Small Business Resources

• The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act: 
  • Overview: This quick guide covers the following issues that small business owners are currently facing. Such as capital to cover the cost of retaining employees, a quick infusion of a smaller amount of cash to cover you right now, easing fears about keeping up with payments on your current/potential loans and the need for free counseling to help navigate this uncertain economic time.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has included the entire state of Texas in its Economic Injury Disaster Declaration and granted access to its Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, which will provide long-term, low-interest loans to qualifying businesses across the state. All small businesses who believe they may be eligible for an SBA EIDL should visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) website. They will be directed to the SBA website where they can apply for assistance.
• Additional SBA Loan Options: SBA has developed Lender Match, a free online referral tool that connects small businesses with participating SBA-approved lenders within 48 hours. SBA also has an in depth list of resources and information.
• Facebook Small Business Grants Program: Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where they operate.
• Forbes: Forbes has an ongoing list of resources.
• Federal Tax Assistance: The Internal Revenue Service has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.
• Sales Tax Permits: The State of Texas Comptroller’s office, strongly encourages you to use their online tools, tutorials and other resources for tax services and establish 24/7 account access on Webfile. To see what other services they offer online, visit their Virtual Field Office.
• Texas Workforce Commission: The Texas Workforce Commission will award $10 Million in grant funding to eligible businesses for training and retraining staff, particularly for safety protocols due to the COVID-19 Crisis. For more information on the program click here.
• Tarrant County Small Business Assistance Grants: This program is designed to provide financial assistance to very small businesses that have been adversely affected by the current COVID-19 public health emergency and most likely have found it difficult to apply and access other federal grants or loans through the SBA or traditional banks and lending institutions. This grant program is aimed at assisting small businesses with the costs of business interruption caused by required closures. For information on the program and how to apply please click here.
• Counseling: The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) can assist small businesses with accessing federal resources and navigating their own preparedness plans. SBA works with local partners to counsel, mentor and train small businesses. Based in Fort Worth, resource partners such as SCORE and the Tarrant Small Business Development Center provide free counseling services and have satellite locations in Arlington. You can call their office for more information.
  • Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce:
    (817) 275-2613 | https://www.arlingtontx.com
  • Tarrant County Small Business Development Center
    Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce (Arlington location):
    (817) 515-2603 | www.tarrantsbdc.org 
  • Fort Worth SCORE:
    (817) 871-6002 | www.fortworthscore.org
  • The City of Arlington:
    The City of Arlington has a list of resources for businesses.
  • Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau
    For more information on how you can work with the ACVB directly please contact our Director of Partnerships.
    (817) 265-7721 | www.arlington.org/partner/

Service Industry Workers Resources

• US Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/coronavirus
• Texas Work Force Commission: The TWC has resources for Job Seekers and Employers, including information on applying for Unemployment Benefits.
• The U.S. Bartenders Guild: You can submit an application for the Bartender Emergency Assistance Program. If interested, you can donate to the organization.
• Southern Smoke is a non-profit committed to supporting the food and beverage community. If you are employed by, own, or are a supplier to a restaurant or bar, you may qualify for charitable assistance. If interested, you can donate to the organization.
• Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation: The nonprofit established the Restaurant Workers COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund.
• Heard That Foundation: The hospitality community charity is sharing opportunities on their Facebook page.
• Arlington ISD: Arlington Independent School District is offering one lunch meal and one breakfast meal daily for any child age 18 or younger. Pick up times and locations here.
• North Texas Food Bank: You can contact the North Texas Food Bank for food assistance.
• Job boards:
  • Texas Travel Alliance: https://ttia.careerwebsite.com/
  • Texas Work Force Commission: https://www.workintexas.com/vosnet/Default.aspx
• Companies hiring: Many grocery stores are hiring to keep up with the influx of shoppers.
  • Kroger: https://jobs.kroger.com
  • Walmart: https://careers.walmart.com
  • Fiesta: https://www.fiestamart.com/careers
  • H-E-B: https://careers.heb.com
  • Amazon: https://www.amazon.jobs/en
  • Tom Thumb: https://www.albertsonscompanies.com/careers/tom-thumb-careers
  • Albertsons: https://www.albertsonscompanies.com/careers

National Resources

• CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers
• CDC Guidance for High-Risk Groups
• For more information visit the Centers for Disease Control’s main COVID-19 site or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s FAQs microsite. 
• Additionally, the CDC has a number of handouts available for downloading and printing in multiple languages, including COVID-19 facts, information on stopping the spread of germs, and how to wash your hands. You can access those files here.  
• Johns Hopkins Live Tracker
• United States Department of State
• United States Travel Association
• World Health Organization

For Hotels

• Free training for hotel employees offered by the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLA Foundation) Read Article.