Small Business Association aids Sheboygan area business during COVID-19 pandemic
Sheboygan County, WI – Over the past eight months, the wide-ranging economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has extended into all sectors of the small business community, including to companies located in Sheboygan County and supported through the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC).
Thanks to the support of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), a large number of Sheboygan County small businesses have secured much-needed financial relief through several small business guidance and loan resources, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). This economic assistance has helped local companies keep up-to-date with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) safety guidelines while staying financially viable during one of the most challenging times for small businesses in recent history.
The SBA works with several local partners to counsel, mentor, and train small businesses. The SBA operates 68 district offices while providing support through resource partners, such as SCORE offices, Women’s Business Centers, Small Business Development Centers, such as the SCEDC, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers.
U.S. Small Business Administration representatives recently paid visits to three Sheboygan County area small businesses to see how each has benefitted from SBA initiatives, programs, and resources.
Grant Pauly of 3 Sheeps Brewing gave the SBA representatives a tour of his Sheboygan-based facility.
3 Sheeps Brewing in Sheboygan hosted U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Regional Administrator Rob Scott, SBA District Director Eric Ness, and SBA Outreach and Marketing Specialist Cindy Gardner on Friday, Oct. 30.
“We enjoyed the tour of 3 Sheeps Brewing and hearing its story,” Gardner said. “It was nice to know that 3 Sheeps has a good relationship with their lender and that they’ve utilized SBA programs to help make their business successful.”
Also, on Oct. 30, Scott, Ness, and Gardner dropped into Harry’s Pizza Market in Sheboygan to meet with owner Al Latifi.
“Harry’s Pizza Market served a delicious lunch and took time to speak with SBA Regional Administrator Rob Scott, District Director Eric Ness, and myself on Oct. 30,” Gardner said. “We enjoyed hearing the Harry’s Diner story and were impressed with their market and wine selection.”
SBA staff completed their swing through Sheboygan with a stop at Bremer Manufacturing in Elkhart Lake.
“We met with Christopher Kozak and we left impressed with Bremer Manufacturing and the process they use for manufacturing their products,” Gardner said. “The tour was very educational. We were happy to learn that the Paycheck Protection Program [PPP] helped them through this crazy time.”
The SBA also provides small businesses with access to capital lenders and loan resources through the 7(a), Express, Community Advantage, 504, and Microloan programs.
For detailed information on SBA programs related to the COVID-19 coronavirus, visit www.sba.gov/coronavirus and for information on all federal programs, visit www.usa.gov/coronavirus.
For more information about SCEDC entrepreneurial services, email York@SheboyganCountyEDC.com or call 920-946-9379.
