Despite the sobering economic climate over COVID, optimism is high in regards to holiday shopping that can benefit small business. In fact, a recent poll by VISA indicates 86% of American shoppers are planning to buy gifts from small and medium-sized businesses (SBM) according to a report by VISA. The possible influx of interest for holiday […]

Right from the start, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been full of surprises. Yesterday evening, the Small Business Administration (SBA) dropped another one: it released a third PPP Loan Forgiveness application – Form 3508S. This application is only for those who received $50,000 or less in total loan proceeds. The Application While it’s not the […]

Here are the grant programs that could help keep your business afloat during the coronavirus crisis. Keeping track of all the relief programs for companies that are struggling due to the coronavirus crisis can feel like a full-time job. While portions of the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans can be forgiven and […]

Lowe’s giving out coronavirus small business relief grants up to $20,000 through nonprofit LISC

The next deadline for small businesses to apply for COVID-19 business emergency relief grants from Lowe’s is Monday.
The nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation, also known as LISC, is giving out grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 thanks to the home improvement chain’s $55 million contributions. In July, Lowe’s doubled its contribution to coronavirus pandemic aid.
Applications will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. ET Sept. 7 in the sixth round of relief grants.
The grants, which do not need to be repaid, will “provide immediate relief for critical needs such as rent, payroll, and operational expenses to keep businesses running,” according to a news release.

The unique nature of the COVID-19 crisis poses a new set of challenges for US small businesses as they claw their way toward recovery. Many face muted demand, new customer expectations, and operational challenges because of health and safety restrictions. Recovery will take time. After the 2008 recession, larger companies recovered to their precrisis contribution to […]

As businesses across the United States reopen, business owners are trying to figure out how to keep their employees and customers safe from the potential spread of COVID-19. As such, experts are gearing up for a possible wave of COVID-related liability suits in the coming months. To stem the possible tide of litigation, some states […]

A few months ago, it was easy to think that this would all be temporary — that after a few weeks, students would go back to school, parents would return to work and restaurants, bars and public spaces would be able to reopen. Of course, more than five months into widespread stay-at-home orders, business owners […]

Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a retooled process for loosening and tightening COVID-19 restrictions Friday. Labeled a “Blueprint for a Safer California,” the system puts California’s 58 counties into four tiers based on the number of new daily cases and the percentage of positive tests.   “We’ve learned a lot the past few months,” Newsom said. “We’re […]

States have started to mobilize and submit applications to FEMA for the enhanced federal unemployment benefits approved by President Trump on August 8. Initial confusion about the mechanics of the program was partly mitigated by guidance issued by FEMA, which clarified the structure of the program and confirmed that states would not be required to chip […]

On August 4, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, issued new guidance through Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) aimed at helping Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) borrowers navigate maximum loan forgiveness. The new PPP FAQs come as the August 8, 2020, deadline to apply for a PPP loan fast approaches, and as […]