Your Link to Opportunities and Information - Volume 55
Upcoming Events, Programs, and Webinars

May 7

May 11

May 11-13

May 24-28
EMSDC/SRMSDC PIVOT Week

May 26
How to do Business with FEMA

May 26

June 3

June 16
SHARE in Harrisburg Virtual Matchmaker

July 19
Youth & Entrepreneur Scholarship Golf Invitational - White Manor Country Club, Malvern, PA

August 9
Youth & Entrepreneur Scholarship Golf Invitational - Fox Chapel Golf Club, Fox Chapel, PA
Participate in Virtual Matchmaking
Supplier (MBE) Registration:

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


PGW Procurement Portal
For Procurement Opportunities at PGW, please visit www.pgworks.com and follow the following steps for procurement opportunities:
  1. Go to Contact Us;
  2. Vendor Opportunities;
  3. Then to the left, click Current Procurement Opportunities *You will be directed to the brand-new online procurement system.
  4. To register, read the instructions listed on the home page in Procureware for PGW’s online procurement system.

American Water Procurement Portal
When there is a need, American Water sourcing professionals utilize their Supplier Portal to identify new vendors. Learn more about American Water’s Prime/Tier I and Sub/Supplier/Tier 2 supplier diversity strategies here and understand What We Buy!

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.

State of Delaware Procurement Portal
The Bid Solicitation Directory is the State's central repository across all three branches of state government that have an open Request for Information (RFI), Request for Quote (RFQ), Invitation to Bid (ITB), and/or a Request for Proposal (RFP). Read more.

Current Bids

State of Delaware
May 6, 2021

State of Delaware
May 6, 2021

Delaware River Port Authority
May 6, 2021

State of Delaware
May 7, 2021

State of Delaware
May 7, 2021

Pittsburgh Public Schools
May 7, 2021

Philadelphia Housing Authority
May 10, 2021

Michels Corporation
May 10, 2021

State of Delaware
May 10, 2021

Burchick Construction Company, Inc.
May 10, 2021

State of Delaware
May 11, 2021

State of Delaware
May 11, 2021

Mascaro
May 12, 2021

State of Delaware
May 12, 2021

State of Delaware
May 12, 2021

State of Delaware
May 12, 2021

ALCOSAN
May 12, 2021

State of Delaware
May 13, 2021

State of Delaware
May 13, 2021

State of Delaware
May 13, 2021

State of Delaware
May 13, 2021

State of Delaware
May 14, 2021

State of Delaware
May 14, 2021

State of Delaware
May 15, 2021

Community College of Allegheny County
May 17, 2021

Delaware River Port Authority
May 18, 2021

ALCOSAN
May 21, 2021

Mascaro
May 21, 2021

City of Harrisburg
May 21, 2021

Delaware River Port Authority
May 26, 2021

Delaware River Port Authority
May 26, 2021

Delaware River Port Authority
May 26, 2021

PA Convention Center
June 9, 2021
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) - New Deadline May 31
Legislation has passed that extends the deadline for businesses to apply for a PPP loan through May 31, 2021. This means that you can still access the remaining PPP funds for your business if you have not already.  
SBA is currently offering PPP loans until May 31, 2021. President Biden announced program changes to make access to PPP loans more equitable. Visit the SBA for information.

4 Things to Know About the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
An EIDL helps businesses meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. The terms: 30 years at a 3.75% fixed interest rate for businesses and 2.75% fixed interest rate for nonprofits. Unlike PPP, an EIDL isn't forgivable.
  1. The lending limit has increased to $500,000 on April 6.
  2. The deferment period is extended until 2022.
  3. You can receive an EIDL and a PPP or SVOG.
  4. You have until the end of the year to apply.

Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) Grant Information
The Restaurant Revitalization Fund will offer $28.6 billion in grants to hard-hit restaurants and bars, with restaurants able to apply for grants based on lost revenue. The minimum grant amount will be $1,000 and the maximum will be $5 million. If your calculations show that your reduction on income was less than $1000, then you won’t get the grant. For purposes of calculating funding amount, “in operation” means the day the entity started “making sales”. Read more.

Division of Small Business Website Now Lists Grants for Delaware Small Businesses
Looking for possible sources of funding for your Delaware small business? The Division of Small Business has added to its website a list of grants offered by numerous organizations, including the Division of Small Business. The list will be updated monthly. Find it at the Division of Small Business website, delbiz.com, under the Services tab.

New Small Business & Nonprofit Tax Credit for Vaccination Support
President Biden is calling on every employer in America to offer full pay to their employees for time off needed to get vaccinated and for time it takes to recover from the after-effects of vaccination. As part of this effort, the President also announced a new paid leave tax credit that will offset the cost for employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide full pay for any time their employees need to get a COVID-19 vaccination or recover from that vaccination. Read more.

