SBA provides materials in languages other than English to help business owners recover.

From the White House:

• The President's Guidelines for Opening Up America Again
• Coronavirus.gov

From the CDC:

• Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Preventing Stigma Related to COVID-19
• Share Facts about COVID-19
• Information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Prevention, Symptoms and FAQ

From the SBA:

SBA offers additional guidance for businesses, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations. Learn more at our Recovery Hub:

• Capital access
• Workforce capacity
• Inventory and supply chain shortfalls
• Facility remediation and clean-up costs
• Insurance coverage issues
• Changing market demand
• Underserved communities
• Faith-based communities

SBA has 68 District Offices around the country that provide guidance and assistance to small businesses in their area. We also work with a number of local organizations to counsel, mentor, and train small businesses through our official Resource Partners: SCORE mentors, Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers. You can use SBA’s Local Assistance Directory to locate the SBA District Office or Resource Partner service location nearest you.

SBA offices have been fully operational since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and are maximizing telework to best serve our small business customers. Check the operating status for all SBA locations.

Join our team! SBA is hiring additional employees to assist with disaster relief efforts. Bilingual language skills are a plus. Remote jobs are available nationwide.

SBA is here to assist small businesses with accessing federal resources and navigating their own preparedness plans.

You can read SBA’s plan for use of covered funds provided through public laws: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, and the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020.

Loan programs

SBA provides a number of loan programs for small businesses. Learn about loans and how to connect with a lender.

• 7(a) loans offer amounts up to $5,000,000. The uses of proceeds include: working capital; expansion/renovation; new construction; purchase of land or buildings; purchase of equipment, fixtures; lease-hold improvements; refinancing debt for compelling reasons; seasonal line of credit; inventory; or starting a business.
• Express loans offer up to $350,000 for no more than seven years with an option to revolve. There is a turnaround time of 36 hours for approval or denial of a completed application. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.
• Community Advantage loans allow mission-based lenders to assist small businesses in underserved markets with a maximum loan size of $250,000. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.
• 504 loans are designed to foster economic development and job creation and/or retention. The eligible use of proceeds is limited to the acquisition or eligible refinance of fixed assets.
• Microloans are made through nonprofit lending organizations to underserved markets. Authorized use of loan proceeds includes working capital, supplies, machinery and equipment, and fixtures (does not include real estate). The maximum loan amount is $50,000 with the average loan size of $14,000.

Exporting assistance

SBA provides an array of trade tools and export finance programs to help small businesses increase international sales and respond to opportunities and challenges associated with trade, such as COVID-19.

The following loans are available to U.S. small businesses that export directly overseas, or those that export indirectly by selling to a customer that then exports their products:

• Export Express loans provide quick access to capital for businesses that need financing up to $500,000. Businesses can apply for a line of credit or term note prior to finalizing an export sale or while pursuing opportunities overseas. For example, identifying a new overseas customer should an export sale be lost due to COVID-19.
• Export Working Capital loans enable small businesses to fulfill export orders and finance international sales by providing revolving lines of credit or transaction-based financing of up to $5 million. Businesses could use a loan to obtain or retain overseas customers by offering attractive payment terms.
• International Trade loans help small businesses engaged in international trade retool or expand to better compete and react to changing business conditions. They can also help exporting firms expand their sales to new markets or to re-shore operations back to the United States.

More information and assistance with international sales is available from our Office of International Trade.

Government contracting

SBA is focused on assisting with the continuity of operations for small business contracting programs and small businesses with federal contracts. SBA has issued special guidance for federal small business contractors impacted by COVID-19.

If a situation occurs that will prevent small businesses with government contracts from successfully performing their contract, they should reach out to their contracting officer and seek to obtain extensions before they receive cure notices or threats of termination. SBA’s Procurement Center Representatives can assist affected small businesses to engage with their contracting officer. Use the Procurement Center Representative Directory to connect with the representative nearest you.

If your small business is currently not working on any government contracts, and is interested in competing for them, SBA offers the following certifications:

• 8(a) Business Development program serves to help provide a level playing field for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged people or entities, and the government limits competition for certain contracts to businesses that participate. The 8(a) program offer and acceptance process is available nationwide, and the SBA continues to work with federal agencies to ensure maximum practicable opportunity to small businesses. 8(a) program participants should stay in touch with their Business Opportunity Specialist.
• HUBZone program offers eligibility assistance every Thursday from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET at 1-202-765-1264; access code 63068189#.  Members of the HUBZone team answer questions to help firms navigate the certification process. For specific questions regarding an application, please contact the HUBZone Help Desk at hubzone@sba.gov.
• Women-owned small business firms who have questions are encouraged to learn about the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting program or write to wosb@sba.gov.

For assistance with SBA programs, please contact us.