We get to the heart and soul of entrepreneurs,
connect them with resources to grow their businesses and teach them how to balance work, life and play!
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Welcome to a new week! We hope that everyone had a great weekend, stayed safe and is well!
This past weekend Kecia, Kevin and the Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc. team ventured out into the community and enjoyed some downtime connecting with new and old friends. We social distanced outside while supporting local farmers and businesses at the Peekskill Farmers Market. We drove down to NYC, Kevin watched sport and Kecia enjoyed food, fun and a lively book-club discussion at a restaurant in Tarrytown. We both attended a few, engaging social zoom events as well. Good health is wealth! Please take time out and “take a time out”!
We took advantage of early voting and voted! We spent 2 hours on line before we cast our votes! We shared bits of history from our past and present with old and new friends during our voting adventure. Sharing is caring! It was indeed a good learning experience for us all! A great, historical, bonding experience that I’m sure that we will never forget!
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Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020.
Early Voting Takes Place October 24th, 2020 – November 1st, 2020.
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FREE FINANCIAL RESOURCES
In the meanwhile, below are some free financial resources that MWBES and small business owners can apply for to help them get through these challenging times. You are not alone!
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WEDC and Westchester County are partnering to offer an M/WBE COVID-19 Impact Accelerator grant program. The goal of this program is to assist M/WBEs who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 by providing sixteen $7,500 grant awards which include six weeks of virtual training to strengthen your business. Eligible applicants must be at least 51% owned by one or more persons of color or women as defined by Section 308 of the County Charter.
Complete grant applications will be reviewed and will be selected based on the following criteria:
- Was a financially viable entity prior to March 7, 2020
- Conducts business in the area served by the County of Westchester
- Has been negatively impacted by COVID-19
- Will increase growth potential through the accelerator program
Here's a great one that WEDC offered. Unfortunately it was due yesterday. Stay in touch with WEDC so you don't miss future opportunities.
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EXPERIENCE WORKS PROGRAM
Get your laid off and furloughed employees salaries paid for this month through December 30, 2020! This includes your seasonal and consultants/contractors as well!
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CARES ACT FUNDING Provides Immediate Assistance to Employers to Help:
- Bring back laid off/furloughed employees
- Hire new employees
- Relieve the burden of payroll expenses!
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The City of Peekskill Microenterprise Program is made possible through a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant from the New York State Office of Homes and Community Renewal.
Through the program, the City of Peekskill is able to award $5,000 to $35,000 grants to private, for-profit businesses, located within the City of Peekskill. Priority will be given to those projects that are business start-ups and are located in the area identified as the City's Downtown Revitalization Target Area. The Target Area consists of the downtown Central Business District and the Waterfront/Transit Oriented Development District, linked by the Central Avenue/McGregory Brook corridor.
Eligible uses of Microenterprise Program funds include working capital grants for the purchase of inventory, procurement of machinery, furniture and equipment, operating capital, and reimbursement of the cost to attend the required entrepreneurial training program.
For additional information and application, click on the links below.
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Upcoming NYWCC & SBA MWBE Webinars
Attention Women & Minority Business Owners!
Attend our next free M/WBE Workshop on ZOOM
Get Certified! Get Qualified! Get Utilized!
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Selling to Government Workshop:
Wednesday, October 28th, 2020
Workshop is from 10:00am - 1:00pm
By the End of this Workshop, you will learn:
- How to understand contract sizes
- Determine the right small business program for your business
- Register your business with different government entities
- Identify government contracting opportunities
- Market your business to the government
Do not miss the opportunity to grow your business through government contracting at this FREE workshop!
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APPLY FOR SMALL BUSINESS FINANCIAL RELIEF! |
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As temperatures drop and the days get shorter, restaurants are facing an entirely new set of challenges. In response, DoorDash is providing $5,000 grants to small businesses selected through an application process in select cities across the US. The grants are part of DoorDash’s Main Street Strong initiative to help restaurants recover and succeed amidst COVID-19 related challenges. The $5,000 in grants will also help offset the costs for outdoor heating.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must have 3 stores or fewer currently operating
- Must have $3M or less in 2019 annual revenue per store
- Must employ 50 people or fewer per store
Full details for DoorDash's Local Restaurant Grants Program can be found HERE.
*Applications are available until November 6th, 2020*
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SBA and Treasury Announce Simpler PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This 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.
SBA and Treasury have eased the burden on PPP lenders, allowing lenders to process forgiveness applications more swiftly. SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders for PPP borrowers on this month. SBA will continue to process all PPP forgiveness applications in an expeditious manner.
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
Notice: Now Accepting New Applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation to health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments.
If you are a small businesses, non-profit organization of any size, or a U.S. agricultural business with 500 or fewer employees that have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, you can apply for the COVID-19 EIDL. This loan applies to all businesses based in any U.S. state, territory, or the District of Columbia.
COVID-19 EIDL Loan Application (Extended). Deadline to apply 10/31/20.
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The Deadline Has been Extended to October 28th!
Latino-Owned Businesses Apply Now!
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The PowerUp Program will award over 500 eligible LatinX small businesses across California, Texas and New York with a $5,000 grant paired with coaching support and resources.
How to apply:
If you meet the eligibility criteria listed below, click ‘Apply’ to navigate to the application page. To be eligible to apply, business owners must:
- Be Latino-owned and operated (self-reported)
- Have a for profit business, actively in business for a minimum of 1 year, with at least $1 in revenue
- Be located within California, New York, and Texas
- Be willing to dedicate 2 hours per month to training – 90% or better attendance required
- Agree to use best efforts to focus and execute the guidance and learnings from the program, on your business, to help ignite growth
- Agree to participate in surveys and data collection from time to time
Deadline to Apply is Oct. 28th, 2020 at 11:59pm EDT.
