12/13/20: WBE Tools, Resources, Information and Connections Bulletin December 14 – December 18, 2020

We all know all this information is still unfolding daily so we urge you to review other resources so you can make the most informed decisions for your situation.

General

• 5 New Signatories for the CEO Letter on Disability Inclusion Urging Companies to Register for the Disability Equality Index: David Cordani, President & CEO, Cigna Corporation; Steve Demetriou, Chair & CEO, Jacobs; Margaret Keane, CEO, Synchrony; Charles F. Lowrey, Chairman & CEO, Prudential; and Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman, President & CEO for Centene, Centene Corporation.
• Are you a Latina in STEM? Latina Style, Inc. wants to hear from you. Be featured in Latina Style’s 2021 STEM series. Nominate yourself or a fellow Latina by sending full contact information and bio to editor@latinastyle.com.

Small Business Administration

• PPP Saved Millions of Small Businesses, American jobs By SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza During a year when every sector of society grappled with how to defeat a novel virus, COVID-19, and survive sweeping government shutdowns, we can say with certainty the American small business sector was upheld by the Trump administration. By providing millions of small businesses with the short-term certainty and capital they needed to keep tens of millions of employees on payroll, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) accomplished its mission, and now our nation’s small businesses are helping lead the great American economic comeback. Learn more
• If you received a Paycheck Protection Program loan, you may be eligible for loan forgiveness. Here are four steps to apply for loan forgiveness.
  • Contact your lender and complete the correct form
  • Compile documentation
  • Submit the forgiveness form and documentation to your lender
  • Communicate with your lender throughout the process

Learn more

• If your COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan was declined, you can request reconsideration within six months of the date of the decline letter. Include your application number and information required to overcome the reason for decline. You can send this information via email to pdcrecons@sba.gov or mail to the U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas, 76155. Learn more
• SBA is proposing to revise size standards to boost SBA program eligibility for businesses in the following industries.
  • Education services
  • Health care and social assistance
  • Arts, entertainment and recreation
  • Accommodation and food services
  • Other services

Learn how to submit comments

• Did you know that the U.S. Small Business Administration and other agencies provide free resources to help small businesses sell to customers overseas? As more businesses use online storefronts and e-commerce platforms, they become well-positioned to enter the international marketplace. SBA helps these businesses succeed by providing access to grants, loans, and free advice. Learn more

New Jersey 

• December 22 | 5:00pm – 6:00pm The Hunterdon Chamber of Commerce Holiday Party has Gone Virtual! This year they will collect gift cards for the YMCA Angel Patrol. They can be mailed or dropped of at the Chamber, in their Secure Mail Box at their rear entrance at 119 Main Street, Flemington, NJ.

New York 

• To mitigate the spread of this disease, food establishments will not be permitted to offer indoor dining beginning on Monday, December 14. Food establishments that are located outside of State-designated “red zones” are still permitted to offer take-out, delivery, and outdoor dining. Food establishments that are located within State-designated “red zones” may continue to offer take-out and delivery only. If you are a restaurant owner whose establishment is permitted to offer outdoor dining, you may still sign up to participate in the Open Restaurants program by visiting nyc.gov/openrestaurants. If you are already participating, you may use the same link to check siting requirements and ensure your set up is compliant. More details about this announcement.   

Maryland

• Tuesday December 15 | 5:30pm – 7:30pm Baltimore Small Business Resources Webinar Series: Session III – Show Me the Money hosted by Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) in partnership with KIVA Baltimore and M&T Bank. Understanding the need for small business support that the local community continues to call for amid the pandemic, several local community development institutions have come together to provide new insights into what resources are available right now. In this session, a group of local bankers and community development financial representatives will talk about the small business resources available to entrepreneurs and small business owners in Baltimore. Panelists will discuss how and when to access funding and the different sources of funding out there.
• Wednesday January 20 | 10:00am – 11:30am Sector 23 (Construction) Networking Event hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration. This webinar is for small construction businesses who focus on the Sector 23 NAICS Codes. Panelists will speak on their experiences in the SBA 8(a) program and provide helpful tips for success. There will also be a representative from the Maryland Procurement Technical Assistance Center to provide an overview of their services. An open Q&A between attendees and panelists will follow. To register for this free event click here.