Update: COVID-19 Relief Programs and Resources

Last week we shared news of the second COVID-19 federal relief package. In the interest of ensuring Arizona’s arts & culture sector is well-prepared to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by this package, we want to alert you to additional information and resources that have emerged in the week since.

General Information

First, the National Council of Nonprofits will present a webinar on Wednesday, Janaury 13, providing an overview of provisions in the new relief package relevant to the nation’s nonprofits.

Paycheck Protection Program

This week, the US Small Business Administration (SBA) re-opened applications for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). PPP provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.

SBA is currently offering:

• PPP First Draw Loans, beginning January 11, 2021, for first time program participants
• PPP Second Draw Loans, beginning January 13, 2021, for certain businesses who have previously received a PPP loan.

Applications will be accepted through March 28, 2021, but we suggest you apply as soon as you are able.

Note: To promote access for smaller lenders and their customers, SBA will initially only accept PPP Loan applications, whether First or Second Draw, from participating community financial institutions (CFIs), which include Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs), and Microloan Intermediaries. Paycheck Protection Program lending will reopen to all participating lenders shortly thereafter.

Please visit the SBA’s PPP page for more information.

On Friday, Janaury 15, Arts Action Fund and Americans for the Arts will present a webinar on the new Payroll Protection Program rules for a first and second draw/increase in loans and forgiveness, EIDL loans and advances, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and general appropriations updates. Register for this webinar at ArtsU.

Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program (Save Our Spaces)

New to this round of federal relief funding is the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. Under the program, eligible organizations with a reduction in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have the opportunity to receive up to a $10 million grant.

While the particulars of this program’s eligibility requirements and application process are still being hammered out, the SBA will host a webinar on Thursday, January 14, to give a preliminary overview. The webinar will provide introductory information about the grants, who can apply, how potential organizations can prepare, and additional details re: eligibility and applications.

Small Businesses Resources Webinar

The office of Congressman Ruben Gallego has scheduled a webinar for this Thursday afternoon on programs designed to assist small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and Small Business Administration (SBA) debt relief grants, and others.

This webinar will include presentations from Chicanos Por La Causa, the SBA Arizona District Office, and others.

CERF+’s COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

CERF+ announced the third cycle of their COVID-19 Relief Grants, one-time $1,000 grants made to artists working in craft disciplines who continue to face dire food, housing, and medical insecurities caused by the pandemic. Priority will be given to eligible artists who have traditionally been underserved by the grantmaking community, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and materials-based folk and traditional artists.

The third cycle will open for applications on Wednesday, January 13, and close on Wednesday, February 3.

For more information, please visit the COVID 19 Relief Grant page on the CERF+’website.

COVID Relief Grants to Latinx Artists and Arts Organizations

The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) announced this week an open call for Latinx artists, cultural workers and arts organizations to apply for emergency grants through its Actos de Confianza relief efforts.

In collaboration with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Intercultural Leadership Institute (ILI) partners, the $2,500 artist grants and $5,000 organization grants aim to support those facing critical financial emergencies due to the impact of COVID-19 in the United States and Puerto Rico.

The open call for applications for Actos de Confianza relief grants are organized by geographic region. The first call will launch on January 13, 2021 for applicants in the Mid-America region; the second call will launch on March 3, 2021 for the Eastern United States and Puerto Rico; the third call will launch on April 28, 2021 for the Western United States.

For more information, please visit the 2021 Actos de Confianza page on NALAC’s website.