Through what Kimco calls the Tenant Assistance Program, tenants at its 409 properties will get professional legal assistance securing government-sponsored disaster relief loans.

“We are fully committed to the long-term success of our tenants, and we understand that immediate access to capital may be critical in keeping their businesses afloat over the coming months,” said Kimco CEO Conor Flynn. “We’re also aware that the process of identifying, evaluating, and applying for the many available funding opportunities can be overwhelming and daunting for business owners. Our Tenant Assistance Program will enable our tenants to act quickly in applying for much-needed assistance that can help ensure their future viability.”

Jericho, N.Y.-based Kimco is rolling out TAP services to tenants in California and Florida with the company plans to extend the program to other states across its 72.4 million portfolio in the coming days.

The Tenant Assistance Program is one facet of Kimco’s multi-pronged approach to tenant support throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Flynn says. Since the outbreak of the virus in the U.S., Kimco has focused on regular communication with tenants both via email and through the company’s COVID-19 Response webpage, which includes a host of resources and funding opportunities for small businesses.

Additionally, Kimco is offering an exclusive webinar for its tenants that will provide an overview of various funding opportunities available through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Kimco will work with through Kimco’s national partnership with small business advisory firm SCORE to create the webinar and offer remote mentoring services.