The City of Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) have partnered to create the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund to help small businesses survive the public health crisis, it announced Monday.

The release of the Fund comes the same day the City issued a stay-at-home order, meaning all residents must remain home or at their place of residence unless they are “engaged in essential personal activities that are spelled out in the order” — things like seeking medical care or buying groceries. The City is no longer suggesting folks stay at home, it’s mandating it.

The Small Business Relief Fund, which has an online application, is aiming to provide financial relief, prevent layoff of employees, help businesses avoid predatory lenders, and maintain the provision of goods and services for the City. About 2,500 businesses responded to a survey circulated by the city last week, said Sylvie Gallier Howard, first deputy commerce director at the Department of Commerce.

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