Churches and faith-based organizations are critical parts of our society, which is why they were deliberately included in the COVID-19 relief bill, known as The CARES Act. Through the Small Business Association, faith-based organizations are eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program to ensure pastors and staff are able to continue their important work during this outbreak.

Eligibility is determined regardless of an entity’s religious identity or activities, and can support the following:

The Paycheck Protection Program

• designed to keep small business workers employed and provide small businesses with capital through the nation’s banks and other lending institutions
• the maximum loan amount is $10 million with a fixed 1% interest rate and maturity of two years
• The SBA will forgive the portion of loan proceeds used for payroll costs and other designated operating expenses for up to eight weeks provided at least 75% of loan proceeds are used for payroll costs.

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan

• provides qualifying small businesses and non-profits with working capital up to $2 million with low interest rates and terms extending up to 30 years

Faith-based organizations can find additional details, as well as apply, at sba.gov/coronavirus. I strongly encourage our small businesses take advantage of this opportunity. The grants will be retroactive to February 15, 2020, with the goal of bringing workers who have already been laid off back onto payrolls. Other provisions in the CARES Act provide assistance for those who are not able to return.