Monday, March 1, 2021

SBA Prioritizes Smallest of Small Businesses in the Paycheck Protection Program

PPP Update: SBA Prioritizes Smallest Businesses

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established a 14-day, exclusive Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees that ends on March 9, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Additionally, the SBA will:

Allow sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals to receive more financial support by revising the PPP’s funding formula for these categories of applicants;
Eliminate an exclusionary restriction on PPP access for small business owners with prior non-financial fraud felony convictions, consistent with a bipartisan congressional proposal;
Eliminate PPP access restrictions on small business owners who have struggled to make federal student loan payments by eliminating federal student loan debt delinquency and default as disqualifiers to participating in the PPP; and
Ensure access for non-citizen small business owners who are lawfully residing in the U.S. by clarifying that they may use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply for the PPP.

Borrowers can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program by downloading the First Draw PPP loan application or Second Draw PPP loan application and working with a participating PPP lender through the SBA Lender Match tool.

Igniting Your Business: Four Part Online Series

IGNITING YOUR BUSINESS:
FREE 4-PART ONLINE SERIES

As part of the Backing Business initiative, the City of Hollywood has partnered with Broward SCORE to provide a FREE online workshop series focusing on key business concepts essential to the success of your business. Registration is required.

Thursdays in March • 6:00 p.m.
Click here to register for this free online series.

Vacation Rental Changes Take Effect Today

The City's new changes to the Vacation Rental License Program Ordinance take effect today, Monday, March 1, 2021. These changes will apply to all City properties which currently have a Vacation Rental License, as well as those property owners who are currently using their property as a vacation rental.

To assist property owners with meeting compliance deadlines, the City hosted two virtual question and answer sessions on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. Staff was on-hand to answer questions related to the vacation rental license program, licensure, inspections requirements and more. You can watch the meeting videos by clicking the links below.

Morning Session • 11:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. • Watch the recording here

Evening Session • 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. • Watch the recording here

For more information on the new rules, click here to visit the Vacation Rental License Program webpage. For additional assistance, please contact the Office of Treasury via email at vrl@hollywoodfl.org.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season Begins Today

Beach Businesses & Residents: Ensure That Lighting Is "Sea Turtle-Friendly"

The official start of sea turtle nesting season in Broward County is today (Monday, March 1st). Last year, the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program documented more than 3,000 nests on the County’s 24-mile coastline, including the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Hollywood. Three species of sea turtles typically nest on Broward’s beaches each season: leatherbacks, loggerheads and green turtles. While long-term trends suggest increases in local nesting populations, artificial lighting remains one of the biggest threats to sea turtles in southeast Florida.

Hatchlings use natural light from the moon and stars to locate the water after hatching, but artificial lighting near the beach can disrupt this sea-finding process and cause turtles to become “disoriented” or confused. To reduce the amount of artificial lighting reaching the beach in Broward County, local coastal municipalities enforce lighting ordinances during sea turtle nesting season (March 1-October 31). Lighting near the beach should be “sea turtle-friendly” and follow all three criteria below, established by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC):

Keep it low: Fixtures should be mounted as low as possible to achieve their purpose. Fixtures/bulbs should produce the lowest lumens (light output) necessary for the task.

Keep it shielded: The bulb, lamp, or glowing lens should be shielded from the beach. This includes interior lights, curtains, shades, and blinds should be closed after sunset.

Keep it long (wavelength): Fixtures/bulbs must produce long wavelength light (560 nm or longer) without filters, gels or lenses. Amber and red LEDs are good examples of these types of light.

Interior lights can also cause sea turtles to become disoriented. Implement these tips to reduce the amount of light reaching the beach from interior sources:

Close curtains or blinds after sunset.
Move light sources away from windows.
Choose low wattage, warm white bulbs such as those with a color temperature of 3000K.
Use fixtures with shades instead of exposed bulbs.
Apply window tint of 15% inside to outside light transmittance.

FWC provides a list of certified fixtures that can be safely installed near sea turtle nesting beaches. Alternatively, you can contact the Broward County Sea Turtle Conservation Program for assistance with light retrofitting or additional information.

For turtle nesting updates throughout the season and other environmental news, follow @BrowardCountyEnvironment on Facebook and @BrowardEnv on Twitter.

Virtual Open House - 2021 Business Programs

Missed our Virtual Open House?

Click here to watch the recording and learn about all of the FREE resources available to your Hollywood business.

Password: OpenHouse2021

Backing Business: City of Hollywood Partners With Broward SCORE

Broward SCORE's team of 3 experienced business professionals will meet online with your small business and provide in-depth consulting services to establish an action plan — at no cost to you!

Learn more and schedule your FREE mentoring sessions here:
broward.score.org/city-hollywood-cmed

Paycheck Protection Program
"2nd Round" Webinar

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers.

This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.

Join the South Florida District Office and explore the next steps in the PPP process.

Tuesday, March 2 • 1PM EST • Register Here
(en español) Wednesday, March 3 • 11AM EST • Register Here
Wednesday, March 3 • 1PM EST • Register Here

PPP Forgiveness Webinar

The SBA has published a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act. Join the SBA's South Florida District Office to learn more about the PPP Forgiveness process during one of this week's free webinars:

Thursday, March 4 • 1PM EST • Register Here
Friday, March 5 • 1PM EST • Register Here

English Version Recording • CARES 2021: Free Online Workshop

New Federal Grant & Loan Programs

Learn how to access the government's new financial assistance resources for your business.

Click here to watch the recording in English.

Grabación en español • CARES 2021: Taller Online Gratuito

Nuevas Subvenciones &
Préstamos Gubernamentales

Aprenda cómo acceder a nuevos recursos por parte del Gobierno Federal para su negocio.

Haga clic aquí para la grabación en español.

#LETSGOBIKING Virtual Challenge • March 1 to March 31, 2021

Kick Off Florida Bike Month
With A Virtual Bike Challenge

During the entire month of March, the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization is hosting the Let's Go Biking! Virtual Challenge. All ages and abilities are encouraged to participate and track their rides to qualify for great prizes. Click here to learn more about the challenge and to register.

#LETSGOBIKING Virtual Challenge
March 1 to March 31, 2021
Cost: Free
REGISTER HERE

Upcoming BrowardUP Programming

In addition to Broward College's popular health science courses, BrowardUP is pleased to be offering upcoming remote/online classes in the following areas:

AWS Cloud Computing
Project Management
Process Improvement
Front Desk Representative
Supply Chain Customer Service Operations
And More!

New courses are continually being added. Visit the BrowardUP website today!

BrowardUP Rapid Credentials Programs

All programs are FREE and take under one year to complete •
Eligible students will receive free laptops!

Click here to learn more and apply: BROWARD.EDU/RAPIDS

FPL Main Street Recovery Program for Small Businesses

FPL is now accepting applications for the Main Street Recovery Credit Program, which expands their COVID-19 relief effort by offering bill credits to qualifying small and independent businesses.

Establishments in FPL’s service area that are eligible to apply for the program include:

New small businesses
Small businesses that were inactive for at least six consecutive months after March 2020
Existing small businesses operating in federally designated Opportunity Zones

Qualifying small businesses would receive a monthly 10% credit based on the prior month’s energy charge portion of their bill through 2021. Small business customers can click here to fill out an application and seek approval for the new program.