Small businesses across the country are confronting extreme economic challenges as a result&nbsp;of the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial support at this critical time&nbsp;can make the difference between staying in business or closing permanently, leading to lost income, jobs and economic stability.&nbsp;Thanks to a&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FmGgmS8A8mQzJa-JihrHIN_8HEEQxLjVfZay0aVzIeM24mkLGIkRIzfhxhjjZg9Ip6iGZM1HhPo0GFJ3vZSrAHA0YYh3PhlRndYg1q5mNcpAEMOB3a78sCuzF0krotN1QHasQOFw0BFZIcEjz7axa9peIZMIFnNO00QpwbDWiheNaPzsKKiP-sdEEB6ehNTtac2n3itSg0Q=&amp;c=8jE9arsS7FrKXdXkMG4CmlzKw1Z7xAweAx-Zu0AvH8LnpC2boi-aLA==&amp;ch=qCq0g60d9p9T5Trz0csLggjdqaLj8_1AfnFMBuYmTeW9kY7tdU7SVw==" target="_blank">$2.5 million investment from Verizon</a>, Local Initiatives Support Corporation is offering grants to help small businesses fill urgent financial gaps until they can resume normal operations or until other more permanent financing becomes available. The deadline to apply is Saturday, April 4th.Additionally,&nbsp;Verizon recently launched&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FmGgmS8A8mQzJa-JihrHIN_8HEEQxLjVfZay0aVzIeM24mkLGIkRIzfhxhjjZg9IdeNLm9gFU8wz0hf_V6z4hikdnuFARi9RDDc7gyq2Hb2ULaC8x4SAfE2s0ewgE6TIHE5cKhxRZIgsBsBTDq9KZc6DsbcEVlktK3hynOiwxWoOla-8jTWnFYkVAvmprh9Z4P19hw9Orp4=&amp;c=8jE9arsS7FrKXdXkMG4CmlzKw1Z7xAweAx-Zu0AvH8LnpC2boi-aLA==&amp;ch=qCq0g60d9p9T5Trz0csLggjdqaLj8_1AfnFMBuYmTeW9kY7tdU7SVw==" target="_blank">#PayItForwardLIVE</a>, a weekly livestream from big names to pay it forward for small businesses. Viewers can tune in every Tuesday and Thursday at 8PM ET/ 5PM PT on&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FmGgmS8A8mQzJa-JihrHIN_8HEEQxLjVfZay0aVzIeM24mkLGIkRIzfhxhjjZg9ICm_S9vo8FXCgXKu6A2Nbbnf_adwhJZlrjtO12HqwTgD-OxmDp-kGKsBtmSh_oJFUYE7Jtx3oMkPWGDZ3JI5GiaxRCoQJ09-6dn1QegY09zk0X69jUhlUtWiGdhdW-zIr65MeJYKjrpc=&amp;c=8jE9arsS7FrKXdXkMG4CmlzKw1Z7xAweAx-Zu0AvH8LnpC2boi-aLA==&amp;ch=qCq0g60d9p9T5Trz0csLggjdqaLj8_1AfnFMBuYmTeW9kY7tdU7SVw==" target="_blank">@Verizon’s Twitter</a>,&nbsp;Yahoo, Twitch, and Fios Channel 501. As people support their favorite small businesses with #PayItForwardLIVE, Verizon will commit an additional $10 per use of the hashtag, up to $2.5 million, for a total of up to $5 million in support.&nbsp;Please keep the following in mind:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>For business owners with multiple businesses, please answer this survey based on your largest business owned.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Each awardee is limited to one grant per&nbsp;tax&nbsp;ID.&nbsp;You will need this&nbsp;ID to complete the application.&nbsp;</li><li>Eligibility is based on accurate and complete submission of request to include required documents uploaded.&nbsp;</li><li>This program is not eligible to employees of Verizon or LISC.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Your application must be completed by&nbsp;Saturday, April 4th, 11:59 PM ET.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>Email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:verizongrantinfo@lisc.org" target="_blank">verizongrantinfo@lisc.org</a>for questions and troubleshooting. We will get back to you as soon as possible.&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FmGgmS8A8mQzJa-JihrHIN_8HEEQxLjVfZay0aVzIeM24mkLGIkRIzfhxhjjZg9IHj4fi8I99ShosZzWjeYjYBiEinIAEYz49jzWNGZH77MrW_OJx7XPw66Xq01wYY1SsQaGaQKYEO6HZc0UHLIOrvaiCAKqpdeCiBFbBFYbdlI=&amp;c=8jE9arsS7FrKXdXkMG4CmlzKw1Z7xAweAx-Zu0AvH8LnpC2boi-aLA==&amp;ch=qCq0g60d9p9T5Trz0csLggjdqaLj8_1AfnFMBuYmTeW9kY7tdU7SVw==" target="_blank">Apply Here</a>

Small business help is available during COVID-19