BREAKING NEWS.
"The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.

Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards.
From U.S. Treasury Dept: home.treasury.gov/cares

SMALL BUSINESS PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with funds to pay up to 8 weeks of 
payroll costs including benefits. Funds can also be used to pay interest on mortgages, rent, and 
utilities. 

Fully Forgiven

Funds are provided in the form of loans that will be fully forgiven when used for payroll costs, 
interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities (due to likely high subscription, at least 75% of the 
forgiven amount must have been used for payroll). Loan payments will also be deferred for six 
months. No collateral or personal guarantees are required. Neither the government nor lenders 
will charge small businesses any fees. 

Must Keep Employees on the Payroll—or Rehire Quickly 

Forgiveness is based on the employer maintaining or quickly rehiring employees and 
maintaining salary levels. Forgiveness will be reduced if full-time headcount declines, or if 
salaries and wages decrease. 

All Small Businesses Eligible 

Small businesses with 500 or fewer employees—including nonprofits, veterans organizations, 
tribal concerns, self-employed individuals, sole proprietorships, and independent contractors—
are eligible. Businesses with more than 500 employees are eligible in certain industries. 

When to Apply 

Starting April 3, 2020, small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply. Starting April 10, 
2020, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply. We encourage you to 
apply as quickly as you can because there is a funding cap. 

How to Apply 

You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository 
institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is 
participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are 
approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether 
it is participating. All loans will have the same terms regardless of lender or borrower. A list of 
participating lenders as well as additional information and full terms can be found at 
www.sba.gov. 

The Paycheck Protection Program is implemented by the Small Business 
Administration with support from the Department of the Treasury. Lenders 
should also visit www.sba.gov or www.coronavirus.gov for more information. 
North Coast SBDC Center Service Continuity
Stay Updated COVID-19 Resources and Guidance for Small Business is updated daily or more: northcoastsbdc.org/covid19

Get Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 for your business  here and download the California SBDC's COVID-19 Survival Guide for Small Business here .

Sign up for the Small Business Emergency Response mailing list: surveymonkey.com/r/NorthCoastBizCOVID19

Get confidential layoff or closure help ... manage and support your employees during forced closures or layoffs emailing layoffhelp@northcoastsbdc.org or calling (707) 445-9720

Get confidential management or finance help ... figure out how to maximize income, reduce expenses, apply for disaster funding and more by signing up to speak with a business advisor at northcoastsbdc.org/apply
Is the Center headquarters open?
The office is closed BUT your North Coast SBDC team is working from home during our Shelter in Place order. Please call 707-445-9720 or email admin@northcoastsbdc.org instead. Visit the  North Coast SBDC Service Continuity Update page   to understand how we are handling your needs and questions. 

Also, please be aware that staff are working at top intensity to respond to increased demand during the crisis so please start by accessing the resources above to see if we've already answered your question.

Is my workshop still running?
Probably. Most of our workshops through May are still on and are being offered virtually via Zoom. Register for the workshops you want to attend northcoastsbdc.org/calendar and we will send you login instructions. You'll need a computer, decent Internet speed, and ideally a separate phone. The workshops that require a high level of interaction and/or computer labs will be postponed.

Can I still meet with my business advisor?
Yes. Our advisors are independent contractors so we leave it up to you two to decide where and how to meet. Many of our advisors are prepared to meet with you by phone and/or videoconference to make sure you continue to get the help you need.

How do I use Zoom to access services virtually?
Zoom is the videoconferencing services we're using to deliver our workshops live. Most of our business advisors are also using to be in communication with you. It's flexible--can be used as a phone service, a videoconference service, to share views of what's on your computer so you can look at financial statements together, etc.

Please make sure that you have downloaded and installed the  Zoom program  on your computer in advance. It’s fairly fast and easy, but does take a few minutes.

And if this is your first time here is a short video tutorial on YouTube from Geeks on Tour: How do I join a Zoom meeting?
North Coast Small Business Development Center
Humboldt: (707) 445-9720 | Del Norte: (707) 464-2168
North Coast SBDC Learning Programs also generously funded by: