EGBI staff is available to assist business owners. Please do not hesitate to contact us directly (our emails below our names) or by calling 512-928-2594.
We will continue to update this resource page as needed.
RENT Assistance
Are you an Austin renter impacted by Covid-19? There is help for you:
Austin tenants making a low-income may be eligible for up to 15 months rental assistance.
Know your rights! Austin tenants must receive a proposed Notice of Eviction 60 days before a Notice to Vacate. More information at AustinTexas.gov/RENT
Watch Business Priorities in Times of Disaster HERE.
Updates from CITY OF AUSTIN
City of Austin COVID-19 resource
Governor’s Report to Open Texas
View the Report and Checklist .
U.S. Small Business Administration Assistance & Guidance
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) small business owners are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. The loan advance will provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. If you did not apply for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL loan) in 2020, there is additional money in the legislation to fund new loans.
The Shared Work program provides Texas employers with an alternative to layoffs. Shared Work allows employers to:
- Supplement their employees’ wages lost because of reduced work hours with partial unemployment benefits.
- Reduce normal weekly work hours for employees in an affected unti by at least 10 percent but not more than 40 percent.
QuickBooks created Intuit Aid Assist, a free website with an interactive tool to help you evaluate whether you or your clients may be eligible. For more information about the 2021 roll out, refer to this blog. ble for federal relief loans.
Other Money resources
Business Expansion Incentives– Local business hiring targeted groups.
Family Business Loan Program– Low interest, flexible repayment, 10% equity provided by public-private partnership between the City of Austin, HUD, and participating private lenders.
LiftFund provides credit and services to small businesses and entrepreneurs who do not have access to loans from commercial sources.
Veteran Business Loan Initiative (scroll down on page) Includes working capital loans provided by public private partnership between the City of Austin in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to help create or expand a business.
If your business is not in Austin, please contact your city or local chamber to see what is available in your area.
Esusu Rent Relief Fund is designed to provide rent relief to renters adversely impacted by COVID-19.
Kiva provides up to $15,000 loan at 0% interest for U.S. entrepreneurs. Complete an online application to participate in a community-based lending program.
Opportunity Fund is committed to supporting existing and new small business customers who are financially struggling amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. If you are a small business owner whose business has been impacted, please contact them directly so that they may better serve you.
Save Small Business Grant Fund in a collective effort to provide $5,000 grants to as many small employers in economically vulnerable communities. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in partnership with Vistaprint and a coalition of supporting companies, launched this funded by contributions from corporate and philanthropic partners. The application only takes about 10 minutes to complete; use your business’s W-9 form to apply. Grants will be awarded on a weekly basis and you only need to apply one time to be eligible for funding. You are eligible if you are a business that has between three and 20 employees.
Small Business Relief Fund– A program supported by GoFundMe, Yelp, and Intuit QuickBooks.
Money DECISION Guides
FDIC’s Money Smart materials are available from any computer or tablet. Money Smart Computer-Based Instruction covers topics such as the basics of borrowing money wisely, using a spending plan to achieve financial goals, and how to use banking products effectively. The course includes self-paced modules that you can work on whenever you have time.
The Prioritizing Bills Tool – For expenses like utilities, phone and internet, mortgages, or insurance, providers in some areas are offering flexibilities to customers facing financial strain. Check with your service providers or dial 211 or 311 for special resources available to you.
Guide to coronavirus mortgage relief options – If you can’t make your mortgage payments because of the coronavirus, start by understanding your options and reaching out for help.
If you already filed your 2018 or 2019 tax return and haven’t gotten your stimulus check yet, the IRS just launched this online tool to check the status of your stimulus payment and update your banking information if needed. If you haven’t yet filed your 2018 or 2019 tax return, the fastest way to get your stimulus payment is to file your taxes ASAP. Our team of IRS-certified tax preparers can help, just click here to get started. If you don’t have a requirement to file your taxes, the IRS just launched this online tool for getting your stimulus check. If you receive SSDI or SSI, the IRS has said that they will automatically deposit your stimulus payment.
All of FC’ Prosper Center services (including health insurance enrollment, financial coaching, and college coaching) are available virtually until we can re-open in-person services. Please call their Client Support Specialists at 737-717-4000 if you have any questions or would like to be connected to resources.
Texas Comptroller –Comptroller’s Office is offering assistance to those businesses that are struggling to pay the full amount of sales taxes they collected in February. For businesses that find themselves in this situation, the agency is offering assistance in the form of short-term payment agreements and, in most instances, waivers of penalties and interest. Contact Enforcement Hotline at 800-252-8880 to learn about your options for remaining in compliance and avoiding interest and late fees on taxes due. Online tools, tutorials and other resources for tax services and establish 24/7 account access .
