Stay healthy,

Tom Still, president

AT A GLANCE: COVID-19 BUSINESS RESOURCES

·       WEDC Small Business 2020 Program: Assistance will be available to Wisconsin-based Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) List of All 23 CDFIs in Wisconsin to provide grants to their existing loan clients to help mitigate business-related cash flow issues in response to the Covid-19 outbreak. Approved CDFIs will make program grants (up to $20,000) available to for-profit businesses meeting the following criteria:

• Current loan recipient in good standing as of 3/1/20 with the approved CDFI (or its collaborating CDFIs);
• 20 or fewer PT/FT employees;
• Greater than $0 but less than $2 million in annual revenues; and, preference should be given to service and retail businesses

·       Gov. Evers’ office has launched a statewide COVID-19 website that aggregates information and resources throughout state government.

·       SBA: COVID-19: Small business guidance and loan resources.

·       The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development produced this helpful Frequently Asked Questions document.

·       WEDC has compiled a comprehensive overview of their resources along with state and federal resources to assist Wisconsin citizens aimed at maintaining the viability of the companies upon which our economy depends.

·       Report any scams or price gouging to Wisconsin Department of Justice: If you suspect fraud or a scam, Attorney General Kaul suggests filing a complaint online at datcp.wi.gov.

·       U.S. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program:  The declaration is expected to be received and take effect in the coming days.  When it is made official, a portal will open on the SBA’s website that allows business owners to apply for working capital loans. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

·       Centers for Disease Control: Coronavirus latest updates

·       Wisconsin Department of Health Services: COVID-19 Outbreaks in Wisconsin

NEWS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS AND OUR TECH COMMUNITY:

Milwaukee Business Journal: Gov. Evers to issue 'safer at home' order for Wisconsin; Milwaukee to adopt similar measure
USA Today: IOC member says that 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed due to coronavirus pandemic
Syracuse.com: CNY couple, using 3D printers, makes 100s of face shields for coronavirus testing clinic
BizTimes: GE Healthcare to produce ventilators ‘around the clock’
Godfrey & Kahn and SVA are offering a webinar series related to COVID-19 and the impact for business.
EmOpti tele-triage platform helping emergency departments manage patient surges and reduce provider exposure to COVID-19
Wisconsin Health News: MCW endowment announces grants to support COVID-19 response
Madison.com: Virus briefing: Stay home or expect worse, US top doc says
WisconsinINNO: AmFam and gener8tor Help Wisconsin Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus
ABCnews: Hanes will start making masks for health care professionals treating coronavirus
UW-Madison College of Engineering: UW-Madison engineers collaborate with local companies to fill face shield shortage

Move to online schools offers students chance to enter ‘Wisconsin YES!’ business plan contest
The closing of schools across Wisconsin due to the COVID-19 epidemic means teachers and students will pursue instruction opportunities online in the coming weeks. One useful tool readily available for middle- and high-school students is the Wisconsin Youth Entrepreneurs in Science, or Wisconsin YES!, contest. Public, private and home-schooled students across Wisconsin are eligible to turn their science- and tech-related ideas into business plans and compete for cash and prizes. This free, statewide youth business plan contest is modeled after the successful Governor’s Business Plan Contest. It is open for online entries from Wisconsin middle- and high-school students through 5 p.m. April 13, 2020. The contest begins with a 250-word summary submitted through WisconsinYES.com.