COVID-19 Resources for Employers and Business Owners

As businesses reopen and employees return to work, you need the best and latest information to protect your workplace and the health and safety of your employees and your customers.

Workplace Design:

• ASHRAE’s COVID-19 Preparedness Resources for HVAC systems
• CDPHE Environmental Cleaning Guidance for COVID-19
• Kroger’s Blueprint for Businesses: Read about best practices to help your business develop protocols and procedures to reopen safely and continue to flatten the curve.
• Emergency Rental Assistance

Health and Safety:

• Chamber Members Providing COVID Testing
• CCIG: Fraudulent Workers’ Compensation Claims Expected to Rise Amid COVID-19
• CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers: This resource includes information about how to manage essential business workplaces and resume operations, including HR best practices specific to COVID-19.
• CDC Recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
• OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
• COVID-19 CDPHE Worker and Customer Protection Guidelines for Non-Health Care Industries
• Kaiser Permanente’s COVID-19 Return to Work Playbook
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Reopening Business Digital Resource Center: Provides the latest state guidelines, sector-specific guidance, small business advice and other tools and resources to help employers and employees return to work safely and successfully.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce customizable flyer to inform your employees and customers of the steps you are taking to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
• Employee Health Screening:
  • Denver Metro Chamber’s Daily Temperature and Symptom Check Form
  • State of Colorado Recommendations for Setting Up a Health Screening
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce Employee Screening Questionnaire
  • PCL’s Smart Screening & Testing Pod Guide
• Polsinelli’s Reopening the Economy and Getting Back to Business:
  • Business Owners’ Liability Risk When Dealing With Customers and Others
  • Should Property Owners Enforce Social Distancing?
  • Will Liability Waivers Protect My Business?

We know many small businesses have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. These resources are dedicated to helping small businesses determine options and find assistance to move forward.

• The Denver Metro Small Business Development Center (SBDC): Free one-on-one consulting and a variety of web resources are available through our SBDC. Consultants are available to assist you with securing funding and changing your business model. You can request a consultation at  www.denversbdc.org/consulting or reach out for information at info@denversbdc.org.
• The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade: Access a variety of resources including information about loans and other sources of funding, reopening and unemployment. The office also has a small business navigation hotline available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 303-860-5881 or oedit_sbanavigator@state.co.us.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s small business toolkit: Learn about COVID-19-related legislation, SBA lending information and reopening strategies.
• The SBA small business guidance and loan resources: Outlines federal funding opportunities and resources.
• The City and County of Denver’s COVId-19 resources page: Learn more about Denver’s small business emergency relief funding, microloans, grants and waived late fees. You can also fill out the  City’s web form to notify city officials about how your business has been impacted and start a conversation about how to move forward with assistance.
• Energize Colorado Gap Fund: Assistance for Small Businesses
• Colorado COVID Small Business Legal Program: Small businesses get matched with legal advice regarding COVID-19 related issues with volunteer lawyers.

• The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment: Find resources for employees and employers related to unemployment insurance, paid sick leave, regulations and more.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Communications resources, policy updates and more for employers.
• The U.S. Department of Labor: Find information on what type of leave you are required to provide as part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
• B:CIVIC: Corporate social responsibility best practices and tools related to coronavirus.

• Federal Lending and Grants: The U.S. Chamber provides a helpful overview of all federal small business stimulus and aid programs and a guide for independent contractors and those who are self-employed.
  • U.S. Paycheck Protection Program is an emergency and forgivable loan to cover monthly payroll and mortgage interest.
    • PPP Application Form
      • Form 3508S (Instructions) – simplified application for borrowers with loans of $50,000 or less
      • Form 3508EZ (Instructions)
      • Form 3508 (Instructions)
    • PPP Information Sheet Borrowers
    • View the Colorado Small Business Development Center’s graphic on the differences between PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
    • Video: The difference between PPP & EDIL,  in Spanish
    • SBA Lender List for Colorado
    • Chamber Member Banks Assisting with Funding
    • SBA Find-a-Lender Tool
    • BKD PPP Loan Interim Final Rules
  • SBA low-interest disaster loans of up to $2 million are available to small businesses and nonprofits without alternative credit available. They can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and additional bills that can’t be paid because of COVID-19’s impact.
  • Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVO) includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million.
  • Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program allows small businesses that currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 with less paperwork.
• Colorado Lending Source’s Resources for Lending: An overview of local, state and federal funding options available to small businesses during COVID-19
  • Kiva Loans: CLS has partnered with Kiva to provide loans of up to $15,000 at 0% interest without fees for small businesses.
• Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade COVID-19 Small Business Alternative Funding: This list is designed as a resource for Colorado’s small businesses to find access to alternative funding sources beyond federal loans and programs.
• Coronavirus Tax Relief: The IRS has established a special section focused on steps to help taxpayers, businesses and others affected by the coronavirus.
  • Grant Thornton’s FAQ on clarifying the payroll tax deferral 
• COVID-19 Finance Assistance Network: Lew’s List,  High Plains Advisors and Foundry Group have assembled a group of CFOs, controllers and other senior finance professionals to help provide pro bono financial assistance.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Main Street Lending Program: As a result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Federal Reserve has created the Main Street Lending Program to provide a total of $600 billion in financing for small and medium-sized businesses.
• Local resources: Check with your local government to find out if they are offering microloans or grants. Many banks are also extending loans, so check with your existing lenders as well.
  • Brighton COVID-19 Relief Fund
  • City and County of Denver Small Business Emergency Relief Program: This fund will provide grants or microloans up to $7,500 for eligible small businesses in Denver impacted by COVID-19.

Connect with resources for your current or former employees.

Together, Chamber members are helping one another by sharing their own resources with other members in need. Please email jennifer.kostkabeck@denverchamber.org if you have expertise, equipment or discounts to share.  View member resources.

• Arts and Culture:
  • Arts Through It All: A communications tool kit for arts and cultural organizations.
• Food and Beverage:
  • Operation Family Meal: A collaborative effort by Chow to provide free meals and mental health support to those within the industry who are out of work during COVID-19.
  • Denver Metro Emergency Food Network: Delivers free, prepared meals to homebound families and elderly individuals in need during the COVID-19 crisis.
• Government:
  • U.S. Department of Treasury’s Guide on Assistance for State and Local Governments
• Health care resources:
  • For Providers:
    • American Medical Association: How doctors can keep their families safe after providing COVID-19 care
    • FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program
    • Health & Human Services Provider Telehealth
  • Resources for Patients:
    • Health & Human Services Patient Telehealth
• International Business:
  • COVID-19 Resources for Trade Participants and International Business
• Manufacturers:
  • COVID-19 Updates and Resources for Manufacturers 
• Nonprofits:
  • City and County of Denver: Relief and Recovery Boosted with City’s Launch of Nonprofit Assistance
    • Nonprofit Emergency Relief Grants: Who’s Eligible to Apply?
  • Colorado Nonprofit Association Resources
  • Rose Community Foundation’s  Philanthropic Services team
• Transportation:
  • RTD’s COVID-19 Stay Healthy Tips
  • Helping Lyft’s Driver Community