COVID-19 Business Recovery

Current Recovery Opportunities

Per Destination Cleveland: We wanted to make you aware of four grant programs being made available through the Ohio Development Services Agency. Totaling $155 million in non-repayable funding, these grants are available to entertainment venues, hotels and other lodging businesses, food and beverage establishments, and businesses that opened in 2020. Applications can be submitted beginning June 29, 2021. Limited amounts of grants are available per county so please be sure to apply as early as possible. You can read more about each of these four programs below:

  • The Entertainment Venue Grant will provide grants of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 to zoos, aquariums, theaters, music venues, spectator sports venues, museums, historical sites and other entertainment venues. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’s loss of revenue in 2020. The total funding available for this program is $20 million. 
  • The Lodging Grant will provide grants of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 to hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast operations. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’s decline in occupancy rate in 2020. The total funding available for this program is $25 million. 
  • The Food and Beverage Establishment Grant will provide grants of $10,000, $20,000, or $30,000 to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and other food and drink businesses. The amount of individual grants to eligible businesses will be determined by the business’s loss of revenue in 2020. The total funding available for this program is $100 million. PLEASE NOTE: Eligibility is being expanded to wineries, breweries and distilleries who did not qualify based on their NAICS code on the original guidelines. Those guidelines are being revised to make sure wineries, distilleries and breweries with tasting rooms and food service are eligible. 
  • The New Small Business Grant will provide grants of $10,000 to small businesses that were established between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020. The total funding available is $10 million. 

Guidelines, terms and conditions, and required documentation for all four programs are available now at BusinessHelp.Ohio.Gov. Each program will require applicants to have an OH|ID. Businesses that plan to apply can get an OH|ID now if they don’t already have one. Register at OHID.Ohio.Gov by creating an account with a username/password.

If you have any questions about the grant program and available funds, please contact the Cleveland District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration at 216-522-4180 or Cleveland@sba.gov.


U.S. Small Business Administration Restaurant Revitalization Fund 
This program provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars, and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Previous Recovery Vehicles and Opportunities


In This Together Ohio: Small Business Relief Grant, Bar & Restaurant Assistance Fund

Cuyahoga County Restaurant Stabilization Fund

National Development Council - Paycheck Protection Loan Program

Ohio PPE Maker's Exchange

Back to Work Protocols - 04/29/20

Masks in the Workplace FAQ - 04/29/20


Recording: April 23, 2020 Business Community Virtual Town Hall

JobsOhio, Peoples Bank & First Federal partner to provide lending support

Shared Work Ohio: a voluntary layoff aversion program

Cuyahoga County Small Business Stabilization fund: County Executive Armond Budish Announces the Creation of a Small Business Stabilization Fund Totaling Over $4 Million to Support Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation grant: The "Save Small Business Fund" is a grant-making initiative to offer $5,000 grants that provide short-term relief for employers across the United States.

EOX Vantage offer: EOX Vantage, a premiere Beachwood technology firm, has announced a special limited-time offer of the TeamedUp 2020 suite of collaboration and communication tools.

State of Ohio Office of Small Business Relief

List of Statewide 7a SBA lending institutions

Recording: April 7, 2020 Business Brief from Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose

Download this Elevator Social Distancing flyer for your building

The HFLA is now offering small business micro-loans. These loans are for existing business owners and go up to $5,000. Repayments will not start until mid-June and the loans will be on 27 month terms. The “normal” payment will be reduced to $100/month for the first four payments. The next 23 payments will be $200. Call Katy Fuerst for more information on approval criteria at 216-378-9042. Download the application form now.

Team NEO, our region’s JobsOhio network partner, has created an online resource list for your reference, which can be found here.

Additionally, Cuyahoga County, in partnership with the Economic & Community Development Institute (ECDI) and other partners, has launched a Small Business Resource Center. Businesses can reach live agents through the Call Center who will help them with the following services: 

  • Assistance with applying for the Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) for loans up to $2 Million and Advance Grants of up to$10,000
  • Business Consulting and General Assistance
  • Information about Financial Assistance and Services
  • Unemployment Insurance Benefits Application Assistance to navigate the system
  • Strategies for Retaining and Retraining Employees
  • The Call Center is available Monday – 
    Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM at (216) 452-9714. 

SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER WEBSITE: www.cuyahogacounty.us/helpforbusiness