Photo via Getty Images
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.2 COM | MARCH 27-APR. 2, 2020
BY JENNA BAGCAL
In a continuing effort
to provide vital services
amid the coronavirus crisis,
a Queens nonprofit is
asking the community for
donations in order to provide
vulnerable populations
with food and mental
health services.
Despite suspending inperson
programs and services
last week, Commonpoint
Queens continued to
provide groceries, meals
and mental health counseling
to those in need. On
March 23, the organization
also opened an emergency
child care facility for medical
professionals and first
responders who are working
tirelessly.
“In the past three days,
we have distributed more
than 500 emergency food
packages to people in need,
older adults and homebound
seniors and the
numbers continue to rise
day by day,” Commonpoint
Queens’ CEO Danielle Ellman
said in a statement.
Ellman said throughout
this process, the organization’s
job placement assistance
department was overwhelmed
with calls and
individuals were calling
them for emergency cash
assistance.
“At the same time, we are
not able to collect payments
we depend on to keep our
lights on,” Ellman said.
The organization called
on the community to make
any financial donation they
could, which would have an
“immediate and substantial
impact on Commonpoint
Queens and our future supporting
our community.”
Monetary donations
would go toward services
including grab-and-go and
home-delivered meals,
mental health counseling
and application assistance
with a coronavirus financial
impact loan.
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by e-mail at jbagcal@
qns.com or by phone at
(718) 260-2583.
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Small businesses in New
York City that have suffered
economic losses due
to the coronavirus (COVID-
19) pandemic can now apply
for disaster loans provided
through the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA).
SBA’s ability to provide
these loans is based on a measure
that Congresswoman
Grace Meng and Reps. Nydia
Velazquez (D-NY) and Judy
Chu (D-CA) helped pass into
law. The provision was part
of the recently enacted coronavirus
spending package
that allocated $8.3 billion in
federal funds to address the
outbreak.
The loans became available
in New York after the
SBA approved New York
state’s disaster declaration
on March 19. Small businesses
in all counties throughout
New York state can begin applying
for the Economic Injury
Disaster Loans.
Meng, a member of the
House Appropriations Committee,
the panel responsible
for funding all federal agencies
and programs, said she’s
thankful that establishments
in Queens and across New
York can now access the financial
resources that they
desperately need.
“Small businesses play an
integral role in our economy
and throughout our communities.
Our government must
continue to be there for them
during this difficult and uncertain
period, and I urge all
impacted businesses to take
advantage of this critical
assistance,” Meng said. “As
Congress works on a third
relief package for families,
I will continue to advocate
for and support policies that
help small businesses during
this time of need.”
The SBA’s loan program
provides working capital
loans of up to $2 million to
help overcome the temporary
loss of revenue. Those
that receive a loan can use
the funds to pay fixed debts,
payroll, accounts payable
or other bills that cannot be
paid because of the coronavirus
outbreak.
Once a borrower submits
an application, approval
timelines depend on volume.
The typical timeline for approval
is two to three weeks
and disbursement can take
up to five business days. Borrowers
are assigned individual
loan officers for servicing
of the loan.
Small businesses seeking
SBA disaster loan relief are
first encouraged to contact a
representative from the New
York Small Business Development
Center (SBDC). There
are over 22 campus-based
centers and outreach offices
across New York to
assist clients with the loan
application.
For businesses located in
Queens, email Queens College
SBDC at sbdc@qc.cuny.
edu; LaGuardia Community
College SBDC at sbdc@lagcc.
cuny.edu; or York College
SBDC at sbdc@york.cuny.edu.
For additional information,
borrowers should contact
the SBA Disaster Assistance
customer service
center by calling 1-800-659-
2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@
sba.gov
Those that require immediate
assistance from
Congresswoman Meng’s office,
can call 718-358-MENG
or email at NY06casework@
mail.house.gov.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
schnepsmedia.com
or by phone at (718) 260–4526.
The Sam Field Center in Little Neck.
Photo courtesy of Commonpoint Queens
Commonpoint Queens
calls for community
donations to support
local food and mental
health services
Small businesses can now
apply for SBA disaster loans
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