Can you HEAR us now?
Since the passing of The CARES Act, I have watched Colleagues, Clients, & Friends post about their frustration over the lack of responses and/or the lack of funding relating to this legislation. Most have not even received an acknowledgment of their application(s). So, I decided to give a sampling (10) of them a voice through this Blog.
You can help spread the word that many Small Businesses across the United States are not being helped, just forward this Blog.
NY (from NYC to Buffalo), FL, CA, & MD are represented here.
Hear them in their own words:
“It’s been sixteen (16) days and counting, since we applied for the 72 hour turnaround EIDL Advance and Eleven (11) days and counting since we applied for the One (1) day PPP. We were just notified on Friday that, due to the Funds being exhausted, our PPP loan cannot be processed. It’s scary not knowing when or if the money will come.” Macie Pisa, Co-Owner, The Laundromutt, LLC & Kindermutt, LLC, Kenmore, NY (15 employees + 2 owners).
“It is beyond frustrating. I have done everything they ask. My business has collapsed under my feet, I have maintained my payroll for my 26 employees, I do not qualify for the stimulus check and now been told PPP money is out...given out to large small businesses.” Lynn Byfield, Owner, Mathnasium, Orlando, FL (26 employees + 1 owner).
“I have applied for two (2) grants and the PPP loan. I never heard back from the grants and the PPP loan said that all funds have been exhausted. I am hopeful, but it’s not looking good. I had three (3) employees but I couldn’t afford them so I am down to only one (1) now.” Brooke Mason, Owner/Founder, Brooke Mason Creative, West Hollywood, CA (1 employee + 1 owner)
“Can’t qualify for the EIDL because I can’t show economic harm — yet. Looking into the PPP, but I may be too late now. The money is going to run out. The harm to my business will be later — probably end of second quarter, or sooner, if people don’t pay my outstanding invoices from first quarter. I had deferred Billings last year that were paid in January and February, that makes it hard to show I’m doing worse right now.” Mimi Giguere, AIA, NCARB, President & CEO, Atelier Giguere, Baltimore, MD ( Sole Proprietor).
“I own and operate The Watkins Media Group, an MBE that advises tourist boards and hoteliers in the world's largest industry, tourism.
My small LLC (revenue under $600,000) like so many small businesses, has seen its revenue plummet as COVID-19 has disrupted any normal semblance of business and life. The stimulus programs coming out of Washington offered a ray of hope, and I applied to date for an SBA loan, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance via the NYS Dept of Labor and the now-infamous PPP program. The SBA process was pretty straight forward, two weeks later I still don't know if I'm approved. It took me the better part of two (2) weeks and countless hours on hold to file with NYS. I actually got a follow-up phone call to finalize the application from a woman who was just transferred from the Treasury Department who knew nothing about the process, including if and when I would get approved. With regards to the now-infamous PPP program, it was an existential exercise in frustration. I gave up and then they ran out of funds.
To date, total funds received zero, and that says it all!” Henry J. Watkins, President, Watkins Travel Media, LLC, MBE, New York, New York (Sole Proprietor)
“I received notification over the weekend that my PPP loan was approved for the amount requested and signed for it this morning, so I am more fortunate than probably many. The issue now confronting me is I must disburse the PPP loan immediately after receiving the funds; however, my 9 employees are furloughed since we are a non-essential business in NYS and prohibited from operating. I could remove them from NYS unemployment and pay them with the PPP but they are now receiving more with state unemployment and the $600/week federal unemployment, so, in essence, I will be reducing their benefits. So, if we are not allowed to start operating soon the PPP will be of little to no benefit to helping my business get over the financial hit I will be taking from this shutdown. ” Steve Swiat, Owner, Northwood Historic Restoration, LLC, Buffalo, NY (9 employees + 1 owner).
“Daisy’s is a pet food store and is considered “essential” and so we have been able to keep our doors open. It is the only place on Hertel that is open and has been a place of “normal” for some folks. But it is incredibly hard to be open while I watch my business friends struggle to survive. I worry about the health of our community when this is over. I sent in an application for EIDL last week - just in case - with no expectation of getting a response. The smallest of businesses do not seem to matter to anyone in the government.’” Lisa Samar, Owner, Daisy’s Doghouse, LLC, Buffalo, NY (2 employees + 1 owner).
