WBENC is here to support our network through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery.

Find information, resources and opportunities to to address the uncertainties many business owners and corporations face, as well as to continue to fuel business opportunities for women entrepreneurs.

This page is no longer being updated.

What's New
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#BuyWomenOwned on Women Owned Wednesday
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From Background Screening to COVID-19 Screening — The Team Effort Behind InfoMart’s Pivot to Support Re-Entry
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Regional Resources

East

  • CWE (N. Connecticut, Maine,  Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)
  • WBEC-East (Delaware, South New Jersey, Pennsylvania)
  • WBEC Greater DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia)
  • WBEC Metro NY (South Connecticut, North New Jersey, New York State)

West

  • WBEC-Pacific (Alaska,  Northern California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington)
  • WBEC-West (Arizona, Southern California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Guam)

Midwest

  • WBDC-Midwest (Illinois, Iowa,  Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North & South Dakota, Wisconsin)
  • GLWBC (Indiana, Michigan)
  • WBEC-ORV (Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia)

South

  • GWBC (Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina)
  • WBCS (Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Texas)
  • WBEA (South Texas)
  • WBEC Florida (Florida, with the exception of the Panhandle, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands)
  • WBEC South (Alabama, Florida Panhandle,  Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee)
Government & Policy

Women Impacting Policy Policy

Find resources, policy updates, and federal advocacy actions for women business owners from our national partner organization, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP).

Additional Guidance

  • CDC: Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers
  • SBA: Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources
  • Score: Small Business Disaster Preparedness Resources
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Combating the Coronavirus
  • FEMA: Emergency Business Continuity Plan (PDF)
  • IRS: Coronavirus tax relief for businesses
Funding & Grants

SBA Funding Options

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM

This loan program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program. Learn more.

EIDL LOAN ADVANCE

This loan advance will provide up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties. Learn more.

SBA EXPRESS BRIDGE LOANS

Enables small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. Learn more.

SBA DEBT RELIEF

The SBA is providing a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more.

Grants & Financial Resources

Lowe’s is partnering with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the nation’s largest community development organization, to distribute $5 million in small business relief, to help minority-, women- and veteran-led, small businesses sustain operations and protect jobs impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

An investment of $2.5 million from Verizon is making it possible for LISC to offer critical relief and resiliency-building support to small businesses facing immediate financial threat because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Goldman Sachs has committed $1 billion to help small businesses and communities around the world.

US Bank is offering several products and services for small business owners, including reduced rates on quick loans and on-demand credit.

Shea Moisture announced $1 million relief fund for small minority & women of color businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Duke University has created a COVID-19 funding tracker, a searchable database of grants, loans, and cash equivalents that can help entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and businesses around the world.

Business Support

Tools & Resources

PwC’s team of specialists collaborated to create a digital assessment to help you understand the potential impact of COVID-19 to your business and gauge your readiness to respond.

Bank of America’s small business resources page includes information about the federal Paycheck Protection Program and other helpful information for Bank of America small business clients.

Capital One has important information for business owners, as well as details about the Paycheck Protection Program.

Facebook’s Business Resource Hub has information and toolkits to help manage your business through COVID-19.

Goldman Sachs has launched 10,000 Women Online, a collection of 10 courses which provide a practical business education – strengthening your business knowledge, skills and plans for growth.

The IBM Institute for Business Value has prepared a COVID-19 Business Insights center, including an action guide for business leaders.

Download a helpful KPMG infographic and checklist on understanding the implications of COVID-19 for private companies.

Download SunTrust’s Business in the Time of Coronavirus considerations and action sheet.

American Express has published a Business Guide to Navigating COVID-19, including business insights and articles on leadership, team-building and operations.

Gallager’s industry, coverage and consulting teams are bringing together the latest information to help businesses manage risk and provide employees information to help minimize business interruption.

The U.S. Census Bureau is now doing a weekly Small Business Pulse Survey to provide near-real-time info on the impact of COVID-19 on the nation’s businesses.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has created a new Reopening Business Digital Resources Center, with tools and resources to help employers and employees return to work safely and successfully.