Resources in Response to COVID-19

The North Central Kansas Business Relief Loan Program provides loans to for-profit businesses adversely impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic to help preserve businesses and jobs. Eligible counties include Clay, Cloud, Dickinson, Ellsworth, Jewell, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Ottawa, Republic, Saline, and Washington County, Kansas. The program provides up to $50,000 per job being created/retained up to $150,000 maximum loan amount with $10,000 minimum loan amount (subject to availability of funds).

More Information: See all eligibility requirements and learn more at the NCK Business Relief Loan Fund web page.

The Technology Development Institute at Kansas State University is offering the Innovation Stimulus Program as a result of CARES funding provided by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The program offers existing businesses or entrepreneurs who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 the ability to apply for no cost engineering and business development assistance. The program provides up to $150,000 worth of services with a project cap of $20,000 for any single project.

Examples of projects which could fit within the program would be:

• Design, engineering or prototyping of new concepts
• Creation of SolidWorks models
• Creation of production drawings or other manufacturing documentation
• Conducting preliminary customer/market research
• Conducting preliminary intellectual property research
• Creation of websites or marketing materials
• Other areas of technical support as needed

More Information: Learn more and apply at the Technology Development Institute (TDI) website.

This program makes available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also may assist agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans.

Program Highlights:

• Bank loan guaranteed 90% by USDA
• Business located in community under 50k in population
• Use of proceeds:  Operating capital, inventory, and ongoing debt service
• Maximum loan amount based on 12 months operating capital less PPP award and EIDL grant/loan (up to $25 million)
• Interest rate set by bank
• Term up to 10 years
• Payment deferral for 12 months, but interest will accrue.
• $1 for $1 market value collateral coverage
• Personal guaranty

More Information: View the Fact Sheet and learn more at the USDA Rural Development website.

Eligible small businesses and agricultural businesses may apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance of up to $10,000. This advance is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SBA resumed processing EIDL applications that were submitted before the portal stopped accepting new applications on April 15 and will be processing those applications on a first-come, first-served basis. On June 15, SBA began accepting new EIDL and EIDL Advance applications from qualified small businesses and U.S. agricultural businesses.

More Information: View the Fact Sheet for the U.S. Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications from the SBA.

*The program closed August 8, 2020.

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses.

More Information: Additional information is available from the SBA.

Additional small business resources, including free training webinars and information on financial assistance, are listed at the Kansas Small Business Development Center.

The Kansas Eviction Prevention Program (KEPP) provides rental assistance to households that have missed one or more rent payment(s) as a result of the COVID pandemic. Landlords and tenants apply via a joint online process. If the application is approved, the landlord receives rental assistance funds directly from KEPP, applies KEPP funds to the tenant’s account, and waives late fees for the month(s) assistance was awarded. Approved tenants are eligible for a maximum of nine months of assistance, not to exceed $5,000 per household.

Program funds are limited and applications are being processed in the order they are received.

More information is available from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC).

NCKCN, a NCRPC affiliate, is offering a virtual helping hand to those in need as much as they possibly can during these uncertain times. For those working remotely and those attending classes online from home due to recent events, NCKCN would like to announce that they will be handing out (on a very limited supply and donated “AS IS”) computers to those who need them. NCKCN is also increasing their customer’s Internet speeds who are currently receiving 6Mbps or lower at no additional cost. These are only a couple things NCKCN is doing to help out their local communities. Learn more at NCKCN.