COVID-19 Relief Resources

Resource List updated on: 5/17/2021

For Sustainable Pittsburgh’s statement on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit this link. Plus, access our library of free webinars and accompanying resources here.

Stop the spread of misinformation: Allegheny County Health Department’s Rumor Control hub


BUSINESSES & NONPROFITS

  • REOPENING RESOURCES 
  • EVENTS & WEBINARS
  • GRANTS & FINANCIAL AID
    • Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19.
    • The URA has been able to expand its rent relief program thanks to a generous donation from the RK Mellon Foundation. The program is now available to businesses located anywhere within the city with a max grant of $3,000. Click here for more information.
    • The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. For more information, visit this link.
    • Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority is currently offering two opportunities for financial assistance:
    • The GoFundMe.org Small Business Relief Fund will provide micro-grants to qualifying small businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
    • PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less: Click here to view the simpler loan forgiveness application. Click here to view the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application.
    • AARP Foundation Upskilling Grants for Employers Training their Employees 50+
    • The Small Business Advantage Grant is now open! It provides 50% matching grants, up to a maximum of $7,000 to enable PA small businesses to purchase energy efficient or pollution prevention equipment, or adopt waste reduction processes.
    • The PA COVID-19 Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance program will provide grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 for qualifying small businesses that have had suffered financially due to COVID-19. The program is being administered through PA’s CDFI Network which in our region include Bridgeway Capital, Progress Fund, and North Side Community Development Fund. Current round of application has closed.
    • The PA 30 Day Fund: a non-profit with the simple mission of saving as many of PA’s small businesses as possible – is now accepting applications for a forgivable loan of $3,000. Deadline is 12/31/2023 at 12 AM.
    • Awesome Pittsburgh: $1000 grants for great ideas. Deadline is the last day of every month.
    • Female Entrepreneurs: The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation has teamed up with GlobalGiving to establish the Red BackPack Fund. They will make at least 1,000 grants of $5,000 each to female entrepreneurs impacted by COVID-19. Current round of application has closed.
    • Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) Tax Credit Program: Provides tax credits to for-profit companies less than 8 years old operating within specific targeted industries within the boundaries of a KIZ zone. With a total pool of up to $15 million in tax credits available to KIZ companies annually, the KIZ tax credit program significantly contributes to the ability of young KIZ companies to transition through the stages of growth. Applications must be submitted on or before 9/15 of each year.
    • The Amber Grant is a $500 grant awarded to qualifying female entrepreneurs each month. At the end of the year, monthly grant recipients will have the opportunity to win an additional $2,500 grant. Applications close the last day of each month.
    • Hello Alice is offering $10,000 grants being distributed immediately to small business owners impacted by COVID-19, as part of our broader mission to ensure Business for All.
    • The Global Access Program (GAP) is designed to enhance the capability of small to mid-sized PA companies to increase export sales. It provides up to $5,000 per award period to qualifying PA companies to reimburse up to 75% of eligible expenses associated with specific export promotion activities.
    • Huntington Business Banking’s Resources and Support for COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program (CWCA): DCED is offering working capital for the purposes of assisting with operations, excluding fixed assets, and the production of machinery and equipment. There will be a limit of $100,000 for each loan and interest rates could vary from 0%-2%.Learn more.
    • PA Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) has put together the Small Business First Fund to make $61,000,000 available for business assistance. Funds can be used for working capital loans of up to $100,000 given to small businesses who employ 100 or fewer people.
      PIDA also provides low-interest loans and lines of credit for eligible businesses that create and retain full-time jobs for the development of industrial parks and/or multi-tenant facilities. To get additional information about what is offered in your county and to apply, click here, go to and check the Certified Providers By County.
    • SBA Disaster Loan Assistance: The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19. Learn More.
    • Hebrew Free Loan Association of Pittsburgh offers a Coronavirus Financial Bridge Loan Program to provide interest-free loans on a nonsectarian basis for up to $5,000 to residents of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland, Washington, and Armstrong counties who are facing financial challenges caused by COVID-19.
    • Honeycomb is offering Loyalty Bonds that enable small businesses to raise cash quickly by selling a gift card “subscription” that will keep customers coming back for years to come. They’re also offering the Honeycomb Relief Loan program to small businesses affected by the COVID-19. These loans up to $50,000 will offer a 45-day payment free period and a six-month interest-only period.
    • Bridgeway Capital’s relief and resources for small businesses and nonprofits economically impacted by COVID-19
      For food based business looking to transition into a retail model, please contact Blair Schoenborn at BSchoenborn@BridgewayCapital.org for financing options. Other businesses that may qualify include any companies that are involved in COVID-19 mitigation (ex. Cleaning companies).
  • GENERAL RESOURCE

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RESTAURANTS & GROWERS

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INDIVIDUALS

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COMMUNITIES

  • Technical Assistance:
    • Sustainable Pittsburgh and the Congress of Neighboring Communities (CONNECT) are offering direct technical assistance to local governments to implement online strategies for engaging the public and holding public meetings. If your elected officials or municipal staff are having difficulties implementing any of these strategies, please use this form to request assistance. Tech-savvy Sustainable Pittsburgh and CONNECT volunteers and staff are on call to help you however we can. If you are tech-savvy and would like to volunteer your time to assist with such requests, complete this form to sign up.
  • COVID 19 Case Tracking by Geographic Region
    • The PA Department of Health has a resource page for the Commonwealth including daily briefings, the current number of cases, and a map indicating the number of cases in each county.
    • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has a page and map tracking the reported cases in each state.
    • The Atlantic Magazine has created The COVID Tracking Project. Click here for more information.
    • Worldometer is tracking international statistics related to the Pandemic on their COVID-19 Coronavirus Outbreak page. Worldometer is an international statistics resource owned by Dadax and was voted one of the best free reference websites by the American Library Association.
  • Health Information
  • Municipal Officials and Public Employers in PA
    • The PA Municipal League’s (PML) News and Announcements page has numerous regularly updated resources, including a downloadable presentation for public employers created by Campbell Durrant, P.C.
    • PA State Association of Township Supervisors has a webinar created by attorney’s providing guidance for municipal officials.
    • For more information about Right to Know Requests during the outbreak, Open Records PA has created this page.
    • For more general information about the Sunshine Act during the pandemic please reference this page.
    • For a list of public information and community engagement tools (including a spreadsheet with more than 100 tools and applications) for municipalities and community leaders, including hosting virtual public meeting and getting community feedback see this page. The list was created by Sustainable Jersey and adapted for use in PA by Sustainable Pittsburgh.
  • Other Resources for Local Governments

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