business at a time.
- All advertising products we offer are eligible for the matching grant, so we can help you address your distinct business objectives.
- Grants will be issued up to $1,000,000 in total, ranging from $250 – $15,000 per month per client.
- Grants will be awarded for the months of April, May and June.
Learn More here.
Invest STL Neighborhood Solidarity Fund
The Neighborhood Solidarity Fund seeks to expedite the recovery period in these areas by bolstering the human, organizational and economic infrastructure at the neighborhood level and includes three separate opportunities: the Neighborhood Innovations in Connectivity grant, the Community Development Corporations (CDC) Stability grant and the Neighborhood Small Business Lift grant (applications now closed).
- The Neighborhood Innovations in Connectivity grant is available for formal and informal neighborhood associations and similar organizations to support organizing, connecting and communicating while upholding physical distancing guidelines. Grantees can use funds to implement a solution to connect to their neighbors in this time. Award amount will be determined by size of the area each connectivity project anticipates. To apply please complete the Neighborhood Innovations in Connectivity Application. If you are unable to complete the application using the web-based form, please call SLACO at 314-361-9406.
- The CDC Stability grant is available for neighborhood-focused community development organizations to maintain core operations, staff and healthy work environments. Grantees may also use the funds to provide additional emergency services or financial support to the neighbors they serve. Award amount will be determined by the core operating expenses of each organization. To apply please complete the CDC Stability Application. If you are unable to complete the application using the web-based form, please call CBN at 314-730-5449 to complete the application by phone.
If you have additional questions about the Neighborhood Solidarity Fund, please review the FAQ. Please direct all questions or inquiries regarding the fund to [email protected].
Small Business Development Center
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) also has these resources available:SBA Disaster Relief Funding
To help business owners prepare for the changing circumstances associated with COVID-19, the Missouri SBDC suggests the following steps to take for businesses financially impacted.
Register as an SBDC-St. Louis client, and get connected to an SBDC Counselor here.
Contact SBDC Business Counselor, Colleen Mulvihill, directly at [email protected].
St. Louis Community Foundation
The Gateway Resilience Fund: This fund will provide short term monetary relief to employees and owners of independent bars, restaurants, and shops in the St. Louis area affected by closures and other circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Distribution of Funds: The fund will consider covering personal, family, living, or funeral expenses incurred as a result of the outbreak. The Gateway Resilience Fund will make direct grants to eligible applicants or pay their bills. In addition, there are grants available for small businesses in downtown St. Louis. See application for details.
COVID-19 Regional Response Fund
The fund will direct aid to nonprofits already working with the elderly, those isolated and/or quarantined, and children who no longer receive free and reduced lunches. A coalition of more than 25 St. Louis area funders established the fund. Learn More
Save Small Business Fund
The Save Small Business Fund is a grant making initiative offering short-term relief for small employers in the United States and its territories.TO QUALIFY
YOU MUST
– Employ between 3 and 20 people
– Be located in an economically vulnerable community
– Have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic
Learn more here.
Additional Funding Resources
SheaMoisture launched a $1 Million Fund to support entrepreneurs of color. Applications open 4/8 and have a quick turnaround. https://www.sheamoisturefund.com/apply-1
Spanx Red Backpack fund is a $5 Million fund targeting women entrepreneurs. Applications opened 4/6. https://www.globalgiving.org/redbackpackfund/
Verizon has donated $2.5 million to the national nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). LISC is targeting grants up to $10,000 to entrepreneurs of color and women-owned businesses. To register for the mid-April round of funding, https://www.lisc.org/our-stories/story/verizon-and-lisc-fire-25-million-small-business-covid-19-recovery-fund
Hello Alice is offering $10,000 grants to help small business owners. For more information about those grants and other small business resources https://businessforall.helloalice.com/
Yelp! is not providing a grant to small business but announced $25 million in relief, primarily focused on independent local restaurants and nightlife businesses, in the form of waived advertising fees…. https://blog.yelp.com/2020/03/yelp-covid-19-response-and-support-for-local-businesses
Microsoft is providing six months of Office 365 tools for free to enable remote collaboration, file sharing and video conferencing. For more information, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2020/03/17/helping-smb-customers-work-remotely-microsoft-teams/.
