COVID 19 Resources & Restrictions – updated regularly

CURRENT COUNTY REGULATIONS

Visit the Rio Blanco County website

FUNDING

Meeker COVID-19 Relief Fund Business Assistance Program

Through the The Cares Act, The Town of Meeker is able to offer financial assistance to Meeker businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Businesses can apply for reimbursable expenses incurred after March 15, 2020 for purchases of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), equipment/operating supplies, workspace and other physical space modifications, including tables, chairs, and heaters to expand outdoor seating areas.

Apply by October 30, 2020. Requests will be filled on a first come first serve basis until all funds are expended. View the application here: COVID 19 Town Business Assistance Grant

Food Assistance Program

If your farm or ranch negatively impacted by the pandemic, now through August 28, the USDA is accepting applications for The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, which provides direct relief to producers. Learn more here: Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Meeker Business Recovery Grant 

The Town of Meeker has allocated money to contribute to businesses that were directly affected by the COVID-19 State Health Orders. Grant applicants are required to complete this application and return it to the Town of Meeker, 345 Market St or email: lisa@town.meeker.co.us before May 29, 2020 at 4:00 pm. Applications will be reviewed by a panel. Grants may be awarded up to $1000 to primary business owners (no match required and no repayment).
Requirements for Grant Application:
1. Business must be located within the town limits of Meeker and be a “Brick and Mortar” business
2. Business must have been forced to completely shut down main operation due to the Colorado
State Health Orders issued on March 17, 2020

Business Recovery Grant Application

Colorado Lending Source: Small Business Emergency Funds for Rural Colorado Business

Colorado Lending Source has made loan funds available specifically for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are located in rural Colorado.

The intent of this program is to help small businesses survive and retain employees during these challenging times. Financing is available at a fixed interest rate over twenty-four months (two years) with no payments of principal and interest due during the first six months of the loan. Click for Press Release

Loan Details:

• $10,000 loans
• 3.00% fixed interest rate
• Two year terms
• Payments deferred for six months
• Must be located in a rural community

COVID-19 Federal Funding Resource Guide: 

This resource matrix organizes funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and other federal resources that can help support rural America. USDA and its Federal partners have programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. These programs can support recovery efforts for rural residents, businesses and communities

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance:

Self Employed and Independent Contractors can now apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.  Click the link for more info, here are the basic requirements:

• You must be unemployed or your hours are reduced to fewer than 32 hours a week and earning less than the weekly amount unemployment pays you.
• You must not be able to receive any type of unemployment benefit from any state. For example, those who are self-employed/business owners, independent contractors, 1099 and other gig-economy workers, and sole proprietors who do not pay unemployment premiums on their own income are generally not able to receive unemployment benefits. This is also true for employees of some nonprofit religious organizations that choose not to pay unemployment premiums.
• You are able to work and available to accept work except that the COVID-19 pandemic is preventing you from doing that.
• You will be asked to provide a copy of your 1040 tax form for 2018 or 2019, whichever you filed most recently.

Small Business Grant:

Save Small Business Fund : To extend a helping hand to small businesses suffering from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation – in partnership with Vistaprint and a coalition of supporting companies, foundations, and philanthropic donors – is working to provide financial relief through the Save Small Business Fund. The Fund is providing $5,000 in short-term relief to employers across the United States. These one-time supplemental cash grants are for businesses that have between three and 20 employees and operate in an economically vulnerable community. The grant application will go live on Monday, April 20 at 3:00 PM ET.

Funding for Non-Profits:

These resources help nonprofits and funders navigate the rapidly evolving context of COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus). Resources are organized in the following categories (click on each option to expand): Emergency Funding, Government Response, Crisis Communications Aids, Business Operations Aids, and Equity and Justice (Population- and Issue-Specific Resources)

Funding for Artists:

Artist Relief is an emergency initiative organized by the Academy of American Poets, Artadia, Creative Capital, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, MAP Fund, National YoungArts Foundation, and United States Artists—all mid-sized national arts grantmakers that have come together in this unprecedented moment—to distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource

For Freelancers

Freelancers Relief Fund will offer financial assistance of up to $1,000 per freelance household to cover lost income and essential expenses not covered by government relief program.

Funding for Agricultural Businesses:

• Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (April 17)U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). This new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program will take several actions to assist farmers, ranchers, and consumers in response to the COVID-19 national emergency. President Trump directed USDA to craft this $19 billion immediate relief program to provide critical support to our farmers and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure every American continues to receive and have access to the food they need.
• FSA COVID-19 Resources: This page primarily provides information on USDA Service Centers and the continued support of farmers and ranchers through the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other USDA agencies.
• USDA Rural Development (RD): USDA Rural Development has $1 billion in lending authority now available through the Business and Industry Loan Guarantee Program, which provides much-needed financing to business owners that might not be able to qualify for a loan on their own.
• Other helpful links
  • USDA COVID-19 Resources Colorado Office of Economic Development & Internal Trade COVID-19 Resources 
  • Young Farmers COVID-19 Resources 
  • Colorado Farm Bureau
  • Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
  • CSU Food Systems COVID-19 Resources

Federal loans, grants available to businesses

• COVID-19 Emergency Loan Checklist:The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued this guide to help small businesses and self-employed individuals check eligibility and prepare to file for a loan.
• COVID-19 Employee-retention-tax-credit Guide:The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created a new employee retention tax credit for employers who are closed, partially closed, or experiencing significant revenue losses as a result of COVID-19

OEDIT

These resources provide state and federal COVID-19 announcements, programs, and information relevant to Colorado businesses.

AGNC – Resources for Northwest Colorado businesses affected by COVID-19

There are resources available in the Northwest Colorado Region that can help businesses experiencing economic distress and/or disruption with SBDC consulting, technical assistance services and loan fund assistance.

Need Local Help?

The Headwaters Project/Rio Blanco County Small Business Development Center is available for questions regarding any of the following resources, or for one-on-one, confidential, free business consulting, give them a call 970-878-9582 or email eco@rbc.us  www.chooserioblanco.com

GENERAL SAFETY AND INFORMATION

COVID 19 General Info and Resources for Businesses:

All employers should be ready to implement strategies to protect their workforce from the Coronavirus while ensuring continuity of operations.

Quick Action Guide for Businesses:

The purpose of this Quick Action Guide is to provide initial response framework to reference during a business disruption.
This guide provides direction on how to coordinate response activities that impact all or part of your business’s operations, with a focus on protecting people, property, and minimized downtime.

Assistance for Employees and Employers during a Shut Down:

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) announced assistance for workers and employers during temporary closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance includes information for employees filing for unemployment insurance claims, as well as information on programs available for employers.