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QUEENS WEEKLY, MARCH 29, 2020
Small businesses
can now apply for
SBA disaster loans
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
Photo via Getty Images
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 NY06-
casework@mai l .house.
gov.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260–4526.
Live streamed events keep Astoria community connected
BY JESSICA MILITELLO
As bars, restaurants,
stores and gyms have been
closed in a state-mandated
effort to slow the spread of
the coronavirus, residents
have been mostly stuck at
home unable to enjoy their
usual fitness classes, meet
up with friends and take part
in Astoria nightlife.
However, many businesses
and event organizers
have been using livestreams
and social media to continue
reaching out to the community
by having online
classes and digital events for
their audiences to maintain
a sense of normalcy and a
source of relief while the city
is at a standstill.
James Orfanos, the coowner
of New York Martial
Arts Academy, which has
one of its four locations on
Broadway and Crescent,
has been letting his students
continue their Jeet Kune
Do training by providing
livestreamed classes via the
school’s Instagram and You-
Tube pages Monday through
Friday at 7 p.m. and a Saturday
class at noon.
Orfanos immediately
made the decision to keep
classes going in some way
for students to continue enjoying
the benefits of the
martial art from home.
“Our livestreamed classes
will be taught the same as
regular class,” said Orfanos.
“Our students can still
get good information and
train in their living room.
We’re obviously not giving
up. I want to make sure that
the students are still training,
especially now when everyone
is stir-crazy at home.
It’ll be a good way to get the
students energy up.”
While personal trainers
and fitness facilities seem to
be following suit in offering
their classes online for members
to work on their physical
health, Astoria Music
Collective founders Miguel
Hernandez and Karen Adelman
have decided to keep
their music showcases going
through live sessions called
“AMC Digital Sessions”
streamed through their Facebook
page for artists and
listeners to enjoy.
Normally, the AMC performs
throughout bars and
venues in the neighborhood,
but the duo is determined to
keep the show going any way
they can.
“Although we can’t gather
in person, through digital
sessions we can come together
to support and rejoice in
each other, and maybe bring
a little warmth to uncertain
times,” Adelman said. “It
may not be exactly a sense of
normalcy, but it’s extremely
comforting to see and hear
our friends continue to celebrate
life through our shared
love of music.”
Queens Craft Brigade,
which holds monthly makers
markets, will be having
an online event on April
19 in order to bring people
together and to continue being
a platform for artists to
show and sell their work. As
their events for the next few
months will likely be postponed,
the group’s founder
Robert Duffy took their event
online which will also include
showing home-bound
residents different ways to
tap into their creative side as
well as continuing to show
other’s work.
“We want to find a way
for people to still connect,”
Duffy said. “We hope to have
a forum for people to talk
with each other, maybe learn
a skill, and just be with each
other. If it goes well we may
do them on a more regular
basis; we’re all in this together.”
Photo via Getty Images
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