Executive Director Pierce County Economic Development Corp.

As a small business owner you are likely receiving a flood of information from many sources on the tools and programs that are being made available to assist you financially through this challenging environment Covid-19 has thrust upon us. Where do you start?

For current and accurate information on the recently enacted financial assistance programs go to the Small Business Administration website at www.sba.gov and click on the Learn More link. That will take you to a comprehensive list of tools and resources including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)program. I would refer to this site for accurate information as it is directly from the agency responsible for administering these 2 programs. I would start by checking to see if you qualify for the EIDL program with up to $10,000 in forgivable loans. Note the plan is to immediately advance up to $10,000 within 3 days of the completed application. The application is simple and straight forward. I would then consider the Payroll Protection Program. To access this program you will need to work through a local SBA approved lender.

Utilize the technical assistance and professional resources available to you. Seek out the advice of your accountant and tax advisor. Keep your lender informed. Pierce County Economic Development Corporation (PCEDC) working with its partners SCORE and the UWRF Small Business Development Center will provide free mentoring and guidance through this process. Contact PCEDC at www.pcedc.com or 651-983- 5272.