President of the New York Women's Chamber, Quenia Abreu Honored FOUR Times in under SIX months!

On October 11, Quenia was named to Crain’s New York Business’ Notable Hispanic Leaders and Executives. In September she made City & State’s The Power of Diversity: Latino 100. In July, she was voted the Civic Diversity Hero by Crain’s New York Business after City & State’s included her in the MWBE Power 50 in May. FELICIDADES QUENIA!

In 2002, Abreu, a native of the Dominican Republic, founded the first women’s chamber of commerce in the city and state. Today the NYWCC represents over 7,000 women and minority owned businesses and has helped create over 10,000 businesses and enabled entrepreneurs to access $45 million in capital and $65 million in procurement contracts. The NYWCC has helped over 650 small businesses survive including over 225 construction-related or real estate firms.

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Crain’s told it like it is in the October listing, pointing out that there is a long way to go as Hispanic leaders total just 4.5% of executives Citywide and 4% nationwide.

City & State credited Latinos as “a rising force in U.S. politics” and celebrated Hispanic leaders in public service, business, advocacy and nonprofits.

Crain’s New York Business named Abreu its Civic Diversity Hero, making her one out of just eight individuals and three companies selected among 37 finalists to win Crain’s inaugural Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Award.
 
The May City & State’s first ever MWBE Power 50 honored the contractors, public officials, industry leaders and advocates aiding the participation rates for New York’s MWBEs.
 
To read more about these prestigious awards, please click here https://bit.ly/crains_notablehispanic_leaders for Crain's NY Business 2021 Notable Hispanic Leaders & Executives and https://bit.ly/cityandstate_latino_power100 for City & State's The Power of Diversity: Latino 100.

Minority Owned and Women Entrepreneurs (M/WBE) Certification Program Begins

With the firm objective of helping minority or women-owned businesses obtain the New York City “Minority / Women Businees Enterprise (M / WBE)” certification, the New York Women's Chamber of Commerce (NYWCC ), has begun its process of accompaniment and advice in the process of this important certification. In the opinion of our Director, Quenia Abreu, “This certification helps companies to have access to contracts with agencies of the city of New York, and subcontracts with companies contracted by the city; Be part of an important directory of certified companies that is an excellent marketing platform for your company; obtain credits with preferential rates, among other benefits ”. Since the beginning of this successful program, NYWCC has helped more than 4,000 women and minority businesses obtain this important New York City certification. “We know that you are busy growing your business, and that is why we help you in this process with trained professionals who will accompany you throughout the certification process, from analyzing if you meet the requirements, seeing each required document, to completing everything. the application process ”, concludes Quenia Abreu, who has a deep knowledge of this process since she was one of the promoters of the M / WBE certification legislation and is also a member of the mayor's advisory council on certification matters.

What is the M/WBE Certification

Due to the low participation of women and minority businesses in the contracting process with city agencies, in 2005 Mayor Mike Bloomberg enacted M / WBE certification legislation. M / WBE companies are those with a Hispanic, Black, Asian Indian, Native American, or female majority partner (51% or more owned). When they obtain this certification, they can opt for larger contracts with city or private companies, which can be a great boost for their business. City contracts can be opportunities for builders, suppliers of furniture, office supplies, recruiting companies, accounting, marketing or landscaping, food, among other various services or sales. After fifteen years, this regulation has gone further, as the city's goal is for 30% of contracts to be awarded to minorities for a total of $ 25 billion by 2025. Ms. Gloria Pérez, president of MIT Clean Corp, for two years tried to obtain this certification without achieving positive results. However, at the end of 2020 she contacted us to seek help: “in January of this year I finally managed to obtain my M / WBE certification and it was all thanks to the New York Women's Chamber of Commerce, and its team that always She was attentive in helping me, mainly Mrs. Greene, who guided me, guided me and did not give up until I got my certification. I am very grateful to the New York Women's Chamber of Commerce, because they are also the only ones that continue to accompany us with other programs such as “ContractHer” that help us obtain more opportunities and continue to grow in knowledge and business experiences. The M / WBE certification has helped me to obtain financing that is destined to certified companies among other financial benefits ”.

Credit to Esteban Escalona

Help people affected by Hurricane Ida

Those who have been affected by the effects of Hurricane IDA, can contact NYC Emergency Management or the Disaster Assistance department of FEMA, who will provide assistance for expenses not covered by insurance, assistance for temporary housing or other needs. For loans, the SBA has excellent loan options. Here we leave you more information about the different types of help.

