MISSOULA — The Missoula Downtown Association is offering up information on some resources that are available to help local businesses.
Gov. Steve Bullock announced plans for a phased reopening of Montana on April 22. Missoula County and the City of Missoula have created a working group to help plan for a safe, smooth, phased transition following the announcement. More information can be found here.
The Missoula City County Health Department is also working on some safety precautions for the reopening of businesses across Missoula. More information can be found here.
Below is some additional information on resources that are available during the COVID-19 outbreak.
HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS
Montana families who have suffered substantial financial hardship are a result of COVID-19 may now apply for rental assistance through the State of Montana Housing Assistance Program. Eligible families must include at least one child under 18 and have limited income. Learn more and apply here.
BEAR: SMALL BUSINESS NAVIGATOR
For businesses and organizations needing guidance in navigating the COVID-19 crisis and resources can reach out for help through the Business Emergency Assistance & Recovery (BEAR) Program here. The University of Montana and Missoula-area professionals are available to help advise and guide business owners who need assistance with business pivoting ideas, cash flow assessments, or connecting to federal or state resources.
UNITED WAY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUNDS
United Way of Missoula County continues to raise and distribute COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Funds to Missoulians primarily in the service industry or for those who do not have access to health care. You can learn more at United Way Emergency Assistance.
U.S. CHAMBER SAVE SMALL BUSINESS FUND
The Save Small Business Fund is a grantmaking initiative offering short-term relief for small employers in the United States and its territories. Funded by corporate and philanthropic partners, the Save Small Business Fund is a collective effort to provide $5,000 grants to as many small employers as possible. To qualify you must employ between three and 20 people, be located in an economically vulnerable community and have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications opened April 20. Please visit Save Small Businessto see if your business is eligible and to apply.
STATE OF MONTANA CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND TASK FORCE
Gov. Bullock recently established the Coronavirus Relief Fund Tax Force to provide guidance and advice on how to best use the $1.25 billion appropriated to Montana through the CARES Act to assist workers, businesses and sectors of the economy impacted by COVID-19. To provide input on how those funds should be allocated, please complete the online survey here: Coronavirus Relief Fund Public Comment.
MDF’s DOWNTOWN MISSOULA BUSINESS SUPPORT FUND
With the goal of supporting Downtown businesses impacted by the mandated closures, the Missoula Downtown Foundation will direct its spring fundraising campaign to the Downtown Missoula Business Support Fund. Launched in partnership with the Missoula Community Foundation’s Missoula Gives Campaign, the Downtown Foundation will seek to raise and redistribute around $100,000 in the coming weeks to help small Downtown businesses and organizations. More information and an online application will be forthcoming.
MISSOULA COUNTY COVID-19 ARCHIVES
The Downtown Missoula Partnership’s Heritage Missoula Program has partnered with the city, the county and the university to encourage documentation and community archiving for all who have impacted by the pandemic. Real-time emails, photos, videos, journals, interviews, public documents and more will be collected, archived and shared with future generations. To share your collectible documents, go to COVID Archives.
