Guide to Business Resources in Response to COVID-19

General Information for Businesses from Organizations in Indianapolis

City of Indianapolis Covid-19 Small Business Support The City of Indianapolis’s small business support section provides a link to the Indy Chamber of Commerce’s Rapid Response Hub. This city website also provides phone contact information to the Mayor’s Action Center, which can be contacted to request services and information.

The Indianapolis CDFI Collaborative is a partnership involving four community development financial institutions or CDFIs. These four CDFIs are Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Indianapolis, Build Fund, Bankable, and Business Ownership Initiative. Together, these organizations provide small business lending with a recent focus on increased access to technical assistance and funding for minority owned small businesses in several Indianapolis locations.

Indy Rainbow Chamber of Commerce has a section of their website that contains links to resources in the city that can assist businesses during the pandemic, information on the bartender emergency fund, and other specialized information such as mental health resources for the LGBTQ community.

Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) - COVID-19 Business Recovery Resources
COVID-19 Business Recovery Assistance to any business owner in the West Central region that has been affected by COVID-19. The three main services provided are CPA services, strategic planning sessions, and digital marketing assistance.

Small Business Administration (SBA) This section of the SBA website provides a menu of options to learn more about Covid-19 relief for small businesses NOTE: Some stimulus programs for businesses are discontinued such as the PPP and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund

• Another section of the SBA website contains more information about details and requirements for PPP loan forgiveness.

Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) provides services and information such as mentoring, funding for businesses during COVID-19, and guides on getting your business through the crisis.

• Notable update is that the SBA will begin accepting applications for loan forgiveness related to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under $150,000 beginning August 4, 2021 at this SBA portal page

Indiana Coronavirus Information HomeThis website provides extensive information on the coronavirus impact in Indiana and helpful resources.

Indianapolis Chamber of CommerceThe Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce provides education and financial services to entrepreneurs through three teams: Business Ownership Initiative, the Central Indiana Women's Business Center, and the Hispanic Business Council.

• BOI (Business Ownership Initiative) BOI aims to help Central Indiana residents start and grow businesses. To do so, BOI offers free one-on-one business coaching, access to financing, business workshops, and online business courses.

• CIWBC (Central Indiana Women’s Business Center) WBCs help women succeed in business by providing training, mentoring, business development and financing opportunities to over 150,000 women entrepreneurs each year.
  
  
• Hispanic Business Council The Indy Chamber’s Hispanic Business Council works to grow the Hispanic business community one connection at a time. Through its Conexión event series or its Mentor-Protégé program, the Hispanic Business Council represents an important demographic of the Indianapolis region.

Indy Black Chamber of CommerceThe Indy Black Chamber of Commerce provides mentoring, seminars, and network functions with opportunities for business development, growth, and success.

Indy Chamber Rapid Response HubIt is difficult to predict the economic impact of COVID-19 Coronavirus, but current precautionary restrictions will disproportionately affect small business. Here is information on available resources and answers to frequently asked questions.

OMWBD (Office of Minority & Women Business Development)Serving businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and people with ADA disabilities. The agency helps you access contract opportunities from the city, county, municipal, and privately funded projects in Central Indiana.

PTAC (Procurement Technical Assistance Center)PTAC provides procurement technical assistance to help you sell your products or services to the appropriate government agency by offering confidential counseling services and workshops at no cost. The core of the procurement assistance program is counseling and education.

VBOC (Veteran’s Business Outreach Center)Designed to provide entrepreneurial development services and referrals for eligible veterans owning or considering starting a small business.

Indiana Unemployment Resources and Assistance Programs

Indiana Dept. of Workforce DevelopmentHelpful resources on filing for unemployment

Indiana Family & Social Services AdministrationApply for SNAP, Cash Assistance, Health Coverage, or check the status of your case

Indiana Housing and Community Development AuthorityCoronavirus Eviction & Foreclosure Resource Guide

WorkOne Indy: COVID-19 ResourcesEmployIndy is making an effort to provide job search resources and employer resources for Indianapolis residents and businesses affected by COVID-19.

Webinars & Events for Businesses

Indiana Chamber of Commerce schedule for upcoming webinars

The Indy Black Chamber of Commerce website, Facebookand Twitter pages contain information about their organization and upcoming events that help entrepreneurs and those seeking employment.

New America is a think tank whose focus is on civic innovation. This section of their YouTube channel has helpful videos, and the videos toward the top of the list on their channel focus on Indianapolis and how aspects of laws, housing, education, and the pandemic have affected Indianapolis and the African American community

SCORE schedule for upcoming webinars

Indy Black Expo hosts webinars in partnership with the ISBDC that give information on a variety of topics pertaining to starting and maintaining a business and operating a business in a post Covid-19 society. The link has information on upcoming webinars and links to past webinars that have been archived and are available to watch.

The Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) provides a variety of services to assist entrepreneurs in starting and maintaining a small business.

• The ISBDC is also affiliated with or helps promote certain programs that can help small businesses recover from the pandemic such as HireUp, INTAP, and Shop Indiana Grown.

• HireUp is a year-round program that connects eligible small businesses to Quintegra, which is a firm that helps small businesses identify and hire qualified candidates.
  
  
• Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP) is an annual program that helps connect Indiana small businesses to professional and technical vendors by providing up to $15,000 in services.

• Shop Indiana Grown is an online marketplace for eligible Indiana farms and small businesses to sell their products at no cost to a larger consumer market.

Cybercrime and Scams

COVID-19 Cybercrime and Scams Security.org provides research and information to protect citizens from crimes ranging from home burglaries to cybercrimes.

Library Databases

The library’s business databases can be used to research competitors, potential consumers, and to research topics like payroll taxes. Examples of business databases for competitor and consumer research include Data Axle Reference Solutions and Mergent Intellect. You can find more detailed information about business databases on the IndyPL Blog at Business Databases.

Medicare and Medicaid Mental Health Services

Medicare provides coverage for mental healthcare and people who are interested in learning more about what Medicare covers can view this two-page pamphlet that summarizes Medicare and mental health services. There is also an educational organization called Medicare Plans Patient Resource Center that provides free information that summarizes the mental health benefits that are available for Medicare recipients. The Medicare Plans Patient Resource Center also contains a variety of information and resources for people looking to learn more about Medicare plans.

The state of Indiana also provides mental healthcare treatment through Medicaid programs for those who qualify. This four-page document from the state of Indiana summarizes what Medicaid covers for mental health treatments and contains links to further information.