Doing Business
COVID-19 Resources

Check out our monthly (June 2021) Downtown Economic Recovery Update, a collection of statistics and updates on commercial real estate, residential, retail, leisure and hospitality sectors.  

May 17, 2021: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo lowers the COVID-19 threat level to Level 2/Orange: Minimize ALL Contacts Unless Fully Vaccinated. 

Level 2 signifies a significant and uncontrolled level of COVID-19 in Harris County, meaning that there is ongoing transmission of the virus. At this level, unvaccinated residents should minimize contact with others, avoiding any medium or large gatherings, and only visit permissible businesses that follow public health guidance. Unvaccinated residents should continue to mask and physical distance. Fully vaccinated individuals may resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

Details on the American Rescue Plan Act

Congress.gov: H.R.1319 - American Rescue Plan Act of  (March 2021)

The White House: The American Rescue Plan Passed – Now What? 

Briefing Room: American Rescue Plan

United States Senate: The following Title-By-Title Summary outlines the American Rescue Plan Act as passed by the Senate on March 6th, 2021.

Brookings Institute: What’s in the latest COVID-19 relief bill? (Podcast) & The macroeconomic implications of Biden’s $1.9 trillion fiscal package

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC): An update on the American Rescue Plan Act

National Restaurant Association: Restaurant Revitalization Fund Policy Brief

National Conference of State Legislatures: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Overview

We’ll continue to revise this list, but please feel free to reach out to these businesses directly for any questions:

Office of the Texas Governor Greg Abbott: Coronavirus Resources and Response

Governor Greg Abbott Mask Mandate Executive Order (GA-34): Increasing capacity of all businesses and facilities in the state to 100 percent.

Harris County Public Health: COVID-19 Resources

City of Houston Emergency Operations Center: COVID-19 Resources

Our partner, gener8tor, has created a CARES Act Emergency Guide presentation that encapsulates the big takeaways and also links to additional resources.

America's Small Business Development Center Network - Federal Resources for U.S. Small Businesses and COVID-19 stimulus information

U.S. Small Business Administration: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

US Chamber of Commerce: Combating the Coronavirus, Coronavirus Response Toolkit & Resources to Help Your Small Business Survive the Coronavirus

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), RestoreYourEconomy.org: COVID-19 Resources

The World Health Organization (WHO) - features tips, advice, reports, research and more.

Tech Against Coronavirus - Software Solution (i.e. Slack, Toggl, Zoom, Google Handouts)

IRS: Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payments

State, Local and Other Resources:

Brookings Institute: COVID-19

Texas Workforce Commission (TWC): COVID-19 Resources Employer

Greater Houston Partnership: Houston coronavirus resources

Houston Arts Alliance:  resources to help artists and non-profits; additional resources specifically for artists.

The  Houston Business Development Inc. and Houston Area Urban League: providing assistance to small businesses navigating the myriad of resources available, including SBA loans.  

Houston First: resources and support for Houston’s hospitality industry. 

Additional resources offered by our Central Houston, Inc. partners:

ImpactHub, a locally rooted, globally connected, nonprofit organization that inspires, connects and empowers people working to solve social problems in our city and around the world.

Gener8tor, a Madison, Wisconsin-based nationally ranked, turnkey accelerator platform focused on the creative economy connecting startups, entrepreneurs, artists, investors, universities and corporations. gener8tor is hosting programing for all small businesses, nonprofits, startups, freelancers and artists affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. gener8tor Emergency Response Program

MassChallege, a Boston-based globally recognized 501 (C)(3) non-profit startup accelerator

The Cannon, is an organization that develops and manages startup hubs -- workspaces for entrepreneurs that surround them with all the resources they need to succeed.

Techstars is an American seed accelerator founded in 2006 in Boulder, Colorado. As of 2019, the company had accepted over 1,600 companies into its programs with a combined market capitalization of $18.2 billion USD.

Tech Platform: Global Innovation Exchange, is a platform for sharing and seeking solutions that invites participants to explore and add potential ideas and Innovations that may be relevant to COVID-19.

Hello Alice: the world’s first 100% virtual accelerator.

Holland & Knight: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Summary