In response to stakeholder feedback about reopening the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application this weekend, the application portal will now reopen Monday, April 26, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. In preparation for the opening, potential applicants should register on the portal in advance. Applicants will also need a smartphone and a multi-factor authenticator app to register and apply.

The SBA has also added the following updated resources.
  • Applicant user guide and FAQ: For help with the application process, refer to the applicant user guide and FAQ.
  • Checklist: Use the checklist to make sure you have everything you need to complete your application. 
  • Call Center: For Shuttered Venue Operators Grant application portal technical assistance such as a password reset, browser suggestions, or how to use the multi-factor authentication with an app and the QR code, applicants can call 1-800-659-2955 or, for the deaf and hard-of-hearing 1-800-877-8339 and follow the prompts to SVOG assistance. The call center is open through the weekend from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT. For additional information and to review applicant resources, visit www.sba.gov/svogrant.
In case you missed it! Last week, the SBA announced key details on application requirements, eligibility, and a program guide for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). 

The SBA also announced a new initiative that will allow restaurants and other related businesses to apply for the RRF through point-of-sale service providers such as Clover ®, NCR Corporation, Square, and Toast. 
ICYMI -- READOUT: Bipartisan Mayors Meet with SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, Discuss Shared Economic Vision

On April 8, Administrator Guzman met with a bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and signed a Strategic Alliance Memo between SBA and USCM that reaffirms the groups’ shared commitment to supporting small businesses in cities across the country. These priorities and meeting highlights are located at this readout.

Administrator Guzman’s Statement on her Meeting with a Bipartisan Delegation from the U.S. Conference of Mayors

“It was a privilege to meet with a bipartisan delegation of mayors to discuss what our nation’s entrepreneurs need to recover and rebuild from this pandemic. I look forward to joining forces with the U.S. Conference of Mayors in the months ahead as we work to bring back the small businesses and innovative startups that define the character of our nation’s cities, create jobs and build an equitable economy that works for everyone.”
The SBA launched a new round of Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) assistance – called Supplemental Targeted Advances – on April 22, 2021 that will provide $5 billion in additional assistance to 1 million small businesses and nonprofit organizations that have been most severely affected by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Effective April 22, the SBA modified the Targeted EIDL Advance application process to determine if businesses also qualify for the additional $5,000 Supplemental Targeted Advance. SBA will contact eligible business entities to apply and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. To qualify for the Supplemental Targeted Advance, an eligible business entity must be in a low-income community, suffered greater than 50 percent economic loss, and have 10 or fewer employees.
The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department announced further details of tax credits available under the American Rescue Plan to help small businesses, including providing paid leave for employees receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. 

Eligible employers, such as businesses and tax-exempt organizations with fewer than 500 employees and certain governmental employers, can receive a tax credit for providing paid time off for each employee receiving the vaccine and for any time needed to recover from the vaccine. For example, if an eligible employer offers employees a paid day off in order to get vaccinated, the employer can receive a tax credit equal to the wages paid to employees for that day (up to certain limits).

The SBA directly communicates from email addresses ending in @sba.gov. The SBA also communicates via email updates/notifications using an email marketing platform, (the same one you are receiving this newsletter from). Those emails end in @updates.sba.gov. If you are being contacted by someone claiming to be from the SBA who is not using an official SBA email address, you should suspect fraud.

Webinar: COBRA Premium Assistance under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Compliance Assistance 

April 26, 2021 | 2:00–2:30 p.m. EDT


The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides premium assistance for health benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). For coverage periods beginning on or after April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021, individuals who experienced an involuntary termination of employment or a reduction in hours may be eligible for a subsidy for the full COBRA premium. 

Join this webinar on April 26 for information about the COBRA premium assistance provisions and how to comply. The U.S. Department of Labor will discuss who is an assistance eligible individual, the duration of the premium assistance, the extended election period, the notice requirements and other provisions.

World Trade Month Webinar: Global Sales for U.S. Manufacturers in a Virtual Environment

May 6, 2021 | 2:00-3:15 p.m. EDT

Join the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Commercial Service for a webinar that explores digital strategies for the global marketplace and how trade mission and trade show coordinator Kallman Worldwide has transitioned to a virtual global marketplace. 

You will:

  • Gain insight on digital strategies for increasing global sales
  • Learn about grant funds available to support global e-commerce expansion
  • Learn how manufactures can take advantage of virtual programs and services for promoting international trade

Be Inspired: Small Business Success Story

At SBA, we make small business our business. We provide access to capital and other services to help small businesses start and succeed.

For example, See Us Now Staffing expanded in Las Vegas thanks to an SBA-backed loan. In addition, President Laura Nowlan participated in SBA’s Emerging Leaders initiative, an intensive entrepreneur training program to accelerate the growth of high-potential small businesses.

Federal Coronavirus Resources

State, local, and federal agencies are working together to maintain the safety, security, and health of the American people. Check out coronavirus.gov for updates from the White House's COVID-19 Task Force. Go to cdc.gov for detailed information about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Visit covid-sb.org, the official federal resource website for U.S. small businesses affected by COVID-19.

Virtual Mentoring and Training 

Offices around the country may be closed due to the pandemic, but SCORE, Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers and other resource partners are providing free business mentoring and training by phone, email, and video.