For immediate release:
8:30 a.m. – Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Last Update: Wednesday, May 20th at 12 p.m.
San Isabel Electric is compiling a list of economic relief resources available to residential and commercial members the cooperative serves in southern Colorado. This list will be updated periodically. To receive additional support locating economic relief opportunities or to report a resource, please email us at contactus@siea.com.
Businesses and Nonprofits
Input Requested: Restaurant Guidelines
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released draft proposed guidelines for restaurants. Stakeholders can submit comments to this draft through Friday, May 22
- Federal Loans, Grants, and other Financial Relief
- PPE and Supplies
- Business Guidance
- Free Professional Services
- Information to Help Manage Your Business
The Colorado COVID Relief Fund is offering eligible community-based nonprofit organizations, local government, school districts and small businesses across Colorado a general operating grant of up to $25,000.
US Chamber of Commerce Save Small Business Fund
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation will distribute $5,000 grants to employers impacted by COVID-19 that employ between 3 and 20 people.
The Colorado Office of Economic Development’s Small Business Alternative Funding resource list.
Explore the COVID-19 Small Business Response Resources from the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC). For further assistance, get connected with the Southern Colorado SBDC: southernco@coloradosbdc.org
COventure Forward, a program through the University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business, connects entrepreneurs and small businesses with mentors.
KIVA and Colorado Lending Source are offering 0% interest loans without fees up to $15,000.
The USDA’s Federal Rural Resource Guide details funding opportunities identified in the CARES Act and other federal resources that can help support rural America.
Business Update Webinar for Southeastern Colorado
A weekly, regional critical update call for business owners every Friday at 2 pm.
If your business is facing eviction, reach out to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) for assistance.
The Pueblo Business Economic Recovery Team has deployed their Pueblo County COVID-19 Business Survey. The purpose of the survey is to gain direct insight into the impacts of COVID-19 on local businesses of all sizes. Businesses across Pueblo county are encouraged to complete the short survey and share it with other local businesses.
Pueblo Business Economic Recovery Team Business Guide
Resource Guide with loans, list of community banks, and additional COVID-19 resources for Southern Colorado businesses.
Food Security Task Force Survey
The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Food Security Task Force is working to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on the food/ag supply chain in Colorado. The goal is to keep open lines of communication with producers statewide in an effort to identify both barriers and opportunities for ensuring food security across the supply chain.
Resources to support the Creative Industries during COVID-19 on the Colorado Creative Industries webpage.
COVID-19 Updates and Resources for Manufacturers on the Manufacturer’s Edge webpage.
Professional Beauty Association Relief Fund
The fund provides $500 to licensed beauty professionals who are unable to work due to COVID-19. The funding is intended to be emergency aid for short-term immediate needs such as food and bills.
Resources for Managing Employees
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Work-Share Program and Layoff Assistance.
- Connect Frontline workers with resources and resource navigators through WorkLife Partnership. Free for businesses under 500 employees through May 31st.
- Create an account and post your jobs at Connecting Colorado. Local Workforce Centers are available to assist with the posting process.
The Colorado Tourism Office’s Recommended talking points for COVID-19 and Colorado travel.
The CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers.
NONPROFIT-SPECIFIC GRANTS
National Health Care for the Homeless Council will accept grant applications for unrestricted funding to 501c3 organizations meeting the health needs of people experiencing homelessness in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unrestricted grants will generally range from $25,000-$50,000.
Older Population Organization Grants
NextFifty Initiative’s COVID-19 Response Fund will offer general operating support for Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofits whose work primarily benefits older adults (those 50+) and any 501(c)(3) organization who has previously received funding from NextFifty Initiative in any state. The COVID-19 Response Fund is intended for one-time, immediate general operating support that does not exceed 17% of the organization’s operating budget for a maximum of $25,000.
El Pomar Foundation’s Colorado Assistance Fund (CAF) is offering $1 million in immediate aid to nonprofit organizations supporting Colorado communities, organizations and individuals affected by the recent outbreak of COVID-19.
United Way Emergency Response and Recovery Fund
United Way of Pueblo County (UWPC) has launched a $25,000 Emergency Response and Recovery Fund to support our community’s greatest needs.
OTHER
Hotline
For assistance, call the 211 COVID-19 Pandemic all-purpose assistance hotline.
Energy Bill Support
- The Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) provides one-time heating assistance to qualifying individuals, families and older adults to help cover the cost of utility bills. Visit the website or call 1-866-432-8435.
- Contact Energy Outreach Colorado to learn more about their Home Energy Relief Fund and Emergency Heating System Repair/Replacement program. You can also reach them by calling 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435).
Tax Payments
- The Federal income tax payment deadline has been extended from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020.
