Covid-19 Resource Guide by Oregon Main Street April 1, 2020

Resource List

General

• Oregon Coronavirus Information and Resources page: https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19 
• Senator Wyden’s office: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/coronavirus-resources
• Senator Merkley’s office: www.merkley.senate.gov
• The recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes resources for small businesses, non-profit groups and other employers. This guide provides information about the major programs and initiatives that will soon be available through the act.
• National Trust Community Investment Corp – CARES Act summary: NTCIC CARES Act Summary
• National Main Street now has a Tips Sheet and social graphics that you can download. 
• Covid-19 Resource Page – information on available resources on Oregon Heritage website
• Business Oregon COVID-19 Financial Resources for Businesses
• Oregon Health Authority
• Oregon Office of Emergency Management
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• U.S. Travel Association
• The Oregon Farmers Market Association has released guidance around famers markets, many of which remain open around the state as essential businesses. 

Request from Main Street America: Help Us Help Small Businesses. We are seeking information from small business owners about the challenges they’re facing as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Specifically, we need to better understand the ability of businesses to withstand what may be a several months of suppressed revenue and what kinds of support programs will have the most impact. Please encourage your small businesses to respond to this survey. This data will make us stronger advocates to Congress, to state legislators, and to our local elected officials in explaining the kind of resources needed by Main Street businesses to weather the storm. We’re asking for responses by 5:00pm PT this Friday, April 3rd. It should take each small business owner about five minutes to go through the questions.

E-Commerce

• The Denton, TX Main Street hosted a Facebook Live on e-commerce https://www.facebook.com/events/2597241333854952/ . It was held last week but it’s available to view now under “videos” on their FB page. 
• Here is a 25min tutorial on setting up ecommerce: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-start-an-online-store/
• Brad Attig is in the process of or has developed a number of workshops which can be delivered fully online and will all be on their learning platform by the end of next week. He did suggest creating a "Community Marketplace" online store first, especially if most small business owners in a community are hurting for resources right now to launch their own online ecommerce platforms. Last year they created this site for The Arts Center in Corvallis: https://the-arts-center-artshop.myshopify.com/ (to support all the artists in the collective rather than set by ecommerce artist by artist)
• Resources for businesses that are trying to set up online gift cards or certificates:
• https://www.kabbage.com/helpsmallbusiness 
• https://help.gettimely.com/category/356-gift-vouchers (this does not charge a % fee)
• Description of different on-line platforms (pros & cons)
• Recording: Ben Muldrow talks w/Chris about Retailers Heading Online Watch Here this has some specific tips for selling on-line – starts w/some info on restaurants, but online starts around 8 minutes or so in. And, a companion video where Ben sits down with two business owners to talk about their leap to eCommerce: this video 
• Recording of Emergency Ecommerce – Learn how to use PayPal to add e-commerce to your website and promote products Click Here
• Webinars for Business Owners and Entrepreneurs hosted by Oregon RAIN on Mondays from 3-4 pm Schedule & Register:

March 30:  Knowing Your Customer is More Important Than Ever
April 6:      Social Media 101: Maintaining Customer Engagement During COVID-19
April 13:    Going Online: Digital Sales in the Era of COVID-19 
April 20:    Startup Sales & Marketing Tips
April 27:    Getting Kids Excited About Entrepreneurship 

• E-commerce Tutorials :

• https://websitesetup.org/woocommerce-online-store-tutorial/  (for Wordpress sites)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrEG5Std2xI (Wordpress) 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IZ_-9-dL34  (Best for Squarespace subscribers)
• https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/building-online-stores/ (overview of popular E-commerce platforms)

Information for Business Owners

• US Chamber Guide for Small Businesses
• The Oregon Small Business Development Center has created a guide for navigating a business crisis. 
• Info for restaurants http://pdxrestaurantalliance.org/grants-funding
• Summary of legislation and the private options available so business can have cash-on-hand and relief during the COVID-19 pandemic by Jennifer Kem, Master Brand Institute:
  
