May 12, E-Newsletter

E-Newsletter | May 12th, 2020

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105 E. Main St. / P.O. Box 44, Flushing, MI 48433

ph. (810) 659-4141 , fax (810) 659-6964

Flushing Chamber of Commerce

Weekly Newsletter

Connecting YOU

May 12th, 2020

Restart Flint & Genesee is a special recovery program established by the Flint & Genesee Chamber to assist small businesses in Genesee County that have suffered economic distress because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers Energy Foundation is the first to partner with the Chamber on the new program and donated $200,000 to be used for grant awards. This funding will help cover expenses associated with reopening a business under guidelines and requirements for social distancing and safety of clients/customers.

Eligibility Criteria

In addition to being owned and operated in Genesee County, businesses may have up to 50 employees and must have been impacted significantly by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order.
Industry sectors that are eligible:
Barbershops/hair salons/fitness gyms
Tattoo parlors; bars/restaurants
Retail; construction/landscaping
Daycare
Senior living/care facilities, and
Non-critical manufacturing
Business may not be a franchise and must provide evidence of economic distress or barriers to success.

Application

Completed online applications must be received by Midnight on Sunday, May 24, 2020.

Apply Now

An informational webinar for the Restart Flint & Genesee Grant Program will be held Friday, May 15, at 10 a.m.. The session will cover program details, application criteria and deadlines, and how the funds may be used, which will be for costs associated with restarting the business. Questions will be taken after the presentation.

Watch the recorded webinar from Friday, May 8

About Consumers Energy Foundation

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm of Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest energy provider. The Foundation enables communities to thrive and grow by investing in what’s most important to Michigan — its people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. For more information about the Consumers Energy Foundation, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation .

Applications for Federal Paycheck Protection Program Resume April 27

An additional $310 billion was approved to extend the Paycheck Protection Program to provide forgivable federal loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The SBA resumed accepting applications from participating lenders on Monday, April 27 at 10:30 a.m. EDT.

Small business owners who have previously applied for PPP funding are encouraged to verify the status of their pending application with their lender. More information on how to apply for the SBA Paycheck Protection Program is available at MIpaycheckprotection.com.

Blogs Related to Managing a Business During COVID 19

11 Options if Your Small Business

Can't Pay Its Bills Due to Corona Virus

How Can Entrepreneurs Take Care of Their Mental Health During the Corona Virus

The Coronavirus Economic Impact: Will Business Interruption Insurance Help (& What are My Other Options)?

Crisis Communication Planning Checklist

5 Ways to Maximize Small Business Cash Flow During the COVID-19 Outbreak

COVID-19 Is Here. What’s Next for Food and Beverage Businesses?

Online Templates and Tools for Existing Businesses

Go: HERE

Virtual Mentoring

During the COVID19 crisis SCORE mentors are available via electronic means.

Michigan Chapters:

Ann Arbor

Detroit

Grand Rapids

Kalamazoo/Southwest Michigan

Muskegon

Traverse City

Petoskey Tip of the Mitt

Virtual Assistance from SBA Resource Partners During COVID19

Live Webinars

SCORE hosts free, LIVE webinars every week on small business tips and strategies. See our upcoming offerings. Read more

May 14: Essential PR Tools and Tactics - Elevate the Visibility of Your Business While Being

Sheltered in Place

May 14, 2020, 11:00am EDT

Small Business Development Center

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a funded partner of the SBA. The SBDC provides free business counseling, access to secondary market research and many in-person and online training opportunities.

To connect with an SBDC office near you go to:

www.sbdcmichigan.org

COVID 19 Related Webinars

Recorded:

Navigating the Cash Flow Crunch - Click HERE

Human Resource Management During COVID19 - Click HERE

Managing Your Freelance Business During COVID19 - Click HERE

Sustaining Your Restaurant During COVID 19 - Click HERE

VetBizCentral

VetBizCentral is an SBA funded Veteran Business Outreach Center serving Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. The organization provides assistance to Veterans, Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Members in the formation and expansion of their businesses through education, training, counseling and procurement. To connect go to: VetBizCentral

Upcoming Webinars

How Do We Drive Down Overhead?

Date: May 7, 2020 Time 1:00—2:30 pm EDT

Presenter: Jenny Clark, Solvability

Known as the Oprah of Government Contracting, Jenny will take you through "The Financial Side of GovCon" giving you the roadmap you need that will save you tons of time and money. Price is always a component of any federal contract because agencies are dealing with more restrictive budgets. When your company starts out, you’ll bid anything and everything to get the revenue in, and some of those contracts may even be money-losers. But getting the wins creates momentum and brings relationships with customers who want to keep their successful contractors on their projects.

Registration: HERE

Essential FAR Performance Clauses for Federal Construction Contractors

Date May 14, 2020 Time 1:00—2:30 pm EDT

In this webinar, attendees will learn how to:

Identify “constructive” or implied changes
Understand and comply with notice requirements
Distinguish between types of differing site conditions
Understand the difference between design and performance specifications
Differentiate between delay, disruption, and inefficiency, acceleration and suspension Registration: HERE

The Great Lakes Women’s Business Council, a funded partner of the SBA, is committed to empowering women and minorities economically through business development training, supplier certification, business-to-business networking and accessible capital assistance programs. We provide effective business tools and remove barriers that hinder the development of successful and sustainable businesses. Our work strengthens the community by building partnerships and leveraging resources that increase business growth opportunities. To connect go to: https://www.greatlakeswbc.org/