Bronx Business News You Can Use

Join the Chamber for our first in-person networking event in over a year! We are so excited to be able to host this lovely event at the Residence Inn by Marriott in the Bronx.

The event is free for our members (plus 1 guest) and $20 for non-members and additional guests. The night will include one free drink, cash bar, and light appetizers!

RSVP at bronxchamber.org

The $35 million Restaurant Return-to-Work Tax Credit Program provides an incentive to COVID-impacted restaurants to bring restaurant staff back-to-work, and to increase hiring at NYS restaurants. Qualifying businesses are eligible for a tax credit of $5,000 per new worker hired, up-to $50,000 per business. The Program is open to eligible restaurants located in New York City, or in an area outside of New York City that was designated an Orange or Red Zone for at least thirty consecutive days.

To be responsive to the needs of COVID-impacted restaurants, the Restaurant Return-to-Work Tax Credit provides a Fast Track Option, which allows a business to claim the credit before the end of the tax year.

Restaurants may claim the credit after August 31, 2021 (Fast Track Option), if the business can demonstrate a net employee increase of at least 1 full-time employee as measured from April 1, 2021 to August 31, 2021.

Alternatively, restaurants can choose to claim the tax credit on their 2021 NYS tax return if the business can demonstrate a net employee increase of at least 1 full-time employee as measured from April 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.

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.

Earn an Associate, Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree

Monroe College is offering a 20% tuition reductions to employees of the members of the New Bronx Chamber of Commerce.

Monroe College will be LIVE:

This webinar will give you an overview of the admissions process for adult learners who are interested in earning their degree and students who are interested in transferring to Monroe. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions.

Mott Hall Charter School is accepting applications for 6th grade and also accepting waitlist applications for 7th and 8th grade for the 2021-22 school year.

Apply online HERE.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it will launch a streamlined Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgiveness application portal on August 4 to allow borrowers with PPP loans of $150,000 or less to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA.

The new streamlined PPP application portal will accept applications from borrowers that have a PPP loan with a participating lender that opted into the forgiveness portal, simplifying forgiveness for millions of small businesses.

PPP borrowers can check out the Direct Forgiveness Portal User Guide for detailed instructions or attend an SBA-sponsored training session on the new SBA Direct Forgiveness Portal – click here for upcoming dates.

The SBA is also standing up a PPP customer service team to directly assist borrowers with their forgiveness applications. Borrowers needing assistance can call 1-877-552-2692, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. or meet with a Pace SBDC Business Advisor.

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 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:

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.

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.