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:

Gov. Evers: Emergency Order #12 (Safer at Home Order) effective 8 a.m. March 25
BizTimes Milwaukee: SBA rolls out disaster loan program
Ready to sew: Madison’s sewing community takes on the face mask shortage
BizTimes Milwaukee: Advocate Aurora-owned ACL Laboratories begins processing COVID-19 tests
Wisconsin Health News: Hospitals face revenue fall as they pivot to fight COVID-19
BizTimes Milwaukee: Ford partnering with GE Healthcare, 3M on coronavirus response
Vox: How the coronavirus crisis will hit American workers, in one chart
WISN: Organizers downplay DNC convention contingency plans as normal

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.