Small

Florida small business owners stay afloat as state continues to reopen

By Dorothea 2 weeks ago

CBS News is chronicling what has changed for the lives of Americans in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

When CBS News spoke to Dr. Fitzherbert Harry in June, he said his small physical therapy business in Maitland, Florida wasn’t at “break-even” yet, because it was recovering from negative impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. Harry, 35, said then that his business could probably survive just another few months before he’d have to seek other sources of income.

Two and half months later, Florida is in phase 2 of its reopening, and Harry says things have improved and that his personal case load, which had significantly decreased from 25 clients to three — is now back up to 10 to 20 clients, depending on the week. Though his small staff still has to work other jobs to supplement their work with Harry, he is hopeful that business will improve.

Harry received a

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New York firm helps small businesses emerge from the COVID-19 crisis

By Dorothea 4 months ago

Jessica Larios’s baby arrived a few weeks before her due date at the end of February.

The owner of Bella’s Event Inc — an event planning business in Yonkers, NY, specializing in rentals and sales of all things party related from wedding gowns to Quinceanera dresses, table linens and party supplies — Larios could not afford to take any time off during one of the busiest months for bookings.

In a haze of feedings and caring for the baby, Larios plowed through her work. Less than a month later, things ground to a halt as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the state — and phone calls with cancellations started pouring in.

Jessica Larios, owner of Bella’s Events, which specializes in rentals and sales of anything party related, holds a Quinceanera dress at the shop in Yonkers May 28, 2020. The Acceleration Project, a Scarsdale nonprofit consulting firm that is

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DuPage County, Choose DuPage Offering Small Business Grants

By Dorothea 5 months ago

DUPAGE COUNTY, IL — DuPage County and Choose DuPage have teamed up to offer grant opportunities for small businesses and independent contractors during the new coronavirus crisis. Choose DuPage will host a webinar about the Small Business Relief Grant Program on May 15 at 11 a.m. to explain the grant application process and to offer more details.

Interested parties can click the link to register for the webinar.

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To qualify for the Small Business Relief Grant Program, which will offer assistance with employee payroll, utilities, and rent, business owners and contractors must meet the following criteria, according to the Choose DuPage website:

  • Small businesses with fewer than 15 employees and less than $1.5 million in annual revenue may apply for a grant of up to $15,000.

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