COVID-19 Resources and Information

Covid-19 Resources

COVID-19 Resources for Research Park/EnterpriseWorks tenants and clients

The Research Park and EnterpriseWorks staff are working hard to maintain the services we provide to clients under normal circumstances, finding creative methods along the way. We want to make sure you have the tools you need to navigate this ever-changing landscape. Although our staff will continue to work from home for the foreseeable future, we are available via phone, email and videoconference.  Find the staff directory HERE.

Research Park Events and Meetups

Please check our daily ONLINE CALENDAR for updates regarding events and how to access them (Zoom, WebEx, or other platforms). Events are being added on an ad hoc basis. The University of Illinois has cancelled all events through the end of the semester, May 16. The University is following State of Illinois guidance on gatherings, so no summer events will be held until the statewide stay-at-home directive expires.

  • Virtual events include:
    • Workshops
    • User group meetings
    • virtual “happy hours”
    • Research Park corporate site director meetings
    • CEO Roundtable meetings
  • Have a question or ideas for a topic and/or activity? Send it to research-park@illinois.edu.

Startup and Small Business Resources Continue via EnterpriseWorks Programs

  • Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) assistance is available to aid small businesses trying to navigate challenging times. Request assistance to meet virtually with one of our EIRs. A sample of topics they can address:
      • Managing cash flow, accounting and financial management strategies, including loans and other resources.

    • Human resources and employment challenges
    • Supply chain disruptions
    • Communication strategies
  • The Founders 2 Founders (F2F) program helps CEOs navigate difficult business decisions (launched in Fall 2019). This is facilitated by EIR Lori Patterson to match CEOs and build one-to-one relationships.  To be a part of this program, please contact Lori Patterson (lori@pixotech.com).
  • SBIR Technical Consulting continues. Roland Garton and Anna Lisa Somera are available for individual SBIR consulting. Request a virtual appointment with either one of them here.  There is a lot of emergency funding available to fight Covid-19. 
  • EnterpriseWorks interns want to keep working! Startups can still request short-term projects from our team of talented Shared Services interns.

Student Internships, Hiring, and Employment, Remote Work


Health and Wellness Resources for Research Park Employees

EnterpriseWorks: Information for Tenants and Affiliates

EnterpriseWorks continues to be open and available to tenants and affiliates with keycard access on a 24/7 basis. 

    • The building is open from 9 am to 2 pm, Monday-Friday to allow couriers and USPS to make deliveries. If you have concerns about access to the building, please contact Jim Wells or Cynthia Faullin.
    • Staff members are visiting EnterpriseWorks almost every day to walk the building, sort mail, and deliver parcels to tenants.

  • Building Service Workers continue to clean surfaces in common areas and empty trash from the kitchen and tenant spaces as needed.
  • Conference Rooms are still accessible and available to tenants and affiliates, but please use common sense regarding social distancing. Please continue to make requests.
  • If you happen to be in the building and notice anything amiss please contact Jim Wells or Cynthia Faullin immediately.  We appreciate you helping us to keep an eye on things.

 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Other Champaign County Small Business Resources:

State of Illinois Small Business Grant Resources:

Illinois Emergency Small Business Grants and Loans Assistance

*Stay at Home Executive Order Essential Business Information*

State Treasurer’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Program

Federal/National Resources:

  • Paycheck Protection Program – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will provide $349 billion in loans through the Paycheck Protection Program to small businesses and non-profits. Portions of these loans will be forgiven to the extent that recipients maintain their existing workforce or rehire. Loans can be up to $10 million and interest rates are maxed at 4% for portions of the loan that do not qualify for loan forgiveness. Learn more here.
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan – The program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. Borrowers can request an emergency advance of $10,000 within 3 days of submitting the application and do not have to repay the advance if they are denied a loan. Learn more here.
  • SSTI resources for small business in dealing with COVID-19: https://ssti.org/blog/resources-small-business-dealing-covid-19
  • Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE) Policy Responses: https://startupsusa.org/new-and-small-business-policy-response-to-the-covid-19-crisis/
  • National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) Response to COVID-19: https://nvca.org/nvca-response-to-covid-19/
  • White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Information Exchange: https://pages.semanticscholar.org/coronavirus-research
  • COVID Research Grants (US and Intl): www.evagarland.com/covid-19-funding-opportunities/
  • Alice COVID-19 Business Center: www.covid19businesscenter.com/
  • CO.STARTERS General Recovery Guide/List for Small Businesses: https://costarters.co/recovery/
  • Information from the Treasury Department includes updates to tax payment deadlines, coronavirus-related paid leave assistance, and other steps being taken to combat the disease.
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development has implemented several measures to help residents and businesses in rural communities affected by COVID-19.
  • The COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium is bringing together federal, industry, and academic leaders who are volunteering free compute time and resources on their world-class machines for all researchers engaged in COVID-19 research activities.
  • The Department of Energy has identified scientific and technical information supporting coronavirus and viral-related research.
  • Department of Health and Human Services (including National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has announced that funds may be available for Administrative Supplements to meet increased costs that are within the scope of the approved award.
  • The CDC will make $560 million in emergency funding available.
  • The Office of Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority has released updates to its broad agency announcement for the Development of Medical Products for Novel Coronavirus.
  • NIH has released a Notice of Special Interest regarding the Availability of Urgent Competitive Revisions for Research on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus to highlight the urgent need for research on the 2019 novel Coronavirus.
  • The NSF’s coronavirus resource page provides guidance to researchers in the NSF community regarding new application deadlines, information on administrative assistance and supplemental funding, and other funding opportunities dedicated to coronavirus.
  • The NSF is accepting proposals to conduct non-medical, non-clinical care research on different aspects of COVID-19.
  • The NSF released a Dear Colleague Letter inviting Rapid Response Research proposals and supplemental funding requests to existing awards that address COVID-19 challenges through data and/or software infrastructure development activities.
  • CDC has resources for taking care of your emotional health, see more here.

Want to add something to this list? Contact Laura Bleill (lwbleill@illinois.edu).