David Cicilline Archives

We’re All In This Together

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There are a number of resources–on the national level, state level and municipal level–that have been enacted to help small businesses during this time of great need. I receive dozens of messages and emails each day asking what’s out there or do I have more information. Below are links to all the application forms and fact sheets that I’m currently aware of, plus some other resources on unemployment insurance and health.

I am taking all information from official web sites and cannot be responsible for any rule or regulation changes–consult with your accountant, lawyer, loan officer, etc. I can recommend those professionals if you need someone.

Jump down to:

Contact Your Government Representation
CARES Act General Overviews
SBA Coronavirus Pandemic Disaster Loans
Rhode Island Grants and Funding
City and Town Grants and Funding
Rhode Island Unemployment Insurance
Worker Relief Funds
Other Rhode Island Resources
Other National Resources
Mental Health Resources

Contact Your Government Representation

The only way these types of aid get passed is by contacting our representatives at all levels of government and making the need to save small businesses, such as our restaurants, a high priority. Here are contact info and search sites for you to find who you should be talking with.

Senator Jack Reed – 401-528-5200 or 202-224-4642

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse – 401-453-5294 or 202-224-2921

Find Your Representative
– Congressman Jim Langevin – 401-732-9400 or 202-225-2735
– Congressman David Cicilline – 401-729-5600 or 202-225-4911

Governor Gina Raimondo – 401-222-2080 / [email protected]

Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello – 401-222-2466 / [email protected]
Senate President Dominick Ruggerio – 401-222-6655 / [email protected]

Find your Senator and Representative in the RI General Assembly

CARES Act General Overviews

The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act

CARES Act: Unemployment Insurance FAQ

Independent Restaurant Coalition COVID-19 Legislative Responses: Impact For Small Business

SBA Coronavirus Pandemic Disaster Loans

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources – overview page with funding options, guidance for businesses and other SBA information

Questions? Contact Mark Hayward, Rhode Island District Director and Regional Administrator for Region I at [email protected] or [email protected]

SBA Coronavirus Relief Options:

Economic Injury Disaster Loan including EIDL Forgiveness Advance

Forgiveness Advance of up to $10,000 in 3 business days
3.75% interest rate for businesses, 2.75% interest rate for non-profits of up to $2,000,000 for up to 30 years
Unsecured up to $25,000. No personal guarantee for amounts up to $200,000
Up to 1 year payment deferral, interest will accrue
Apply here

Paycheck Protection Program

U.S. Treasury Information Sheet
American Enterprise Institute summary
Applied via an SBA-certified bank or credit union – find a lender—this is important as I’ve heard from owners around the country who’ve said their bank was not entering this program and they had to find a new bank
Apply directly for the PPP through the Community Reinvestment Fund and Goldman Sachs
I’ve also heard it’s recommended you download and review, if not fill out the sample lender form, though your bank may use a modified version
1% interest rate, borrow up to 250% of average monthly payroll from the past year capped at $100,000 per employee, up to a maximum of $10,000,000, for up to 2 years
Up to 6 months deferral, interest will accrue
Forgiveness: up to 100% as long as loan proceeds amount spent by the borrower during the 8-week period after the origination date of the loan is used for: payroll costs, interest payment on any mortgage incurred prior to February 15, 2020, payment of rent on any lease in force prior to February 15, 2020, and payment on any utility for which service began before February 15, 2020. Employee and compensation levels must be maintained and payroll cost capped at $100,000 on an annualized basis for each employee
Any advance amount received under the EIDL Forgiveness Advance will be subtracted from the amount forgiven
Analytix Solutions in Woburn, MA has offered, for free, to figure out your maximum PPP forgiveness amount. Fill out their form.

SBA Express Bridge Loans

For any business that has an existing banking relationship with an SBA-certified lender
Up to $25,000 with an interest rate not to exceed prime + 6.5%, fixed or variable, for a maximum of 7 years

SBA Debt Relief

The SBA will pay the principal, interest, and fees of the above loans for six months
Debt relief is automatic, but you should check with your lender

from left to right: Chef Champe Speidel of Persimmon, Chef Walter Potenza of Walter's Ristorante d'Italia, Chef Jose Duarte of Taranta Restaurant, Chef David Reynoso of Al Forno, Chef Andrew Shotts of Garrison Confections and Chef Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia

Monday evening, March 1, was a Share Our Strength A Tasteful Pursuit dinner in Providence, hosted at Al Forno. Share Our Strength has a plan to end childhood hunger by 2015. It’s a great organization with a clearly wonderful goal. Please visit their web site to learn more and to donate. There were too many delicious things served over the course of the evening to list them all. A few are pictured here. I wish I had more of Chef Tony Mantuano‘s Hors D’ouevres. The Mini Sopresada Puffs and Duck Pinchos with Harissa and Sumac were perfect bites full of flavor. Chef Walter Potenza‘s Pasticcio con “Stracotto” di Vitello e Fonduta was deliciously heavy—a perfect mix of veal, pasta & cheese.

If I had to pick a single item that I loved it would be Chef Champe Speidel‘s Braised Lamb Rillette. His entire dish was great, but that Rillette was perfect. I definitely would have devoured more of that. I also want to mention the wines selected by M.S. Walker‘s Michael Lester. Lester often makes great selections, but it’s rare that two wines in one evening really stand out for me. These were the Produttori del Barbaresco Torre 2005 and the Jaboulet Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge “Les Cedres” 2005.