Last week the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. What does that mean for small businesses, startups, and freelancers? Here’s a helpful resource from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Coronavirus Emergency Loans – Small Business Guide and Checklist. These loans are forgivable under certain circumstances (i.e. do not need to be paid back).

Separate from CARES, the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Get informatioon about the program here. Additionally, tune in to HaneyBiz at 2 pm today and learn about all the available resources from Carrie Ellingwood, Lead Lender Relations Specialist at the Sacramento District Office of the SBA. Sign up for the webinar here.

Amid the social and economic disruption caused by COVID-19, Jeff Bennett, cofounder and CEO of StartupSac, is surveying local Sacramento area startups and entrepreneurs to learn how they’re being affected by the COVID-19 crisis, with the intent to share the impacts and stories with the community in order to promote awareness of the impact and attract support for our local entrepreneurs. How is it impacting you? Take the Survey.

Additionally, StartupSac has gathered many links to business and startup resources for surviving the economic downturn during the COVID-19 panic. Let us know if there is a resource you think we should add. The landscape changes daily! View it here.

Join your fellow entrepreneurs and innovators on the StartupSac Community Facebook Group. With over 600 members, this is an active certified virus-free zone for connecting and collaborating with your tribe! Request to join here.

Sacramento’s Startup Community is marching forth using web meeting technology. There are a number of online meetings and webinars happening this week — check out the details in this week’s Startup Digest. If you’d like to receive the digest in your inbox every Monday morning, sign up for free here. And for even more startup information, happenings and resources, visit the StartupSac Website.

If you’ve organized (or know about) an event you think belongs in the Startup Digest, please submit it here for consideration.