The overall health and safety of our families and communities is more important than ever. Financial health has also been of great concern for many small business owners and contractors, and as legislation is rushed through statehouses and in Washington D.C, staying up to date on the latest resources to help cope with the health guidelines and financial impacts of the COVID outbreak can feel like a monumental task.

As a supplement to our Overview of the Paycheck Protection Program, and Contractor Safety Tips Related to COVID-19,  here are some of the latest programs, guidelines, and tips from the national agencies and organizations that are offering help to contractors and small business owners amid this crisis.

Small Businesses Administration

The U.S. Small Businesses Administration is offering a wide scope of services, from economic aid to government contracting and business practice guidance related to the COVID-19 crisis.

SBA offers assistance with:

• Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act
  
• Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
  
• Guidance for Businesses and Employers
  
• SBA Products and Resources
  
• Government Contracting
  
• Local Assistance

The Center For Disease Control & Prevention

Keeping up to date on the latest, accurate information regarding the COVID-19 virus will help further guide how to keep you and your employees as safe as possible, especially for contractors that have been deemed essential by the Department of Homeland Security and are still completing work in states that have shutdown orders in place.

Get general coronavirus information here.

Get the latest interim business and employer guidance here.

IRS Tax Deadline Extensions

The file and pay deadline for 2019 federal taxes has been extended to July 15, 2020. In the event that any additional shifts happen to adjust for coronavirus-related business disruption, you can stay updated with the IRS here.  Also, be sure to check for federal and state updates.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides multiple up to date resources for business owners covering best business practices, ways to help businesses survive the crisis, and information on the CARES act as well as the Paycheck Protection Program:

• Coronavirus Emergency Loans Checklist
  
• 5 Resources to Help Your Small Business Survive the Coronavirus
  
• Coronavirus: 8 Things Your Small Business Needs to Do
  
• 7 Things to Do When Creating an Emergency Work-From-Home Policy for COVID-19
  
• Staying Connected With Customers Through the Coronavirus Outbreak

State Chambers of Commerce

California

For California based contractors, the California Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of federal and state resources, including details on Governor Newsom’s directives, state tax deadline extensions, and more. Get up-to-date information relevant to California here.

Florida

For Florida based contractors and small businesses, the Florida Chamber of Commerce launched a COVID-19 resource center that includes details on Governor DeSantis’ Executive Orders, frequently asked questions and information on loan support programs for small businesses in Florida.  Some local Chambers of Commerce also have resources for small businesses, such as the North Tampa Bay CoC that provides a COVID-19 business toolkit.

Industry Guidance

While the resources and guidance above provides broad information to small businesses and contractors across the United States, several industry organizations have provided sector-specific resources to help contracts from HVAC to solar help navigate and weather this pandemic.

• Air Conditioning Contractors of America
  
• Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute
  
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
  
• Building Performance Institute (webinar series for contractors)
• California Solar and Storage Association
  
• Mechanical Contractors Association of America
  
• Solar Energy Industries Association

Additional Helpful Resources

• An outline of the state by state programs can be found here
  
• State-by-State Map of Executive Orders (live updates)
• Forbes’ live update list of small business relief programs
  
• Communication Strategies for Contractors & Small Businesses

Renew Financial Supporting Contractors

We hope this offers your business a place to start to find the resources you need to move forward during this time.  Renew Financial will continue to provide new resources and updates to our contractors as more information and guidance evolve, and be sure to check back to our full Contractor Support Resources page and join in on our webinar series.  If you have any questions or need any support from Renew Financial, call us at 844-736-3934.