Paycheck Protection Program Reopens to Small Lenders Jan. 15, and to All Lenders Jan. 19

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for first and second draw applications on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 at 9 a.m. EST. The portal will later fully open to all participating PPP lenders on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 to submit first and second draw loan applications to the SBA. Earlier this week, the SBA granted dedicated PPP access to community financial institutions (CFIs) which included community development financial institutions (CDFIs), minority depository institutions (MDIs),

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Stop & Shop, the neighborhood grocery store chain, announced the opening, on Dec. 31, of its first pick-up location in the Bronx, located at 1720 Eastchester Road, in Morris Park. The store said shoppers can now place their orders online at www.stopandshop.com, or via the Stop & Shop mobile app, select “pick-up” at their preferred store, head to the store at the pick-up time, park at the designated pick-up spot, and let the store’s team know once they have arrived. A Stop & Shop associate will load the purchased groceries into the customer’s car, minimizing both delays and physical contact

By SÍLE MOLONEY

As reported by Norwood News, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed Emergency Executive Order 157, which created the Open Storefronts program on October 28, 2020. Open Storefronts is a free program that allows existing ground-floor storefront businesses to use a portion of the sidewalk and roadways to display merchandise, sell goods and complete transactions, and provide areas for customers to line up from October 30 to December 31, 2020. On Tuesday, Dec. 29, the City announced that the Open Storefronts program would be extended through Sept. 30, 2021. Businesses may also use the curbside lane to conduct

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York State Department of Labor announced on Dec. 28, that the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local Union #1, will conduct a recruitment session from Jan. 29, 2021 through December 17, 2021 (excluding July 2021 and August 2021) for 25 bricklayer-mason apprentices; 25 pointer, caulker & cleaner apprentices; ten stone mason apprentices; and ten plasterer apprentices. Applications and affidavits will be available online at www.bricklayersandalliedcraftworkerslocal1ny.org for 24 hours a day on the following dates: 1/29/21, 2/26/21, 3/26/21, 4/30/21, 5/28/21, 6/25/21, 9/24/21, 10/29/21, 11/19/21, and 12/17/21. Applications and affidavits must be printed, filled

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York City area may experience severe weather, including potential wind gusts up to 65 mph, starting Thursday evening, Dec. 24, and continuing into Friday, Dec. 25. Accordingly, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) is reminding all builders, contractors, crane operators, and property owners to secure their construction sites, buildings, and equipment. Department officials said the agency will be performing random spot-check inspections of construction sites around the city, and if sites are not secured, it will issue violations and Stop Work Orders, where necessary. Winds may reach higher speeds and last longer than

By SÍLE MOLONEY

On Sunday, Dec. 20, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, representing New York’s 13th congressional district which covers the north-west Bronx, Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, and Marble Hill, released a statement, in English and in Spanish, after being vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the United States Capitol. “Our nation’s leading scientists and researchers have developed a vaccine that has been tested and produced based on science to meet our highest standards of safety and effectiveness,” said Espaillat. “Today, I was administered the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID19 vaccine to ensure my constituents of its safety and effectiveness.

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

When Lehman College President Daniel Lemons received a cryptic email message from a team of advisors to America’s second wealthiest woman, he had no idea what was to follow. A few weeks later, he received a phone call confirming that Lehman College was selected to receive a $30 million donation from MacKenzie Scott. It is the largest single gift in the history of the college which was founded in 1968. The school made the announcement in a press release on Dec. 16. “It was completely out of the blue,” Lemons told the Norwood News. He adds that incredibly, “There

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT

A coalition of local community groups made up of many young volunteers joined forces on Dec. 9 during a “Sticker Shock Campaign,” to alert local alcohol retailers of the dangers underage drinking presents to young people. The groups made in-person visits to various stores in Community Boards 5, 7, and 8 with oral presentations, stickers, and posters reminding both store owners and customers that it is illegal and dangerous to provide alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. The campaign was spearheaded by “We Engage in Prevention Awareness,” (WEPA), a community coalition seeking to eliminate substance abuse,

By DAVID GREENE

In the year of masks and face coverings, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx) may have been hoping for either some good luck or perhaps he was hoping to chase away some evil spirits from America’s capital. Whatever the reason, the congressman ended up purchasing a traditional African mask during a recent browse through the Bronx, confirming that he would be taking his purchase back with him to Washington D.C. Espaillat, together with New York City Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner, Jonnel Doris, was seen browsing local businesses in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, on Saturday, Nov. 28, in