CAN’s goal is to be a resource hub for the Central Appalachian region during the COVID-19 crisis. Below is a list of resources collected from our regional partners. We will continue to update this list as more resources become available. Please email jess@ruralsupportpartners.com with any additional resources that should be added to the list. 

Table of Contents
Financial Resources for Small Businesses & Nonprofits
Local Response Coordination Tips
Technology Resources for Remote Work
Federal Resources
Resources for Artists
Resources for Farmers
Other Resources 


Financial Resources for Small Businesses & Nonprofits

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, & Economic Security Act

A guide to what Community & Economic Development resources are included in the financial assistance package. 

SBA Disaster Assistance Loans 

The SBA offers disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans to businesses, renters, and homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters.

Paycheck Protection Program 

The Paycheck Protection Program is a 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. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020. – overview here

Paycheck Protection Program fact sheet

COVID-19 Economic Assistance through Small Business Administration

Details opportunities for two time-sensitive economic assistance opportunities for nonprofits, made available through the federal government’s SBA department, that could significantly offset financial hardship due to COVID-19 over the next few months

Chorus Rapid Response Funding 

Funding opportunity up to $10,000 for COVID-19 response flexible funding. 

Truist & NCIFund Partnership

LiftFund will provide grants to small businesses in Alabama, Arkansas (Crittenden County), Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri (Desoto County), Tennessee and Texas. Small businesses in these states should apply for a grant by visiting www.liftfund.com.

Natural Capital Investment Fund (NCIFund) will provide grants to small businesses in Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio (Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren Counties), Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. Small businesses in these states should apply for a grant by visiting www.ncifund.org.

Annuity Financial Literacy Guide 

Annuity has provided a financial literacy guide for small businesses & individuals to help navigate the COVID-19 crisis.

 


Technology Resources for Remote Work

Zoom – the following features available with the free account: 

  • Host up to 100 participants for up to 40 min
  • Video conferencing
  • Screen sharing 

Google Hangouts – the following features free until July 1st, 2020

Free Conference Call – the following features available with the free account: 

  • Audio & video conferencing
  • Screen sharing
  • Call recording

UberConference – the following features available with the free account: 

  • Conference calling with up to 50 participants
  • Screen sharing 
  • Call recording

EZ Texting – offering 3 months free

  • Allows you to send mass text alerts & notifications

Tips for planning & executing an online event from Moz://a


School Meal & Food Access Resources

The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)’s COVID-19 resource page which is providing updates on efforts to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the health, well-being and food security of low-income people.

  • FRAC’s spreadsheet that outlines what school districts are doing across the nation to ensure that students are still getting meals.
  • Their guide talks about meal delivery during COVID-19 to ensure students are still getting meals. Section III includes best practices to serve meals during school closures

 


Other Resources

Free COVID-19 Open Research Dataset 

A free resource of over 45,000 scholarly articles, including over 33,000 with full text, about COVID-19 and the coronavirus family of viruses for use by the global research community.

The Translation Services website is offering fliers about COVID-19, it’s spread, & prevention techniques in 30 different languages. 

Local Response Coordination Tips

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) COVID-19 resource page

This page lists resources collected from ARC’s regional partners. They will continue to update this list as more resources become available.

Kentucky Resources:

MACED – Resources for EKY

List of resources for communities & businesses being updated weekly. 

Community Farm Alliance – Resources for KY

List of resources for farmers, small businesses, and community members being updated regularly. 

Grow Appalachia Resource Page

They also have a monthly newsletter with COVID resources.

Ohio Resources: 

ACEnet – Resources for OH

Webinar Wednesday resources – small business resources for OH 

List of resources for small businesses, individuals, and nonprofits being updated regularly. 

