Page 30 - BEQ Magazine Iss 19

Oma Bap, marketing campaign to encourage local businesses to its members and GSBA recently launched the
owned by to get informed, gather information and go apply. Ready for Business initiative to address the needs of
Peter Pak (he/
him), received The effort included coordination with lenders and the community reeling from the economic impact of
a Ready for multiple training seminars. Through the first round the past year.
Business grant of PPP, CEP partner businesses were 300% more The RFB initiative, sponsored by Comcast
from GSBA . | likely than other Florida businesses to receive a NBCUniversal, is focused on helping small businesses
COURTESY PHOTO
PPP loan and 250% more likely than the rest of the survive with small cash grants and wraparound
nation to be approved. services. In their first round, they awarded 65 grants
“The focus with all of our initiatives has been to business owners from marginalized communities
not only to create more jobs but jobs with higher in and around the Capitol Hill area -- a part of
wages and in industries which would be anti- Seattle doubly impacted by pandemic lockdowns
cyclical or recession resilient,” Sheilley said. and the ongoing protests in response to George
“The response of the local economy through the Floyd’s murder.
pandemic suggests that these efforts have been “We received over 400 requests for support for
largely successful.” the first round of RFB,” said Rosén. “We are now in
Likewise, GSBA implemented Rapid Response, a our second round and have opened up statewide
series of informational sessions about the PPP, how with a continuing focus on BIPOC, woman and
to apply, how to qualify for loan forgiveness and LGBTQ-owned small businesses.”
more. The organization’s website has an exhaustive Applicants for round two are approaching
COVID-19 Resources hub with information relevant 2,400 and in response to that immense need,

30 SUMMER 2021 BUSINESSEQUALITYMAGAZINE.COM