Your Link to Opportunities and Information - Volume 4
A message from the CEO
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Participate in Virtual Matchmaking
Our “Virtual Matchmaker” is up and running and connects buyers to entrepreneurs with sourcing solutions. Please click the appropriate below link and answer a few brief questions to begin the matchmaking process. An EMSDC representative will contact you with potential matches and additional instructions.
Supplier (MBE) Registration:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Critical Medical Supplies Procurement Portal
Pennsylvania needs critical medical supplies. To fulfill this need, the departments of Community and Economic Development, Health, General Services, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency have developed the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Critical Medical Supplies Procurement Portal
(the “Portal”) to source the most needed medical supplies. The Portal is for manufacturers, distributors and other suppliers to inform us of supplies available for purchase and will allow the Commonwealth to more quickly and efficiently procure these supplies for hospitals and medical facilities across Pennsylvania.
Read more.
Current Bids
Federal Home Loan Bank
April 10, 2020
ENGIE and Community Energy
April 10, 2020
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
April 14, 2020
DRPA & PATCO
April 21, 2020
City of Harrisburg
April 30, 2020
Community College of Allegheny County
May 6, 2020
Philadelphia Housing Authority
May 8, 2020
DRPA and PATCO
May 13, 2020
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SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, small business owners in all U.S. states, Washington D.C., and territories are eligible to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance of up to $10,000 in grant monies. The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.
Read more.
SBA Paycheck Protection Program
The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available
April 3, 2020 through June 30, 2020
.
Read more.
COVID-19 Working Capital Access Program (CWCA)
The COVID-19 Working Capital Access (CWCA) Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) and provides critical working capital financing to small businesses located within the Commonwealth that are adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Read more.
Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund
The City of Philadelphia and PIDC have launched the Philadelphia COVID-19 Small Business Relief Fund. The $9 million fund aims to provide targeted support for small businesses, which face an unprecedented challenge due to the ongoing global pandemic. The fund offers a mix of new grants and zero-interest loans for businesses that make under $5 million in annual revenue.
Read more
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The Enterprise Center Capital Corporation (TEC-CC) offers both microloans and traditional small business loans of up to $500,000.
If you need a loan under $50,000, you may be eligible through TEC-CC for a microloan: a short‐term, fixed rate, fixed payment loan up to $50,000 made to start‐up or growing small businesses. Microloan applications are reviewed and approved by the internal loan review committee, which is composed of TEC staff members.
Read more.
Bridgeway Capital Loans
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bridgeway’s patient, flexible capital and free technical assistance is available to help small businesses stay resilient
when facing business disruptions and changing cashflows. Financing solutions and loan modifications are tailored to the needs of your small business. Bridgeway’s financing is designed to work with credit challenges, collateral gaps, and complex transactions in need of creative funding solutions.
Read more.
Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
The URA recognizes the potential hardships and needs small businesses are facing and may face due to COVID-19. We want to reassure our small business borrowers that we are here to work with you.
Read more.
NJEDA Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant
In response to the economic challenges being faced by New Jersey Small and Medium sized businesses and non-profits (collectively “SMEs”), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has created the Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program.
Due to high demand, this funding is exhausted, but submitting your application will ensure that if additional funds become available for this round of Grant funding, you may be eligible.
APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE APRIL 10
.
Read more.
Yelp’s Relief for Affected Businesses
Yelp is providing $25 million in
COVID-19 relief
for independent restaurant and nightlife businesses in the form of waived advertising fees, and free advertising, products, and services.
Read more.
Verizon and LISC Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Fund
Verizon’s investment of $2.5 million into a
Recovery Fund
, is making it possible for LISC to begin offering critical relief and resiliency-building support to small businesses. The funding will go to make grants of up to $10,000, especially to entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically under-served places who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital.
First Round is closed. Use this Link to register for next round that will launch in Mid-April.
Read more.
James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund
The national nonprofit culinary arts organization has launched the
Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund
. The Foundation will be gathering support from corporate, foundation, and individual donors to provide micro-grants to independent food and beverage businesses in need.
Read more.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
For Nonprofits - The Pittsburgh Foundation Emergency Action Fund
The Emergency Action Fund has been established at The Pittsburgh Foundation to accept contributions from their donors and from corporations, foundations and the community at large. The Fund aims to support and strengthen the nonprofit human services network and infrastructure during this crisis period. The Fund will award small operating grants on a rolling basis to nonprofit organizations seeking to meet basic needs, especially of the most vulnerable.
Read more.
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Educating Black-Owned Businesses About Leveraging CARES Act To Financially Survive COVID-19 Webinar Recording
A 90-minute information and Q&A session with urgent information on the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) under the newly-passed stimulus package – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. Understand what’s included in the PPP and your business’s eligibility.
Read more.
PIDC Business Resources
This page is updated regularly with the latest local information and resources about COVID-19 coronavirus.
Read more.
IRS Issues Warning about Coronavirus-related Scams
The IRS warned taxpayers to watch out for emails, text messages, websites, and social media attempts related to the coronavirus that request money or personal information. Taxpayers should not click on links from emails that appear to come from the IRS.
Read more.
These 5 Tech Companies Are Providing Free Remote Working Tools During the Coronavirus Outbreak
If your company is sending everyone home to work, you're probably wondering whether you
have the systems in place
to make that happen. If that's you, the good news is that a few tech companies are offering their services to help you stay connected. Here are five tech companies that are making it easier to work remotely, and are making their services more accessible to small businesses and organizations.
Read more.
