Business Assistance

Community Main Street is grateful to all of our friends and partners through this crisis as we work to navigate things and provide assistance to our District. We have listed resources below as well as other information as it becomes available.

• Grow Cedar Valley
• City of Cedar Falls
• Updated Cedar Falls Downtown District Business Listing
• #CedarValleyStrong
• Iowa SBDC

These resources are being shared from the Grow Cedar Valley website, for all the up to date information please visit their link above!

• The Endangered Languages project is compiling COVID-19 public health information in as many languages as possible.
• Summary, guide and checklist for small businesses from US Chamber
• Governor Kim Reynolds Extends close of schools, and some businesses to April 30th
• Small Business Owners Guide to CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act.
• Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) - Updates Leave Policy for Employees Impacted by COVID-19 Layoffs 

  • The CARES act has been signed into law.  IWD is awaiting more information from U.S. Department of Labor.  IWD is now accepting applications.  Employees who are or will be laid off, or are unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19, will no longer be required to use all paid leave prior to being eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.  Change is not retroactive prior to the week of March 29, 2020, for new or existing claims.

• Grant application now available for Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund

  Previous Updates:

  • Nonprofits may now apply for grants from the Black Hawk County COVID-19 Cooperative Disaster Response Fund with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. Nonprofits serving Black Hawk County that are providing basic needs services and/or working with individuals and families who have been disproportionately impacted by the public health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic are encouraged to apply.

• Federal Stimulus Package
• Federal & State Business Programs & Tax Provisions

• The State of Iowa has created a Targeted Small Business (TSB) Program to assist businesses with zero employees.  The program offers eligible small businesses grants ranging from $5,000-$10,000 to businesses that are single owners with no employees that are also TSB certified, or have an application submitted by April 10, 2020 to become TSB certified. The targeted small business can be sole proprietors that are 51% women or minority owned, disabled or veteran disabled businesses only.  

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) - Resources 
  • Disaster Loan Assistance

• Upcoming COVID-19 Educational Events/Seminars

  Local Resources

• Iowa Economic Development Authority Business Recovery Information
• MidAmerican COVID-19 Safety Precautions
• Black Hawk County Health Department
• Cedar Falls, Iowa COVID-19 Relief and Information Site
• Cedar Falls Utilities
• Governor Kim Reynolds Updates & Announcements
  • Unemployment Insurance Tax Extension to Assist Small Businesses
• How to Apply for Unemployment
• Steps to Take Before COVID-19 Employee Testing (GCV)
• Resources for supporting Mental Health - Mental health is more important as more employees are working remotely