WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Jovita Carranza announced the launch of a dedicated online tool for small businesses and non-profits to be matched with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), Certified Development Companies (CDCs), Farm Credit System lenders, Microlenders, as well as traditional smaller asset size lenders in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  

SBA’s Lender Match is an additional resource for pandemic-affected small businesses who have not applied for or received an approved PPP loan to connect with lenders.  The forgivable PPP loan is emergency relief assistance aimed at sustaining businesses and keeping employees on payroll.  Lender Match does not accept Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications.

“The SBA is focused on assisting eligible borrowers in underserved and disadvantaged communities and connecting them with forgivable PPP loans, especially before the June 30, 2020, application deadline,” said SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza.  “As communities begin to carefully reopen across the country, there are still many more opportunities to provide this assistance to businesses who have yet to access these forgivable loans.  SBA is utilizing these partnerships with CDFIs, MDIs, CDCs, Farm Credit System lenders, Microlenders and many other participating small asset lenders to ensure that access to this emergency funding reaches the most small businesses and their employees in need – a key priority for President Trump.”

Lender Match Background

Within two business days after entering their information into the Lender Match platform, a borrower receives an email from lenders who have been matched with them.  The borrower can see lenders’ requests for them to begin an application.  Borrowers are then able to begin the application process directly from the email they receive.

Lender Match was on pause due to CARES Act implementation priorities and loan volume. It is now being reinstated for CDFIs and other Small Asset Lenders.  Leads will only be forwarded to CDFIs and Lenders with < $10b in assets until the PPP program ends on June 30, 2020, at which time Lender Match will be open to all participating SBA Lenders.  Lender Match not only connects borrowers with accessing PPP loans, but also other SBA lending products, such as 7(a), 504, Microloans, and Community Advantage loans which are currently offering debt relief.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.­

Concord, NH – Today, the Office of Strategic Initiatives announced a Request for Proposals for the Connecting NH - Emergency Broadband Expansion Program.

A copy of the announcement can be found here , or below. The Request for Proposals can be found here .

Note: The Office of Strategic Initiatives' press release is below

CONCORD- The New Hampshire Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI), in conjunction with the New Hampshire Department of Education (DOE) and Public Utilities Commission (PUC), today announced a Request for Proposals for the Connecting NH- Emergency Broadband Expansion Program. Gov. Chris Sununu launched the new program this month using $50 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund. Connecting NH is seeking proposals from qualified applicants to provide high speed internet connectivity (25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload (25/3)) to as many unserved New Hampshire properties as possible at the least cost to the State.
 
The Connecting New Hampshire – Emergency Broadband Expansion Program will address challenges for students participating in remote learning, individuals working remotely, as well as other Granite Staters utilizing the internet to access telehealth services, including vital mental health services.
 
“This public-private partnership is a smart investment for communities across the Granite State in expanding broadband access,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “As more Granite Staters are learning and working remotely, and using the internet to access telehealth services, this vital expansion program ensures equitable access to service for Granite Staters.”
 
We need to be prepared for a possible spike in COVID-19 cases later this year,” added OSI Director Jared Chicoine. “Expanding broadband access will be vital for our response in education, remote working, and public health.”
 
“While New Hampshire schools have gained nationwide recognition for their switch to remote learning this spring, connectivity remains a challenge, particularly for students in rural New Hampshire communities,” said Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. “Connecting NH will leverage available federal funds and private sector competition to bring vital broadband connectivity to Granite State students.”
 
"Broadband access has proven to be critical for New Hampshire citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said PUC Chairwoman Dianne Martin. “The Connecting NH- Emergency Broadband Expansion Program will provide that critical access to more New Hampshire citizens quickly."
 
The program goal is to provide broadband connectivity to as many New Hampshire properties currently experiencing no or limited internet connectivity as possible at the least cost to the State. The program requires reliable service delivered at a minimum of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload (25/3 Mbps). To accomplish this priority, the project will:
 

1. Be technology-neutral
2. Work in a public/private partnership collaboration with existing providers and municipalities
3. The technology can be wired or wireless

 
Projects must be completed as soon as possible, but no later than December 15, 2020.
 
Schedule of Events

• RFP Issued
  Date/Deadline: 6/18/20
  Time: 4:00 PM
• Question Period Closes
  Date/Deadline: 6/22/20
  Time: 4:00 PM
• Responses to Questions Posted
  Date/Deadline: 6/25/20
  Time: 4:00 PM
• Proposal Due Date and Time
  Date/Deadline: 7/2/2020
  Time: 4:00 PM
• Anticipated Contract Start Date
  Date/Deadline: Mid-July 2020    

 
The Request for Proposals can be found here .
 

