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News : Relief during COVID-19 for Artists, Free-Lancers, and Small Business Owners from The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce
Upcoming Webinars, Emergency Financial Aid for Small Businesses and Freelancers, Free Legal Help, and Recent NYS and Federal Government Protections
Upcoming Webinars
- Rent relief for small businesses and financial help available for solo-entrepreneurs and freelancers - Our Chamber is hosting weekly webinars to provide the latest Covid-related updates for small business owners. Experts will answer your questions on key topics These weekly webinars take place every Tuesday at 2:00 pm. The webinar next week will focus on rent relief for small businesses, as well as financial help available for solo-entrepreneurs and independent contractors.
- How to Look for Emergency Grants and Resources for Artists and Freelancers - This webinar will take place on April 13 but is already full. However, you can still sign-up to be able to view the webinar after it happens.
- Planning for the Recovery: Restarting NYC's Economy in the Wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic - This forward-looking discussion will delve into the strategies, policies, and investments needed to reignite the city’s economy after the Covid-19 crisis, restore critical industries that have been seriously damaged during this crisis, put New Yorkers back to work, ensure that the recovery is inclusive, and strengthen parts of the economy that may prove resilient to future challenges.
- Small Business Relief during Covid-19: Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer is hosting a virtual town-hall meeting on April 13 to help small businesses get the latest information about resources available. Our Chamber is a co-sponsor.
Other Emergency Financial Aid Available
Federal aid programs (the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan) are the major sources of emergency help right now for small businesses. But we want you to be aware of other possible sources of help:
- Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund: Provides grants of up to $10,000 to businesses facing immediate financial pressure because of COVID-19—especially entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital. A second round of funding will be available in mid-April.
- Facebook Small Business Grants: Will provide grants for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in more than 30 countries. Businesses must have between 2 and 50 employees and have been in business for over a year. Applications will open soon.
- GoFundMe Small Business Relief Initiative: Small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus crisis can sign up on GoFundMe to start a fundraiser to benefit their small business. Local community members are able to search small business relief fundraisers on GoFundMe to find favorite small businesses they’d like to support. If a small business raises $500 on their GoFundMe and meets certain eligibility criteria, they may be considered to receive a $500 matching grant from the Small Business Relief Fund.
- Freelancers Relief Fund: Provides up to $1,000 per qualifying freelancer to cover lost income and essential
Additional Resources
Here are additional resources to help businesses and freelancers during the Covid-19 crisis:
- Free legal help: The City Bar Justice Center launched a COVID-19 Small Business Remote Legal Clinic to offer free legal consultations to small business owners to help them understand and act upon options available under the federal government’s COVID-19 stimulus package and other opportunities available through federal, state and local programs. Qualifying small businesses will be offered free 45-minute consultations with pro bono attorneys who will also answer broader legal questions on circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Unemployment insurance for independent contractors and self-employed individuals: The CARES Act, which is a federal stimulus package that was recently signed into law, extends unemployment benefits to freelancers, independent contractors and self-employed individuals, who were previously ineligible. Apply as soon as possible.
- Past webinar on federal emergency aid available: Earlier this week the Chamber hosted a webinar with experts that primarily focused on the Paycheck Protection Program. It is available to view on-demand.
Did you know?
In recent weeks New York State and the federal government have taken several actions that may allow you to defer certain payments or that provide additional protections at this critical time:
- Health insurance premiums: Through June 1, 2020, consumers and businesses experiencing financial hardship due to Covid-19 may defer paying premiums under individual and small group commercial health insurance plans.
- Sales tax: The state is waiving interest and penalties for up to 60 days on businesses that did not file their sales taxes by the March 20 deadline.
- Tax filing deadline: The federal government and New York State both extended the deadline for most individual and corporate taxes to July 15, 2020.
- Evictions: On March 20, Governor Cuomo signed an Executive Order instituting a 90-day moratorium on evictions throughout the state.
Ask our Help Desk
Our Help Desk will connect you with experts to find solutions that can help your business right now. Just email helpdesk@manhattancc.org or call (212) 473-7875.
