If you’re a small business owner, chances are there are elements in the recently passed federal stimulus package that can benefit your business.
But, what exactly is in the thousand page bill that can help your particular small business in Queens?
The Queens Chamber of Commerce wants to help small businesses find those things in the stimulus package that can benefit their business so it is hosting a special town hall meeting to do just that.
On Tuesday, June 9, the Chamber’s Main Street Committee is bringing together experts from many business organizations at the city, state and federal level to hold a panel discussion entitled: Small Business Stimulus Made Simple. The meeting will take place at the Bulova Corporate Center Auditorium from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
“We are simply trying to inform business people about the various opportunities that may be available to them and be a good fit for them from the stimulus package,” said Mary Vavruska, President of TCE Systems Inc., who Co-Chairs the Chamber’s Small Business Committee with Neil Levin, Vice President of Webline Designs.
The Chamber has already confirmed that Rob Walsh, Commissioner of the city’s Small Business Services (SBS), and Brian Gurski, Director of Small Business Development Center LaGuardia Community College, will participate in the panel discussion.
In addition, representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Jamaica Resource Center and NY National Industrial Retention Network will participate in the panel, which Vavruska and Levin will moderate.
“We are really concerned about the small businesses and not knowing where to go for help,” Levin said. “We just want to put these people in a place where they can hear what’s going on in the different segments of the community.”
During the meeting, the panelists will make opening statements and share some of their knowledge about the stimulus package, and then they will take questions from the small business owners in attendance.
“We will be having question and answer cards to be sure that we get a good mix of questions,” Vavruska said.
In addition, business owners will be able to speak with panelists after the meeting and ask specific questions about their business.
“The faster they get the information, the faster they can marshal their own resources to take advantage of these things,” Vavruska said.
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall will deliver the keynote address at the forum, and Chamber President Al Pennisi will give an overview of the session.
Members of the Main Street Committee staffed tables at the Chamber’s Business Expo at Citi Field to hand out flyers about the event and speak with business owners about the benefits of attending.
The June 9 Small Business Stimulus Made Stimulus meeting is free and open to all small business owners and parking is also free. However, members should RSVP by logging onto the Chamber’s web site at www.queenshcamber.org or calling 718-898-8500.
“We’re hoping that people will come and find out what’s available and how they can access different resources,” Levin said.
