Baldwin small businesses seek financial advice

They’re trying to build up Main Street; now we’re trying to save Main Street.”

Eric Alexander, Main Street Alliance

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As small business owners struggle to stay afloat amid the Covid-19 pandemic, State Assemblywoman Judy Griffin hosted a virtual Zoom conference on April 24 at which guest speakers discussed how businesses can apply for loans and financial assistance programs.

Baldwin business owners, Chamber of Commerce members and civic association members sat in on the “Resources for Small Businesses” session, sponsored by Vision Long Island and Long Island Main Street Alliance. A group of local chambers, including the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, co-sponsored the conference.

“It’s so important because, as we all know, our communities thrive when our small businesses thrive,” Griffin, whose district includes Baldwin, said. “So it’s for all of us; we’re in it together. I want our communities to thrive, and I want to be as helpful as I can to help these small businesses in our communities navigate through this very difficult time period.”

Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, a downtown planning organization, said a group called Main Street Alliance, which is a coalition of local chamber leaders, civic group representatives and government officials, formed last year and recently launched a “We’re Open” Facebook page. It features local businesses that are open for takeout, delivery or online services.

“They’re trying to build up Main Street; now we’re trying to save Main Street,” Alexander said.

The groups have also helped residents with information on Small Business Administration loans, as well as available grants and resources.

Peter Fehnel, a supervisory economic development specialist at the Small Business Administration’s New York office, explained the differences between the SBA loan programs.

There is the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance, and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, which is a loan that can be forgiven up to $10,000. A thousand dollars is forgiven for every employee on staff. It is a direct loan administered through the SBA.

There is also the Express Bridge Loan, which is designed to help business owners who have relationships with certified lenders — banks or credit unions — access up to $25,000 quickly, Fehnel continued.

“Between the advance and the Express Bridge Loan, which goes to $25,000,” he said, “it’s to tide you over until you get the Economic Injury Disaster Loan.”

The Paycheck Protection Program is done through banks and credit unions, Fehnel explained, and is designed to help businesses keep their workforce employed.

There is also the Small Business Debt Relief program, which, if someone had a prior SBA loan, would cover six months of payments, including the principal, interest and fees.

“Those of you who have applied for EIDL and have an application number and then the [website] portal was closed, from my understanding, from what I’ve been told, those loans are being taken care of,” Fehnel said. “You should hear back from the SBA three weeks after you apply.”

He also encouraged people to take advantage of SBA’s resources such as SCORE, the Women’s Business Center and the Office of Veterans Business Development.

“These resource centers have counselors and mentors to help your business,” Fehnel said. “When you work with them, there’s never a charge for this service. It’s time to rethink and develop your business strategy for today.”

Domenick Napoletano, a Brooklyn attorney and treasurer for the New York State Bar Association, said the group’s Small Business Committee consists of local and regional leaders dedicated to partnering with lenders who provide economic assistance.

They can help small businesses with any follow-up on loans that are newly initiated or outstanding, he said.

Erica Chase, the regional director at the New York Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale State College, said the center provides free, one-on-one business advising. Services range from answering start-up and business structure questions to assisting with business plans, cash flow projections, marketing plans and loan information. During the pandemic, Chase said, her agency has focused on helping small businesses navigate the SBA loan process.

Bernard Macias, the associate New York state director for AARP Long Island, who also spoke at the Zoom conference, shared information about the agency’s “FraudWatch” program, which helps small businesses fight identity theft and scams. Many small businesses are being targeted by scammers. Business owners can reach the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at (877) 908-3360.

Additionally, Greg Lisi, of the Nassau County Bar Association, said the group offers free and fee-based legal services to business owners. They can ask questions and seek information via covidhelp@nassaubar.org, a free service.

Kim Malone, the Baldwin Civic Association’s economic development chairwoman, who took part in the Zoom conference, said she spoke with a few Baldwin business owners after who said they thought it was informative.

“Several have applied for funding and were pleased to hear that some businesses have, in fact, received it,” Malone said. “That gives them hope.”

Swirl Bliss, a frozen yogurt shop in Baldwin, is rethinking its business model to adjust to the new reality, Malone said. While it is temporarily closed, it plans to reopen in May to offer full-service ordering, online ordering and delivery, including Door Dash, Grubhub and Uber Eats. Discounts will be offered to customers, too.

Melanie Vaughan, who owns Pat’s Dance Studio in Baldwin, participated in the Zoom conference with her husband, Andrew. They registered because they applied for the loans and grants and had questions.

“We found the information very helpful and well thought out,” she said. “Some participants asked questions that were also concerns of ours that we felt were answered. We wanted to see what other options were available to us, along with support for small businesses like ourselves, that we could benefit from.”

It was a small comfort, she said, to know there are groups like the local SBA, the New York State Bar Association, the Farmingdale SBDC and AARP that are available to help businesses that are lost during “this very confusing time.” Pat’s Dance, along with many other Baldwin businesses, is adjusting to the new reality. 

“Just like almost every other business, we’re ‘almost’ shut down,” Vaughan said. “We’re offering online Zoom dance and re-opening registration at a time where we would normally not.”
“The general public needs to shop local and patronize small businesses,” Baldwin Chamber President Erik Mahler said, “because they need all the help they can get.”