COVID-19 Response financial support opportunities
MRG Foundation COVID Community Response Fund
MRG Foundation is releasing $300,000 and gathering other financial resources to provide flexible resources to groups in our region led by and working with the communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the social and economic consequences of this outbreak. They are not asking for applications or reports. They will direct one-time operating dollars to current MRG grantees and partners— and groups around the state that have deep roots in and strong organizing experience within our communities.
Eligibility: Organizations that address systemic inequities and whose work focuses on both organizing most-impacted communities at this time, and anticipating the long-term effects of the outbreak. Organizations that are working directly with folks who:
- Are without healthcare, insurance and/or access to paid sick days
- Are part of the houseless community
- Have limited English language proficiency
- Are healthcare or gig economy workers
- Belong to communities of color, among others.
Learn more: https://www.mrgfoundation.org/communityresponsefund/
Oregon Community Recovery Fund
Oregon Community Foundation is accepting applications for financial support. The criteria is being created and may be updated periodically. They are inviting applicants to apply whether they meet the current priorities or not, to help them better understand the need.
Eligibility: organizations across Oregon and in Clark County
Learn more: https://oregoncf.org/grants-and-scholarships/grants/oregon-community-recovery-fund/
Worksystems Layoff Aversion Funds
Worksystems is making $200,000 in funds available to help avert imminent layoffs or furloughs as a result of the COVID-19 economic crisis, or to bring back workers who have been laid off or furloughed as a result of the COVID-19 economic crisis. Layoffs or furloughs must have happened after March 15, 2020 or be otherwise imminent. Maximum of $10,000 per application, one application per organization.
Eligibility: 501(c)3 nonprofits with services available in Washington County and/or Multnomah County. In addition, the following organizations will receive priority:
Community-based organizations connected to the public workforce system through partnership with Worksystems.
Culturally-specific and other organizations that focus explicitly on serving communities of color.
Organizations that focus on serving justice-involved individuals, immigrant and refugees, and/or people facing housing instability and/or homelessness.
Organizations with 50 or less employees.
Timeline: Initial requests will reviewed on April 2, 2020 releasing funds to those accepted on April 3.2020. They will then be accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed every Friday until all funds are awarded.
Learn more and request funds: https://www.worksystems.org/news-events/news/layoff-aversion-funds-now-available
U.S. Small Business Association Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan (potentially grant)
Money the federal government is putting into our economy through small businesses to help us ensure people get paid salaries and for contract work. The loans will be administered through the U.S. Small Business Association.
Basics about the program:
- Rate: 4% fixed for businesses
- Amount of Loan: 2.5x average monthly payroll (including owner & independent contractors)
- Terms: Up to 10 years
- First 6-12 months of payments are deferred
- No collateral or personal guarantee required, no initiation fees to
- Loan forgiveness on funds used for qualifying expenses (e.g. payroll, rent, etc.). The loan is 100% forgiven (essentially making it a grant) for all of your qualifying expenses.
- Eligibility. To be eligible for the PPP you must be a small business, sole proprietor, or non-profit that has fewer than 500 employees. You must have been in business prior to February 15, 2020. And you generally need to (or expect to) experience negative effects from COVID-19 on your organization or business.
Learn more: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/paycheck-protection-program-ppp
U.S. Small Business Association Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
This U.S. Small Business Association program will seek to match the turn-around times seen after Hurricane Katrina: approval within 3 days and funding within 1 month for loans up to $2 Million dollars. Repayment plans based on organizational need.
Eligibility: Small businesses or private non-profit organizations must have sustained economic injury and be located in a disaster declared county or contiguous county.
For more information or to apply: https://covid19relief.sba.gov/#/
Portland Small Business Relief Fund
The Portland Small Business Relief Fund will provide grants and no interest loans to support Portland small businesses experiencing hardships related to COVID-19. Prosper Portland hopes to offer $1 million of available funding to impacted community businesses through these emergency relief grants to provide immediate relief by helping business owners retain their businesses and their employees as a bridge of support before additional state and federal resources become available in the coming months. Note the application is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, and simplified Chinese.
Learn more and apply: https://prosperportland.us/portfolio-items/portland-small-business-relief-fund/
COVID-19 Response other opportunities
How to find food assistance in Oregon during COVID-19
Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon has created a list that they are updating as often as possible here: https://oregonhunger.org/covid-19/
A large list of resources by category for the Portland area
This list is being updated by Congressman Earl Blumenauer and his team in Portland, Oregon. You can access the full list here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/191_hf7O9x67ztZcs4FGwz5gbyp0uqE6UXzF5b2I5TU4/edit#gid=1944979556
FREE Online Workshop: Teleconferencing
Cohosted by Open Signal and MetroEast Community Media, this online workshop will walk you through how to use Google Meet, Google Hangouts and Zoom.
Workshop times: Wednesday, April 1 from 1-2:30 p.m. register here or Thursday, April 2 from 10:30 a.m. to noon register here or at https://metroeast.org/teleconferencing/
FREE Stress Management Course from OSU
Three academics from Oregon State University (OSU) have created a 10-week course to help people understand stress the coronavirus pandemic is creating and to find coping methods. It’s called “Punch through Pandemics with Psychological Science.” OSU students can take it for credit, and the public can take it for free. The course material will be updated weekly, but it is not required that people participate at a particular time.
Enroll in the course: at https://canvas.instructure.com/enroll/JNEPCR (requires email address). See FAQ for registration options without an email address.