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NYC LOANS, GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE

CBDOs – Apply for Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Grants!
Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization grants fund community-based development organizations to carry out programs targeting commercial districts in low- and moderate-income communities.   In City Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), the program will include:   Grants of up to $100,000 per year over three years; maximum possible award of $300,000Dedicated funding for a full-time program managerAssistance for grantees to complete a Commercial District Needs AssessmentIn-depth group trainings and capacity building support    The program will help grantees to assess neighborhood needs and implement impactful, data-driven projects. Read the Avenue NYC Commercial Revitalization Program Guidelines.   Applications are due on April 5, 2020.
Learn More & Apply here:   https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/neighborhoods/avenue-nyc.page
Citywide Nonprofit Management Technical Assistance Providers – Apply for Avenue NYC Organizational Development Grants!
Avenue NYC Organizational Development Grants are specifically intended to fund nonprofit organizations to provide services and technical assistance to enhance the project and fiscal management, program execution, legal compliance, leadership and strategic capabilities of community-based development organizations (CBDOs) implementing commercial revitalization activities benefiting low- to moderate-income communities across the five boroughs.   Grantees will be awarded up to $100,000 per year for a period of one year. Read the Avenue NYC Organizational Development Program Guidelines.   Applications are due on April 5, 2020.
Learn More & Applyhere:   https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/neighborhoods/avenue-nyc.page
Help for New York Nonprofits: the NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund
The NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund was created to aid nonprofit service providers struggling with the health and economic effects of the coronavirus.   It will give grants and loans to NYC-based nonprofits that are trying to meet the new and urgent needs that are hitting the city. Priority will be given to nonprofits addressing essential healthcare and food insecurity as well as arts and culture, because New York is the cultural capital of the nation.
Learn More & Apply here   https://www.nycommunitytrust.org/covid19/
Check out resources for the nonprofit community by Candid to advance your work during the COVID-19 crisis.   Free tips and videos organized by topic: Fundraising with individual donorsFundraising for specific projects/causesFighting burnoutStorytelling and communicationsGovernance and talent managementCollaborationGrow as a leader and/or fundraiserRacial equity Visit Candid’s Website   https://blog.candid.org/post/candid-resources-to-advance-your-work-during-the-coronavirus-crisis/
Attend our upcoming webinar!
[Upcoming Webinar] Good Governance: New York State and New York City’s Employment Laws   New York City and New York State regulations aimed at protecting employees, and sometimes even individuals who are not employees, have proliferated over the past few years. This webinar will help make sense of them all, from criminal background checks to sick leave to new rules for independent contractors, not to mention employment protections for interns. The webinar will also cover the latest updates on laws to combat sexual and other harassment.   Date: Thursday, April 23   Time: 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.   Webinar dial-in info will be shared once you RSVP.
RSVP Here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/good-governance-new-york-state-and-new-york-citys-employment-laws-tickets-95905643361?aff=cc

FEDERAL CORONA VIRUS EMERGENCY LOANS

From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY L OANS

Small Business Guide and Checklist

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act allocated $350 billion to help small businesses keep workers employed amid the pandemic and economic downturn. Known as the Paycheck Protection Program, the initiative provides 100% federally guaranteed loans to small businesses. 

Importantly, these loans may be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the crisis or restore their payrolls afterward. 

The administration soon will release more details including the list of lenders offering loans under the program. In the meantime, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued this guide to help small businesses and self-employed individuals prepare to file for a loan. 

Here are the questions you may be asking— and what you need to know. 

Am I ELIGIBLE

 status.

You are eligible if you are:

• A small business with fewer than 500 employees 

• A small business that otherwise meets the SBA’s size standard 

• A 501(c)(3) with fewer than 500 employees 

• An individual who operates as a sole proprietor 

• An individual who operates as an independent contractor 

• An individual who is self-employed who regularly carries on any trade or business 

• A Tribal business concern that meets the SBA size standard 

• A 501(c)(19) Veterans Organization that meets the SBA size standard 

In addition, some special rules may make you eligible: 

• If you are in the accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72), the 500-employee rule is applied on a per physical location basis 

• If you are operating as a franchise or receive financial assistance from an approved Small Business Investment Company the normal affiliation rules do not apply 

REMEMBER: The 500-employee threshold includes all employees: full-time, part-time, and any other status. 

In evaluating eligibility, lenders are directed to consider whether the borrower was in operation before February 15, 2020 and had employees for whom they paid salaries and payroll taxes or paid independent contractors. 

Lenders will also ask you for a good faith certification that:

 1. The uncertainty of current economic conditions makes the loan request necessary to support ongoing operations

 2. The borrower will use the loan proceeds to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage, lease, and utility payments

3. Borrower does not have an application pending for a loan duplicative of the purpose and amounts applied for here

 4. From Feb. 15, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020, the borrower has not received a loan duplicative of the purpose and amounts applied for here (Note: There is an opportunity to fold emergency loans made between Jan. 31, 2020 and the date this loan program becomes available into a new loan) If you are an independent contractor, sole proprietor, or self-employed individual, lenders will also be looking for certain documents (final requirements will be announced by the government) such as payroll tax filings, Forms 1099-MISC, and income and expenses from the sole proprietorship.

