Was your business affected by looting or damage due to recent civil unrest? Call our Business Assistance Hotline at 585-753-2000 for guidance and resources

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting Monroe County small businesses significantly. This Monroe County Resource Navigator is a roundup of the most reliable, up-to-date resources to help you explore new and existing loan and grant programs available to support your business. This document also includes information about other issues, including workforce, safety, and communications assistance. 

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds are available immediately through the U.S. Small Business Administration. These grants provide an emergency advance of up to $10,000 to small businesses harmed by COVID-19.  To access the advance, applicants must first apply for an EIDL and then request the advance.  The advance does not need to be repaid under any circumstance. Here is a link to apply directly online: http://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ The SBA.gov website will post additional updates as they become available. Monroe County is also administering a loan program – see first link below. 

For direct assistance and directions on how to fill out applications and see if your business qualifies, please contact: 

• NYS Small Business Development Center – Greater Rochester Chapter: 
  • http://www.nyssbdc.org/centers/centers.aspx?centid=22
  • Phone: (585) 395-8410
  • Email: sbdc@brockport.edu
• SCORE Mentors of Greater Rochester: 
  • https://greaterrochester.score.org/
  • Phone: (585) 263-6473
  • Email: webmaster.ch23@scorevolunteer.org

COVID19 Loan and Grant FAQs and Toolkits: 

• Monroe County Industrial Development Corporation (MCIDC) COVID-19 Loan Program - Application Portal Closes Friday May 29th, 2020
• NY Forward Loan Fund
• City of Rochester COVID-19 Grants and Loans and Other Assistance
• U.S. Small Business Administration Coronavirus (COVID-19) Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Report – “Everything You Need to Know About Coronavirus Federal Small Business Stimulus Aid Programs”
• SCORE Coronavirus SBA Loans and Business Assistance 
• U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer’s Small Business Owners & Non-profit Guide to the CARES Act Grants & Loans
• Monroe County FAQs for 2020 CARES Act Economic Injury Disaster Loans
• Monroe County FAQs for 2020 CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program
• Monroe County Sales and Use Tax Exemption and Fee Waiver for Businesses Making and Distributing PPE - Overview
• Monroe County Sales and Use Tax Exemption and Fee Waiver for Businesses Making and Distributing PPE - Application

Other Emergency Funding Available:

• Forbes’ List of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Small Business Relief Programs
• Fundera’s Guide to Emergency Business Loans
• SCORE Guidance on SBA Loans and Business Assistance
• Facebook Small Business Grants
• Amazon Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund

Workforce and Unemployment

• NYS DOL Filing System for Unemployment Claims
• NYS DOL Shared Work Program
• CDC: Interim Guidance for Business and Employers
• US Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Workplace Tips for Employees
• US Department of Labor: Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA standards
• OSHA: Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
• OSHA: Preventing Worker Exposure to COVID-10
• NYSDOL – Guidance for Self-Employed Individuals
• Candidates Needed for Long Term Care (LTC) Facility Positions

General Business Resources

• Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus/COVID-19 Resources for Business
• ESD: Sourcing COVID-19 Products
• Foundation for Manufacturing Excellence Resource Page
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Response Toolkit
• Communicating with Your Customers Flyer
• SBA Guidance for Businesses and Employers
• CDC Guidance for Business and Employers
• SBDC COVID-19 Small Business Resources
• Intuit Quickbooks Small Business Help
• National Association of Development Companies (NADCO) “Small Business Owners’ Guide to the CARE Act”
• SCORE Coronavirus Small Business Resource Hub
• ESD COVID-19 Related Resources
• Rochester Public Library Business Insight Center and Carlson Center for Intellectual Property