Here are the week’s key headlines.
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Why The Pandemic May Play Out Differently In The Heartland
For the past 20 years, the struggling towns and cities of the Midwest have been a symbol of economic decline and American’s uneven prosperity. Now, some speculate lower population densities and a different economy may spare the region from the worst.
Senate Passes $2 Trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Package; House Vote Expected Tomorrow
The 880-page legislation includes direct payments to individuals, bolstered unemployment insurance, loans and grants to businesses and more health care resources for hospitals, states and municipalities. The bill is expected to pass tomorrow.
Singapore Plans $33.2 Billion Coronavirus Relief Package
This is only the second time the country has tapped its reserves—the last time was the global financial crisis. The package will aid households and businesses.
The U.S. Stimulus Package Is Said To Include Aid For The Self-Employed
There are 57 million Americans who do independent work. Unemployment was extended to them in the stimulus package, according to Axios. The unprecedented expansion of benefits came after calls for help from Etsy CEO Josh Silverman, among others.
Coronavirus Epidemic Could Give Long-Awaited Jolt To Telehealth
Long slowed by regulatory barriers, telehealth—now in hot demand–may become the new normal after the crisis. The Trump administration has lifted key barriers, such as rules that limited payments for telehealth visits.
Tech firms say they already have the systems in place to deliver needed cash rapidly.
UAE and Oman Lift Ban on Zoom and Similar Apps Amid Corona Crisis
Oman’s telecom authority has lifted the ban on Zoom, Google Business and Skype for Meeting, while Etislat, one of two mobile operators in the UAE, has enabled Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Blackboard and Cloud Talk.
Crunch The Coronavirus Data For Yourself
Tableau puts Johns Hopkins’ COVID-19 data into dashboard, Tableau data set, Google sheet and CVS formats so you can do your own analysis.
Meet The Pandemic: A 4-Year Old Virtual Incubator Confronting Infectious Disease Threats
Austin-based Pandemic Tech is focused on how the private sector and innovation community can work together to prevent pandemics, instead of relying only on government.
Many brilliant woman leaders still aren’t getting heard, to the extent that meeting planners have a name for what happens when they’re voiceless – those “manel” discussions that turn many conferences into an echo chamber. London-based Ginger Public Speaking aims to change that and help women leaders achieve their full potential by stepping up to the podium. Now it’s coming to the U.S.
Small Business Resource Guide
Y Combinator Launches A Central Hub For COVID-19
25 YC bio and healthcare companies are helping with the COVID-19 crisis. They are seeking additional talent, introductions to hospitals and experts, and capital. A dozen investment firms have collectively pledged to invest $30 million in companies pursing COVID-19 program; YC is connecting companies to investors. YC is also fast-tracking COVID-19 startups.
COVID-19 Resources For Freelancers and Small Business Owners
Freshbooks has put together this extensive listing of programs in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Republic of Ireland to help the self-employed get through the sudden economic slowdown.
Finding And Creating Gig Opportunities Now
The Local Media Consortium partners with freelance platform Moonlighting on this free community video chat on Friday, March 27, at 2 pm ET to help freelancers, part-time gig workers and independent workers quickly find work and create opportunities during the COVID-19 work environment. (Meet your newsletter editor, Elaine Pofeldt, on the panel).
Facebook is offering $100 million in cash grants and ad credits to support up to 30,000 small businesses in more than 30 countries.
Gift Certificates to Support Entrepreneurs
Kabbage payments is enabling any business to sign up to sell gift certificates online. Gift certificates are essentially a form of customer financing, where customers pay you in advance for your services.
OpenTable has a gift card marketplace
The city has just opened a $1.5 million emergency fund for small businesses, offering zero-interest loans to businesses that lack working capital and cash flow.
Louisiana Economic Development
This page publishes a list of business assistance resources for firms in the state affected by the coronavirus. Look for other states to add these, especially as the SBA designates more areas where businesses are eligible for loans. (https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources)
The Freelancers Union has put together this list of resources for freelancers who’ve lost business due to COVID-19.
[Know of any resources that will help other small business owners? Please submit them to Elaine Pofeldt at @epofeldt@yahoo.com]
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Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Program
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Application deadline: March 31, 2020
Open to entrepreneurs across Africa, this program focuses on entrepreneurs with startup ideas or existing businesses less than three years old, offering a holistic program of intensive support.
Location: Ames, Ohio
April 4, 2020
Information available here.
TechStars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator
Location: Birmingham, Ala.
Application deadline: April 5, 2020
Information available here.
This 13-week program in Birmingham, Ala., provides mentoring to startups creating innovative electrical and utility solutions.
The theme is “founders helping founders” at this one-day event, aimed at business owners in their teens and twenties, at Iowa State University.
Location: Cambridge, Mass.
Deadline: June 18, 2020
Information available here.
MIT Solve, a marketplace for social innovation, has launched a health security and pandemics challenge in response to coronavirus. It is looking for teams around the world working on innovations to address pandemics and plans to give winners access to $1.5 million in funding.
Private Financing Advisory Network
The network is soliciting applications from businesses that deliver climate change adaptation or clean energy innovation to their communities.
Deadline: Rolling
Information available here.
– Compiled by Elaine Pofeldt
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