Huntington's Lift Local Business Program Focused on Growing African American Businesses
Huntington’s Lift Local Businesses, a $25 million small-business lending program focused on serving minority, women, veterans-owned-businesses includes the following features: Loan amounts from $1,000 – $150,000; Access to capital at a low cost to your business; Zero origination fees; Huntington pays your SBA fees; Lower credit score requirements; Free financial education courses ($1,500 value). Read more.

The PA 30-Day Fund
The Pennsylvania 30 Day Fund will deploy at least $100,000 for diverse small businesses who have suffered loss due to property damage and looting. The nonprofit organization provides $3,000 forgivable loans to small business owners who complete a simple application and submit a video. Read more. 

Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission has established a COVID-19 Recovery Loan Program
Under this program, small businesses can apply for financing to help pay for current employee salaries, including salaries for those individuals who may have been furloughed due to the outbreak. Businesses can also use the loan proceeds to help pay for rent and utilities, as well as inventory purchases. SPC will consider proof of expenses in any of the three aforementioned categories from the three-month period prior to the onset of the crisis, and those expenses will count towards the loan amount. Read more.
Cameron & Associates 8, LLC
Cameron & Associates 8, LLC offers a full consultation service within diversity and inclusion, training compliance, and workforce development. They assist with strategic opportunities and cultural sensitivity, workforce inclusion, capacity building, and managing labor compliance requirements.

Retail Business Services to Launch Third Annual Start-Up Immersion Program - Deadline May 31
“SEED Immersion: Your Express Lane to Grocery” provides training and mentorship to help start-ups succeed in grocery. The 10-week immersion program is designed to help start-ups build critical relationships to accelerate their companies’ successfully. New this year, the scope of the program has been expanded from supply chain focused technologies to include a wider range of start-ups with technologies applicable to all aspects of omnichannel consumer experience, from product origin through the supply chain to physical and digital store shelves and ultimately to consumers’ homes. Read more.

Community Power to Prosper Program - Deadline June 16
The Community Power to Prosper Program, a no-cost, 6-month certificate program provided by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence (IEE), is designed for owners of existing inner city businesses interested in entrepreneurship and growth. The program’s goal is to identify barriers and opportunities and develop strategies for growth in sales, profits, and enterprise value. Read more.

Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell - Enrollment Begins Soon
The Bank of America Supplier Diversity & Responsible Sourcing Team proudly extends the opportunity to participate in an online course for women entrepreneurs as part of the Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell. This certificate program will provide participants no-cost access to a virtual learning experience conducted by Cornell faculty. With a limited number of slots available, participation is by invitation only. Read more.

Free 6-Month Dropbox Trial
If you would like to access the free 6-month Dropbox trial, please email StephanieS@Dropbox.com so she can provide you with the unique link! No credit card or commitment needed, no strings attached - just a free trial to see if Dropbox and the other programs integrated within Dropbox like Slack and Zoom are useful for your business! This offer is valid for NMSDC members who are not currently subscribed to Dropbox.

Small Business Bonding Readiness Assistance Program
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) entered into a partnership to establish and facilitate the Small Business Bonding Readiness Assistance Program (SBBRAP). This initiative was designed to better position New Jersey small, minority, veteran and women-owned businesses to compete for state, county, municipal, agency or government contracts in the public sector. Read more.

The PA Department of Labor & Industry Rapid Response Service Team
The PA Department of Labor & Industry’s no-cost, integrated business services can help businesses overcome a variety of challenges, whether it’s hiring a skilled workforce, preventing a closure, or increasing global competitiveness when facing foreign trade. The Rapid Response Service Team provides a proactive, customized approach in addressing specific business needs or challenges as they arise. Rapid Response can also be there on a business’ worst day. When a layoff or closure is announced, the Rapid Response team can help with layoff aversion plans or assist with getting affected workers reemployed. If foreign trade is involved, then the team can assist businesses in filing for the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. Get support today.
Use the following links to find updated information on statistics and recommendations in the states that we serve.
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!

MBE2MBE Marketplace
The MBE2MBE Marketplace connects you with sourcing solutions. Now more than ever is the time to look beyond your usual sourcing outlets and reach out to support each other. Check out the minority businesses listed here for your business supply chain and help drive success for yourself and fellow entrepreneurs. Read more.

#STANDTOGETHER SAFELY
Over the past several months, we have all experienced unprecedented social, environmental, and economic challenges. Gone are the days where we talk about change. Change is now and the only way it happens is that we all #STANDTOGETHER SAFELY. EMSDC and SRMSDC #STANDTOGETHER SAFELY. We are reaching out to businesses who may be able to provide services to adversely affected business owners for their health and well-being, as well as for the health of their businesses and communities. Where we go from here depends on you. If you can help, need help, or want more information, contact Christine Robertson at crobertson@emsdc.org.
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.