Covid Resources | Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce

Covid Resourcescoralgablesdev2021-04-14T19:43:36+00:00

COVID Resources

Important Resources:

COVID-19 Small Business Disaster Assistance

Due to the hardships that so many of our country’s small businesses are continuing to suffer, Congress enacted a year-end pandemic relief package to provide additional assistance to businesses impacted by the pandemic. In particular, the package included several changed to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and created a “Second Draw” PPP for small businesses who have exhausted their initial loans.

- Other changes impact eligibility for initial PPP loans, the loan forgiveness process, and the tax treatment of PPP loans. Furthermore, Congress also made changes to additional programs such as the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, the Employee Retention Tax Credit, a Venue Grant Program, and traditional SBA loan programs.

- - An excellent summary of the provisions and the benefits to small businesses is available via the U.S. Chamber of Commerce here.
  - More information on the different SBA programs is also available via the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website here.
  - The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) has another summary here.
  - Lastly, Chairman Marco Rubio and the U.S. Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee released two (2) summaries of the legislation, one specific to small business relief provisions and the other a section-by-section breakdown of the entire bill.

- - - The more comprehenisve breakdown of the entire bill is available here.
    - The small business summary is here.

National Grant and Loan Programs

In partnership with AEO, Fiserv has launched a Back2Business Grants for Small Business Program. This program will award up to $10,000 to Black- and minority-owned businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19 and social unrest. More information is available here.
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE), the largest organization in the country supporting self-employed and micro-businesses, offers grants up to $4,000 to help its members. The “Growth Grants” provide NASE members with capital to train employees, improve their marketing assets, invest in hardware and software and more. More information is available here.

Florida SBDC at FIU Resources

Thier team of experienced business consultants is available to offer confidential, no-cost advising to business owners impacted by COVID-19. More information on our program and the services we offer can be viewed here.
Florida SBDC at FIU and our sister SBDC centers around the state have numerous upcoming free webinars that may be of interest to you. To view the list and register, visit this website.
You can view recent FSBDC at FIU webinars and trainings, including recent COVID-19 webinars, on their YouTube page.
Florida SBDC at FIU has also set up a special email list for businesses that would like to receive regular updates from us on disaster-related information on the COVID-19 virus. If you would like to receive these periodic updates with additional COVID-19-related resources, please reply to this email and indicate your preference to be added to that list.

Additional Business Resources

- Florida Short-Term Compensation: The Short Term Compensation Program is a voluntary employer program designed to help employers maintain their staff by reducing the weekly working hours during temporary slowdowns instead of temporarily laying off employees. More information is available here.

Career Source South Florida

CareerSource South Florida: CareerSource South Florida administers programs to assist businesses with training needs and employees with re-employment. Contact CareerSource South Florida to learn more about its One-Stop services that may help you. More information is available here.

COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund

Re-Employment Assistance Hub

BizHelp Miami:

View Their Homepage

US Chamber Resources:

12 Ways to Prepare Your Business for Post-Coronavirus Reopening
Guide to SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans | US Chamber of Commerce
Guide to the Employee Retention Tax Credit

Main Street Lending Program:

More Information
Apply Today!

Florida Department of Health

View Their Homepage

Miami-Dade County COVID-19 Scorecard

View the Metrics

Baptist Health South Florida

Patient & Visitor Safety

U.S. General Services Administration

COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

Re-Employment Assistance Claim Workflow

Michael Ybarra Mike is a Director of Recruitment at Northwestern Mutual of Coral Gables. He has over 14 years of experience in talent acquisition and employee management in South Florida. Mike grew up in Silver City, New Mexico where he attended Western New Mexico University. Since his arrival to South Florida in 2004, his mission has been to make Miami the friendliest city. He has a passion for bringing people together and making a difference in the lives of others. • He is Northwestern Mutual’s top recruiter for years 2019 & 2020 in the South Florida region • Ranked Northwestern Mutual’s #4, of over 240 recruiters, in the country for his recruitment of people of color in 2020 • He is personally responsible for the recruitment of Financial Advisors in South Miami and regional director responsible for Miami-Dade campus recruiter(s) • In 2015 he created For The Love Of Volleyball, a social volleyball organization that has grown to over 500 local members that come together each week for physical activity, fun, & fellowship • He volunteers providing weekly career and life coaching to disadvantaged youth with HANDY, Inc. (Helping Abused Neglected Disadvantaged Youth) • He is a co-creator of Wilton Onesie Wonderland, a yearly event that has raised over $14,000 for local non-profits • He is the creator of Paws4Paws, a night-time pet parade that raises money to support animals living in the homes of terminal LGBTQ patients • He is Vice-Chair of community affairs for the Coral Gables Chamber of commerce and sits on the Board of Directors • He is co-chair of Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professional Network Mike takes the view that he hasn’t met a stranger, just a friend he hasn’t made yet. This view is reflected in every area of his professional and personal life. Active member of the Coral Gables Chamber since 2017. Active member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors since 2019. Former co-chair of the 20/30 Committee.