Portable Document Format (.pdf) . Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems.

WMUR-NEWs Chanel 9

Main Street Relief Fund

•  June16, 2020 - Sununu said 5,466 grants were approved in the program, which aims to compensate businesses for some of their losses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The average grant awarded is nearly $62,000, Sununu said.

•  Each grant will cover 17% of a business's losses, the governor said. Grants were capped at $350,000.

• Everyone who applied for a grant will soon get an email explaining whether they will receive the grant and how much they can expect. Sununu said the checks will be cut within the next few days.

• More than 13,000 applications were received for the program, but thousands were found to be ineligible, the governor said. Some businesses were too large, while others were from out of state.

• More than 4,700 applications were disqualified because they came from self-employed individuals, Sununu said. He said the state is working on a program to specifically help self-employed individuals with funds left over from the Main Street fund.

Read all about it here:

NHPR Unemployment . 6-17-2020.pdf

GraniteStats, a new application featuring workforce and economic data has been released. The application provide easy access to a variety of labor market, economic, and demographic data for New Hampshire.

Data for many New Hampshire sub-state areas are available as well, including cities and towns, Labor Market Areas, counties, and planning regions.

The publication can be accessed at:
https://www2.nhes.nh.gov/GraniteStats/index.jsp

Time is running out to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan to help your small business through the COVID-19 crisis. There is still more than $120 billion available and the June 30 deadline to apply is fast approaching!

The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with funds for payroll costs and other eligible non- payroll costs.

More than $100 Billion in PPP funds are still available. The recent passage of the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act allows small businesses to use funds up to 24-weeks and have the option of extending the life of the loan from two years to five. SBA will forgive loans if funds are used as intended.

Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards.

For more information, visit here.

List of Participating Lenders

WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, posted a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act of 2020, signed into law by President Trump on June 5, 2020.  In addition to revising the full forgiveness application, SBA also published a new EZ version of the forgiveness application that applies to borrowers that:

• Are self-employed and have no employees; OR
• Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees; OR
• Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to COVID-19, and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%.

The EZ application requires fewer calculations and less documentation for eligible borrowers.  Details regarding the applicability of these provisions are available in the instructions to the new EZ application form. 

Both applications give borrowers the option of using the original 8-week covered period (if their loan was made before June 5, 2020) or an extended 24-week covered period.  These changes will result in a more efficient process and make it easier for businesses to realize full forgiveness of their PPP loan.

Click here to view the EZ Forgiveness Application.

Click here to view the Full Forgiveness Application.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.­

Concord, NH - Today, Governor Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order #53 as part of the state's efforts to respond to COVID-19.

Emergency Order #53 : Amendment to Emergency Order #36 (Ensuring Worker's Compensation Coverage for New Hampshire First Responders Exposed to COVID-19)

Portable Document Format (.pdf) . Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems.

The Paycheck Protection Program provides small businesses with funds for payroll costs and other eligible non- payroll costs.

More than $100 Billion in PPP funds are still available. The recent passage of the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act allows small businesses to use funds up to 24-weeks and have the option of extending the life of the loan from two years to five. SBA will forgive loans if funds are used as intended.

Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards.

For more information, visit here.

List of Participating Lenders

Accessing Additional CDBG Funds to Respond to COVID-19

Housing and Public Facilities applications that clearly demonstrate consistency with the directive of the CARES Act to prepare for, respond to or recover from the COVID-10 pandemic; and, which also meet CDFA’s CDBG Emergency Program criteria may be submitted through the CDBG Emergency Program application process. Applicants with potential projects must contact CDFA for a pre-application meeting to determine if the proposed project meets the criteria. A circular with additional information is available here.

Relevant Resources

All relevant Community Development Block Grant – CV program resources can be found on CDFA’s Resource Hub: https://resources.nhcdfa.org/programs/community-development-block-grant/. These resources include:

• CDBG and CDBG-CV Application and Program Guide
• Community Needs Assessment Tool
• Circular 2020 – 04: CDBG Emergency Application Determination
• How to Register and Use CDFA’s Grants Management System

We will post additional information related to CDBG-CV as we receive further guidance from HUD.

CDFA is continuing to work diligently to respond to community needs, provide flexibility and deploy resources as quickly as possible to support critical work. For more information on other COVID-19 resources available to our current grantees/borrowers, municipalities, nonprofits and businesses, please visit: https://nhcdfa.org/covid-19-resources/.