PIERRE, S.D. (DRG News) – South Dakota business owners currently have a couple options to help them pay for COVID-19 related costs.

The process to get federal Paycheck Protection Program loans forgiven has been simplified and the application period to receive state grant dollars is open until Friday (Oct. 23).

South Dakota Retailers Association executive director Dr. Nathan Sanderson says the PPP application for loans of $50,000 or less has been shortened.

The State of South Dakota opened the application period for its Small Business and Healthcare Provider Relief Program this week (Oct. 13). Sanderson says up to $580 million has been designated to assist small businesses, community-based healthcare providers and non-profit groups.

Sanderson says as a whole, South Dakota businesses are doing better than a lot of areas in the US, but its still a challenging year.

For assistance, people should call 605-937-7243 Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm. They can also email covid.bizgrants@state.sd.us or covid.healthcaregrants@state.sd.us.

Again, find more information about South Dakota’s Small Business and Healthcare Provider Relief Program at COVID.SD.GOV.