Watch candid interviews with two African-American experts helping micro, independent and small businesses, working with owners one-on-one
By ONME Newswire
As COVID-19 anxiety has blanketed California Black businesses struggling to stay afloat, Gov. Newsom has assured priority to these owners who were left out of the first set of grants overran by major corporations and other larger businesses who benefited in March and April of 2020 from these government disbursements.
The Governor announced the creation of a $500 million COVID Relief Grant for small businesses that have been impacted by COVID and the health and safety restrictions. Funds would be awarded in amounts up to $25,000 to underserved micro and small businesses throughout the state by early 2021. Non-profits would also be eligible for these grants. The grant portal opened December 30, 2020, at 6 AM; the deadline has been extended to January 13, 2021, at 11:59 PM.
Producer host Julia Dudley Najieb interviewed two experts about the California Relief Grant; Salena R. Pryor, Black Small Business Association of California, president and Hilda Kennedy, founder and president of AmPac CDC . Both organizations are helping many African-American businesses get through the process, which is much easier than what some people may think.
Also, the grant does not have to be paid back; micro and small business owners and independent contractors/entreprenuers who made at least $1,000 in 2019 can be proactive by applying now before tomorrow's deadline; business owners are notified by January 15 if their application is approved.
If a business owner does not get funding from the first round, there is a second round coming in February.
Salena R. Pryor is the president of Black Small Business Association of California, who is a veteran of the CA Legislature for more than a decade. She first started in the Assembly
in the capacity of Special Assistant, constituent communications liaison and finally served in a dual capacity role as Principal Consultant to the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), and Executive Director of the California Legislative Black Caucus Policy Institute, the non-profit arm of the CLBC.
Pryor also said that people can attend today's webinars or listen to past webinars on their website to get more information about the process, what paperwork is needed, and how to get hands-on help one-on-one.
Hilda Kennedy is the Founder/President of AmPac CDC. Prior to establishing the CDC, Kennedy worked in local government for the City of Inglewood, as Chief of Staff to the Mayor, Executive Assistant to the City Manager and Economic Development Director. As Economic Development Director, Kennedy established a $45 Million loan fund, leveraging HUD 108 funds with matching bank funds, to provide financing to businesses in the community.
Hilda Kennedy served on the White House and SBA Council on Underserved Communities; one of 15 representatives chosen across the country. She is current President-Elect for the National Association of Women Business Owners-California; Past President of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Inland Empire Chapter, and is immediate Past President of the Risk Management Association – Inland Empire Chapter. Kennedy serves on the Board of the National Christian Foundation and is a Board Member of the National Association of Development Companies. Hilda Kennedy is an active member of her church in Ontario, CA and serves on the Board of the Mt. Zion Economic Development Corporation.
Hilda has been recognized for her efforts to promote the growth of small businesses – she was recognized as the 32nd Senatorial District Woman of the Year by Senator Gloria Negrete McCloud 2012; received the 2012 ANITA Award by the National Association of Women Business Owners – Inland Empire Chapter; received the 2012 Community Excellence Community Builder Award, with her husband Pastor Brian Kennedy from Inland Valley Newspaper; received the 2011 Women in Business Champion Award by the U.S. Small Business Administration – Santa Ana District Office; was a recipient of the Black Rose Award-2009.
Kennedy recently completed the Goldman Sach’s CEO Cohort in Long Beach. Hilda Kennedy graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, completed a post-graduate fellowship with the Coro Foundation in New York, and completed Master’s coursework with the University of San Francisco.
Hilda Kennedy lives in Upland, CA with her husband, Pastor Brian Kennedy and their four children, Brian, Evelyn, Lelia and Joshua.
AmPac Business Capital is partnering with Grant Administrator, Lendistry to provide grants to California Small Businesses up to $25,000 to support COVID-19 relief to keep the CA economy moving.
AmPac Business Capital is partnering with Grant Administrator, Lendistry to provide grants to California Small Businesses up to $25,000 to support COVID-19 relief to keep the CA economy moving.
AmPac Tri State Certified Development Company (AmPac CDC) is a non-profit certified lender of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on a mission to finance the growth of small businesses through personalized services and advocacy in utilizing SBA resources. AmPac has funded over 130 businesses with greater than $200 Million in loans, creating more than 1,000 new jobs throughout the State of California. Our vision is to help small businesses to build wealth and create legacy by financing the purchase of commercial and industrial real estate and to provide resources to facilitate the success of promising small businesses at all stages of growth. As SBA’s first faith based CDC in the country, with a diverse Pastor’s Advisory Committee, AmPac seeks to lead SBA efforts to connect faith and business. AmPac maintains a commitment to walk hand-in-hand with business owners throughout the lending process and passionately seeks out faith centered business owners, and minority, women, veteran and disabled business owners.