What will lenders be LOOKING FOR?

In evaluating eligibility, lenders are directed to consider whether

the borrower was in operation before February 15, 2020 and had

employees for whom they paid salaries and payroll taxes or paid

independent contractors.

Lenders will also ask you for a good faith certification that:

1. The uncertainty of current economic conditions makes the loan

request necessary to support ongoing operations

2. The borrower will use the loan proceeds to retain workers and

maintain payroll or make mortgage, lease, and utility payments

3. Borrower does not have an application pending for a loan

duplicative of the purpose and amounts applied for here

4. From Feb. 15, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020, the borrower has not

received a loan duplicative of the purpose and amounts applied

for here (Note: There is an opportunity to fold emergency loans

made between Jan. 31, 2020 and the date this loan program

becomes available into a new loan)

If you are an independent contractor, sole proprietor, or self-employed

individual, lenders will also be looking for certain documents

(final requirements will be announced by the government) such as

payroll tax filings, Forms 1099-MISC, and income and expenses from

the sole proprietorship.

WHAT WILL LENDERS NOT BE LOOKING FOR?

• That the borrower sought and was unable to obtain credit elsewhere.

• A personal guarantee is not required for the loan.

• No collateral is required for the loan.

How much can I BORROW?

Loans can be up to 2.5 x the borrower’s

average monthly payroll costs, not to

exceed $10 million.

How do I calculate my average monthly PAYROLL COSTS?

sum of

INCLUDED

payroll costs

+

sum of

EXCLUDED

payroll costs

=

PAYROLL

COSTS

Act

INCLUDED Payroll Cost:

1. For Employers: The sum of payments of any compensation with

respect to employees that is a:

• salary, wage, commission, or similar compensation;

• payment of cash tip or equivalent;

• payment for vacation, parental, family, medical, or sick leave

• allowance for dismissal or separation

• payment required for the provisions of group health care benefits,

including insurance premiums

• payment of any retirement benefit

• payment of state or local tax assessed on the compensation

of the employee

2. For Sole Proprietors, Independent Contractors, and Self-Employed

Individuals: The sum of payments of any compensation to or

income of a sole proprietor or independent contractor that is a

wage, commission, income, net earnings from self-employment, or

similar compensation and that is in an amount that is not more than

$100,000 in one year, as pro-rated for the covered period.

EXCLUDED Payroll Cost:

1. Compensation of an individual employee in excess of an annual salary

of $100,000, as prorated for the period February 15, to June 30, 2020

2. Payroll taxes, railroad retirement taxes, and income taxes

3. Any compensation of an employee whose principal place of

residence is outside of the United States

4. Qualified sick leave wages for which a credit is allowed under section

7001 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Public Law 116–

5 127); or qualified family leave wages for which a credit is allowed

under section 7003 of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

NON SEASONAL EMPLOYERS:

Maximum loan =

2.5 x Average total monthly

payroll costs incurred during

the year prior to the loan date

For businesses not

operational in 2019:

2.5 x Average total monthly

payroll costs incurred for

January and February 2020

SEASONAL EMPLOYERS:

Maximum loan =

2.5 x Average total monthly

payments for payroll costs for

the 12-week period beginning

February 15, 2019 or March 1,

2019 (decided by the loan

recipient) and ending

June 30, 2019

Will this loan be FORGIVEN?

Borrowers are eligible to have their loans forgiven.

How Much?

A borrower is eligible for loan forgiveness equal to the amount the

borrower spent on the following items during the 8-week period

beginning on the date of the origination of the loan:

• Payroll costs (using the same definition of payroll costs used to

determine loan eligibility)

• Interest on the mortgage obligation incurred in the ordinary

course of business

• Rent on a leasing agreement

• Payments on utilities (electricity, gas, water, transportation,

telephone, or internet)

• For borrowers with tipped employees, additional wages

paid to those employees

The loan forgiveness cannot exceed the principal.

How could the forgiveness be reduced?

The amount of loan forgiveness calculated above is reduced if there

is a reduction in the number of employees or a reduction of greater

than 25% in wages paid to employees. Specifically:

Reduction based on reduction of number of employees

Reduction based on reduction in salaries

What if I bring back employees or restore wages?

Reductions in employment or wages that occur during the period

beginning on February 15, 2020, and ending 30 days after enactment

of the CARES Act, (as compared to February 15, 2020) shall not reduce

the amount of loan forgiveness IF by June 30, 2020 the borrower

eliminates the reduction in employees or reduction in wages.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Look out for more information about eligible lenders and additional guidance from the SBA soon.

For more guidance and resources for small businesses, visit uschamber.com/co