This is a crazy time. There is no other way to say it. Despite this fact, there are a lot of good business resources out there for people who have lost jobs or whose businesses are threatened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
I originally started my copywriting business after I was laid off from a full-time job. This seems like an appropriate time to revisit some of that information and add a bit more to it.
The following is a list of some helpful business resources and resources for individuals to help you get through the craziness so you can come out the other side and keep moving forward.
Please note, this is NOT an exhaustive list. I recommend searching for additional resources if you need them. Also, I have not vetted any of these lists or programs. Please do your due diligence before applying for anything so you don’t end up on the wrong side of a scam.
Business Resources for Artists and Musicians
As a former artist and musician myself, I pay attention to this stuff as I have a lot of friends who still are artists and musicians. Needless to say, this group was one of the first affected when all gatherings, large and small were banned in various states.
Covid-19 Freelance Artist Resources
A good list for free resources, opportunities and financial relief for artists of all disciplines.
FAR-West Resources List
Specifically aimed at musicians, this list contains places to stream your online concerts, how to make money from those, relief funds and more. FAR-West (Folk Alliance Region-West) is part of Folk Alliance International.
Resources for Small Businesses
With the Paycheck Protection Program running out of money in record time and speculation on whether it will do any actual small businesses (like very small businesses) any good, there are other resources out there for us.
Remember, we are the “backbone of the American economy” and we employ about half of the U.S. workforce, even if some of our businesses only employ the business owner (like mine.) Everything we can do to stay ready while our economy has screeched to a halt and be ready to jump back into action once it’s restarted is to our advantage and to the country’s advantage.
Apply for Unemployment in Your State
If you are a gig worker, small business owner, solopreneur, freelancer or contractor and your work has dried up because of Covid-19, you can apply for unemployment via your state portal.
It may take a little while for your state to be prepared for your application. For example, I have a friend in Colorado who has already applied there. However, I can’t apply here in California until April 28th.
Check your state’s unemployment portal for more details. Please be patient with the system and (if you actually manage to talk to one) everyone in the department trying to help you. They’ve all been overwhelmed by more than 22 million applicants (nationwide). They’re probably under a bit of stress right now, as most of them haven’t had as many applicants in a month as they’re now getting every day.
List of Coronavirus Small Business Loan and Grant Programs
This Forbes article has a good list of programs by state and some that are available to small businesses, regardless of location.
Covid-19: Daily Updates for Small Businesses
The Small Business Majority has a good list of updates and links for general information and state-specific small business resources.
Covid-19 Business Resource Center
A good list of funding and general resources for small businesses, including grants.
Just Got Laid Off? Consider Starting Your Own Business
I know. That’s crazy talk.
Starting a business when pretty much everyone in the world is under some sort of lock down and most businesses aren’t even allowed to function is nuts.
Or is it?
Here’s the thing…
If you just got laid off from a business that isn’t likely to hire you back or you’re working somewhere you don’t really want to go back to, this might be the perfect time to start your own business.
In 2012, the U.S. Department of Labor started a program to encourage states to pay unemployment benefits to people who wanted to start their own businesses. Several states put programs in place to make this happen.
Yes, this is for real. It’s how I started my freelance copywriting business in 2016. Here’s the blog post I wrote about it at the time.
I know that the following states offer this program:
- Minnesota
- New York
- Oregon
- Mississippi
- Maine (Sorry, I couldn’t find a better resource, but it’s worth asking about.)
I have heard that programs may also exist in:
- New Jersey
- Delaware
- Pennsylvania
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
It’s possible that your state might have a program too.
When you apply for unemployment benefits (or if you already have) ask whether your state has a Self-Employment Assistance Program that lets unemployment recipients start their own businesses while still receiving unemployment. It may be the best question you’ve ever asked a bureaucrat.
Hang In There and Please Take Care of Yourselves
As I said at the top of this blog post, this is a crazy time.
We have no idea when this craziness will end and what life will look like when it does. I’m sure it will look different than it does today and different than it did before Covid-19 started tearing across the world.
I sincerely hope that we all come out of this with the desire to make the world better for everyone. Meanwhile, I hope you can use these resources to make your own world better now, and when we’re on the other side of this pandemic.
If you have business resources (or other resources) you would like to share, please put them in the comments so I can add them to this post, if appropriate.
If there is anything I can do to help you in the meantime, please schedule a free consultation with me by clicking on the button below.
Be well, stay safe, wash your hands (you know the drill by now.) And most importantly, take care of yourselves and each other.