Ponce De Leon Foundation 2018 to 2023 Report

Business Outreach Center Network

BOC WBC activities continued and increased significantly due to the unprecedented COVID19; business counseling and training to support small businesses' survival, recovery, and continued sustainability from the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic.

BOC WBCs served a total of 324 new clients and provided over 627 sessions of one-on- one counseling. BOC WBCs delivered 50 workshops or webinars, reaching 983 participants. BOC WBCs served 22 small business owners with capital infusion transactions totaling $1,477,100. Started in March 2020, the BOC WBCs delivered services via a 100% virtual model—providing one-on-one counseling and webinars via Zoom and Vonage. The BOC WBCs continued to successfully o ff er disaster relief business counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic.Targeted support to women's businesses (webinars, PPP/EIDL assistance, crisis counseling, etc.) During the COVID- 19 pandemic, the BOC WBCs went from assisting clients to start businesses to helping them protect and sustain their businesses.

CIVITAS In January 2020, CIVITAS initiated its East Harlem CommunityOutreach program to bring togetherEast Harlem community organizations, including sports groups, that use and benefit from the Jointly Owned Playgrounds ("JOPs") in East Harlem.The concept was

to build a coalition of active JOPs beneficiaries and concerned citizens in East Harlem who would be interested in helping CIVITAS protect East Harlem JOPs. By bringing the community together through events that engage the public, CIVITAS intends to ensure that the East Harlem neighborhood maintains a maximum number of safe spaces for physical and mental health, as well as enhance the natural environment surrounding the community for recreational, waterfront access, and fishing opportunities. During the height of the pandemic, CIVITAS saw an opportunity to help local small businesses and families in the communities it serves with the creation of a "COVID-19 Resources" web page providing critical information from the Community A ff airsUnit of the Mayor’s o ffi ce, as well as a directory of establishments that have been honored as part of the organization’s ongoing program of recognizing small businesses, and guidance on applying for a PPP loan.

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