Small Business

Small businesses throughout Arizona have been hit especially hard by this pandemic. I am working to ensure that Arizona small businesses can access all of the information, resources, and assistance available to them. The purpose of this webpage is to share helpful links and information for business owners and those self-employed.

RE-OPENING GUIDELINES:

On May 12, Governor Doug Ducey announced an executive order to slowly reopen Arizona. This is a step-by-step approach to gradually reopen beginning May 15. (En español) 

  • Guidance for restaurant owners HERE.
  • An explainer of differences from the previous Stay-At-Home Order, HERE. 

It is still advised that everyone who is able to stay home should continue doing so.

CARES Act:

For a fact sheet on new provisions available to small businesses under the CARES Act, click HERE. 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES:

Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act: emergency, interim legislation that will provide additional funding to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the EIDL Grant. This bill was signed into law on April 24, 2020.

New Funding Levels:

  • $310 billion has been added to the PPP fund.
    • $60 billion was set-aside for credit unions, banks, and smaller financial institutions. This measure is intended to benefit smaller, rural economies who will be hit hardest and for whom the PPP program has not provided adequate assistance thus far.
  • $50 billion has been added to the EIDL.
    • A portion of these EIDL loans will be allocated to agricultural enterprises.
  • $10 billion has been added to the EIDL Grant.

Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act: legislation to improve the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by increasing flexibility in allowable loan spending for small businesses. This bill was signed into law on June 5, 2020. The bill:

  • allows loan forgiveness for expenses beyond the 8-week covered period to 24 weeks, and extends the rehiring deadline;
  • increases the current forgivable limitation on spending for nonpayroll expenses like rent, utility payments, and mortgage interest from 25 to 40 percent;
  • extends PPP from June 30 to December 31;
  • extends loan terms from two to five years;
  • and ensures that businesses that take PPP loans have full access to payroll tax deferment.

​PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP)

  • Under the recently passed CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program is designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll by providing each small business a loan up to $10 million for payroll and certain other expenses. 
  • If all employees are kept on payroll for eight weeks, the Small Business Administration will forgive the portion of the loans used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. Up to 100 percent of the loan is forgivable. Under the PPP, 75 percent of the loan must be spent on payroll costs.
  • Eligible businesses include those with under 500 employees, sole proprietorships, self-employed individuals, independent contractors and 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) non-profits or veterans organizations. Businesses in certain industries may have more than 500 employees if they meet the SBA’s size standards for those industries.
  • Affiliation rules have been waived for  any business that employs not more 500 employees per physical location and is assigned a NAICS code beginning with 72, any business operating as a franchise that is assigned a franchise identifier by the SBA, and any company that receives funding through a Small Business Investment Company.
  • Banks in Arizona began accepting applications on Friday, April 3rd, and more local lenders are setting up their process every day. Independent contractors and the self employed will be eligible to apply for the PPP beginning on April 10th. Arizona businesses can apply directly for these loans through an approved local lender. Click HERE to find an approved local lender.
  • More information about the PPP is available HERE. 

ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS

  • The Small Business Administration has made low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital available to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus.
  • Small Businesses with 500 or fewer employees, sole proprietorships, independent contractors, cooperatives and employee owned businesses, tribal small businesses, and 501(c), (d), or (e) non-profits are eligible to apply.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) offer up to $2 million in assistance to help overcome temporary loss of revenue. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses.  The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%. SBA offers loans with long term repayments, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis.
  • Eligible entities are also able to an advance of $10,000, when applying for an EIDL.  These funds will be deposited directly into the applicant’s account within 3 days to help cover short-term costs. 
  • Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact.

Apply Here

For additional information, borrowers should contact the SBA Disaster Assistance customer service center by calling 1-800-659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. They can also visit SBA.gov/disaster for more information.

**For technical issues, specific questions regarding the application process, or needs for additional SBA information,  contact the SBA Arizona District Office, which has locations in Phoenix, Show Low, and Tucson.**

 

For a fact sheet from the U.S. Chamber, visit HERE or click the image below. 

chamber preview

EMPLOYEE RETENTION TAX CREDIT: 

This program provides a refundable payroll tax credit equal to 50 percent of up to $10,000 in wages per employee (including health benefits) paid by certain employers during the coronavirus crisis.

This is an option for entities that are not eligible or interested in applying for the SBA Paycheck Protection Program loans. More information on this program is available from the IRS, HERE.

 

Additional Information: 

The Treasury Department and IRS announced that the federal government is extending certain tax filing and payment deadlines for fiscal year businesses and tax-exempt organizations until July 15, 2020.

The Treasury Department and IRS also have issued an Interim Final Rule that would allow banks to neutralize regulatory capital effects. Specifically, it would permit banks to exclude exposures pledged as collateral to the PPPL Facility from a bank’s total leverage exposure, average total consolidated assets, advanced approaches-total risk-weighted assets, and standardized total risk-weighted assets. For more information, see the Federal Register Notice: Regulatory Capital Rule. 

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: 

AZDHS guidance applicable to the workplace on how to handle COVID-19, with directions on what to do if someone has symptoms, is awaiting test results, and many more scenarios is available HERE. A step-by-step flow chart guide to assessing the most appropriate actions is available HERE.

Wondering how much funding your business is eligible for? Use the Arizona Commerce Authority's PPP Loan Calculator. 

For Arizona-specific workforce information and resources, click HERE.

Guidance from the CDC for businesses and employers to plan and respond to coronavirus, HERE.

Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE counselors are available to help guide small businesses with their specific questions about their eligibility and the application process. Arizona SBDC can connect small businesses with these local resource partners.

Download a fact sheet on the SBA's Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus.

Download the SBA's Economic Injury Worksheet to assist in your loan application.

Download a list of Arizona's SBA Lenders.

Health and sanitation guidance for small businesses, HERE.

Free training from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce on submitting loan applications, HERE.