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.
The SBA offers disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans to businesses, renters, and homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters.
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
Funding opportunity up to $10,000 for COVID-19 response flexible funding.
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
- Larger meetings for up to 250 participants per call
- Live streaming for up to 100K viewers within your domain
- Record meetings to Google Drive to share with those who can’t attend
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:
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.
They also have a monthly newsletter with COVID resources.
Ohio Resources:
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:
- Farmers Market Schedule Changes
- Resources for farmers
- Tracking operations changes for farmers and markets
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
- Grow Appalachia’s Farming Network Facebook Group
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