gopropeller Sign Up Information

Dear Propeller Community,

We are proud to co-host a series of live webinars and Q&A sessions with the Small Business Administration, Louisiana Small Business Development Center, the City of New Orleans, LaunchNOLA, and Fund17 to provide accurate, timely information about SBA Disaster loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and the Payroll Protection Program (PPP). 

We have confirmation from our New Orleans small business and nonprofit community that both the EIDL $10,000 cash advances and PPP forgivable loans have been getting funded in the last few days, so we strongly encourage all businesses (from nonprofits, sole proprietors, 1099 gig workers, and small businesses) to consider applying soon if you are eligible and interested. 

Please see below for dates and times for all upcoming webinars:

Upcoming Sessions

• Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2020 (today)
• Time: 4:00pm
• Topic: SBA Disaster Loans Live Webinar and Q&A with Michael Ricks (SBA) and Carmen Sunda (LSBDC)
• Co-Hosts: LaunchNOLA & Propeller
• (Required) Register in advance for this meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registration is limited to the first 1,000 registrants, so sign up early!

• Date: Thursday, April 16, 2020
• Time: 4:00pm
• Topic: SBA Disaster Loans Live Webinar and Q&A with Michael Ricks (SBA) and Carmen Sunda (LSBDC)
• Co-Hosts: City of New Orleans, LaunchNOLA, Fund 17, and Propeller
• (Required) Register in advance for this meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registration is limited to the first 1,000 registrants, so sign up early!

• Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020
• Time: 11:30am
• Topic: SBA Disaster Loans Live Webinar and Q&A with Michael Ricks (SBA) and Carmen Sunda (LSBDC)

• Co-Hosts: City of New Orleans, LaunchNOLA, Fund 17, and Propeller

• (Required) Register in advance for this meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registration is limited to the first 1,000 registrants, so sign up early!

• Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020
• Time: 12:30pm
• Topic: Live Webinar and Q&A on SBA Disaster Loans with Carmen Sunda (LSBDC) & Michael Ricks (SBA)
• Co-Hosts: City of New Orleans, LaunchNOLA, Fund 17, and Propeller
• (Required) Register in advance for this meeting:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Registration is limited to the first 1,000 registrants, so sign up early!

"It was this lovely escape in meetings when I could be here to really focus on the business and also focus on a community of people, when so much of entrepreneurship is lonely, independent work."

- Kim Frusciante, Kaleidoscope (2019 Impact Accelerator Alum)

Last chance to apply!

Dear Propeller community, 

This email serves as a reminder for the 2020 Impact Accelerator Final Application Deadline of  May 31 at 11:59 pm. This interactive 4-month accelerator program provides entrepreneurs with coaching, community building, curriculum, and technical assistance.

In response to COVID-19, this year's accelerator focuses on supporting businesses navigating the new landscape as a result of the pandemic. Entrepreneurs incorporating foundations of equity in the following focus areas are encouraged to apply: community economic development, education, food, health, and water. 

Are you or an entrepreneur that you know in need of support pivoting strategies? Have you seen an increase in demand as a result of the pandemic? Apply here to the 2020 Impact Accelerator or visit our Program Overview and Application Overview for more information. 

Important Dates

A message to our community

We are furious and heartbroken at the complete disregard and devaluation of Black life in our country.

We denounce white supremacy, racism, police brutality, and the unjust loss of life -- from George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Modesto Reyes to Ahmaud Arbery, David McAtee, and countless other men, women, and children whose names we may never know.

There must be an end to structural racism in all of its forms, whether it's:

• Black people dying disproportionately from COVID-19 and at the hands of law enforcement.
• Black workers being paid starvation wages.
• Black businesses being undervalued and denied access to federal loans packages.
• Black neighborhoods being disinvested and gentrified.

We stand with you and with protestors across the country in the demand for justice under all oppressive systems.

#BlackLivesMatter.

Dear Small Business Community,

Please join us for a city-wide webinar on the forgiveness criteria for the PPP (Payroll Protection Program). Our speakers are Natalie Barranco, Owner, Prime Business Advisory Solutions, and Michael Williams, Partner, Phelps Dunbar.

Learn more as Natalie and Michael walk us through the PPP forgiveness criteria and a case study on how a small business can maximize forgiveness on their PPP loan.

This webinar is co-hosted by: City of New Orleans, LaunchNOLA, Fund 17, and Propeller.

• Date: Thursday, May 14th
• Time: 11am-12pm
• Topic: PPP Forgiveness Criteria 
• Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckc-ihqz0pH9EDhMop0ihSy0eniBwwgR46

*After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

"It''s so valuable to walk into a space where everyone is excited and eager to turn their visions into a reality. Although there may be many challenges in front of them, we are propelled by our missions nonetheless."

