Uniting Local Minority Chambers Across The State To Help Drive Louisiana's Economy Forward |
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Greetings!
If you're reading this, you made it to second quarter! First quarter came with it's challenges but we preserved. Take a look at this edition's events for expanding your skills, networks, and financial resources.
We ended our quarter in color, as we partnered with Alexander McConduit, a children's author, to illustrate our Dream in Color coloring sheets to distribute to Alice Boucher Elementary and JW Faulk Elementary of Lafayette, Arise Academy Schools of New Orleans, and
Cherokee Park Elementary School in Shreveport.
Each school, serving students in underserved communities, received boxes of crayons, in addition to special boxes of crayons entitled, Colors of the World. Launched last year by Crayola, Colors of the World features 24- or 32-count crayons which represent 40 different skin-tones across the world, allowing all children to see themselves in their art.
"We want to encourage elementary students to “#Dream in Color” by using the crayon shade that represents them as they consider their future careers. We recognize the next set of black-business owners are sitting in classrooms now – and it’s important to challenge, support and encourage young people,” says LCCF President and CEO, David St. Etienne.
Special thanks to Diamond Express Printing, S & D Graphix, and Good Look Creative.
You can purchase Alexander's latest book, on the evolution here.
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Women's History Month Spotlight, Power Pump Girls, Inc. |
During Women's History Month, LCCF is highlighting women of yesterday and today that are making waves in Louisiana communities.
Power Pump Girls can be described as a lifestyle brand and social impact club. On a mission to empower women, they connect and serve by design. PPG unites women to create awareness and advocacy around social issues people, specifically women, face. Their digital platforms are strategic in generating buzz on conversations that need to be had–and their merchandise further amplifies their message.
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USDA Announces 'Pandemic Assistance for Producers' |
WASHINGTON- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative on March 24, 2021. The initiative will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new programs and will also develop rules for new programs that will put a greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers, timber harvesters, and support for the food supply chain and producers of renewable energy, among others.
As a first step in retargeting existing programs, USDA will re-open sign-up of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2)for at least 60 days beginning on April 5, 2021. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has committed at least $2.5 million to improve outreach for CFAP 2 and will establish partnerships with organizations with strong connections to socially disadvantaged communities to ensure they are informed and aware of the application process.
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Historic Win for U.S. Representative, Julia Letlow |
NEW ORLEANS – Congratulations to U.S. Representative elect—Julia Letlow on her successful bid to serve Louisianans residing in the 24 parishes which comprise the Congressional 5th District.
As the third woman ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana, and the only woman in our state’s congressional delegation—we are encouraged by the progress that our state continues to make.
As a woman in leadership, I especially commend Representative elect—Letlow for having the courage and strength to continue the work that she helped her husband to accomplish during his campaign. A working mother, Rep. elect-Letlow’s resilience is an example of the overcoming spirit found in women across Louisiana, who keep our communities and businesses moving forward.
We still have more challenges that desperately need to be overcome— challenges which tend to immediately effect women and women-owned businesses.
These barriers include: job growth, our state’s infrastructure, eliminating the poverty rate and decreasing incarceration. Ultimately, these hurdles affect industry and economic prosperity for all of Louisiana.
We look forward to partnering with Representative elect-Letlow through the work of our regional chambers across the 5th District— Alexandria Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce, and Monroe Regional Black Chamber of Commerce, and Florida Parishes.
-Kelisha Garrett, Vice-President and Chief Operation Officer
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Paycheck Protection Program Extended
President Joe Biden signed the PPP Extension Act of 2021 into law, extending the Paycheck Protection Program an additional two months to May 31, 2021, and then providing an additional 30-day period for the SBA to process applications that are still pending
Resilia Microgrants
Resilia is partnering with Blackbaud to award five $1,000 grants to nonprofits nationally. No strings attached. Fill out our quick grant application and Resilia will select five grant recipients to receive immediate cash grants to support their work.
Covid-19 Vaccine News
On Wednesday, March 24, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced all Louisianans 16 or older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Monday, March 29. People ages 16 and 17 are only eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine. For more information on where you can get a vaccine, visit covidvaccine.la.gov.
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SBA to Increase Lending Limit for
COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration is increasing the maximum amount small businesses and non-profit organizations can borrow through its COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Starting the week of April 6, 2021, the SBA is raising the loan limit for the COVID-19 EIDL program from 6-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $150,000 to up to 24-months of economic injury with a maximum loan amount of $500,000.
“More than 3.7 million businesses employing more than 20 million people have found financial relief through SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which provide low-interest emergency working capital to help save their businesses. However, the pandemic has lasted longer than expected, and they need larger loans. Many have called on SBA to remove the $150,000 cap. We are here to help our small businesses and that is why I’m proud to more than triple the amount of funding they can access,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman.
Businesses that receive a loan subject to the current limits do not need to submit a request for an increase at this time.
SBA will reach out directly via email and provide more details about how businesses can request an increase closer to the April 6 implementation date. Any new loan applications and any loans in process when the new loan limits are implemented will automatically be considered for loans covering 24 months of economic injury up to a maximum of $500,000.
This new relief builds on SBA’s previous March 12, 2021 announcement that the agency would extend deferment periods for all disaster loans, including COVID-19 EIDLs, until 2022 to offer more time for businesses to build back. In order to shift all EIDL payments to 2022, SBA will extend the first payment due date for disaster loans made in 2020 to 24-months from the date of the note and to 18-months from the date of the note for all loans made in the calendar year 2021.
Questions about SBA COVID-19 EIDL and disaster loan payments can be emailed to [email protected] or directed to SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard of hearing).
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The U.S. Small Business Administration will host the Annual "Connecting Businesses with Contracts" Conference, in conjunction with the Southern University Ag Center and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC) at Southern University. Additional supporters include Louisiana Economic Development (LED) and the Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center (LA-PTAC).
Participation in this event enables Federal Agencies, State and Municipal Agencies, and Prime Contractors to strengthen their commitment to the small business community. For small businesses, this event affords them an opportunity to meet with various procurement officials, receive business development training, and network with other small businesses to expand their client base.
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From Our Partners at U.S. Black Chambers |
Business Succession Planning on April 8th at 2PM EST
Succession Planning is the process of what you decide will happen to your firm, its leaders, employees and assets when you leave, but what does it include?
Thursday's Edge: Confidence Boosting 101 with The Career Mavericks on April 8th at 5PM
Who are you? How do you balance? Are you fearless or fearful? Join U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. in this workshop to learn ways to boost your confidence, willingness to take smart risks and move outside your comfort zone.
Struggling to convert your followers into customers? Register today for the US Black Chamber's Webinar:
Instagram For Small Businesses with Shine with Natasha on April 16th at 2PM
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Louisiana Association of Non-Profits Hosts CEO: Roundtable with Sevetri Wilson |
Sevetri is a 2010 recipient of the Nobel Prize for Public Service, the Jefferson Award; and her work was featured in the U.S. Senate report to the White House on Volunteerism in the U.S., under President Obama. Sevetri’s work and that of her clients has been featured in national publications such as USA Today, Time Magazine, and CNN. She serves as a voice for communities as a Forbes contributor and has amassed over 200,000 followers across social media.
Her newest venture, Resilia is revolutionizing how nonprofits are created and maintained, and how funders scale impact. Prior to Resilia, she founded Solid Ground Innovations, LLC., a strategic communications agency and authored Solid Ground: How I Built a 7 Figure Company at 22 with Zero Capital.
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3901 MacArthur Blvd,
Box 6012 New Orleans, LA 70114
Phone Number: 1 504-655-7572
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