Another $310B is being added to the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program so that lenders can offer more forgivable loans to small businesses. The loans don't have to be paid back if they're immediately used to meet pre-crisis payroll expenses, and they are worth applying for if your business did not receive funds during the last round of loans.

The FCC has announced a third group of healthcare providers to receive funding from the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The FFC has also announced plans to distribute as much as $9B through the Universal Service Fund to establish 5G wireless broadband connectivity in rural parts of the country, giving healthcare providers and consumers a better foundation for telehealth and mHealth.

Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders (SAFSF) is tracking COVID-19 philanthropic response and recovery funds that focus on the food and agriculture system. This is a working list and funds will continue to be added as members of our network and others share information. 

President Trump signed a nearly $500 billion interim coronavirus bill on Friday that includes additional money for the small-business loan program, as well as more funding for hospitals and testing. The bill includes more than $320 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, $60 billion in loans and grants for the SBA's disaster relief fund, $75 billion for hospitals, and $25 billion for coronavirus testing.

The Quick Guide to CDBG Eligible Activities to Support Infectious Disease Response provides grantees with information on implementing CDBG funds in a coordinated effort with local health authorities before undertaking any activity to support state or local pandemic response. Grantees may use CDBG funds for a range of eligible activities that prevent and respond to the spread of infectious diseases such as the coronavirus.

The battle lines are hardening over Washington's next legislative response to the coronavirus crisis, with top Democratic lawmakers calling for another big spending package while the leading Senate Republican is urging restraint — especially when it comes to more aid for state and local governments.

A group of 16 democratic senators wrote a letter to congressional leadership urging them to relax regulations that prevent two federal innovation hubs from quickly partnering with state and local governments. The senators called for $50 million for the USDS for new technologists to help state and local governments and a reduction in restrictions on working with state and local governments.

Like other areas of commercial lending, loans insured by HUD are facing changes in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. This article focuses on HUD-insured loans for multifamily properties, such as those under Sections 223(f) and 221(d)(4) programs.

The Congressional Budget Office revised its cost estimate of the massive CARES Act passed last month to $1.8 trillion - slightly less than the $2.2 trillion informally projected at the time by the White House. The CBO says the difference is due to scorekeeping on $454 billion provided to back trillions of dollars in guaranteed loans by a Federal Reserve emergency lending facility.

It's not hard to see the economic devastation being visited upon America's small businesses. It's a bit more difficult to perceive the economic harm being done to startups—young, technology-driven companies working especially in software and life sciences. But, as a new report from the Startup Genome makes clear, many startups are struggling just as much as other small companies.

CDFA-ARI Rural Finance Webinar Series: Tools, Programs, and Opportunities Within Rural America
Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Central

CDFA-Bricker PACE Webinar Series: PACE 101 - The Basics of PACE Financing
Tuesday, May 12, 2020 - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM Eastern

CDFA // BNY Mellon Development Finance Webcast Series: Historic Preservation Financing
Tuesday, May 19, 2020 - 1:00 PM Eastern