Queens Congressional delegation
guides small businesses impacted
by novel coronavirus pandemic
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | APRIL 17-APRIL 23, 2020 3
BY JENNA BAGCAL
The Douglaston Local
Development Corporation
(LDC) transformed its Little
Free Library into a resource
where residents can
get free food.
A newly minted “Little
Free Pantry” has temporarily
replaced the Little Free
Library outside of the Douglaston
LIRR train station. A
sign on the front of the box
encourages people to “give
what you can, take what you
need.”
“During this difficult
period of the COVID-19
pandemic, affecting our
community, we have transformed
our wonderful Little
Free Library into a Little
Free Pantry, so that those
in our community who have
an immediate need can feel
free to help nourish their
families and their neighbors,”
the Douglaston LDC
said in a statement on its
Facebook page.
The idea for the pantry
is simple: anyone can donate
or take non perishable
foods for free. Common donations
include pasta, rice
and canned goods like soup,
beans and vegetables.
According to Patch,
Douglaston LDC Vice President
Victor Dadras got the
idea to convert the library
after learning that other
people across the country
were stocking the little libraries
with food instead of
books.
Those interested in donating
to the Little Free
Pantry can visit the Douglaston
LDC on its website or
Facebook for more information
on how to do so.
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by e-mail at jbagcal@
qns.com or by phone at
(718) 260-2583.
BY BILL PARRY
Nearly 300 small business
owners impacted by
the COVID-19 crisis joined
Congressman Tom Suozzi
in a conference call on April
8 to learn more about the
resources available to them.
Suozzi spent much of his
time discussing the Paycheck
Protection Program that had
such a rocky launch on April
9 with many major banks and
lending institutions unprepared
to accept applications.
“It’s a major effort to prop
up small businesses and keep
those payroll checks coming
to the people that need them
most,” Suozzi said. “With $359
billion available, is to get two
and a half times your monthly
payroll in a loan from the
Small Business Administration,
which will be forgivable
if you keep your employees
on. And for anyone who was
fired or furloughed people
already, you can get the loan,
and bring people back on.”
Suozzi added that it was a
“gargantuan task” to get the
program up and running in
such a short period of time
and that the SBA had already
accepted 200,000 applications
for the loans.
“The magnitude of this
program is enormous,” Suozzi
said. “The financial community
is dedicated to do this,
to stand up this very complex
program at this trying time.”
The program offers lowinterest,
no-fee loans of up to
$10,000 for small businesses
to help with cash flow to retain
employees and maintain
payroll. Suozzi also discussed
the merits of the Economic Injury
Disaster Loans which offers
a low-interest fixed-rate
loan up to $2 million.
Suozzi added that a comprehensive
manual on the resources
that are available can
be found on his website here.
A day earlier, Suozzi
joined several of his Congressional
colleagues on a video
conference call hosted by
the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
“All of the Queens delegation
wants to be able to assist
you in accessing the dollars
that were put into the PPP, the
payroll protection program,”
Congressman Gregory Meeks
said. “There’s also a $10,000
grant program you can apply
for immediately.”
The Flushing small business
community has been
particularly impacted by the
COVID-19 crisis.
“I want to thank our
members and our business
community, who have been
incredible allies during
this time, especially here in
Queens. And this is not just
in helping us to get the word
out about loans and grants
that we have created, but also
helping with equipment and
supplies for our local hospitals,”
Congresswoman Grace
Meng said. “Please utilize me
as a resource in continuing
to get this information to our
communities.”
Congresswoman Carolyn
Maloney pledged to help small
businesses connect with the
resources they need to stay
afloat during the crisis.
“My office and I will work
with anybody that has problems
getting a loan,” Maloney
said. “If you are in my district,
call me, and I will work
with you, and with the bank,
to get things rolling.”
The Queens Chamber of
Commerce is the oldest and
largest business association
in Queens, representing more
than 1,150 businesses and
more than 100,000 boroughbased
employees.
“Queens is so fortunate
to have strong leadership in
Congress who understands
that small businesses are the
backbone of our community,”
QCC President and CEO Tom
Grech said. “We will continue
to work with them, and our
elected officials at all levels
of government, to give hope to
small businesses at this difficult
time.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260–4538.
Douglaston LDC
transforms Little
Free Library into
a free food pantry
The Queens Congressional delegation discussed loan options available to small businesses during the
coronavirus emergency. Photo via Getty Images
Douglaston’s Little Free Pantry.
Photo courtesy of Douglaston LDC
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