COVID-19 Aid for Businesses & Individuals
Updated Wednesday, September 9, 10:30 a.m.
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing a safe working environment for employees and members, and to minimizing the potential economic and business impact of COVID-19 (the “Novel Coronavirus”) for our Chamber members.
To that end, we want to hear about how your organization is being affected by this situation, so that we can connect you with resources that can offer you assistance and share your concerns with legislators who might be able to help.
Resources for Businesses
As your business continues to feel the effects of the ongoing coronavirus crisis, there are resources available to help you get through the worst of the situation and mitigate the potential financial impact.
Show Me Strong Personal Protective Equipment Retooling Program
The state has announced the Show Me Strong Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Retooling Program. This $20 million initiative provides grant funding to manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, and other entities to reimburse certain costs for retooling existing facilities by purchasing necessary equipment and services to manufacture critically needed PPE for use in Missouri. This DED webpage has more information on eligibility and timeline.
Additional Business Assistance
Numerous state and national organizations are making information and assistance available for businesses of all sizes in all sectors. We are consistently working to collect as much valuable information as possible in one central location. Check back to this page frequently for more.
- The Missouri Job Center has information available for both employees and employers impacted by COVID-19.
- The Missouri Department of Economic Development is gathering a wealth of information about resources available to Missouri businesses.
- The Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations has useful information for both employers and employees.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put together a resource center for businesses, as well as this article about potential tax implications for small businesses.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also created its Save Small Business Initiative, as an effort to help address the immediate needs of the small business community, mitigate closures and job losses, and mobilize support for long-term recovery in the wake of the economic destruction of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resources for Individuals
As employees and self-employed individuals feel the impact of the ongoing crisis, there is information and resources available to help you as well. The Chamber is working hard to gather this information as it becomes available.
- Individuals should note that the Missouri Department of Labor Division of Employment Security announced on June 15 that the work search requirements for individuals seeking unemployment benefits that had previously been lifted will be reinstated beginning the week of July 5. This news release from the Missouri Job Center has more details.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has this primer about guidelines and special unemployment benefits for individuals.
- The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) has information about how individuals can access its shared work program.
- DOLIR also has an informational flyer about the shared work program.
CFO COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks is taking applications for grants to nonprofits affected by the coronavirus through its COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund Grant Program. As of April 23, CFO had awarded seven grants through the program, as well as its first Pitt Technology Group Access and Assistance grant, for pandemic-related needs. Click the button below to visit the CFO website and learn more.
Federal Reserve's Main Street Lending Program
The Federal Reserve established the Main Street Lending Program to support lending to small and medium-sized for profit businesses and nonprofit organizations that were in sound financial condition before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can download this Frequently Asked Questions document from the Fed about the program, which includes information about who is eligible and how the application process works. In addition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put together this informational guide about the program, including eligibility requirements.