- The Colorado income tax payment deadline has been extended for all Colorado taxpayers by 90 days until July 15, 2020. All income tax returns that were required to be filed by April 15, 2020 are granted a six-month extension, and are due on or before October 15, 2020.
Housing
- The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has implemented an immediate foreclosure and eviction moratorium for single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages for 60 days.
- Borrowers with USDA single-family housing Direct and Guaranteed loans are subject to a moratorium on foreclosure and eviction for a period of 60 days. Guaranteed Loan questions can be directed to: sfhgld.program@usda.gov. Direct Loan questions should be directed to USDA’s Customer Service Center at 800-414-1226 (7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday-Friday) or online.
- A USDA Direct Loan borrower who is experiencing a reduction of income by more than 10 percent can request a Payment Assistance package.
Food Access
- Hunger Free Colorado’s COVID-19 Food Resources Guide.
- The Pueblo Food Project compiled a public list of available food resources in Pueblo County.
- The South Central Council of Governments has emergency food available for those whose employment has been affected due to COVID-19. Contact Gaylene at (719) 845-1133 ext. 223.
- The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R.6201) suspends the work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Child Care
The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the Office of Early Childhood (OEC) established the Colorado Emergency Childcare Collaborative, which is a system of emergency child care support for the most essential workers.
Healthcare:
- Connect for Health Colorado® announced a new Special Enrollment period that starts Friday, March 20, 2020 and ends Friday, April 30, 2020. Coloradans who are uninsured qualify to enroll in a health insurance plan for coverage that starts April 1, 2020.
- The CARES Act (S.3548) requires all private insurance plans to cover COVID-19 treatments and vaccine and makes all coronavirus tests free.
Paid Sick Leave:
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) published emergency rules which temporarily require employers in certain industries to provide a small amount of paid sick leave to employees with flu-like symptoms while awaiting COVID-19 testing.
Unemployment
- Unemployment Claims:
- If you work for an employer that closed or reduced your hours to help stop the spread of COVID-19, you can file or reopen an unemployment claim through the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
- The CARES Act (S.3548) adds $600 per week from the federal government on top of whatever base amount a worker receives from the state. That boosted payment will last for four months. It also adds 13 weeks of additional unemployment insurance.
- The CARES Act (S.3548) established a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program that temporarily allows self-employed people, freelancers and contractors to become eligible for unemployment.
- Onward Colorado’s One-stop resource for those impacted by job loss during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Connecting Colorado hub for Job Seekers and Employers.
Broadband
- Free access to Spectrum Broadband and WiFi for 60 days for qualifying households.
- Comcast’s Internet Essentials package is free for 60 days for qualifying households.
Mortgage Forbearance
Federal regulators, through the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (they cover about half of all home loans in the US), are ordering lenders to offer homeowners flexibility with mortgage payments. Under the plan, people who have suffered a loss of income can qualify to make reduced payments or be granted a complete pause in payments for up to 12 months. Homeowners need to contact their servicer (the lender that they send the check to every month) and that lender will work with them to be able to work out a payment plan.
- Student Loans – CARES Act (S.3548)
- All loan and interest payments will be deferred through Sept. 30 without penalty to the borrower for all federally owned student loans. Contact your provider to establish deferment.
- Schools are permitted to turn unused work-study funds into supplemental grants and continue paying work study wages while schools are suspended.
- Students who drop out of school as a result of the coronavirus won’t have that time away from school deducted from their lifetime limits on subsidized loan and Pell grant eligibility
- Employers can provide up to $5,250 in tax-free student loan repayment benefits. That means an employer could contribute to loan payments and workers wouldn’t have to include that money as income.
Restaurant Workers
The Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation provides emergency funding to those employed by or own restaurants or bars and suppliers that are faced with unforeseen expenses not covered by insurance.
Bartender Emergency Assistance
The USBG National Charitable Foundation’s Bartender Emergency Assistance Program is providing financial assistance for bartenders/bar backs/cocktail servers.
CARES Act (S.3548) Tax Rebates
$1,200 tax rebates are being sent to individuals, with additional $500 payments per qualifying child. The rebate begins phasing out when incomes exceed $75,000 (or $150,000 for joint filers).
Community Support
The Pueblo West Fire Department will provide a welfare check of residents who may not otherwise have anyone to check on them and meet any special needs they might have during this time of protective orders. A fire department crew member can be sent to check on a person and meet any reasonable need that they might otherwise not be able to do themselves during this executive order time period.
Mental Health Services
Energize Colorado’s list of free and low-cost therapists and support groups.
How to Help
Coloradans can donate or volunteer, as well as the Colorado COVID Relief Fund, which has already raised nearly $3 million to help Coloradans impacted by the coronavirus. Coloradans can donate or sign up to volunteer through the website.
Local Business Marketplaces
For More Information
Visit the Official Colorado COVID-19 Website
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