Lessons Learned from COVID

A nice writeup from our friends at Brains on Fire, sharing a few lessons learned from working from home.

PR For Small Businesses

Brought to you by the Taylors Business Association, Ariel Turner, Public Relations Supervisor for FerebeeLane, talks about PR considerations for small businesses. You can submit questions ahead of time or just join the Zoom call.

Thursday, May 21, 11 am EST

Event Safety Alliance Guidelines

From the Event Safety Alliance, a reopening guide for event coordinators and professionals. A comprehensive 30-page document compiled by event industry professionals to help peers who are planning to reopen during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Our Fair Share

With a clear and easy to navigate site, Our Fair Share helps educate and guide minority small business owners, non-profits, independent contractors and churches through the SBA PPP loan programs available through the recently passed CARES Act.

Tips for Maintain Meaningful Connections With Your Customers

Big Cartel shared some great tips for maintaining connections with your customers in spite of these uncertain times. While some traditional marketing strategies can feel inappropriate or even manipulative right now, this article offers some great insights about creating community and being real.

Retail Tips for Reopening

Faire has compiled a list of guidelines and helpful tips for retailers to consider as they look to reopen. With ideas for keeping your customers, your team, and your store safe, this is a great piece to reference as a shop owner.

Ideas to Fund Creative Work

If you’re looking for ways to support yourself and make creative work right now, Kickstarter put together a great roundup of 70 industry-specific ideas for rewards you could offer through a Kickstarter project, and (in most cases) fulfill without leaving your home.

Income Ideas for Designers

As part of the Creative Mornings Field Trip Series, this free webinar will be talking about how designers can make money during COVID-19. Register at the link to reserve your spot.

May 12, 11:00am - 12:30pm EDT.

About this program: FieldTrips are meetups to interact, learn and collaborate in an effort to level-up your creative life. Built on top of our 20,000 monthly attendees at CreativeMornings talks, FieldTrips are community-organized events built on the spirit of generosity that has powered CreativeMornings events for the past 10 years.

Free Finance Webinar

Kristen Ley is hosting a free hour-long Q&A with @bolasokunbi, Author and Founder of @clevergirlfinance. Submit your questions ahead of time via Direct Message or email or ask for advice anonymously during the event.

Bola is a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), finance expert, author, speaker, and founder of Clever Girl Finance, a financial education platform and community for women empowering them to achieve financial wellness and live life on their own terms.

Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 PM CST

Stand for Small

American Express just launched Stand for Small, a one-stop shop with resources, offers, and tools from companies who want to help your small business get back to business. Whether you’re shifting your business online or switching to takeout and delivery, Stand for Small hopes to help you navigate the current climate.

Many of the listed companies are offering discounts on their services, educational resources and more.

Bloom Fund

Bloom Fund provides unrestricted $1,200 grants in visual arts, literature, small business, non-profit, research, and education for individuals who identify as black, indigenous, and/or person of color.

Applications are currently open for non-profit, research and educators.

Square Help with PPP Loans

If you’re a Square seller, the company can help you navigate the Paycheck Protection Program. It sounds like their process is much quicker than dealing with traditional banks, so be sure to check out what they have to offer.

SC Arts Commission

The South Carolina Arts Commission (SCAC) is announcing emergency relief for South Carolina arts organizations and individual artists who can prove lost income because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications will be accepted beginning Wednesday, April 29.

Individual artists currently residing in South Carolina for at least one year may receive up to $1,000. 

Online Personal Productivity Class

Former Makers Summit Workshop teacher Austin Bristow is offering an inexpensive Personal Productivity Essentials Class via SkillPop ($20). Austin takes an honest look at the importance of discipline for achieving success and finding a greater sense of personal freedom. He’ll provide actionable steps to make time for what matters and have a game plan for focusing on your biggest priorities.

Life Class – Free Video Series

Shunta Grant is offering her new Life Class as a series of six classes discussing topics that matter to you right where you are today. A new life class will arrive in your inbox each Sunday, focusing on teaching and empowering you to live a life of joyful intention.

Learn about the Best Today organization here.

Needed: Artists for Video Series

An unexpected source of help for makers, Post Foods and Pebbles Cereal is seeking artists and makers to help them create a series of at-home activity videos for kids. Described as ‘the evolution of the back of the box’, this program pays contributing artists, dancers and magicians $1,500 per video.

You can find the current video series here and submit your own video idea for consideration in the series, send an email outlining your talent to submissions@publicworks.agency

More Paycheck Protection

Faire provided a nice breakdown of the additional CARES funding package, including how to apply and how to check the status of your application.

SBA Security Breach

If you applied for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), be aware that there’s been a reported security breach. Businesses that may have been affected were notified by the SBA and offered one free year of credit monitoring. Be sure to keep an eye on your accounts for unauthorized transactions.

Shopify & Outreach Bootcamp

Chris & Andy are offering a condensed and discounted course for makers who needed an e-commerce website and outreach plan ASAP. A portion of each tuition fee will be donated to CERF+, The Artist Safety Net.

You can watch the free info call on April 24, 2020 at 3pm EST to see if this is right for you.

Click here to register for the info zoom call

For Event Creators

Eventbrite has put together a list of helpful resources for event creators. With topics like refund requirements and what to do when postponing an event, the page also includes a handy FAQ section to quickly answer event-related questions.