MARTHA DE LA PEÑA ROJAS Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Martha de la Peña Rojas serves as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager for Guidewell, Florida Blue and the Florida Blue Foundation. In this role, Ms. de la Peña Rojas leads and manages CSR initiatives that advance the community-driven mission and support strategic growth for Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Indian River, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. Overseeing community partnerships and investments, Ms. de la Peña Rojas ensures that Florida Blue builds its brand and corporate reputation, engages its workforce and increases organizational effectiveness in the local market. She joined the company in 2002 and has served as Manager of Employee Programs and Events, and of Market Development. Prior to joining Florida Blue, Ms. de la Peña Rojas worked in Banking and Finance as a Chief of Staff and Special Events Manager. She has extensive experience in community relations and investments, corporate marketing, employee engagement and event-planning. Ms. de la Peña Rojas holds a Masters in Business Administration with a specialization in Health Sector Management and Policy from the University of Miami, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Miami in both Psychology and Sociology. She is active and serves on the Boards of Directors for a variety of local civic and non-profit organizations including the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, where she is the Immediate Past Chair. About Florida Blue Florida Blue, the state’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, is a leader in Florida’s health care industry. Its mission is to help people and communities achieve better health. Florida Blue has more than 5 million health care members and serves nearly 18 million people in 12 states, two U.S. territories and the District of Columbia through its affiliated companies. Headquartered in Jacksonville and with regional offices here in South Florida, the company has a rich history of serving and enriching the quality of life in the diverse communities it serves. Florida Blue and the Florida Blue Foundation give back by supporting various organizations and causes that strengthen the places we call home. Florida Blue is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.FloridaBlue.com.

Mark A. Trowbridge Mark A. Trowbridge serves as the president and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, a position he has held for the past fifteen years. He is the chief association executive responsible for the day-to-day success of the more than 1,600-member organization, working with volunteer leaders engaged in the Chamber’s long-term business development strategies and community initiatives. The Coral Gables Chamber is ranked as the number one Chamber in South Florida according to the 2020 South Florida Business Journal. Some of Mark’s accomplishments at the Chamber include raising the profile of the organization in the community, while building robust programs centered on member growth and advocacy, small business, economic development and tourism. In addition, the Gables Chamber is a best-practice leader in such national movements as Small Business Saturday, our local Permitting Assistance Program, as well as heralded community events like Burgerliscious. Mark has grown the Council of Trustees/GEM Members and Chamber revenues during his tenure by more than 40%. Prior to joining the Chamber, Mark was Deputy Executive Director for Business Development for the Miami Parking Authority in the City of Miami. Under his watch, the Authority engaged in an aggressive period of growth, with more than $30 million in capital projects in the planning, development and construction phases. Mark also helped guide the formulation of the strategic plan for the Authority during his tenure and was the community liaison for its philanthropic efforts. Mark worked with the National Football League and local South Florida Host Committee to produce Super Bowl XXXIII and led a volunteer corps of more than 8500 individuals, a role he repeated this past year during Super Bowl LIV as Chair of Recognition and Engagement for the volunteer team. Mark also has provided consulting services regarding Volunteer Management and Leadership Development. He has worked with such organizations as the Orange Bowl Committee, the Sony Ericsson (now the Miami Open), Mayors’ Summit of the Americas and International Pow Wow. Mark also previously served as an adjunct professor at both Barry University and St. Thomas University in their respective Sports Management programs for more than six years. His community involvement includes Past President of the national board for the University of Florida Alumni Association, and is a Past-President of the award-winning Gator Club® of Miami. He served as Program Chairman of Leadership Miami, where he was honored with the Bill Colson Leadership Award. Mark is an Executive Board Member for Seraphic Fire and serves on the boards of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, where he is on the Steering Committee for the One Community One Goal initiative, as well as Vice Chairman of New World School of the Arts Executive Board and The Children’s Trust, where he is also Vice Chair. Most recently, Mark joined the Board of City Year. Mark received his Bachelor and Master of Education degrees from the University of Florida in 1990 and 1992, respectively. Mark has lived in Miami Springs, Florida for the past 16 years, with his faithful canine companion Sir Winston Churchill, having moved to South Florida eight weeks before Hurricane Andrew struck in August of 1992. Since then, he has developed a deep and abiding love for the Miami community.

Font resize

Accessibility by WAH