Gwinnett Black Chamber of Commerce partners with First Choice Credit Union to give small businesses a fighting chance for Payroll Protection Program Funding
The Gwinnett County Black Chamber of Commerce (GCBCC) hosted a Zoom meeting with Terri Denison, Georgia District Director of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and members of GCBCC, Black Gwinnett Magazine and Therrell High School Alumni Association, Inc. on Sunday, June 21. The meeting provided excellent information on changes to the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), the upcoming June 30 deadline and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Both programs are for small businesses, sole proprietors, independent contractors and gig workers affected by COVID-19.
“I am just shocked that after a rush to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program with $310 billion in funding, there’s more than $120 billion still left unallocated for small businesses and the deadline for applying has not be extended,” said Cheryle Renee Moses, founder and president of the Gwinnett County Black Chamber of Commerce.
Many good changes and clarifications have been made since the passing of the CARES Act that provided relief for small businesses, sole proprietors, independent contractors, and gig workers who were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the Payroll Protection Program through the SBA. However, the deadline to apply has not changed.
“So a program was passed to benefit small business owners, yet big ‘trickster’ banks helped large corporations get most of the money. Once diverse business owners in America ‘screamed’ about it, the Treasury Department demanded the money back, and additional billions were added to the pot. But the deadline was not change,” said Moses.
“In helping members of the Gwinnett County Black Chamber of Commerce, I have become an expert-out-of-necessity on this program. We have been walking businesses owners step-by-step through the process of applying for PPP and EIDL loans through the SBA.
Now that PPP rules have been changed, more money added, those who should not have gotten the loans in the first place have given the money back, they now want to close the program with over $120 billion in it,” said Moses.
“After all of the drama around this PPP funding, not extending the deadline to apply for the loans to at least July 31, 2020 is outrageous. This is not helping small businesses, sole proprietors and independent contractors in America who are losing everything because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” continued Moses.
Gwinnett County Black Chamber of Commerce Partners with First Choice Credit Union
Gwinnett County Black Chamber of Commerce has partnered with First Choice Credit Union to give Georgia small business owners a fighting chance to get funding through the Payroll Protection Program.
“We are excited and honored to partner with First Choice Credit Union on this project. While we are reaching out to Congress to change the application deadline, we wanted to have a plan in place to help entrepreneurs and business owners with applying for this money. This is my ‘Hail Mary” strategy,” said Cheryle Renee Moses.
GCBCC is asking the community to help spread the word about the PPP application assistance, as well in contacting Congress and encouraging politicians and the U.S. Treasury Department to extend the deadline.
What Can the Georgia Community Do?
The Georgia community can help in many ways to get the word out about GCBCC efforts for small business owners. Here are steps of actions you can take.
Step 1: Spread the word that GCBCC has partnered with First Choice Credit Union to process PPP applications for Georgia-only small businesses. The ‘apply-now’ live training session are for members and non-members – small business owners, independent contractors, sole proprietors, non-profits and gig workers.
The Payroll Protection Program Application Step-By-Step Live Training Class is in two parts on Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25. Register free at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/110691198354 and spread the word about this event.
Step 2: Contact all of your U.S. congress people and demand that the Payroll Protection Program deadline to apply be extended until at least July 31, 2020.
- Contact President Donald Trump online, or call the White House switchboard at 202-456-1414 or the comments line at 202-456-1111 during business hours.
- Locate your U.S. senators’ contact information.
- Find your U.S. representative’s website and contact information.
For more information on the training class and to sign up, call Cheryle Renee Moses at 404.590.4716.