“I am still trying to wrap my head around how long and what will will be affected until a vaccine is available. I am lucky in the sense that we received a financial boost a few weeks ago that will help keep us afloat. BUT - all of our activities are stopped. No volunteers, tours, open houses, salons. Am trying to see how we can retool our activities in the meantime.
We had a contract with a museum in Hong Kong that was supposed to come through in January, but it was delayed due to the virus there. Then the virus arrived here and all of our events were cancelled, just as Hong Kong relaxed and the funds came thru from overseas. Now, we have a budget for programming but no programs possible.
Looking into how much/what can be done online for the foreseeable future. Sounds like public events/programs will be the last to return after watching the Governor just now.” Kelvin Dickinson, Executive Director, Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation, New York, New York, (2 Staff)
“We plan our main revenue producing events months , if not years into the future. The financial impact on our nonprofit organization is not just about losses this week or this month, but the possibility of canceling ALL of the events we are planning this year. Losing one event is bad but the possibility of not holding any in-person events this year could be devastating. I’ve spent the last month planning for postponed or canceled events, communicating with members and colleagues, and working to save our organization.” Liz Waytkus, Executive Director, DOCOMOMO US, New York, NY, (2 staff).
“Small businesses are some of the hardest hit entities from the covid-19 global crisis. And while the federal government and many non-profits have set up programs ostensibly for small businesses, few seem to be benefiting.
My firm, for example, is a PLLC and I am a sole proprietor so I do not have official payroll making me unlikely for a PPP. Three (3) weeks ago I applied for the SBA EDIL (you were supposed to get up to a $10,000 loan within 3 days) and three (3) weeks later, I still have never even received an acknowledgment. I tried to apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance which requires you apply for regular Unemployment Insurance first and get denied before you can move on. I was supposed to receive a call to give me the next steps within 72 hours and that was over a week ago. I applied for the Verizon/LISC small business grant which received 55,000 applications for 250 loans and needless to say I was not one of those 250! I was rejected for the Red Backpack fund grant for women small business owners before I had even finished the submission!
The only funding I am still in the running for is the GoFundMe micro-grant for $500. I set up a campaign fund and followed all the directions - I raised over $500 from my friends, proved I was a small business, set up my business checking account for withdrawals, and have received acknowledgment by GoFundMe that I meet the requirements. Ten (10) days later I still haven’t heard about the $500! And finally, it seems I might be eligible for the $1200 stimulus check but my account says “Payment Status Not Available” apparently because I typically have to pay taxes and don’t get a refund.
So, while 4 projects have gone on indefinite hold in the past 3 weeks, and my estimated income has precipitously dropped by 80% a month, I seem to fall through all the cracks.
What’s next? I’m stopping any more useless applications and just focusing on finding new business. “ Barbara A. Campagna, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP BD + C, Principal, BAC/Architecture + Planning, PLLC, WBE , Buffalo, NY (Sole Proprietor).
“My financial situation dramatically changed from 2019 to 2020. At the end of last year, I took an early retirement from my long time Commercial Bank Leadership position. I wanted a new journey to contribute as a WBE and assist many of the type of businesses I had worked with for twenty-five (25) years in a different capacity.
I transitioned to a Business/Management Consulting Firm and just obtained my WBENC WBE. I have lost two (2) potential contracts so far since the Pandemic hit. But, given my financial situation in 2019, I do not qualify for the stimulus funds, I do not have employees yet to qualify for the PPP, and since I have access to a Personal line of credit with a reasonable rate through my Business Bank, I did not see the financial benefit to applying for the EIDL. Recognizing the scarcity of those funds, I’d rather see some of my clients and friends partake of that loan program, if it ever finds funds to make the advance grant.”
I now find myself dispensing “free” information to all the business owners I know and advocating for them in various ways, such as this blog. They all need a forum to be heard. And, whatever I can do, whomever I can reach out to with my connections, is how I now spend my time. I am hopeful that once the Pandemic is under control that at least one (1) of my potential contracts will resume and I can return to earning income for myself. “ Joanne M. Campagna, President, Illuminate Business Consulting, LLC, WBE, Buffalo, NY (Sole Proprietor).
Be Well.
