COVID Financial Relief
Energize Colorado
Colorado SBDC Disaster Relief Efforts Supported By:
Energize Colorado
The Energize Colorado Gap Fund will provide more than $31 million in small business loans and grants to boost small business enterprises that are the economic engines throughout the state. Sole proprietors, businesses and nonprofits with less than 25 full-time employees can apply for up to a $15,000 grant and a $20,000 loan for a possible combined total of $35,000 in financial assistance.
Applications and awards will be done in rounds to allow the program to provide assistance through December 2020. The process will not be first-come-first-serve, it will be a competitive process that will help those in need receive priority access to assistance.
The application is currently closed. You can sign up for updates about the Gap Fund through Energize Colorado. This is a multi-year program and there will be more opportunities to apply. You may still access your open application if needed.
To prepare for when the application opens, you should gather any necessary documents. Energize Colorado can accept a wide variety of documentation that demonstrates an economic hardship experienced due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Gather documents that show how you have been impacted by COVID-19, for example:
- Bank records
- Point of sale receipts
- Profit and loss statements
- Tax filings
- Expense receipts
The estimated time for completing the entire application is two hours and ten minutes, although you may not need to complete all parts.
Latest Updates
Date: November 18, 2020
Media Contact: Scott Romano, scott.romano@energizecolorado.com, 720-839-3899
Denver, Colo. – In response to new public health orders Energize Colorado is releasing new content and resources as part of the Can Do Colorado campaign intended to help small businesses continue to operate safely. Can Do Colorado will continually highlight the resiliency and innovation small businesses are demonstrating to operate safely and protect their employees and customers. By showcasing best practices and featuring small businesses that are successfully walking the line between safety and staying open, the campaign aims to increase consumer confidence in local businesses.
Can Do Colorado was initially launched within Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA), with pro bono support from Denver-based branding and marketing, firm Karsh Hagan as an emergency COVID response tool to support small businesses. Energize Colorado acquired the program to provide a long term home for small businesses to seek support as the pandemic continues to disrupt business as usual. Additionally, video production and animation firm Telideo Productions has committed their pro bono support to drive this program forward under Energize Colorado’s leadership.
Can Do Colorado is intendedto build consumer confidence by promoting the safe and scalable ongoing practices of local businesses. The campaign will also extend a direct call to consumers to support businesses within their communities that are currently open and following public health orders and best practices. Energize Colorado will build upon the initial success of the Can Do Colorado campaign and continue to engage with the more than 2.7 million consumers across Colorado.
“Coloradans are doing what Coloradans do best,” said Wendy Lea, CEO & Co-Founder of Energize Colorado “we’re pulling up our sleeves and getting to work. Now, we need to find new ways to safely support our local businesses by wearing masks, ordering online when possible, and doing our part to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We are determined to build a more resilient and inclusive economy on the other side of the pandemic. I am proud of the work our volunteer community has done to drive this impactful work forward.”
Can Do Colorado is being led by Zaneta Kelsey, founder of Delightsum and an Energize Colorado volunteer whose work has driven her to act through a lens of equity and action. “Our local small businesses are what make our communities thrive, but with COVID-19 cases on the rise in Colorado and tighter restrictions in place, it is hard for small businesses and consumers alike to keep track. Furthermore, we understand how hard this pandemic is hitting Black and Brown-owned businesses. Consumers want to continue to shop and support their local businesses, but are nervous to do so safely. That’s why Can Do Colorado highlights the incredible work being done by our neighbors, to prioritize the safety of their customers and employees.” Kelsey adds a call to action for her fellow Coloradans: “I’d like to ask all Coloradans to join me and do what they can to help support our local communities. If you know of a business that has safely innovated to serve their customers, I urge you to nominate them through our website and share their story.”
More information about the Energize Colorado’s Can Do Colorado campaign can be found at www.EnergizeColorado.com/CanDo
Access campaign assets here >>
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About Energize Colorado
Energize Colorado is a nonprofit organization, designed to help Colorado’s entrepreneurs, small businesses, gig-workers, and nonprofits recover and rise from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by inspired innovators and powered by seasoned volunteers from Colorado’s private, public, nonprofit, and academic communities, Energize Colorado provides free tools, resources, and programs to revive and invigorate our economy. While founded to mitigate the immediate impact on small businesses stemming from the pandemic, Energize Colorado is eager to build the next economy — one that serves all Coloradoans, across racial and economic divides. Learn more about Energize Colorado at www.energizecolorado.com.
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