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.

The New York State Department of Labor released the Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Standard, Model Airborne Infectious Disease Prevention Plan, and industry specific templates to facilitate compliance with the recently enacted HERO Act. The HERO Act requires employers to adopt and maintain an airborne infectious disease prevention plan to be implemented when an airborne infectious disease is designated by the New York State Commissioner of Health as a “highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health.” This plan will not apply to any seasonal or endemic infectious agent or disease, such as the seasonal flu, that has not been designated by the Commissioner as a highly contagious communicable disease that presents a serious risk of harm to the public health. To learn more, click here. 

Since launching the Bronx Metro-North Study in 2018, the Department of City Planning has held a variety of public events to listen and learn about what’s important to you regarding new Metro North service planned for the East Bronx. The materials shared are draft recommendations and a long-term vision that reflects what they have heard from the community and you over the last few years. This remote open house offers an opportunity for you to reaffirm or suggest changes to those draft recommendations.

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

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.