FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 17, 2021

FAIR SHARE NYC TO HELP BUSINESSES APPLY FOR PPP WITH TWO WEEKS REMAINING UNTIL DEADLINE

NEW YORK – NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Jonnel Doris today announced today that SBS is continuing to help businesses connect to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in the 2 weeks remaining until the program is set to end on 3/31. The PPP is a forgivable loan providing a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. In this latest round of the PPP, SBS has helped over 300 businesses apply for over $17.5M in PPP loans.

In January, SBS launched Fair Share NYC, to help minority and women-owned businesses, and businesses in low-to-moderate income areas to learn about and apply for the PPP. Businesses seeking help can call SBS's hotline at 888-SBS-4NYC or visit nyc.gov/financingassistance.

"Since the start of the pandemic, SBS has been on the frontlines – preparing and implementing resources that respond to NYC's small business needs," said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of NYC Department of Small Business Services. "We know that the City’s economic recovery relies on the resilience of our small businesses, and we will continue to be a partner and advocate for this community."

Since the beginning of the pandemic, SBS has connected over 5,000 businesses to over $135 million in Federal, State, City, and Private Funding. Throughout the last year, SBS has supported businesses in the following ways:

  • Delivered 134,000 services to small businesses
  • Helped over 76,000 job seekers in employment and training opportunities
  • Fielded over 55K individual calls on our small business hotline
  • Hosted over 355 webinars with nearly 50,000 individual participants, and content available in 10 languages
  • Conducted over 335 virtual consultations to avoid fines
  • Launched two dozen recovery programs and campaigns, including four grant and two loan programs
  • Walked in over 80 commercial corridor tours, meeting businesses where they are, and connected with over 100 business advocacy groups to support outreach

Additionally, SBS and Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) launched Curtains Up NYC, to provide application assistance to live-performance venues, organizations and workers applying for the federal Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant. To date, SBS has assisted 634 interested applicants.

SBS will continue to support small business owners and lessen the damage done from this prolonged health and economic crisis by focusing on their biggest needs – financing assistance, complying with new rules and regulations, and accessing accurate and up-to-date information.

About the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information on all SBS services, go to nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.