The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center Network has created this page to anchor important resources and information amid quickly changing conditions and unprecedented measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff across all of our centers are available to work with you via phone or virtual means.
NEW! Request your copy of Navigating the New Normal: A Practical Guide to COVID Response for Small Businesses!
We’re here to help.
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance
NOTICE: The SBA resumed accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications on June 15.
NOTICE: On July 11, the SBA announced the conclusion of EIDL Advance, which provided applicants $1,000 per employee up to a maximum of $10,000, because the funding allocation was exhausted.
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) are available to small businesses via funding from federal Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. We set up a page to help you navigate the process: wisconsinsbdc.org/disasterloans.
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 3 other coronavirus relief measures in place.
- 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 is covered in detail on this page as well.
Paycheck Protection Program
NOTICE: The SBA is no longer accepting applications for the Paycheck Protection Program, which closed by law Aug. 8. Further congressional action would be required to extend PPP again.
The Paycheck Protection Program is an SBA loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities. This became possible thanks to the federal CARES Act.
If you don’t have a business loan, you can reach out to your current bank for a referral. If you have a loan but your lender is not a PPP lender, contact us if you’d like assistance in getting connected or check our Paycheck Protection Program FAQs. You also can review the approved lenders by state and use the Lender Match Tool below.
NOTE: To check the status of your application, contact your lender.
PPP Loan Forgiveness: On May 15, the SBA released its application form and detailed instructions, including measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process 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
- 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 to COVID-19, visit the inter-agency site.
- Workplace Safety:
- Businesses, Employers and Workers overview
- Workplace Safety Page from the Department of Workforce Development
- Signage: We’re All In posters to encourage safe behavior
- Reopen Guidelines:
- WEDC Reopen Guidelines (general and industry-specific)
- WEDC Focus Forward
- Wisconsin Economic Development Association Road to Recovery recommendations
- Badger Bounce Back, Be Ready Guide: Joint guide from Gov. Tony Evers and WEDC for businesses and employees (full plan)
- PPE & Testing:
- PPE Supplier Network
- Personal Protective Equipment guidance
- Testing supplies: Offer or request them
- Support Small Business
- Main Street Marketplace: Connect to over 230 online small businesses across 34 Wisconsin Main Street communities, all in one marketplace.
- COVID-19 Small Business Relief
- USDA Business & Industry CARES Act Program: This program offers loan guarantees to rural businesses and agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans. Deadline: Sept. 15 or until funds run out
- COVID-19 Cultural Organization Grant Program: Administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), the program provides awards of up to $250,000 to cover pandemic-related impacts. Deadline: 2 p.m. Sept. 30.
- Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Supplementary Payment Program: An additional $30 million of CARES Act funding will support early care and education providers. Deadline: Sept. 18.
Unemployment
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is encouraging people to learn more about unemployment and apply online due to unprecedented call volume and tens of thousands of applications. DWD says over 98 percent of those who have applied through the website have been able to successfully start, complete and file their claim for unemployment benefits. Below are popular links to help answer your questions.
Institute Resources
The SBDC is part of the UW System Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, which has a range of small business consulting, education and data services.
You can learn more about how to access all of the programs and find additional national resources available on the Institute’s COVID-19 page.
COVID-19 Wisconsin Business Recovery Calendar
This calendar is a list of all COVID-19 business recovery events in Wisconsin. Please use the searchable fields to find the event that is right for your small business, in your area.
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.
Additional resources can be found at the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship COVID-19 page.
Still have questions?
If you still have questions about your small business, let us know.