Simpler PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less Announced, Deadline Nov. 30

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, has released a simpler loan forgiveness application process for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. The agency said the action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses, while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The SBA and Treasury departments said the move eases the burden on PPP lenders, allowing them to process forgiveness applications more swiftly. The SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications, and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders in favor

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a new economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19 outbreak and NYS on PAUSE. NYFLF targets the state’s small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees (90 percent of all businesses), nonprofits and small residential landlords that have seen a loss of rental income. NYFLF is providing working capital loans so that small businesses, nonprofits and small residential landlords have access to credit as they reopen. These loans are available to small businesses

By ARIANA CIPRIANI

Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC) is inviting Bronx small business owners to apply for PPE Micro Grants. The PPE Micro Grant program, made possible by The Robin Hood Foundation, provides direct relief to Bronx small business owners to ensure that their businesses remain compliant and safe for employees and customers. Fifty grantees will receive $1,000 in funding to cover the costs of COVID-19-related, personal, protective equipment expenses. Eligible expenses include masks, hand sanitizer, face shields, cleaning equipment, barriers, gloves, signage, and more. To be eligible for grant funding, businesses must be located in the Northwest Bronx, have a valid

By AURÉOLE RIBES

There’s a citrus-y, sweetness to this tangy, tomato-based sauce, followed by a kick! It’s a refreshing take on your regular, grocery store barbecue sauce. Aptly named, “Sweet and Tangy,” it’s the first barbecue sauce created by Father and Son’s Kitchen, a company founded in 2019 by Norwood resident, Luis Rivera Jr. Like all entrepreneurs, Rivera knew the first year of his start-up would be a gamble but hoped that by working hard and staying focused, things would get easier in his second year of business. Little did he know things were about to get a whole lot crazier

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Open Storefronts program, permitting storefront businesses to use a portion of their sidewalk to display merchandise, sell goods, complete transactions, and provide queuing areas. The program will begin on Friday, Oct. 30 and will run until Dec 31. The Open Storefronts program assists existing ground-floor storefront businesses who want to use outdoor areas on a temporary basis. It allows eligible businesses to conduct activity on sidewalks, on roadways in the Open Streets: Restaurants program, or a combination of both. In addition to businesses engaged in retail

By DAVID GREENE

For our latest print edition, we asked readers for their thoughts on the U.S. Supreme Court justice nomination process. “I believe the Supreme Court should be expanded, especially if we get too many conservatives on the Supreme Court and not enough moderates. I think there needs to be a balance. Even though justices swear to be neutral, I believe people are swayed by their opinions, how they are raised. You have Catholic judges who’ve had strict Catholic upbringings as being pro-life and that’s a big worry for women, that they will repeal Roe vs. Wade. It shouldn’t even

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio joined the Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) on Oct. 14 to release thorough guidance for city restaurants planning to stay open and serve customers outdoors with heating devices this fall and winter. The announcement furthers New York City’s efforts, laid out in the Mayor’s recovery agenda, to become the world’s capital for healthy outdoor living. In September, the mayor announced that the City’s popular Open Restaurants program will be extended year-round and made permanent. The program, which has enrolled more than 10,500

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law a package of bills on Monday, Sept. 28, that will expand protections for workers, consumers, and commercial tenants. The first bill, which was sponsored by local Councilman Andrew Cohen, extends and expands the City’s paid safe and sick leave law to reach more workers. The other two bills reinforce and extend protections for commercial tenants, and protect the jobs of hotel workers. “Today is about justice for hard working New Yorkers,” said the mayor. “From expanding paid sick leave, to protecting our commercial tenants and hotel workers, these bills

By DANIELA BEASELY

Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC) is partnering with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) NYC to support local, small businesses in the Norwood and Wakefield neighborhoods through the LISC NYC Small Business Relief & Recovery Fund. The Fund will provide grants of $10,000 to minority-owned, small businesses, in response to their needs to successfully retool and adapt to new business guidelines and a changing marketplace, in the wake of COVID-19. LISC NYC embraces an inclusive, economic development agenda that prioritizes targeted investments in public infrastructure, human talent, innovation, diverse enterprises, and community organizations. This aligns with MPC’s efforts to advance the health