Marketing programs
Google committing to donate more than $800 million to support businesses, organizations and healthcare workers as part of its corona virus response — most of it in the form of free advertising. Another $340 million in Google ad credits will be available to small and medium–sized businesses whose accounts have been active over the past year with an additional $20 million earmarked for announcements on relief funds and support for small businesses.
Other resources for Small Businesses
Legal Assistance with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid is available to assist if you have any business legal needs via online conferencing. This includes reviewing insurance policies and contracts for “act of god” clauses or other issues that are arising due to these unprecedented times. Other issues may be cybersecurity, as business increasingly need to be moving online; insurance issues, contract issues, commercial leases, and workplace issues for businesses that have employees. If interested in taking advantage of these services, contact Andrea Beleno Harrington aharrington@trla.org for applications to see if you qualify to proceed. Andrea will contact you to schedule an appointment for a virtual session, with or without video, whichever works best for you. If filling out the application, you may take a picture and email it to Andrea directly or send it to her email as a pdf. Scanbot is a free android scanning app that may be used as well. Application to send to Andrea in English and Spanish.
Construction project guideline on whether job is essential during this time.
Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 , the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 provided by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- List HERE. Disinfecting your home instructions by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Guidance for Employers to plan and respond to COVID-19 by US Chamber.
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers plan, prepare and respond.
Internet Access – Austin Free-Net, to continue operating two Computer Technology Access Labs to address the needs of residents who lack home access. These labs are located at the DeWitty Center (2209 Rosewood Ave) and the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) (500 East Seventh St). Learn more by visiting https://austinfree.net/. Local Internet providers are also pledging to keep Americans connected via Broadband and telephone services through this trying time. AT&T, Charter, Google Fiber, and Grande Communications have all pledged to participate in the national Keep Americans Connected effort led by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395.
Marketplace Health Insurance team of health insurance experts is available by phone to help you enroll in health insurance and use your insurance to access care is available here or email enroll@foundcom.org . Call 512-381-4520 .
Nonprofit Resources for working remotely. List HERE.
Restaurant Hotline for Austin to stay up to date with the changing regulations.
Telecommuting resources. List of a couple of options to communicate remotely or share information with your team.
Texas Restaurant Association – Visit their page dedicated to coronavirus guidance resources.
Downloadable Frequently Asked Questions for Texas Employers HERE.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides unemployment benefits for individuals who lost their jobs or self-employment or who are no longer working as a direct result of a major disaster for which a disaster assistance period is declared, and who applied but are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits. See the Eligibility section for details in English and in Spanish.
Workforce Solutions Capital Area is maintaining resources for immediate hiring support offered to businesses and workers.
General Services
Austin 2-1-1 is a free social service hotline available 24 hours a day.
Austin 3-1-1 is a resource to help answer all general questions for more assistance.
Aunt Bertha is a website that matches qualified individuals with food, housing, transit, health/medical, education, and legal help.
Find food assistance, help paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs that help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by zip code online HERE.
Housing Authority: call your property management office and explain that you have no income to pay rent this month. Here’s the list of property offices.
COVID-19: Austin Information and Resources -English Version (Office of Austin City Council Member Greg Casar)
COVID-19: Información y Recursos de Austin –Spanish Version (Office of Austin City Council Member Greg Casar)
Healthcare Resources
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Resource to manage creative and professional burnout from UC Berkeley.
Texas HHSC: https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/
Ascension Seton is offering online urgent through their website and mobile app. Use the code HOME for a $20 cost per visit for the month of March. No insurance required. Ascension Online Care: https://choose.ascension.org/onlinecare
COVID Testing Resources:
- Austin Regional Clinic is testing high-risk patients with fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and travel from the Level 3 zones or exposure to a positive COVID-19 patient. Patients must call or book an appointment online.
- Baylor Scott & White has built a questionnaire available through their app or online for those who have questions or concerns about COVID-19. Take the online questionnaire here. More information and links to telehealth screening are available here: https://www.bswhealth.com/Pages/coronavirus-information.aspx or text BETTER to 88408 to install the app on your mobile device.
- Cage Free Care is available every day 24/7 and is a coronavirus testing site: https://cagefreecare.com/ or 512-851-1018
- CommUnity Care is testing uninsured or current CommUnity Care patients with fever higher than 100.4, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and who have been in contact with a positive COVID-19 patient. Those exhibiting symptoms should call the Community Care COVID-19 Hotline at 512-978-8775 (Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm) to receive guidance before arriving at a facility.
- University of Texas Health in Austin (UTHA), Dell Medical Center’s Clinic downtown. Drive through testing is available, but patients must be high-risk individuals referred by Austin Public Health and Ascension Seton