1. FEDERAL AID

1.1 FEMA Disaster Assistance

Visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

• Call 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. ET, 7 days a week:

• 1-800-621-3362 (711 or VRS available)

• TTY: 1-800-462-7585

If you use a relay service (a videophone, InnoCaption, CapTel, etc.), please provide your number assigned to that service. FEMA must be able to contact you. Be aware that phone calls from FEMA may appear to come from an unidentified number.

1.2 U.S. State Small Business Administration.

• The SBA is offering low-interest catastrophe loans ranging from 1.563% to 2.855%. To access this assistance you must submit an             online application using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA): Home (sba.gov)
• Applicants can call FEMA's toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those using 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-         3362.
• They can also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-     8339 for the deaf or hard of hearing) or by emailing disasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded       at Disaster Loan Application Paper Forms (sba.gov)

1.3 Internal Revenue Service, IRS.

Victims of Hurricane Ida now have until January 3, 2022 to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. For more information visit the IRS website: VIST: Help for Victims of Hurricane Ida | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

2. OTHER HELPS

2.1 Department of Financial Services

If the settlement offered by the insurance company seems unfair, contact the Department of Financial Services. 

Visit:  Home | Department of Financial Services (ny.gov)

2.2 NYC Emergency Management:

Visit:  https://www1.nyc.gov/site/em/resources/ida.page
 

This site contains a growing collection of resources, including the following:

• Get free emergency alerts and updates from Notify NYC

• Find a service center(s) near you

• Transportation to service centers

• Services offered

• Cleaning after a flood

• How to prevent mold growth

• Rumor control

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If you have other questions or if you want to request an appointment in our offices, call us at 212-491-9640. Remember that to see them in our offices, you must present proof of your COVID-19 vaccine.

Credit to Esteban Escalona

Dear New York Women's Chamber of Commerce Members, Clients & Friends

The Coronavirus continues to have a monumental impact on our community and small businesses across the Tri-State area and the country.  In an active effort to prioritize the health and well-being of our community and staff, we will service all clients remotely as of tomorrow Tuesday, March 17, 2020.  We are committed to continuing to providing service to business owners during these perilous times.  If your business is impacted by COVID-19, we encourage you to fill out the below form and a member of our team will get back to you.  We are fully accessible via phone and email at 212.491.9640 and  assistance@nywcc.org.

Financial Assistance Survey

The New York Women's Chamber of Commerce Hosts Holiday Networking Event

The New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce held its end of the year M/WBE holiday networking celebration on Wednesday, December 1, 2019 at Club 101, 101 Park Ave, from 5:30 to 8:30pm. 

The event featured a guest speaker, Valerie White, the Executive Vice President of the Division of Minority & Women’s Business Development at Empire State Development. White spoke on the ways in which the female minority entrepreneur space is rapidly growing and changing, as well as the increasing amount of funding that is available for MWBE’s (Minority and/or Women Owned Business Enterprise). 

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A wide range of companies attended the event from city and state agencies, to prime and subcontractors, to minority and women business enterprises. Attendees had the chance to network with companies such as Turner, Skanska, Cushman & Wakefield, SCA (School Construction Authority) and McKissack & McKissack, just to name a few.  

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The main purpose of the event was to expose individuals (members and non-members) to new connections within the business world. 

President Quenia on Spectrum News InFocus

On November 24, 2019 President Quenia was presented on InFocus to discuss the daily challenges small business face. She’ll talk about those services, how they help, and what more needs to be done to help budding entrepreneurs and existing businesses.

The Battle to Keep Small Business Going 

Phase Two Guidance

The guidelines in the link below apply to non-essential businesses in regions that are permitted to reopen, essential businesses throughout the state that were previously permitted to remain open, and commercial and recreational activities that have been permitted to operate statewide with restrictions.  

President Quenia on InFocus

On November 24, 2019 President Quenia went on News NY1 InFocus to discuss "The Battle to Keep Small Business Going."

New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce honors Women of Excellence at Fundraising Breakfast

The New York Women’s Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2019 NY Women of Excellence & ContractHer Fundraising Breakfast, on September 20, 2019 in Manhattan.

NYWCC honors Women of Excellence on September 20th

New York Women's Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Women of Excellence 2019

NYWCC Honors a Dozen Leaders at Annual Women of Excellence Awards

The New York Women's of Chamber celebrates & acknowledge 2019 honorees their hardworking