Your Link to Opportunities and Information - Volume 11
Participate in Virtual Matchmaking
Supplier (MBE) Registration:

Buyer (Corporations and other buying entities) Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COVID-19MMBuyers

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Critical Medical Supplies Procurement Portal
The Portal is for manufacturers, distributors and other suppliers to inform the Commonwealth of supplies available and will allow them to more efficiently procure these supplies for hospitals and medical facilities across Pennsylvania. Read more.

Pittsburgh International Airport DBE Virtual Office Hours
The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the ACAA into a period of irregular operations, or IROPS. It is still vitally important to maintain productive relationships with our DBE partners. To do so, the ACAA DBE team will hold "virtual" office hours every Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. Members of the team will be available at that time to discuss upcoming ACAA business opportunities and answer any questions you may have. To schedule an appointment, email dbeinquiries@FlyPittsburgh.com

Current Bids
Hand Sanitizer, Toilet Paper, Disinfectant Wipes, etc.
The City of Pittsburgh - The Urban League is buying to distribute locally. Suppliers in Southwest PA call Michael Buzzelli or Mary Kay Dietrich at 412-227-4229. 

Community College of Allegheny County
June 1, 2020

Community College of Allegheny County
June 2, 2020

Community College of Allegheny County
June 2, 2020

Philadelphia Gas Works
June 2, 2020

City of Philadelphia
June 3, 2020

Delaware River Port Authority
June 8, 2020

JPC Group, Inc.
June 8, 2020

Philadelphia Housing Authority
June 22, 2020

Philadelphia Gas Works
June 23, 2020

Delaware River Port Authority 
June 26, 2020
SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – THERE’S STILL TIME
Originally created by the  CARES Act , PPP provides relief to small businesses, independent contractors, eligible self-employed individuals, and nonprofits. The loans can be for 2.5 times payroll costs, up to $10 million, and feature a streamlined application process with fewer requirements. Most significantly, PPP loans are eligible for forgiveness in full or in part, if defined conditions are met including maintaining head counts and payroll at or above pre-pandemic levels. Click here for the loan forgiveness application . A portion of PPP loans may be used for permitted expenses, including rent. Applications continue to be accepted by SBA Lenders including commercial and community banks, FinTech companies and CDFIs, approximately $117B remains available for funding. Go here for a list of approved lenders to apply for PPP and Read more .
 
Questions regarding the status of your PPP application can be submitted to your lender directly. If you have applied call SBA's 24/7 Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 to check the status of your loan number. Click here to sign up to receive email updates from the SBA.

POISE Foundation Announces First-round Grants Awarded
The new Critical Community Needs Fund (CCNF) was created to provide support to small and mid- sized Black Led Organizations (BLOs) responding to critical needs in the Black community resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pittsburgh region. Read more.

Sara Blakely Foundation Teamed up with GlobalGiving to establish The Red Backpack Fund
GlobalGiving is making at least 1,000 grants of $5,000 each to female entrepreneurs in the U.S. to help alleviate the impact of the crisis. The application period is June 1-8. Read more.

FedEx Grants Support Small Business
Each grant recipient will receive a check for $5,000. Additionally, each recipient will receive a $500 credit at FedEx Office to use toward printing services. A total of 200 grants will be awarded. The application period is May 25-June 12. Read more.
May 23 to June 30 Free Telephone & Online Counseling Hours to Assist with COVID-19 Loan Programs, Resources and Recovery Assistance
Chatham Center for Women Entrepreneurship (this service is not just for women) is offering daily telephone counseling hours dedicated specifically to answering questions on COVID-19 Federal, State, and Local loan programs, resources, and recovery assistance. Read more.

July 15 is the New Deadline for Taxes
Kia Buckner and Yolanda McBride of Horsey, Buckner, and Heffler, LLP recently participated in EMSDC's 4th edition of Secure the Bag to present information on the Revised Tax Calendar Review and Practical Advice for Challenging Times. In case you missed it, click here to listen to the recording.

EMSDC Needs Your Input
EMSDC is planning a Wealth Management Series and we would like your input on which topic we should first present first. Read more.

EMSDC is implementing Rapid Response® program to ensure the sustainability of businesses in the Council. The Rapid Response® program is designed to provide a suite of business support services, based on the assessed needs of an applicant seeking assistance. Read more.
New Products from C.A.S.E. (A Technology Solution Company)

  1. Introducing Exciting New Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) Platform, Powered by Duo's World Renowned Security Software (now part of Cisco).
  2. Take Control of Mission Critical Process Access Security and Tracking using PASS Bridge System [Patent Pending]
  3. Protect Endless Mission Critical Processes, Utility Zone Reset, Facility Shutdown/Egress, Machine Start/Access, Recipe Change, Quality Critical Fault and other processes

Federal

Pennsylvania
Gov. Wolf Adds Eight Counties to Yellow and 17 to Green on May 29, Remainder to Yellow on June 5. Read more.

Delaware
Governor Carney Announces Lifting of Short-Term Rental Ban, Out-of-State Quarantine on June 1. Read more.

New Jersey
New Jersey Launches PPE Supplier Registry to Facilitate Access to COVID-19 Protective Gear. Read more.
Accept the Challenge! Shop & Order from Local Businesses
Help support your favorite local food and drink businesses and retailers, specifically ethnic or minority-owned, by ordering takeout, buying gift cards, and/or shopping online.   Here's the challenge:  click here , shop and share your shift with a shout out to that business on social media using the #ShiftwithEMSDC. If you spend with businesses, specifically ethnic and minority businesses not on our list, let us know on social and we’ll add them to the list. Together we’ll reinforce our local economies!

How to Help During the Pandemic
COVID-19 has many of us panicking, and more of us wondering what we can do to actually make a difference. Here, a regularly updated guide offers a few ways to start. Read more.

URA and Honeycomb Credit Partner to Create Pittsburgh Loyalty Bonds Program
New program helps small businesses address cash flow issues and gain customers. Read more.
Hershey and Harrisburg Offering Virtual Fun and Activities
From educational animal encounters at ZooAmerica to virtual tours of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building, there’s plenty to explore from your living room. There’s no wait for the front seat on the virtual POV Hersheypark roller coaster ride videos. Read more.
Join Yammer, our private community group where EMSDC Corporate Members, MBEs, and Subscribers can connect, post, and view EMSDC's daily posts. Click here to log in . Questions or need access to join? Email Tricina Cash at tcash@emsdc.org .  
Free Office Furniture
The lease for EMSDC's office space in Pittsburgh has ended. While we take this opportunity to look for new space in Pittsburgh, our Pittsburgh team will continue to work remotely for you and your business. We are not going anywhere! As we make this transition, we are donating our excess office furniture to any interested MBE, including several desks, chairs, tables, magazine rack, cabinets. Please contact mmarkley@emsdc.org for more information.     

Giving Tuesday Thank you
Thank you to everyone who donated in support of the Council during the #GivingTuesdayNow campaign. The funds raised will assist MBEs seeking re-certification. Read more.

Upcoming Events, Programs and Webinars
June 3

June 11

June 17

June 19

June 25
SHARE in Harrisburg Save the Date

June 29

In Case You Missed it..