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Small Business Relief Fund Application

Small Business Relief Fund Application

The Small Business Relief Fund is a Community Foundation of West Alabama fund offered in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.  The fund was created to assist small businesses that have experienced a financial hardship as a result of Coronavirus (COVID-19).  Through the years, our local small businesses have been there for us.  They are part of what makes our community unique and special.  This is one way that we are attempting to return the favor and help them weather this storm.  This fund is made possible by the generous contributions of individuals, companies, foundations, and government entities throughout Tuscaloosa and West Alabama.
Businesses must meet the following criteria:

  • Must have experienced a financial hardship as a result of COVID-19
  • Must have 50 or less (FTE) employees as of February 29, 2020
  • Must be in good standing with state and local government jurisdictions
  • Must be located in one of the following counties in West Alabama: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, or Tuscaloosa

*To be eligible for funds made available from the City of Tuscaloosa's Restart Tuscaloosa initiative, a business must also hold a business license from the City of Tuscaloosa and be physically located within the city limits.

If your business meets these criteria, please click on the following link to start the application process:

Small Business Relief Fund Application
Give Big. Support Small.

Give Big. Support Small.

As West Alabama unites together to support its small business community, the Small Business Relief Fund has been established to quickly administer much needed funding during these challenging times. 

Whether you are a business, foundation, or an individual, we must rally together to provide relief for our community’s small businesses. Our local economy thrives on small businesses and the need for help is urgent. Give big and support small today.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE
IMPORTANT: Add “Small Business Relief Fund” in the additional comments section

DONATE BY CHECK: Make payable to CFWA - Memo: Small Business Relief Fund
MAIL TO: CFWA, PO Box 3033 Tuscaloosa, AL 35403

The Small Business Relief Fund is a Community Foundation of West Alabama Fund, in coordination with the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.  All contributions are tax deductible.

West Alabama Regional Commission Small Business Revolving Loan Fund

The West Alabama Regional Commission operates a Revolving Loan Fund for the purpose of assisting small local businesses and industries in their start-up and expansion activities. During these unprecedented times they are focusing the fund to help and support small businesses in the region impacted by COVID-19.  The goal of the program is to create new jobs for citizens of West Alabama. The RLF provides gap financing that is not available from commercial lenders. A Loan Review Committee is responsible for approving or disapproving loan applications.

COVID-19 Disaster Relief Program

LOCAL

LOCAL

WEBINAR RECORDING
PREPARING TO APPLY FOR THE SBA ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN
The Alabama Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, Region 4 Office, and the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama hosted a webinar on how to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  The webinar walks you, step-by-step, through the application process.  

Click Here to Apply for EIDL Program




Alabama SBDC
P: (205) 348-1582
E: asbdc@ua.edu

State

Alabama Will Waive Employer Charges For COVID-19 Related Claims When Employers File Unemployment Claims Employees - Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington has temporarily ordered that relief be offered to employers whose employees must file unemployment compensation claims for weeks filed due to COVID-19 related issues. All charges will be waived against those employers who file partial unemployment compensation claims on behalf of their employees. These charges will be waived until further notice. ADOL is encouraging all employers who can file on their employees' behalf to do so.

Alabama Department of Revenue Extends Relief to Small Businesses - Effective immediately, the Department of Revenue is extending relief to small retail businesses that are unable to timely pay their February, March, and April sales tax liabilities.

Revive Plus Grant Program- Governor Kay Ivey has announced the establishment of the Revive Plus grant program, which will allocate $200 million of the Coronavirus Relief Funds that are available to support citizens, businesses, and non-profit and faith-based organizations of the state directly impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Revive Plus will provide up to $20,000 to qualifying small businesses and non-profit and faith-based organizations for expenses related to the pandemic. The program will be administered by the Alabama Department of Finance. Applications will be accepted beginning at noon on Monday, November 23rd, and ending at noon on Friday, December 4. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements in order to receive a grant.

Revive Plus FAQs 

Revive Plus Overview 

Please see the Overview and FAQ for more information, and visit the website to apply.

Federal

On Friday 5/15, SBA released a Loan Forgiveness Application that is designed to educate borrowers on how to apply for PPP loan forgiveness. Additional guidance – for both borrowers and lenders – is still expected from the agency. READ MORE...

COVID-19 The Cares Act - Stimulus Package Explained (Rosen Harwood Attorneys at Law) The CARES Act, to provide $2 trillion in emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist From the CARES Stimulus Package - USChamber (Excellent Resource)

Payroll Protection Program - If you think the Paycheck Protection Program could apply to your business, we encourage you to consult further with your legal and financial advisors for guidance on the nuances of the CARES Act, and reference;www.SBA.gov for program updates and the most current application information.



SBA Loan Program For Up To $2 Million For Qualifying Businesses And Non-Profits - Governor Kay Ivey announced today that small businesses across Alabama negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic are eligible for assistance under the U.S. Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.


The program will help qualified businesses and non-profit organizations recover from economic losses tied to the abrupt downturn triggered by the COVID-19 disease.

Contact Information

Effective Thursday, March 19, 2020, due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama offices are closed until further notice and the staff is working remotely.  If you need to communicate with a Chamber staff member or West Alabama Works staff member, please refer to the staff directory to find their contact information.   

If you have additional questions, please reach out to Jim, Donny, or Barkley.  Their contact information is listed below.

Contact:
Jim Page
President and Chief Executive Officer
O: (205) 391-0562 (Voicemail will be emailed to Jim) | M: (205) 657-6300
jim@tuscaloosachamber.com

Contact:
Donny Jones
Chief Operating Officer & Executive Director, Region 3 Workforce Development Council/West Alabama Works
O: (205) 391-0552 (Voicemail will be emailed to Donny) | M: (205)242-5931
donny@tuscaloosachamber.com

Contact:
Barkley Garrett
Vice President of Economic Development
O: (205) 391-0329 (Voicemail will be emailed to Barkley) | M: (205) 632-8999
barkley@tuscaloosachamber.com

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