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Still Accepting Applications!
Union Settlement, Council Member Diana Ayala, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, and the NYC Economic Development Corp. have joined forces with the East Harlem Community Alliance to offer a $4,000,000 Grant Program to East Harlem’s small businesses in need of COVID-19 financial assistance.
See the guidelines below & Apply Today!
General Guidelines:
- Employees: Grantees must be small businesses (20 or fewer employees).
- Revenue: Annual revenue of less than $1,000,000.
- East Harlem Based Businesses: Operating within the boundaries of Manhattan Community District 11.
- Operating: Businesses must have been open and operating prior to March 1, 2020.
- Operating Expenses: Grants to be used to offset operating expenses (rent, utilities, payroll, insurance, and other operating costs), but may not exceed the lesser of: * (a) three months of operating expenses; or * (b) $20,000.
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New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF) is a economic recovery loan program aimed at supporting New York City & State small businesses, nonprofits and small landlords as they reopen after the COVID-19.
Applications for the New York Forward Loan Fund are Open for All Phase Industries!
For assistance with this loan program, please contact the New York Women's Chamber at assistance@nywcc.org
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COVID-19 RELIEF FUND APPLICATION
The Fund is Accepting Applications From Organizations on a ROLLING BASIS for Immediate response grants in the following priority areas:
- Serves vulnerable populations including low-income children and families, low-wage workers, individuals and families who are homeless and immigrant communities.
- Provides or will expand services to include emergency assistance (e.g. food, shelter, and other basic needs)
- At risk for gaps in government contracts due to interruption of services
- Incurred unexpected expenses (e.g. overtime pay, technology)
- Track record with administering emergency cash grants to individuals and families
Robin Hood will only fund 501(c)(3) organizations providing services in New York City.
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10 YEARS OF CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
For the last 10 years, New York State has been Building Businesses Better through its state-of-the-art capacity building programs designed to lead MWBEs to new contract opportunities with the State’s 97 agencies and authorities and the private sector. NYS Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has created transformative economic development achievements for the State across all market and service sectors including construction, architecture, engineering, transportation, healthcare, housing, telecommunications, financial and professional services, information technology, energy and more.
Moving forward, a new vision will unfold at the 10th Anniversary of the 2020 NYS MWBE Forum, through a new live, semi-live and on demand virtual platform that will offer you programs and strategies for Building Businesses Better than ever before.
Over a three-day virtual event experience, the 2020 NYS MWBE Forum will help you Prepare, Identify and Connect with new project opportunities.
Day 1: Wednesday, December 2, 2020: Prepare for Opportunities
Day 2: Thursday, December 3, 2020: Identify New Opportunities
Day 3: Friday, December 4, 2020: Connect with Opportunities
SPECIAL INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC PROGRAM PLANNER
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NAACP Get Out the Vote Monthly Update |
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Every Vote Counts, You Can Make A Difference.
Become Informed, Become Involved and Make your Voice Heard!
Register and Vote!
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Early Voting
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020.
Early Voting Takes Place October 24th, 2020 - November 1st , 2020.
NEW YORKERS HAVE THE OPTION TO VOTE EARLY
New York voters can vote before Election Day. The early voting period runs from Saturday, October 24, 2020 to Sunday, November 1, 2020, but dates and hours may vary based on where you live.
WHAT TO BRING
- If you’ve previously voted in New York, you don’t need to provide ID to vote.
- If you're a first-time voter who registered by mail and didn't provide a copy of your ID with your registration, you may need to show ID to vote.
ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF ID INCLUDE:
A current and valid photo ID; or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address.
If you are unable to provide ID, you will be able to vote an affidavit ballot.
THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO VOTE:
- Vote Early - Saturday October 24th - Sunday November 1st. weekends too!*
- Vote By Mail - Must request your ballot by October 27th
- Vote on Election Day - Tuesday November 3rd, 6am - 9pm
*Verify with your voting location that they are honoring Saturday and Sunday voting hours.
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VOTING EARLY ENSURES THAT YOUR VOTE WILL BE COUNTED!
PLEASE VOTE!
VOTE TODAY!
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Happy MWBE Monday to everyone! The Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc. team truly appreciates your continued support!
Have a safe and great week! Stay connected with us so you stay connected! Follow us on our social media! We will get through 2020 together!
Sincerely,
Kecia and Kevin
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Contact Kecia with questions about
starting or growing your business!
At Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc. we bring dreams to life with heart and soul! Like a trusted friend and confidante, our personal project managers tap into their vivid imaginations, hearts and souls to analyze clients’ projects, processes and people training. Stop suffering in silence! Rent our brainpower and we will connect you with the resources and technical assistance to address your needs and build your business.
Entrepreneurs and non-profits constantly juggle projects and their own self-care. Breathe! We can relate! We are small business owners who have survived and thrived by collaborating with a “think tank” of other socially conscious businesses/community partners! Our work life balance trainers help clients project manage their busy lives and get to the heart and soul of their business and their life! We help clients execute well so they can escape back to what makes them feel great! Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc….the ”just ask us” therapists! You talk, we listen. We share, we collaborate, You breathe!
Our services include:
- Business Management Consulting Services
- Life Coaching
- MWBE Consulting/Prepare NYC/NYS MWBE Certification Applications
- Public Speaking
- Project Management
- Training
- Career Preparation
- Customer Service
- Entrepreneurship
- Leadership
- Networking
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Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc.,
a Certified NYC & NYS Minority Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE)
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Kecia Palmer-Cousins, MBA
Aero-Ba-Soul, Inc.
Office: 914.737.7237
Cell: 914.512.4373
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