Responding to coronavirus: Resources for Greater Portland businesses
This page provides information about resources for Greater Portland businesses affected by COVID-19. We are updating this page as new information becomes available. For health and safety information and guidance, please consult the Centers for Disease Control, the League of Oregon Cities, the Oregon Health Authority, the Washington State Department of Health or OHSU.
Table of contents
Stigma
Federal Resources
State of Oregon Resources
State of Washington Resources
Free Services, Webinars, Advising Sessions and Guides
Regional Resources
City-Specific Resources and Information
City and County Coronavirus and Economic Development Links
A person’s ethnicity, language or association with a country or region is not a risk factor for this virus. If you feel you have experienced or witnessed discrimination motivated by race, color, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or gender identity, report it today. In Oregon, file a report with the Oregon Department of Justice. In Washington, file a complaint with the Washington Human Rights Commission.
Loans- The SBA is offering Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to both first-time program participants and those who previously received PPP loans. Learn more and apply here.
- The SBA has reopened its Economic Injury Disaster Loan and EIDL Advance application portal to all eligible small businesses, non-profits, and agricultural businesses impacted by COVID-19. Learn more and apply here.
- SBA Express Bridge Loan: This loan allows small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. Learn more here.
The US Chamber of Commerce has a coronavirus survival guide for small businesses.
State of Oregon Resources
Reopening:
- Allowed social, cultural and business activities are now tied to county risk levels. The state uses four different risk levels for counties based on COVID-19 spread—Extreme Risk, High Risk, Moderate Risk, and Lower Risk—and assigns health and safety measures for each level. Find your county's risk level and see which activities are allowed here. See guidance for various activities by risk level, including a color-coded chart at the bottom of the page, here.
- All Oregonians must wear face coverings in indoor public places and outdoors where physical distancing is not possible Read mask guidance here.
- Oregon employees are now required to provide face coverings to employees free of charge.
- The Oregon Employment Department is working to make changes based on the recently passed Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act (CAUW) of 2020, which extends some provisions of the CARES Act from December 27, 2020 until March 14, 2021. The department is waiting to receive written guidance from the U.S Department of Labor, but claimants will NOT lose a week in PUA, PEUC, or FPUC benefits. They may experience a delay in receiving payments, but will receive benefits retroactively. Continue to file weekly. Learn more.
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): Self-employed people and others who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits—and who are out of work due to COVID-19—can now get PUA, a new unemployment benefits program ( ends March 13, 2021). Take the Eligibility Quiz to see if you may qualify. Apply now. Learn more.
- Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC): If your regular unemployment benefits run out, you may be able to get extended benefits for up to 13 more weeks (ends March 13, 2021). Learn more.
- Visit the OED's COVID page to file a claim or check on an existing claim.
- An extra $300 per week is available to those who have lost work due to coronavirus but are not enrolled in the PUA program. To apply, select "Lost Wages Assistance" from this page.
- Claim-specific questions can be sent to OED_COVID19_Info@oregon.gov.
Employers seeking employees: Employers can manage job listings online and find qualified job seekers via WorkSource.
Layoffs:
- If you have made the decision to temporarily or permanently close or lay off employees, contact the appropriate local Rapid Response Coordinator.
- For layoffs of more than 50 workers, businesses should contact John Asher to file a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN).
Taxes: See the Oregon Department of Revenue's tax relief page here.
Loans: Business Oregon has several loan programs. On its business navigator page, click "Financial assistance" and scroll down to the "state financial assistance" section.
Grants:
- (NEW 3/4) Commercial rent relief is available for small businesses and landlords in Oregon. Learn more and apply here starting March 8.
- The Oregon Cares Fund provides grants to Black individuals, Black-owned businesses, and Black-led nonprofit organizations negatively impacted by COVID-19. Learn more and apply here.
State of Washington Resources
Reopening:
- In January, the State of Washington launched Healthy Washington —Roadmap to Recovery, which uses a regional approach for the phased recovery plan. The plan relies on four metrics to identify regions' phases and sets corresponding threshholds to guide reopening. See the dashboard here.
- Read Gov. Jay Inslee's new reopening plan (including activity guidance for each phase) here. Find in-depth reopening guidelines by industry here.
- The SharedWork program allows employers to reducing the hours of workers while providing benefits to replace a portion of employees' lost wages.
