FREE Webinar – How to Successfully Apply for a Paycheck Protection Program Loan

Liberty Bank is offering financial assistance to small business owners experiencing financial hardships due to COVID-19 concerns:

“Dear valued Community partner:

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was established in early April to assist small businesses with the financial hardships they would face during COVID-19. The loan application deadline is quickly approaching on Tuesday, June 30.

As a community bank, Liberty Bank remains committed to assisting minority business owners with their PPP loan applications. We’re still accepting applications from customers and non-customers and many minority small business owners may still be eligible for PPP funding. In many cases, loan dollars will be forgiven.

Next steps: We are dedicated to providing additional outreach, training, and mentorship to minority-owned businesses in Connecticut who are still seeking PPP loan funding. Our team will guide you through the application process and provide more assistance, as needed, to ensure you successfully apply for a loan and to help your business thrive during these challenging times.”

Register Now!

The webinar will be offered at three different times. Click the appropriate link below to register for the date/time that’s convenient for you:

 

 

US 2020 Census Reminder

If you have not yet completed the 2020 Census, please click on this link to access the questionnaire.

  • The 2020 Census questionnaire will take about 10 minutes to complete.
  • It’s safe, secure, and confidential. Your information and privacy are protected.
  • Your response helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services.
  • Results from the 2020 Census will be used to determine the number of seats each state has in Congress and your political representation at all levels of government.

Complete the 2020 Census

It is Not Too Late

You can still complete the 2020 census today online at – https://2020census.gov/en

Your response matters to health clinics, fire departments, schools, and even roads and highways. The census can shape many different aspects of your community because the results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year.  The census results also determine how many seats in Congress each state gets. The Census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution in Article 1, Section 2: The U.S. has counted its population every 10 years since 1790. Census results affect your community every day in areas such as school lunches, plans for highways, and support for firefighters and families in need.

The 2020 Census is available online, by phone, and by mail. Online and phone responses can be completed in 13 languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Japanese).  When you respond to the census, your answers are kept anonymous. They are used only to produce statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau is bound by law to protect your answers and keep them strictly confidential. The law ensures that your private information is never published and that your answers cannot be used against you by any government agency or court.  You will never be asked for:
  • Your Social Security number.
  • Money or donations.
  • Anything on behalf of a political party.
  • Your bank or credit card account numbers.

If someone claiming to be from the U.S. Census Bureau contacts you via email or phone and asks you for one of these things, it’s a scam, and you should not cooperate. For more information, visit Avoiding Fraud and Scams.

(Source: U.S. Census website at https://2020census.gov/en)

Special Application for Outdoor Activities

The City of Hartford is focused on working with applicants seeking permission to move their commercial activities outdoors.

If you are seeking permission to: serve food and beverages outside, to display retail goods outside, and/or to put up temporary COVID-19-related signage, please complete and submit the form that is located at https://hartfordzoning.wufoo.com/forms/special-application-for-outdoor-activities/.

Self-Certify your business / Sector Rules and Certification for May 20th Reopen

As part of the CT reopening process the DECD requires that each business must self-certify and commit to comply with the Sector Rules established to keep their employees and customers safe. Upon completion, you will be provided with signage and a badge that you can voluntarily post at your place of business or on your website.

Certify your business by completing the questionnaire located at https://service-ct.force.com/recovery/s/?language=en_US

Downloadable guidelines for each business sector can be accessed by clicking on the  relevant link below:

 

 

Construction Schedule – Route 44 Safety Improvement Project

Good Afternoon,

The Route 44 (Albany Avenue) Safety Improvements Project website has been updated with the following new schedule content: 

Schedule: Week of May 4, 2020*

Normal Work Hours: 7:00am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday

  • Flower, ornamental grass, and shrub planting begin this week on Albany Avenue. Tree planting continues.
  • Sidewalk demolition will occur on the north side of Albany Avenue between Irving and Magnolia Streets.
  • Sidewalk and driveway apron installation is scheduled for the north side of Albany Avenue between Irving and Garden Streets.
  • Traffic signal installation continues all week at the intersection of Garden Street and Albany Avenue.  The installation of traffic signals will begin at the Vine Street intersection.
  • Installation of electrical conduit and decorative lighting continues on the north side of Albany Avenue between Garden and Bedford Streets.
  • Traffic sign installation will occur project-wide.
  • Expect partial lane closures and minor traffic delays during sidewalk and traffic signal work this week.

Schedule: Week of May 11, 2020*

Normal Work Hours: 7:00am – 5:00pm, Monday-Friday

  • Tree, flower, ornamental grass, and shrub planting continues on Albany Avenue.
  • Sidewalk demolition will occur on the northwest corner of Vine Street at Albany Avenue.
  • Concrete sidewalks and driveway aprons installation continue on the north side of Albany Avenue between Irving and Bedford Streets.
  • Granite curb installation continues on the north side of Albany Avenue at Vine Street and also between Irving and Magnolia Streets.
  • Installation of electrical conduit and decorative lighting will occur on the north side of Albany Avenue between Irving and Magnolia Streets.
  • Expect partial lane closures and minor traffic delays during sidewalk and curb installation this week.

*weather permitting

 Business access will be maintained. All travel lanes on Albany will remain open before 9am and after 3pm; during other hours, partial lane closures may occur. Traffic will be maintained in both directions on Homestead and Westbourne. Hartford Police will assist motorists.

Do you have questions or concerns? Contact Kimberli Owens at (860)-263-8533 or email kimberli.owens@ct.gov.

You may also visit their website at http://www.albanyavenuehartfordproject.com for project updates!

For the latest project photos, visit: http://www.albanyavenuehartfordproject.com/home/photos/.

CT DOL: Unemployment Benefits for Self-Employed and Independent Contractors

Connecticut State Unemployment Program
For: Employees, Self-employed, Independent Contractors
Eligibility: Recent changes have expanded eligibility to include self-employed, independent contractors, “gig workers”, free-lancers. These are categories of workers who did not pay into the unemployment fund through payroll deductions.
Amount: Calculated based on earnings history plus $600/week additional from federal government.
CT Department of Labor – Frequently Asked Questions

Connecticut Business Response Program

Small businesses across Connecticut are facing tough times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the state and federal government work to lend support to affected small businesses, we must not neglect businesses that have had difficulty in receiving financial assistance due to systemic challenges.

Violette Haldane collaborated with Governor Lamont, the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD), the Connecticut Minority Business Initiative, and the Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCO) on the Connecticut Business Response Program. This program allows minority-owned and women-owned small businesses to apply for a zero-interest line of credit up to $20,000.

To Be Eligible the Small Business Must:

  • Have No More Than 20 Full-Time and/or Part-Time Employees
  • Required to be At Least 51% of Minority and/or Women-Ownership
  • Operating for At Least 6 Months
  • In Good Standing with the Department of Revenue Services

COVID-19 Business Response Program Webpage: Click Here

For more information and questions, you can contact HEDCO at COVID-19@hedcoinc.com or (860) 527-1301 x18.