- Sinnidra Taylor, Crazy Waffle Bar (2019 Impact Accelerator Alum)

Announcing our 2020 Impact Accelerator

Propeller is excited to announce that applications are now open for our 2020 Impact Accelerator! This interactive 4-month accelerator program provides entrepreneurs with coaching, community building, curriculum, and technical assistance.

In response to COVID-19, this year's accelerator focuses on supporting businesses navigating the new landscape as a result of the pandemic. Entrepreneurs incorporating foundations of equity in the following focus areas are encouraged to apply: community economic development, education, food, health, and water. For more information about program details and eligibility, visit our Program Overview. Additional information regarding the application can be found at our Application Overview.

If you know of a business that needs support in pivoting their strategies or has seen an increase in demand for their programs/services as a result of the pandemic and would benefit from participating in the 2020 Impact Accelerator, please reach out to Melissa Alba at malba@gopropeller.org

Final Application deadline: May 31 at 11:59 pm CT

Important Dates

We at LaunchNOLA and Propeller invite the small business and nonprofit community to join us for a public Live Webinar Q&A Zoom call with Mike Ricks, SBA Louisiana District Director, to review small business relief programs and application tips for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Payroll Protection Program (PPP). We encourage everyone who is interested to apply early for both of these programs as funds may be limited.

Date: Tuesday, April 7th
Time: 4pm-5pm
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/244954303?pwd=Q2xGMDY4SEx4Q2QzSUc4ZjBQTERNQT09
Meeting ID: 244 954 303

Additional Zoom information: 
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About LaunchNOLA: With only 2% of sales receipts going to minority owned businesses, Launch NOLA helps underserved, urban entrepreneurs earning revenues of $0 (startup) to $150,000 gain the competency, confidence, capital and connections necessary to start and grow their own small businesses through a 14-week course, mentors, technical assistance and two years of additional support.

We sincerely hope you are staying safe and healthy. 

Warmly,

LaunchNOLA & Propeller

Meet the class!

Community Economic Development

Entrepreneurs within community economic development work to impact localized economic development (primarily located on the Broad Street corridor), create jobs, and develop affordable housing.
Addis NOLA | Billiot Development | Community Book Center | El Centro

Food

In food, entrepreneurs seek to improve food access and generate food products that include sustainable, healthy, affordable, locally-sourced ingredients. 
Diva Dawg | FOWLMOUTH | Grey Bird Baking Co. | Mandela Burger

Education

Education entrepreneurs connect young people to skill development opportunities while providing equitable, culturally-relevant practices and policies to our local education systems.
Cipher 360 | Electric Girls | WhereWeGo

Health

Health entrepreneurs work to provide direct health and wellness services that address the social and physical determinants of health.
Blossoming Minds Health Center & Family Services | Magnolia Yoga Studio | Re-entry Mediation Institute of Louisiana | Uptown Benefits

Water

Water entrepreneurs work in stormwater management, green infrastructure, coastal restoration, or adaptation and resilience while seeking to diversify the water economy to be representative of the communities served.
Glory Gardens | Grounds Krewe | Home by Hand

Propeller Updates

• Propeller Incubator offers private offices and desk spaces that are safe and socially-distanced with new sanitation and cleaning practices in place! Become an Incubator member today by submitting an interest form or contacting Sean Kline, Incubator Manager skline@gopropeller.org.
• We''re hiring! Learn more about Propeller''s available employment positions: 
  • Controller
  • Data Systems Manager
  • Senior Capital Access Manager

Dear Propeller Community,

We know that after a crisis, recovery dollars are not often distributed equitably and organizations owned and led by people of color often do not receive their share of the promised funds. 

After the initial round of the SBA Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) reached its funding limits in only 14 days, once again, many organizations led by people of color were unable to apply for or receive funding.

You deserve to get the relief funding necessary to support your business and employees, and we are here to help.

There is a likelihood that the second round of the SBA Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs will be signed into law today (Thursday, April 23, 2020) with the SBA portal reopening potentially Friday or Monday. 

Time is of the essence, and if you did not receive PPP or EIDL funding, we encourage you to submit your application TODAY to increase the likelihood of being funded when the portal opens.

Free Application Assistance

LaunchNOLA, a program of ThriveNOLA, in partnership with Hope Credit Union (HOPE) and Propeller, are here to support you in getting your applications together TODAY, so you can be at the top of the line to submit your application through HOPE when the portal opens.

To request assistance to complete either your PPP or EIDL applications, please take 1 minute to complete this form here. In addition, click here (https://calendly.com/thrive-phyllis) to schedule an appointment with an application expert TODAY. If you have difficulty with the scheduling link, please call 504-319-5450.

Questions on submitting a request form? Please reach out to Chuck Morse at chuck@thrivenola.org.

Sincerely,
ThriveNOLA, LaunchNOLA, HOPE Community Credit Union, and Propeller