The Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship and the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center have created this page to anchor important information for our clients amid quickly changing conditions and unprecedented measures put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supporting small business owners is what we do, and that is more critical than ever at this time. Below you can find information and resources that could be useful.
Staff across all of our centers are available to work with you via phone or virtual means.
We’re here to help.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) are available to small businesses through Dec. 31, 2021.
These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.
EIDL applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis; contact SBA disaster customer service if you have a question about your loan status.
Note: The SBA has other coronavirus relief measures in place; check for your cross-program eligibility (learn more in Spanish or many other languages):
- SBA Express Bridge Loans allow small businesses that currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
- Through SBA Debt Relief, the SBA will automatically pay the principal, interest and fees of 7(a), 504, and microloans for a period of six months.
- The Paycheck Protection Program has ended, but loan forgiveness is covered on this page.
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness
The Paycheck Protection Program, an SBA-backed loan that helped businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis, ended May 31, 2021, providing nearly $800 billion in relief.
Existing borrowers may be eligible for PPP loan forgiveness.
Businesses can apply for forgiveness in a number of ways (Spanish and other language versions also available on the main PPP page). As of Aug. 4, 2021, they can also apply directly through the SBA’s direct portal for loans $150,000 or less from participating lenders.
Learn more in the forgiveness FAQ or check out the Factsheet for Borrowers.
Federal Guidance
Federal guidance and resources to help your business respond to COVID-19. The agencies will be updating their pages regularly as regulations and processes change:
- Federal Resources for Small Businesses, a website with multiple agency resources
- SBA Guidance and Resources
- CDC Guidance for Reopening
- CDC Interim Guidance
- Department of Labor Resources
- IRS and Tax Relief
- IRS Employee Retention Credit under the CARES Act
- Farmers.gov USDA COVID-19 Resources (including Pandemic Response and Safety Grants due Nov. 22, 2021)
- Coronavirus Recovery Information in Other Languages
Wisconsin Resources for Businesses & Employers
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services website. To follow the statewide response, visit the inter-agency site.
- Vaccines
- Workplace Safety
- PPE & Testing
- PPE Supplier Network
- Personal Protective Equipment guidance
- Testing supplies: Offer or request them
- Supporting Small Businesses
- Main Street Bounceback Program: Provides $10,000 grants to new or existing businesses moving into vacant properties in downtowns and commercial corridors. Deadline is June 30, 2022.
- Main Street Marketplace: Connect to over 230 online small businesses across 34 Wisconsin Main Street communities, all in one marketplace.
Navigating the New Normal Guide
The ongoing uncertainty of this pandemic can be just plain overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be, with the right attention to planning. This workbook, developed by the Wisconsin SBDC to incorporate months of learning from experts and clients, offers reflection questions, checklists and goal-setting prompts to help you move forward.
Client FAQ
Wisconsin SBDC staff has curated and is updating a list of common questions we are fielding, with answers, to help address your most important questions.
Still have questions?
If you still have questions about your small business, let us know.