SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

The following is from the offices of Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz:

Was Your Business Damaged By Hurricane Sandy?

If you had to rebuild or repair your business, you may be eligible for REFUNDS for the city permits/licenses you obtained.

On THURSDAY, MAY 9, from 9:30 – 11:30 A.M., Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz will welcome a representative from the Mayor’s office to help businesses apply for these refunds.

No appointment is necessary. Just come to Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ district office at 1800 Sheepshead Bay Road (between Shore Parkway and Emmons Avenue) to take advantage of this on-site help!

The deadline for refunds is May 31, so it is important that you act NOW.

For information/questions, call (718) 743-4078

We look forward to seeing you!

Many Thanks to the NYC Restoration Business Acceleration Team for its partnership in making this event possible.

Photo by Erica Sherman

If your business was affected by Superstorm Sandy, you are eligible to receive pro-bono legal advice from volunteer attorneys who are with the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project and accounting guidance from CPAs with the New York State Society of CPAs, during a free clinic today, January 31, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at El Greco Diner, 1821 Emmons Avenue at Sheepshead Bay Road.

Attorneys and CPAs will be available to answer questions related to:

• FEMA and SBA issues
• Commercial landlord/tenant issues
• Employer responsibilities
• Insurance issues
• Contract issues
• Filing amended returns
• Calculating business loss
• Applying for tax relief

You should also bring all documents related to your primary question, including:

• Your lease and all riders
• Any contracts (including amendments and relevant communications)
• Insurance policies, riders and any communications with your insurers

Assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. RSVP by going to http://sheepsheadbaysandyclinic.eventbrite.com or by calling/emailing Rodrigo Camarena at (212) 513-9211/rcamarena@sbs.nyc.gov. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/nycbusiness.

FEMA is on hand at the Miramar Yacht Club (3050 Emmons Avenue) right now until 3:00 p.m. today.

The one day FEMA Applicant Registration Site has FEMA employees that are able to assist those who need help applying, answer questions and determine next steps for those who have already applied.

The FEMA site is in response to the request made at the Rapid Repairs Town Hall Meeting organized by Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, Councilman Fidler and Assemblyman Maisel.

Having insurance-related issues? (Of course you are.) Well, the Department of Financial Services, the state agency responsible for regulating the insurance industry and advocating for New York’s residents, has set up a mobile command unit on Emmons Avenue.

The representatives will be available to meet with residents inside the agency’s Mobile Command Center at Emmons Avenue and Nostrand Avenue from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Department representatives will help neighbors contact their insurers if they have been unable to do so and answer questions about homeowners’, renters’ and business owners’ insurance coverage.

Citizens unable to go to the Mobile Command Center are encouraged to call the Department’s storm hotline (800) 339-1759, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Insurance information is also available on the Department’s website.

Thanks to the offices of Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein and State Senator Marty Golden, who informed us about the services today.

Just a reminder that we’ve expanded our business recovery workshop to include more agencies and also have someone on hand to help with residential concerns.

This week’s event will take place Wednesday, December 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cherry Hill Market (1901 Emmons Avenue, in the Lundy’s Building).

The event is again sponsored by Sheepshead Bites, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

The one-on-one workshop features experts from the Department of Small Business Services, the Small Business Administration, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and FEMA.

For businesses, they’ll be helping fill out loan applications, filing appeals, or figuring out next steps. The NYCEDC will will consult with business owners to determine additional needed programs from the city, and help owners with any permit or regulatory challenges.

Finally, we’re also bringing in FEMA representatives to help residents with their own next steps.

We may also have Con Edison reps on hand to expedite service reinstatements, so if you lack power, come and get on their radar!

And keep in mind that many of the programs have a December 31 deadline – so don’t delay! Come to our workshop!

To help speed things up, we recommend you bring the following, though it’s not a requirement:

• 2011 Business taxes returns
• Copy of ID
• FEMA pin number
• A voided check
• Credit report
• Copy of your lease
• Any forms, paperwork or documentation you may already have relating to recovery resources

None of the above are necessary, and the good folks here can get you on your way if you’re missing any of them – but it will make for a faster, simpler process.

