Survival planning between July and December 2020.

• EIDL is limited on the amount of funds the program will distribute to business owners.

• PPP applications will end June 30, 2020 with no 2nd rounds.

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) will end July 31, 2020.

• Unemployment Insurance still showing about 26 weeks from March 10, 2020.

No need to panic, you still have time to plan.

Just about all the federal assistance offered to small business in the USA was designed to reduce the total numbers on the Unemployment Insurance system at the state level. Without getting into the politics behind keeping UI low by paying employers to pay employees I need to get you all focused on your long term recovery.

The SBA will be directing you to your local and state government for ongoing assistance.

Your local government may have been issued HUD or FEMA funds and they would have been in the form of grants. Typically your local governments will make these into loans and collect interest on top of the grant funds so they profit. This is allowed under the OMB as administrative costs which will include city payrolls for the most part of those managing the funds.

Most city governments don't understand the programs available after a disaster and look to your county / parish government to do this. Most of you will know your Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness people. They are the ones that will work with FEMA disaster assistance funds.

Each of you will have on a state level Economic Development and Community Development which will be funded by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

HUD will provide federal tax dollars as grants to all state governors and provide policy, directives and guidance to state government. HUD will allow your state government to be very flexible with the creation of programs.

It will ultimately be your actions that determine if your state will provide business loans, forgive loans or grants. Your Governor may simply award city management funds to hand out or keep. It's your interaction that will determine how long term recovery funds are used.

If you fit into HUD's national objectives then it's your responsibility to make sure your state follows those objectives. If you do not fit HUD national objectives then it's your responsibility to be proactive with your state planning task force or committee to make sure you qualify for long term financial assistance if needed.

As always, speak with your US Senators weekly and get involved in the system that can assist you during your first pandemic.