  1️⃣A livestream talking you through the 8 points you need to be aware of
  2️⃣ A cheat sheet with EVERYTHING you need to be informed and get your money
  3️⃣A spreadsheet to easily store your CASH PLAN ACTIONS
  
  Faire: Impact Calculator for Retailers
• Use this straightforward calculator to help you make business predictions amid COVID-19 (there are no spreadsheets involved here!)
• Faire: Immediate Steps for Local Retailers During COVID-19 Faire does a great job of providing simple business tips (for your bank account and for your heart) during this uncertain time. 
• Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association – resources for businesses in the restaurant and lodging industry 
• Small Business Administration Disaster Resources 
• SBA Resource Guide
• SBA Oregon Disaster Declaration
• SBA Disaster Loan Assistance Link
• CARES Act – US Travel provides resources around the recently passed federal COVID-19
• BOLI – The State of Oregon has many resources available for businesses and employers. Employers can call the Technical Assistance hotline at 971-673-0824 or email bolita@boli.state.or.us.
• Small Business Advocacy – Businesses without employees or with fewer than 100 employees can contact the Office of Small Business Assistance via email at business.sos@oregon.gov or by calling toll free 1-844-469-5512
• Oregon Work Share Unemployment Program – This program allows employers to arrange for unemployment benefits for employees who they may need to furlough or experience reduced hours. Visit the website to learn more about this program.

Grants

• The Oregon Community Foundation has two new active funds in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation’s website has information on the Oregon Small Business Stabilization Fund and the Oregon Community Recovery Fund.  
• Musicares Fund

• The Recording Academy® and its affiliated charitable foundation MusiCares® have established the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help our peers in the music community affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.
• Sweet Relief Musicians Fund 
• Sweet Relief provides immediate assistance through a DONOR-DIRECTED FUND with a limited amount of funds available to be used specifically for musicians and music industry workers affected by the Coronavirus. Funds raised will go towards medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food and other vital living expenses to those impacted due to sickness or loss of work
• Cerf+
• CERF+ emergency assistance is available to established artists working in a craft discipline 
• James Beard Foundation started a Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund to provide microgrants to independent food and beverage small businesses in need.
• Facebook Small Business Grants Program Facebook’s small biz grant program has not yet been released, but you can sign up at the bottom of the page for updates when the application goes live. Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where we operate. 
• The AARP Community Challenge Grant deadline has been pushed back to May 15th.  For info and to apply: https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/community-challenge/info-2020/2020-challenge.html.  If anyone has a questions or would like to discuss a project idea, you can contact Bandana Shrestha in the Oregon AARP office at BShrestha@aarp.org
• Northwest Health Foundation Grant Program

Organization/Nonprofit Finance Information

• If You Have to Cancel Your Events
• What you need to know about coronavirus and special event insurance
• 5 Nonprofit Must Dos
• Non-Profit Association of Oregon Resources
• Free 16-week planned giving course. Plain English Planned Giving [Register for 8-module course, beginning 4-1-2020]. Lynda Sands pretty much wrote the book – and much of the legislation – on planned giving. As her way of helping nonprofits through these difficult times, this is her gift to the nonprofit community during these stressful times. Just 15 minutes or so each day, with time for Q & A. If you miss a session, there will be a recorded recap. If you’ve ever wanted to begin a legacy giving program… if you just need a refresher on ‘planned giving’ concepts… if you want to know what’s trending right now in this field. Click Here to Register
• Interesting article on phrasing of a nonprofit email in the face of Coronavirus: https://clairification.com/2020/03/22/anatomy-coronavirus-nonprofit-email-thank/ 
• Suggestions for helping those in need: https://streetsense.com/blog/the-streetsense-guide-to-helping-those-in-need/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=mailchimp&utm_campaign=WOTS&utm_term=032020