Bronx Business News You Can Use

Click Here for a helpful webinar on the $800 million small business recovery grant program, which will provide funding to small and micro businesses and small for-profit independent arts and cultural organizations to help them recover from the economic impact of the pandemic.

The deadline to apply for a PPP loan has passed; applications are no longer being accepted. But there are other loan opportunities you may have access to — you just have to know where to look. This guide outlines small business loans and alternative funding options, while this one lists more than 30 grants, loans and programs. And, the U.S. Small Business Association offers these seven SBA loan programs, which you may qualify for, as well.

Created to help bridge the funding gap for founders, the Stacy’s Rise Project has been connecting and empowering business owners for years. Mentorship and monetary support helped this brand rise from a humble sandwich cart to the nation’s supermarkets. And it’s these same resources that today’s small business owners need to succeed – now, more than ever. So that’s exactly what Stacy’s is offering to 10 entrepreneurs in their journey to make their dreams a reality with the latest iteration of the Rise Project.

The Stacy’s Rise Project™ supports small businesses through funding, mentorship and community. Eligible small businesses selected as Stacy’s Rise Project finalists will receive $10,000 and mentorship. Apply by sharing how a grant and mentorship opportunity would help grow your business.

Deadline July 9th

Dr. Bob Lee speaks to Anthony Mormile, Senior Vice President and Senior Commercial Loan Officer, and Vanessa Baijnauth, Associate Vice President and Relationship Manager of Orange Bank and Trust Company, who join the program to speak about the grand opening of their bank’s branch in the Bronx.

Congratulations to our Bronx Chamber member Metro Optics for making the list on Vison Monday Magazine Top 50 retailers in the US!

Share the Green is a virtual event that will engage women-owned businesses across the U.S., giving them access to a robust corporate supplier network and a platform for growth. The overall goal of Share the GreenSM is to advance female supplier diversity in the corporate supply chain. This unique opportunity welcomes women-owned businesses across a variety of industries to apply for your chance to meet executives from some of the leading corporations across the U.S. Applications are open starting June 14.

To our members of the New York Delegation to Congress: House continues to consider a package of antitrust bills aimed at the technology sector. The package is incredibly far-reaching, as would be the consequences if enacted into law. From local entrepreneurs and small businesses who leverage online tools and systems, to the communities across New York City who have flourished following investments from our country’s largest and most innovative companies, there is cause for concern. Read the 5 Chamber Alliance response to the bills.

President Biden describes the infrastructure agreement he negotiated with a bipartisan Senate group as “a once-in-a-generation investment to modernize our infrastructure that will create millions of good-paying jobs and position America to compete with the world and win the 21st century.” No Labels agrees with the president which is why they believe Congress should move immediately to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill. We explain the significance of the proposal’s key provisions in a new chart available HERE.

Amazon – one of our newest Bronx Chamber Corporate members – recently announced their new, multi-year, multi-million dollar initiative, the Black Business Accelerator: aimed at supporting, promoting, and growing small, Black-owned businesses. The financial grant applications open up July 1.

Amazon is committing $150 million over the next four years to help thousands of Black entrepreneurs reach hundreds of millions of customers. This program, created in partnership with Amazon’s Black Employee Network, the U.S. Black Chamber Inc., and others acknowledges that Black entrepreneurs have less access to capital, mentorship, and growth opportunities, and have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amazon is optimistic about the potential for this program to help generate wealth for Black entrepreneurs, their employees, their families, and their communities. To learn more, visit sell.amazon.com/BBA

NYC has launched NYC Business Quick Start, a concierge service for small businesses that provides sole point of contact to help navigate City regulations, as well as a public dashboard. The program guarantees a 48-hour response to all small business inquiries and will cut processing time by 50 percent.

The new program will help you:

The Imaginal Scale-up Program for founders of Women-Led Product and Technology Companies looking to accelerate their growth, scale, and impact is open and ready to accept applications.

This new and innovative digital program, created by Imaginal Ventures, combined with a fully immersive platform and a bespoke online Eco-Space, will support the scaling of businesses, using evidenced based techniques that teach conscious decision-making and the building of a solid foundation to accelerate growth and impact.

Applications need to be submitted by July 16, 2021. Click Here to Apply

Now is the time to re-think your marketing plan, upgrade your technology skills, and capture market share. Join Lehman College faculty in a workshop series focused on digital marketing and leveraging technologies to reconnect with your clients and find new clients.

This workshop series culminates in being matched with an individual VERIZON technology mentor, who will coach you through identifying and evaluating different digital marketing solutions to help grow your business.

The Training for Your Employees program provides no-cost, online training to help NYC-based business owners and employees located in the areas hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

To learn more and apply:

Call

888-SBS-4NYC

(888-727-4692)

Visit their WEBSITE

The Mayor kicked-off an ambitious program called the City Cleanup Corps (CCC). Following the devastating impacts of this ongoing pandemic, the CCC was launched to both help cleanup and rejuvenate our great neighborhoods and communities, while providing meaningful, good paying jobs that provide a career path to lasting economic recovery.

As a community leader, you can assist the CCC in two important ways:

Are you unable to pay the rent?

Need help to get your business online?

Confused about PPP loan forgiveness?

We are here to help!

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a part of the NYC Small Business Resource Network — a city-wide initiative to bring technical assistance and business recovery support to NYC small businesses.

At no cost to you, the NYC Small Business Resource Network can assist in technology, real estate, legal and accounting services, procurement opportunities, marketing, loans and grants, and more. Our on-the-ground Small Business Support Specialists will help guide you to the resources you need.

*If you need translation services, please contact anna@bronxchamber.org

The City is committed to awarding $16 billion in City contracts to M/WBEs over the next decade. Getting certified as a (M/WBE) Minority & Women-Owned Business Enterprise will help you access exclusive programs to help your small business grow and compete for these opportunities.

1. Increased opportunities for the City’s MWBEs: New York City agencies buy more goods and services from certified businesses

2. Gain access to capacity building programs: Education, Financing

3. Free advertising in the NYC Online Directory of Certified Businesses. Market your firm to all potential clients that care about diversity

4. Mentorship Programs and Workshops to help M/WBEs build and strengthen operations to compete and perform better on contract opportunities.

5. NYC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) provides one-on-one consultation services while you are in the process of drafting a bid proposal and provides post-selection feedback.

6. Networking Events for certified businesses, including the annual Citywide Procurement Fair, an SBS signature event for M/WBEs only.

Need Help Recertifying your M/WBE Status? Contact Us.

NYC resources are available for small business owners in the Bronx through our Chamber On-the-Go business support program. We connect you with resources to help your business thrive from the NYC Department of Small Business Services and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.