Finance support

In many areas across the state, foundations, corporations, banks and local governments are banding together to create local funds to support nonprofits working in their communities. The Florida Nonprofit Alliance has created a list of them by region. In Central FL there are the Edyth Bush Institute Resource Page and United Community Relief Fund; in NE FL the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida Resource Page and the First Coast Relief Fund; the Institute for Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence Resource Page in the Panhandle; the Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties Relief and Recovery Funding, Miami Foundation Community Recovery Fund (long-term) and United Way of Miami Operation Helping Hands (short-term) in SE Florida; in SW Florida the Southwest Florida Relief Fund, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Needs Requests and Gulf Coast Community Foundation Response Initiative. Check with your local community foundation and banking partners to see what’s going on in your area. 

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan: The program, enacted March 27, offers forgivable, low-interest loans to businesses with up to 500 employees. The funds are intended to cover payroll, rent and utilities costs for businesses suffering financial losses due to the coronavirus pandemic. Lenders note that the multibillion-dollar loan program is drying up quickly, so businesses need to apply as soon as possible to receive funds. According to the South Florida Community Reinvestment Alliance, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., told his social media followers the Senate aimed to pass a bill that would add $250 billion more to the small-business loan program.

Here is a look at how some of Florida’s largest lenders (and FLACDC supporters) are handling the PPP application process. If you don’t see your lender on this list, contact them directly to find out how they’re responding.

    • Bank of America is currently accepting applications from small businesses that had a Bank of America checking account before Feb. 15. Apply here.
    • Chase Bank is accepting applications from customers with an existing business checking account. Chase is the region’s third-largest SBA lender and third-largest deposit holder. Apply here.
    • Seacoast Bank is accepting applications from bank customers only. Customers can contact their banker or visit its website to apply. Stuart-based Seacoast is South Florida’s 12th-largest SBA lender.
    • TD Bank is only accepting applications from existing business customers that must have a deposit account at TD to receive funds. According to its website, the bank is experiencing a high call volume and recommends customers contact their relationship managers with questions about the application, which is available online.
    • Truist Bank:The parent to the recently merged BB&T Bank and SunTrust Bank told the Charlotte Business Journal that the program is available to business and nonprofit clients that have a business loan or deposit relationship with BB&T or SunTrust.
    • Valley National Bank:The New Jersey-based bank is processing applications for existing account holders and borrowers only. To apply, customers must submit an inquiry here. From there, the inquiry will be assigned to a bank employee, who will follow up with a digital application.
    • Wells Fargo announced Wednesday it would process additional PPP applications after initially closing its loan window Sunday. The bank relaunched the submission process Wednesday afternoon, it reported on social media. Existing small business customers can begin the application process online, and will receive updates via email.
    • BankUnited, South Florida’s largest community bank by assets, is accepting PPP applications from existing business customers only, according to its website. A link to an application is not available from its website. BankUnited did not return a request for comment on how customers should apply for the program.
    • Fifth Third Bank has made the decision to suspend all in-person community outreach through May 31st and wants to make consumers aware of their virtual options:
      Financial Empowerment Mobile (eBus) Financial Education Modules and eBus Financial Empowerment Brochure ; Financial Tips – COVID 19 Infographic ; NextJob Job Seeker Toolkit Flyer w/ Access Link; and financial education access Family Portal.  Click here.

The Community Strategies Group at the Aspen Institute focuses on issues in America’s rural and Tribal areas. Read the blog here and check out their findings. You can visit their resource page with helpful links to tribal, county, state and federal information, news on COVID-19 as well as sector specific resources for housing and business. Click here to access the resources and share your experience from the rural frontlines.

It seems that everyone has their own COVID-19 webpage (guilty!) but some are arguably better and more relevant to our work than others. The Florida Community Loan Fund’s page is one of the latter. See regionally specific resources, federal and state funding, state and national associations, information for employees and more at COVID-19 Resources for Florida Nonprofits and Small Businesses


Small Business Resources SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus

SBA will provide further guidance through SBA notices and a program guide which will be posted on SBA’s website at www.sba.gov.

Questions on the Paycheck Protection Program 7(a) Loans may be directed to the Lender Relations Specialist in the local SBA Field Office. The local SBA Field Office may be found at https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/districtoffices.

Institutions offering support

Florida Housing is committed to the health and well-being of all Floridians and has assembled a list of resources. This page provides relevant information for homebuyers, residents, apartment owners and management companies.

BBVA COVID-19 Response is available for your review. Questions? Contact your BBVA Community Relations Officer

Bank of America’s Client Assistance Program was expanded several weeks ago. Through this program, they can waive certain account fees, such as overdraft fees, and defer payments on your credit cards, mortgage and auto loans to help you and your small business.  Click here. . 

Fifth Third Bank plans to appoint nearly 1,000 new employees to provide essential banking services to small businesses during the coronavirus outbreak, including Paycheck Protection Program Loans. “Our Fifth Third customers and communities need us more than ever during these uncertain times, and we will continue to be here for them,” says Greg D. Carmichael, chairman, president and CEO of Fifth Third. “I’m proud of the extraordinary service our employees are providing each day. We are looking to grow our team of professionals to serve these needs and to help provide critical employment opportunities so our communities can get back to work again.”
Fifth Third Bank Government Stimulus Guide highlights how to access the wide range of benefits offered in the CARES Act. Fifth Third COVID help

PayPal is offering a variety of new customer services to help. PayPal COVID help

Wells Fargo is making its 2020 grant dollars unrestricted, whenever possible. The grant application portal is now open (www.wellsfargo.com/donations) and they will accept grant requests on a rolling basis through June, 2020.  Previously announced focus area application deadlines no longer apply.