This page is being updated in live time with new information and resources for businesses during the COVID-19 crisis as it becomes available; please check back for updates.
Disaster and recovery funding options
Loan and grant programs are available for businesses impacted by COVID-19 in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Here are the programs and COVID small business loans that are currently available:
National disaster and recovery funding programs
- COVID-19 Relief on IFundWomen: Supporting women entrepreneurs has always been IFW’s #1 priority. From grants to free coaching to daily encouragement, they are working overtime to help women-led small businesses weather the storm. Learn more about their funding and support options here.
- The Amber Grant Foundation, founded by WomensNet, is giving away at least $10,000 every month to honor the memory of a very special young woman, Amber Wigdah. Rolling applications are due at the end of every month. Learn more and apply here.
- The Small Business Relief Fund: Powered by GoFundMe in partnership with Yelp, Intuit QuickBooks, GoDaddy and Bill.com, this fund offers up to $500 in grants for businesses that raise $500 in funding through the GoFundMe platform. More information is available here.
- Wish Local Empowerment Program: We recognize that as a large e-commerce company we have the responsibility to help uplift others. Black-owned small businesses have long faced hardship due to systemic racism. But small businesses like yours are integral to the makeup of America. So we are dedicating a $2M dollar fund to give roughly 4,000 Wish Local small business partners financial support. The selected recipients will receive amounts between $500 – $2000. This program will only be open to Black-owned stores, to help promote equality and diversity in American business. Learn more and apply here.
NYC disaster funding programs
- Bring Back Brooklyn Fund Loan and Grant Program: Brooklyn Alliance Capital, Inc. provides financing to under-served minority and immigrant entrepreneurs and low-income small business owners to increase financial stability and foster economic growth that will create jobs in Brooklyn. Get more information and apply here.
- General Needs Loan Program provides interest-free loans of up to $7,500 to low- and moderate-income residents of New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester, or Long Island to support expenses that borrowers cannot meet with their own resources or to help bridge a period of unexpected income loss. View more information and apply here.
Other Local & Regional Funding Programs
New York
- COVID-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program: This $250 million program provides financial assistance to NYS small businesses burdened with a range of operational costs stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Program offers qualifying businesses relief by providing tax credits to help reduce the pandemic-related financial impact. Learn more and apply today.
- Consolidated Funding Application: As part of New York’s transformative plan to improve the state’s economic development model, a NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) has been created that will streamline and expedite the grant application process. Learn more about ongoing CFA projects and how to apply here.
- FAST NY Shovel-Ready Grant Program: ESD will provide up to $200 million in grants to prepare and develop sites statewide to jumpstart New York’s shovel-readiness and increase its attractiveness to large employers, including high-tech and semiconductor projects and other manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and logistics businesses. More information about the program is available here.
- Global NY Grant Fund Program: ESD is providing grants of up to $25,000 to help companies start exporting or increase their global exports. Grants of up to $100,000 are available to not-for-profit organizations that provide export assistance and trade education to New York State companies. Learn more about the program and apply here.
- ReCharge NY: Qualifying businesses and nonprofits can potentially lower their energy costs by using specially allocated NYPA power which is set aside by the state government and the NYPA board for economic support. Companies receiving allocated power have made commitments such as remaining in the state, keeping or growing employment, expanding operations, and/or making significant local investments in their businesses. Learn more and apply here.
- Cattaraugus County:
- Microenterprise Development Loan Fund creates opportunity for the establishment and expansion of microenterprise business, to promote employment opportunities for low to moderate income residents, and to preserve and expand the county’s tax base. They’re offering term loans to qualifying businesses for machinery, equipment, fixed assets, inventory, capital improvement, and/or working capital. Learn more and apply here.
- Erie County:
- Microenterprise Grant/Loan Program offers $5,000 to $35,000 for working capital or the purchase of machinery and equipment to start or grow your small business. The first payment can be deferred for six months. More information and the application is available here.
- WEDI’s Microloans program is tailored to meet the needs of entrepreneurs seeking small amounts of capital ($500-$20,000) who lack access to traditional financial institutions. WEDI provides extensive pre-loan assistance and financial education/coaching to entrepreneurs and partners with other regional CDFIs such as Pursuit to offer larger participation or expansion loans to clients who require greater amounts of capital. More information about the loan program and application process is available here.
- East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant: The $3 million program will provide grants of $5,000 to $50,000 to eligible small businesses in a designated area of East Buffalo to help largely minority-owned establishments rebound from the social and economic impacts of the mass shooting at Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue earlier this year. You can find more information about the program here.
- Genesee County:
- Microenterprise Loan Program assists in the establishment, expansion, and retention of small businesses in the county. Eligible borrowers must be micro-enterprise business owners. Funds may be used for any legitimate business purpose including, but not limited to, capital equipment, inventory, working capital, and expansion/improvement of commercial space. Learn more about the program and apply here.
- North Country:
- North Country Alliance: Loans of up to $25,000 at 5% interest are available to businesses in the following counties: Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Clinton, Essex, Franklin and Hamilton. View the program fact sheet and application information.
- Niagara County:
- City of Niagara Falls MWBE Grant provides up to $50,000 for existing New York State certified Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) businesses located in City of Niagara Falls, New York. Learn more about the program and apply here.
- Rochester:
- KIVA Rochester Small Business Aid: The KIVA Rochester crowdfunding platform is offering interest-free loans up to $15,000. Learn more here.
- Targeted Business Revitalization Grant assists businesses growing and creating jobs with annual gross revenues of $5 million or less with expansion and/or business retention projects. Assistance may be provided to those businesses adversely impacted by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Learn more and apply here.
- Westchester and Long Island:
- General Needs Loan Program provides interest-free loans of up to $7,500 to low- and moderate-income residents of New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester, or Long Island to support expenses that borrowers cannot meet with their own resources or to help bridge a period of unexpected income loss. View more information here.
- Western NY:
- The Soil Fund: Black-owned business and Black-led nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for a Groundswell Grant from The Soil Fund. Organizations dedicated to improving access to food, housing, transportation, and cultural and historic assets will be prioritized—each receiving $15,000 or more. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply here.
How to request a deferral for your Pursuit loan
We are working with existing Pursuit clients on a case-by-case basis to potentially modify and/or defer payments on loans to provide immediate cash flow savings. If you are a current Pursuit client requesting a deferral, please contact us today. If you have loans with other lenders, we encourage you to contact them directly about payment assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
View our list of Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Resources. There you can find answers to common COVID small business loan questions.
Other COVID-19 resources
General Resources
Webinars
- [On demand webinar] Business Health During a Pandemic, hosted by Pursuit
- [On demand webinar] Business Recovery: Digital Marketing Strategies to Try Now, hosted by Pursuit
- [On demand webinar] What to Consider as You Re-Open Your Business, hosted by Pursuit
- [On demand webinar] How the New PPP Forgiveness Rules Impacts Your Loan, hosted by Pursuit
General Information Pages
Regional and Local Resources
New York – Statewide
- NYS businesses can receive assistance completing applications for the SBA Economic Injury Loan Program through their local Small Business Development Center. You can schedule an appointment on the SBDC website.
New York – New York City
New York - Capital Region
- These counties have a resources webpage: Saratoga County and Schenectady County
New York – Western New York
New Jersey