- Partial employment (for reduction in hours): If you are temporarily reducing hours of work for your full-time employees, they may be able to receive unemployment benefits without needing to look for work.
- Standby: In certain circumstances, your employees may be eligible for standby. Standby means they do not have to look for other work but need to be available for any work you offer that they can do if quarantined or isolated.
Taxes: Financial penalties may be waived for employers who file or pay late. See an FAQ here. Paid sick leave laws: See an FAQ here.
Free Services, Webinars, Advising Sessions and Guides
Guides and toolkits:
- General business COVID survival guides (managing cashflow, developing a staffing plan, etc.):
- Real estate leases: See this tenant FAQ from CBRE, and this Venture Portland template letter to landlords.
- Land use permitting in Oregon: See this post from Miller Nash Graham & Dunn.
- Insurance: See this breakdown of interruption insurance from Tonkon Torp.
- Legal implications: International law firm K&L Gates has a COVID-19 hub.
- Washington SBDC - webinar series (CARES Act updates, SBA disaster loans, and more)
- Miller Nash Graham & Dunn - best practices for construction firms
- CREDC (Clark County) - business resource calls
- Float - interviews featuring local business owners' creative solutions
Regional Resources
Utilities: Many utility providers (including municipal providers) are suspending automatic service shutoffs in the event of nonpayment. Contact yours directly, or use the contact information below:
- Portland General Electric (PGE): Learn about payment options here.
- Pacific Power: Call customer service at 1-888-221-7070.
- Portland Water Bureau: Apply for financial assistance here
- NW Natural: Contact the billing department at (800) 226-4211.
- Port of Portland updates
- Port of Vancouver COVID information
City-Specific Resources and Information
Find a comprehensive list of links to city and county coronavirus pages at the bottom of this page.
Gresham
- Hotline: For technical assistance or information about state, federal and private resources, email BusinessCovidSupport@GreshamOregon.gov or call 503-618-2115.
- Hotline: Call 503-635-0257 or email cic@lakeoswego.city for information and assistance with local, state and federal resources.
- Reopening resources:
- Hotline: Need help? Email ProsperHotline@ProsperPortland.us, leave a voicemail at to 503-823-3297 or fill out this form.
- Stay updated: Sign up for Prosper's COVID-19 email distribution list here.
- Help for existing Prosper customers:
- Prosper is deferring loan payments to its existing borrowers whose business have experienced a decline in revenue of 10% or more. Prosper is prioritizing public-facing businesses with annual revenues under $1 million. Contact Prosper about your existing loan here.
- Prosper is also offering rent relief to its commercial tenants that have experienced a decline in revenue of 10% or more.
- The county has opened Business Recovery Centers in Canby, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Oregon City, Sandy and Wilsonville. The centers offer free business consulting services for small businesses in the county. Learn more here.
- Discrimination: Clackamas County has modified its emergency order to specifically prohibit discrimination against anyone with a voucher paid by the county or a county contractor. Read more here.
- Hotline: Get assistance from Clackamas County Economic Development by emailing 4Biz@clackamas.us or calling 503-742-4BIZ(4249)
- Reopening resources:
- Download and print signs and posters for maximum occupancy, mask requirements, physical distancing, hand-washing and more here. The materials are available in multiple languages.
- Multnomah County Sheriff's Office is offering free premises checks for businesses with closed storefronts. Request a premises check here.
- Loans: The county is working with Craft3 to offer business resilience loans. Learn more and apply here.
- The county has opened Business Resource Centers in Beaverton, Forest Grove, Hillsboro and Tualatin. The centers offer free one-on-one expert consultations for business owners. Learn more here.
City and County Coronavirus and Economic Development Links
- City of Beaverton
- City of Canby
- City of Cornelius
- City of Estacada
- City of Fairview
- City of Forest Grove
- City of Gresham
- City of Happy Valley
- City of Hillsboro
- City of King City
- City of Lake Oswego
- City of Milwaukie
- City of Oregon City
- City of Portland
- City of Sandy
- City of Scappoose
- City of Sherwood
- City of Tigard
- City of Tualatin
- City of Troutdale
- City of Vancouver
- City of West Linn
- City of Wilsonville
- Clackamas County
- Clark County
- Columbia River Economic Development Council (Clark County Economic Development):
- Columbia County
- Multnomah County
- Skamania County
- Washington County
- Yamhill County