Sept. 22, 2020
SBA webinars also offer critical help
Additional business relief available from the City
Good morning!
My staff and I have been working hard to provide answers, resources, referrals and hope to small businesses and individuals since we first heard about the Coronavirus arriving on our shores.
We want to let you know about helpful webinars the U.S. Small Business Administration is hosting to offer solutions and strategies to help you weather our pandemic-generated economic storm, including three FREE virtual events this week:
Business Recovery Webinar
Tue., Sept. 22, 1 p.m.
Recovering Cash Flow
Wed., Sept. 23, 4:30 p.m.
Loan Forgiveness Webinar
Thu., Sept. 24, 3 p.m.
REGISTER HERE: sbahi.eventbrite.com
Sign up for email updates on programs by and services for your business, from the SBA and its partner organizations: https://www.sba.gov/offices/district/hi/honolulu
Please feel free to share this email with others who may be looking for assistance.
MORE CITY FUNDING NOW AVAILABLE
I introduced Resolution 20-228 on September 3, to allow businesses to apply for a second round of financial help from the city’s Small Business Relief and Recovery Fund (SBRRF). Since then, the city has infused the fund with an additional $75M and amended the rules to allow businesses to apply for additional relief, here: https://www.oneoahu.org/small-business
According to the City, the additional funding will be awarded to two tiers, or levels:
Level A will allow businesses that already received a SBRRF grant to reapply for an additional reimbursable grant of up to $20,000. For example, a business that received $8,000 in the first round is eligible for as much as $12,000 in the second reimbursement. The same limitations will apply: Businesses cannot apply for costs already covered by another federally funded program such as the CARES Act, Paycheck Protection Plan, Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and others. Level A businesses are defined as receiving up to $2 million in annual revenue and applications are now available.
Level B expands eligibility to qualified businesses with $2 million to $5 million in annual revenue and increases the maximum reimbursable grant up to $50,000. Businesses can apply for Level B on OneOahu.org starting October 1.
To further help businesses, I voted yes as the Honolulu City Council adopted Resolution 20-208 on September 9. It urges the city administration to adopt the Honolulu Economic Recovery and Employment Support (HERES) Package. It supports city projects to promote job creation, economic activity and community spending; establishes a commercial landlord-tenant real property tax grant program to provide rent forgiveness and relief; and allows outdoor dining and retail activities in city parking lots, yards and landscape areas.
I sent a letter to the mayor urging him to implement the resolution right away, to help put people back to work and help our kamaaina economy inch closer toward eventual recovery.
Read Resolution 20-208, here:
http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-276694/RES20-208.pdf
We understand the mayors office is reviewing the measure and we invite you to contact his office to urge him to implement the package. Contact the mayors office via phone at 768-4141 or via an online form: http://www.honolulu.gov/mayor/contactthemayor/request-for-general-message-form.html
With Aloha,
Kym
Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One, comprising portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Nnkuli, Mili, Waianae, Mkaha, Keaau and Makua) and is chair of the City Councils Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.
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