The City of Ferguson is working with our regional partners to provide information, resources, and assistance to small businesses. We are here to help. Please check out the resources below and go to their websites for the most current information and applications. If you need assistance, please call the Small Business Resource Hotline at 314-615-1777.

To receive more resources as they become available, please contact the City of Ferguson Department of Planning & Development Staff at 314-521-7721, or send an email to the Community Development Coordinator at bmitchell@fergusoncity.com. 

Last updated: July 21, 2020

UPDATED Resources/Policies

St. Louis County Business Reopening Guidelines and Policies

• Signed Department of Health Order
• Reopening Guidance Document 

Ameren Missouri Small Business Relief

• If you’re a small business owner with 50 or fewer employees and are having trouble paying your energy bill, now is the time to apply for energy assistance through Ameren Missouri’s new COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program.

St. Louis County Small business Relief Program 

• will provide financial relief to small businesses that were closed during the Stay at Home Order.  The grant can be used to pay for the costs of business interruption as a result of the business closing during the Stay at Home Order and to cover costs associated with reopening safely.  Business interruption costs could include fixed operating costs during closure.  Reopening costs could include acquiring personal protective equipment for employees or customers or installing plastic shields to reduce the risks of transmission between customers and employees. 

Missouri Main Street Connection Resources and Webinars

• Join Missouri Main Street Connection every Wednesday morning at 8:30AM for "Mornings on Main" webinars for main street businesses. You can access the recordings of these webinars here. 

Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco

• The City of Ferguson adopts the "Industry Circular, Emergency Waiver – Retailer-Packaged Alcohol"

St. Louis Virtual Small Business Expo 2020

• Small Business Expo is America’s BIGGEST & most anticipated business-to-business networking & educational event, trade show & conference for business owners, entrepreneurs, start-ups, decision-makers or anyone who works for a small business or is interested in starting a Small Business.
  
• The City of Ferguson is not an advocate nor a sponsor for this event; this post is for informational purposes only

City of Ferguson New PPE Requirements

• On, or before April 24, 2020, all businesses still operating within the city and currently open to conduct business must require staff to wear a face covering such as a mask when working with the public. Please see the updated (April 17, 2020) City Emergency Declaration for more details. 

Small Business Resource Discretionary Grant Program

• This new St. Louis County program will give $500 discretionary grants to help sole proprietors, contract workers, gig workers, 1099 workers, and other businesses who do not qualify for our Small Business Resource Program (SBRP). The grant program is giving a preference for businesses in the Promise Zone area in North County and Lemay in South County to help businesses lessen the burden of paying for rent or even for groceries to help them get through this crisis. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2VBr5MD
  

Small Business Resource Fund

COVID Impact Surveys

STL Regional Chamber

• Please fill out the Regional Impact Survey so STL Regional Chamber can learn more about your needs and how they can serve you better.

Missouri Main Street

• Missouri Main Street Connection and the National Main Street Center are seeking information from small businesses in Missouri. They want to collect information to help understand the issues and challenges Missouri small businesses are currently facing. Your response will help them to better assist you, guide resources, and provide programming in the future.

Overall Resources

STL Partnership Resource Hub:

• Look here for the most comprehensive resources from Financial Resources to Utility Resources

STL Equity in Entrepreneurship Collective Resource Center:

• a list of resources to hopefully help you transition to a virtual setup at low/no-cost. If you would like to add a service or product to this list, please email us at info@stlequitycollective.org.

Operation Resources/Guides

Curb-Side STL:

• Add your business to this page – the City of Ferguson P&D Staff can help you walk through adding your business, additionally we will encourage the public to promote this service by using the #STLTakeItHome and encourage you to do the same thing across your social media

Take-out Safety Guide:

• Use these guidelines to keep your employees and customers safe!

Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities (CARES) Act

• Businesses can also take heart in knowing that their employees will most likely be receiving a stimulus check as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities (CARES) Act that was recently passed this past Friday. Interested individuals can calculate what their check amount might be using the link above.

Financial Resources

The Gateway Resilience Fund

• Provides short-term monetary relief to small locally-owned businesses and their employees. The St. Louis Downtown Community Improvement District is also offering up to $5,000 in grants for downtown restaurants. To learn more about this fund, click here.

The Regional Response Fund

• Established to direct aid to local nonprofit organizations delivering services to people affected by the virus including children, the elderly, and isolated. To learn more, click here.

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan:

• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). All businesses in Missouri and Illinois are eligible to apply. Loans can be made for up to $2 million. Submit an application to SBA for a disaster loan here. For more information on the three step process for obtaining a disaster loan, click here.                    
• MO State SBA Loans

America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) - Missouri:

• To help business owners prepare for the changing circumstances associated with COVID-19, the SBDC suggests the following steps to take for businesses financially impacted: Find those steps here. Contact SBDC Business Counselor, Colleen Mulvihill, directly at cmulvihill@stlpartnership.com.

Facebook Small Business Grants Program

• Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries of operation.  For more information click here.

Utility Bill Relief

Ameren Missouri

• Ameren is suspending service disconnections and forgiving late payment fees. Customers who are having difficulty paying their bill can contact Ameren Missouri’s customer care team by using this link: https://www.ameren.com/missouri
• Ameren has partnered with the United Way of Greater St. Louis to create the Coronavirus Income Relief Program that will offer $500,000 in energy assistance funds to customers experiencing financial hardships caused by the coronavirus response. Ameren Missouri customers with an active account can apply for $250 toward payment on their account. You do not have to be past due on your Ameren bill to apply or qualify. The United Way will determine eligibility. Must be 250% of poverty level or below and be an hourly-wage worker who has lost hours. 
  DETAILS HERE                              
  APPLICATION FORM HERE

Spire (gas) 

• Spire is suspending disconnects and late fees until May 1 for residential and business customers. If impacted by the Coronavirus and need help with your natural gas service or bill contact Spire via this link https://www.spireenergy.com/contact-us
• If you have an appointment or natural gas emergency, technicians are encouraged to maintain social distancing of at least six feet at all times. More info can be found at this link; https://www.spireenergy.com/coronavirus

Missouri American Water (Discontinuing Shut Offs)

• Missouri American Water is placing a moratorium and discontinuing shut offs at this time.  They will begin the restoration of service to previously shut-off customers. The restoration may take some time.  If your service has been turned off, prior to March 12, 2020, Missouri American will re-start service. Link to more info: https://amwater.com/moaw/