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.

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.

Donate or sell large quantities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the State of Wisconsin. The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) will work to distribute the PPE to communities that need it the most.  If organizations or businesses have quantities of fewer than 50 of any of these items, they are encouraged to donate them to local health organizations.

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, donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and 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 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.

Donate to the PPE for Wisconsin fundraiser, a partnership between Fenrici Brands and the Center for Community Stewardship to help acquire Personal Protective Gowns and bring them to the Wisconsin to be distributed to frontline responders.

Support our Local Businesses

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

Madison’s Central BID is hosting a Downtown Madison LIVE – Spring Watch Party utilizing Facebook on Thursday, April 9, 2020 from 5:00-8:00pm. This evening aims to be a fun way to support downtown businesses while people stay safe at home. Downtown Madison LIVE will showcase many of our downtown favorites – offering virtual shop tours, meeting store owners in their own homes, going shopping, giving away prizes and sharing with you the best ways to support your downtown.  To learn more and register, 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

The Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce hosted a virtual meeting to discuss results from a recent survey of Greater Madison businesses (conducted in partnership with Destination Madison and DMI) and share updates on strategies underway to support community businesses. You can watch the full presentation here.

The Chamber has also launched 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.

Businesses from around the state can help state and federal agencies determine where economic aid is most needed during the COVID-19 pandemic by completing a survey conducted by the Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) and the eight other regional organizations in the state along with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and UW-Oshkosh Center for Customized Research and Services. Businesses are asked to complete the survey by April 6.

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 can call (608) 729-1234 or apply online at ulgm.org/employment. If you are an employer in need of workers now, please call Ray Allen at (608) 729-1233.

Upcoming Webinars/Virtual Meetings:

Articles:

Small Business Resources:

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has made available Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to assist small businesses in Wisconsin affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic support to small businesses to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills. These loans are not intended to make up for lost profits or to be used for expansion. You may apply online, receive additional information and download applications on the U.S. SBA website here.  Additional information can be found on the Wisconsin’s SBA website here and the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce website here.

The Paycheck Protection Program authorizes up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to help qualifying businesses continue to operate and in short, act as a partial revenue replacement program to allow affected businesses to survive through this period of severe disruption. DMI Member and Pinnacle Partner, Wipfli is able to serve as the agent to businesses and organizations looking to file for the program. By acknowledging Wipfli as your agent for this application, the cost of their assistance in completing and submitting the application is FULLY paid for by the SBA. For more information, visit the Wipfli website 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.

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.

Small businesses affected by COVID-19 can also participate in a new Emergency Response Program hosted by gener8tor. These programs will feature daily webinars designed to identify, understand and help small businesses secure resources to withstand the current crisis. One-on-one office hours will also be available.  Businesses wishing to enroll should sign up 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.

DMI Member COVID-19 Resource Sites

DMI Updates

March 23, 2020

In light of the evolving situation with COVID-19, all in-person DMI events and committee meetings will be either cancelled, postponed or held in a virtual capacity until at least May 1. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding.

Downtown Madison, Inc.

March 13, 2020

In light of the evolving situation with COVID-19, DMI has decided to postpone all events and cancel non-essential committee meetings until at least April 10.  After consulting with Public Health Madison Dane County (PHMDC) recommendations and UW-Madison policies on COVID-19, we decided to the take these precautionary steps for the health and well-being of our members, staff, and the community.

DMI is also recommending staff work remotely from home during this time.  Staff will be available during normal business hours via phone and email.  We appreciate your flexibility and understanding.  We are here to serve our members, so please continue to call or email if you need to reach us.

Jason Ilstrup, President                        Douglas M. Poland, Board Chair