Virginia & Tennessee Resources 

Appalachian Sustainable Development – Resources for VA 

Links of resources about VA farmers markets & updates on ASD operations

West Virginia Resources:

List of Emergency Response Funds from Philanthropy WV

Resources for WV Communities from WV Hub

TN Resources:

Appalachian RC&D Councilis focused on focused on farmers market promotion and farmer resources. On their website you can find:

Appalachian Highlands Economic Aid Directoryhas a community resources page that includes information for businesses needing financial support, online guidance, resources such as hand sanitizer and food. You can additionally check out their live map listing all of the feeding sites that are open while Northeast Tennessee schools are closed, and you can fill out a form to volunteer to help those in need.

USDA TN Rural Development is having “virtual” calls concerning SBA loans

Community Foundations

Many community foundations are stepping up to manage community relief funds and other financial responses to COVID-19 impacts. Contact your local community foundation with ideas, needs, or opportunities. 

CDFIs 

Many CDFIs and other lenders are offering no-cost deferments on regular payments. Contact your lender to see what your options are.

Rural Assembly’s list of COVID-19 rural resources

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland Resource Page 

List of resources for bankers, businesses, communities, & consumers on topics like housing, financial education, & health & safety. 


Federal Resources

USDA COVID-19 Federal Rural Resources Guide gives information of eligible resources based on For-profits, Ag. producers and resources, Government entities, Non-profits, Cooperatives, Individuals, Health Providers/Hospitals and, Tribes. 

Fiscal Management Associates Resource Page on how nonprofits can access recently-approved federal benefits and what nonprofit leaders need to be thinking about right now.

Summary of CARES Act for Employers – provides specifics about:

  • Paycheck Protection Program – The Small Business Administration is authorized to make up to $349 billion in loans to cover payroll costs, contributions to group health coverage, mortgage payments, rent, utilities and interest on debt incurred prior to the covered period. 
  • Paycheck Protection Program Toolbox 
  • Pandemic Unemployment Assistance – Employees are eligible to use this insurance even for reduction in hours, not just termination or furlough. 
  • 10 emergency paid sick days for employees who are sick.
  • Extended FMLA (Applies to all employers under 500) – Employers are only obligated to pay employees up to a cap of $200 per day and $10,000 in the aggregate per employee. The first 10 days are unpaid, and the remainder of the leave is paid. 

 


Resources for Artists 

Listing of emergency funding for artists

List of resources for freelance artists, such as actors, designers, producers, technicians, stage managers, musicians, composers, choreographers, visual artists, filmmakers, craft artists, teaching artists, dancers, writers & playwrights, photographers, etc.

National Endowment for the Arts has gathered a list of Covid-19 Resource pages for artists and arts organizations

ArtPlace America list of COVID-19 resources 

ARTS REVIVE has compiled a list of resources for individual artists and is engaging youth at home by creating a daily art Facebook project for them.

Artists Thrive COVID-19 resource page 


Resources for Farmers 

FarmAid resources for farmers navigating COVID-19

Grow Appalachia’s page of food & farm COVID-10 resources 

NSAC COVID-19 Resource Page

NSAC is collecting resources from members, partners, and allies to help mitigate the challenges facing the food and farm system during this crisis. This page will be updated on an ongoing basis as we learn about new available resources.

List of resources for farmers and farmers markets

Farm Employers Labor Service (FELS) list of COVID-19 resources

What’s in the CARES Act for Food & Agriculture 

Updates on H2A Visa Program for Temporary Workers from USDA 

AFT Farmer Relief Grant Program

This program will award farmers with cash grants of up to $1,000 each to help them weather the current storm of market disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis.  Initially, eligible applicants include any small and mid-size direct-market producers. These are defined as producers with annual gross revenue of between $10,000 and $1 million from sales at farmers markets and/or direct sales to restaurants, caterers, schools, stores, or makers who use farm products as inputs.

Readiness Assessment for Continuity of Farm Business

This open-source checklist developed by PASA and Penn State Extension helps farmers develop a business continuity plan to adapt to and support contingency planning during the pandemic.

How the CARES Act will support relief to farmers

Keep up to date with federal relief efforts through regular analysis from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s blog and action alerts.

Appalachian RC&D Council list of resources for farmers