COVID-19 Resources

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We know the current situation with COVID-19 is impacting many DMI members.  The following are links and resources that may be useful to you or your business during this time.  DMI is here to help our members and community in any way we can, so please let us know if there is anything we can do. If you have additional information that would be useful to add to this page, please contact us at info@downtownmadison.org.

Support our Community

Find ways to support local community organizations by visiting United Way of Dane County’s site volunteeryourtime.org.

Take advantage of mental health resources available to help cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic provided by NAMI Dane County. Weekly online support groups and family and friends seminars are available.

Visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services webpage, Resilient Wisconsin, which has a number of resources including tips for health coping and dealing with stress.

Use the Safe Communities 24/7 helpline for Dane County residents to reduce stress-related alcohol and drug use during the coronavirus epidemic (608) 228-1278.

Take advantage of resources developed by advocates from Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. including information on the Wisconsin Eviction Moratorium, the federal CARES Act protections related to housing, unemployment insurance appeals, and public benefits related to COVID testing and care.

Check out the Covid-19 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources from the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing.

Relief Funds:

Donate to the Dane County COVID-19 Emergency and Recovery Fund.  The fund is a collaborative effort between the United Way of Dane County, Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, Selfless Ambition and other area organizations.

Support the healthcare community by donating to the UW Health COVID-19 Response Fund and helping in other ways listed here.

Give to the Madison Community Foundation COVID-19 Priority Fund setup to provide support for the unanticipated needs of organizations operating in the arts, environment and many other.

Donate to the MMSD Community Resource Fund and MSCR Community Resource Fund established by the Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools to help direct resources to the scholars, staff and families of the Madison Metropolitan School District.

Give to the Latinx Consortium for Action Relief Fund for COVID-19 established to provide emergency relief for undocumented Latinx workers and small immigrant-owned businesses.

Donate to the Save Veteran Nonprofits COVID-19 Relief Fund established by Lift for the 22 and the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce to support Wisconsin’s veteran service organizations.

Pay it Forward to our Health Care Heroes and support Madison restaurants while providing meals to healthcare workers.

Support our Local Businesses

Stay up-to-date on local business specials including availability of take-out, delivery, curbside services, gift certificates, virtual experiences, and business reopening plans complied by Madison’s Central BID: visitdowntownmadison.com/2020-updates.

Madison’s Central BID is excited to announce a brand new promotion, Dine Downtown BINGO!  This special program is designed to encourage the community to actively support restaurants and specialty food businesses in downtown Madison. This promotion will run for the month of May and will be a restaurant “bingo-style” game with prizes available to participants. For more information and to participate, click here.

Donate to the Madison Virtual Tip Jar.  Many of our friends and neighbors depend on tips to make ends meet. This virtual tip jar is for local service industry staff – employees at bars, restaurants, salons, etc – to post their Venmo or Paypal information so that customers, neighbors, and Madison community members can continue to support them.

Business Resources

Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC) released Forward Dane, a phased reopening plan for Dane County during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on active monitoring of the data-based metrics outlined in the plan, an order has been issued that moves Dane County into Phase 1 of the reopening plan, effective May 26, 2020 at 8:00am.  To view the full order, click here.

The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce has a virtual portal for employers to submit questions relating to community response, best practices for businesses, guidance from local, state and federal authorities, available assistance for affected businesses, and more.  To submit your questions, visit Slido.com and enter the event code #ASK4BIZ (not case-sensitive). Responses will be posted at madisonbiz.com/covid19faq.

The Urban League of Greater Madison has launched a COVID-19 Workforce Recovery Initiative. Workers who have been hurt by furloughs, layoffs, reduced hours, or other impacts to their employment situation or employers in need of workers now can find more info at ulgm.org/employment.

Business Re-Opening Resources:

Webinars/Virtual Activities/Calls:

Recordings:

Articles:

Small Business Resources:

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has established several new temporary programs to address the COVID-19 outbreak, such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. For additional information and status of the PPP, EIDL and other business relief options, click here.  For PPP FAQ’s, click here and for information and links to the PPP Loan Forgiveness Application, click here.

The state Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has made available a public information page for questions related to COVID-19 and unemployment insurance which can be viewed here.

The Dane County Small Business Pandemic Support Grant Program, administered by Dane Buy Local, is available for small businesses experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.  For more info and to apply, click here.

Gov. Tony Evers announced $75 million in direct assistance for small businesses as part of “We’re All In,” a new Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) initiative designed to help small businesses most impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Funded largely through the CARES Act, these $2,500 cash grants will assist with the costs of business interruption or for health and safety improvements, wages and salaries, rent, mortgages and inventory. Businesses will be able to apply for grant assistance in early June.

The State of Wisconsin Ethnic Minority Emergency Grant Initiative is focused on supporting ethnic micro-businesses that are being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. This emergency fund will provide a one-time grant of $2,000 per company for ethnic minority-owned micro-businesses operating in the retail, hospitality and service industries. The online application portal will be open from May 18-24, 2020. For more information and to apply, click here.

The WWBIC COVID-19 Fast Track Loan Program is focused on existing businesses looking for business financing during COVID-19. Business owners have two options to pick from depending on their needs: a line of credit or a term loan. To learn more, click here.

The National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Employee Relief Fund was created to help restaurant industry employees experiencing extraordinary hardship in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. To learn more and apply, click here.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Sites and Resources:

Dane County Mask Makers: Local volunteer organization making and donating cotton face masks to anyone who needs them in our community.

UW Health: Site with needs and ways to donate PPE

UW Health: List of potential sources of PPE compiled by UW Health

Wisconsin Suppliers Network: Site to identify manufacturers to supply PPE and other materials to businesses as they reopen.

PPE for Wisconsin: Site to donate to help acquire Personal Protective Gowns and bring them to the Wisconsin to be distributed to frontline responders.

Wisconsin Restaurant Association: List of suppliers offering coronavirus-related goods/services.

Wisconsin COVID-19 Supply & Resource Offers: Site to donate or sell large quantities of PPE to the State of Wisconsin.

FEMA PPE Exchange: Site where people can buy, sell and trade PPE to each other.

Thomas: Searchable database to find local WI supplies for various safety and cleaning items.

ACHANCAL: List of suppliers for ordering and obtaining PPE.

DMI Member COVID-19 Resources and Services

DMI Updates

April 30, 2020

Due to COVID-19, all in-person DMI events and committee meetings will be either cancelled, postponed or held in a virtual capacity until further notice. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding.

The DMI staff are all working remotely from home during this time.  Staff are available during normal business hours via phone and email.  We are here to serve our members and help in any way we can, so please continue to call or email to reach us.

Downtown Madison, Inc.