Business owners get one-on-one help during last Tuesday’s workshop.

Following the success of our business recovery workshop this past week, where dozens of business owners came to get one-on-one help filling out forms and determining next steps in the recovery process, we’re proud to announce that we’re doing it all again – and expanding it with more services for business owners and residents.

This week’s event will take place Wednesday, December 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cherry Hill Market (1901 Emmons Avenue, in the Lundy’s Building).

The event is again sponsored by Sheepshead Bites, Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Like our event this past week, it will feature counselors from the Department of Small Business Services and the Small Business Administration.

We’re also adding in experts from the New York City Economic Development Corporation, who will consult with business owners to determine additional needed programs from the city, and help owners with any permit or regulatory challenges.

Finally, we’re also bringing in FEMA representatives to help residents with their own next steps.

Already submitted your forms? It’s okay – this event isn’t just for those looking to get started on the road to recovery; it’s here to help you identify and pursue additional resources. You can work one-on-one with our counselors to appeal claims or seek additional sources of compensation, or just confirm that you’re on the right track.

And keep in mind that many of the programs have a December 31 deadline – so don’t delay! Come to our workshop!

To help speed things up, we recommend you bring the following, though it’s not a requirement:

• 2011 Business taxes returns
• Copy of ID
• FEMA pin number
• A voided check
• Credit report
• Any forms, paperwork or documentation you may already have relating to recovery resources

None of the above are necessary, and the good folks here can get you on your way if you’re missing any of them – but it will make for a faster, simpler process.

More than 40 business owners have already stopped by our Superstorm Sandy Recovery Workshop for Small Businesses, happening right now at Yiasou Restaurant (2003 Emmons Avenue). We’re here until 4:30 p.m., with Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Services and the Small Business Administration, helping business owners fill out forms for loans and grants.

To help speed things up, we recommend you bring the following, though it’s not a requirement:

• 2011 Business taxes returns
• Copy of ID
• FEMA pin number
• A voided check
• Credit report

Again, none of the above are necessary, and the good folks here can get you on your way if you’re missing any of the above. So come before 4:30 p.m. and get further along on the road to recovery!

Hey, business owners affected by Superstorm Sandy: did you know you qualify for tens of thousands of dollars in grants and low-interest loans? And hundreds of thousands of dollars in other loans?

Well, you are. And we know that in the weeks after Superstorm Sandy, many of you have had trouble accessing the cash flow you need to get back on your feet. That’s why we’ve organized, with the help of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, a Sheepshead Bay Business Emergency Relief Workshop.

This takes place today, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Yiasou Restaurant at 2003 Emmons Avenue. Here, you can get one-on-one help from the Chamber as well as representatives of the Small Business Services and Small Business Administration to fill out the forms you need and get on your way to a faster, more prosperous recovery.

Earlier this week, I walked with Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Carlo Scissura and Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, stopping in with local businesses to see how recovery efforts are underway.

While a number of businesses have gotten back up and running and others are still working on it, we were surprised to find that very few knew about the numerous loans available from the Small Business Administration, Small Business Services and others. Nor did they know there are deadlines.

To begin with there, are $25,000 loans given at one percent interest rates, and the city is also throwing in a $10,000 grant for some businesses to get back on their feet. While it doesn’t cover every expense of recovery, the accessible cash flow certainly goes a long way in helping get people back to work – and additional funds are available.

To help business owners navigate the bureaucratic waters, Sheepshead Bites is working with the Chamber and the Assemblyman, along with the SBS and SBA to have reps here on the ground this Tuesday, December 4, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Yiasou Restaurant (2003 Emmons Avenue). One-on-one counseling will be available, helping business owners organize their documents and fill out the paperwork.

Don’t delay. These papers need to get in. Take advantage of our workshop, and get back to work that much faster.