North Broad Renaissance is Matching Your Gift Card Purchase
Purchase a gift card from Philadelphia's North Broad businesses between City Hall and Germantown Ave, and receive a match up to $100! Email
info@northbroad.org
with proof of purchase to receive info on how to get your match.
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Personal Protective Equipment
The current global pandemic has made the need for medical supplies imperative to treat patients and provide the support to our responders. ELS Dynamic has an array of sourcing relationships throughout the international landscape to support the efforts of the medical pandemic. We are currently offering KN95, N95 masks and diverse PPE supplies for medical professionals and organizations.
Read more.
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Translation Services
Latino Connection™
can provide translation and interpretation services to meet a wide variety of messaging and communications. They remain committed to providing vulnerable communities with resources to keep themselves and their families healthy. They have stayed up to date with CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry online education webinars around status and preventative measures for COVID-19. They can implement several methods and provide effective messaging on behalf of your company to keep your customers informed.
Read more.
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Legal Services - Free Consultation
Company Counsel, LLC
is led by Bernard A. Williams, Esq., a seasoned attorney who has honed his craft at some of the finest large law firms in the nation. Being a business owner himself, Bernard has seen firsthand that smart, forward-thinking legal counsel is not a privilege meant only for the wealthiest of corporate conglomerates – every business needs wise legal advice and representation to survive, grow and sustain success. Company Counsel LLC is giving a free consultation to any MBEs going through a tough time and needs legal help.
Read more.
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Federal
- The third wave of federal COVID-19 stimulus, the CARES Act was signed by the President.
- The $2.2 trillion CARES Act includes expanded unemployment benefits, small business assistance, and $500 billion of assistance to distressed sectors.
- The Moving Forward infrastructure framework has been proposed in the House to provide the foundation for the next package of economic stimulus measures.
- The Payment Protection Program (PPP), a key pillar of the CARES Act, may require supplemental funding from Congress due to the current and projected small business demand for loans through the program.
- The additional $250 billion for the PPP called for by Senate Republican leaders will be supported by Congressional Democratic leadership if it includes support to nonprofits, women-, minority-, and veteran-owned small businesses, PPE equipment and other resources for hospitals, state and local government support, and a SNAP benefit increase.
- Congressional leaders are working with the White House on the fourth round of coronavirus response legislation in hopes they will have something ready for consideration when Congress returns from recess on April 20.
Pennsylvania
- The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee approved an amended Senate Bill 613 to provide a way for businesses that follow federal safety recommendations to reopen.
- The Chamber coordinated the effort to have over 40 local chambers of commerce statewide sign a letter to Governor Wolf requesting that the Administration allow more businesses to operate under CISA and CDC guidelines.
- The Pennsylvania House passed SB 327 to create a 23-member Interbranch COVID-19 Cost and Recovery Task Force to track and manage recovery plans.
- Pennsylvania House Democrats are circulating a plan to reopen the Working Capital Loan program.
- The Senate approved emergency measures (SB 841) this week to help local governments respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency through greater flexibility on property tax deadlines, allow local governments to conduct remote meetings, and authorize remote notarization activities.
- A bill was introduced to aid businesses closed by the Governor’s COVID-19 order to provide economic assistance similar to that provided by business interruption insurance, which does not typically cover governmental proclamations or pandemics.
- New standards for building cleanliness are now being implemented by the Building Safety Measures order, which was signed by the Pennsylvania Secretary of the Department of Health. The new order applies to all buildings with at least 50,000 square feet and that are used for commercial, industrial or other purposes such as offices, grocery stores and airports.
- Read more
Delaware
- DNREC to limit number of people allowed in state parks and wildlife areas, which may close for periods
- Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) Issues Guidance Around Masks
- Community call-to-action issued for emergency materials, supplies
- Read more.
New Jersey
- Authorizes Economic Development Authority to make grants during periods of emergency declared by Governor and for duration of economic disruptions due to emergency; allows Economic Development Authority to grant certain business documentation submission deadline extensions.
- Urges Federal Communications Commission to take temporary measures to secure broadband access for those affected by COVID-19.
- Read more.
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We have created a new Microsoft Yammer page, EMSDC MBE Connects. This is a private group where EMSDC Corporate Members, MBEs, and Subscribers can connect with each other, post information, and view posts from EMSDC. Although our in-person events have been postponed, we hope to keep the EMSDC community engaged and connected through the new Yammer group and upcoming webinars.
Click here to log in
.
If you have any questions about accessing Yammer or if you did not receive your invitation to join please email Tricina Cash on our team at
tcash@emsdc.org
and she will be able to assist you.
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We are Here for You
EMSDC is proactively taking COVID-19 precautions and is therefore working virtually until further notice. Please send an email or use the extensions at 215-569-1005 or 412-391-4423 to leave a voicemail. We will get back to you by the close of business.
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Certification and Re-certification Update
There has been no change in the processing cycle for new and re-certification applications.
Notarized affidavits
are currently non-applicable, and you will need to submit within 30 days of the quarantine being lifted. We are working daily to keep things moving forward for our entrepreneurs. Feel free to contact us:
jfleishner@emsdc.org
or
dhurst-rodney@emsdc.org.
Upcoming Events
April 10, 2020
EMSDC closed in observance of Good Friday
April 16, 2020
SHARE Harrisburg presents COVID-19 Funding Resources Webinar (details to follow)
April 16, 2020
April 22, 2020
April 24, 2020
April 27, 2020
May 20, 2020
Healthy NewsWorks Virtual Book Signing
In Case You Missed it..
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