JUNE NEWSLETTER:
- DMA June Updates
- Grant Opportunity for Businesses
- DMA GoFundMe Fundraiser for Burmese Families
- DMA Census Project
- DMA Business Highlights
- Resources for Businesses and Community
- Southeast Work
- Livelihood Northwest
- Other Resources & Updates
|
|
|
|
GRANT OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES
Division Midway Alliance Business Relief Fund
In an effort to support businesses that have a direct impact from COVID19, Division Midway Alliance (DMA) is happy to announce that we will be accepting applications for DMA Business Relief Grant. With this application, we are want to capture current, ongoing, and cumulative data on the total amount of economic loss for businesses in the Division Midway District. This information will also be used to determine the priorities for allocating portions of a $50,000 grant. This grant supports our local businesses in our district located along Southeast Division Street between 117th and 148th avenues. Please click on this link to submit your application: https://forms.gle/9qkjP4rduBFCeKpJA
Important things to consider-
Application opens- Tuesday, June 2 at 9 am
Application closes- Saturday, June 6 at 5 pm
This fund can be used for:
- Lease payment assistance
- Pay for GrubHub delivery vendor fee (30% commission)
- To create virtual or online presence/technology software upgrades
- Payroll assistance
- Utilities
- Lost merchandise
- Pay Health insurance
DMA GOFUNDME FUNDRAISER
Division Midway Alliance is raising funds to support Burmese Families. Cultural Liaison Lwe Wah Shee – a Burmese refugee herself and team member of Division Midway Alliance - has been helping community members facing unemployment and hunger. We are seeking $2,000 in donations to match a $2,000 grant awarded by the East Portland Action Plan. Our goal is to support 30 Karen/Burmese families by providing food boxes or grocery gift cards, help with utility bills and rent and other essential resources, and the need continues to grow. Please support us achieve by donating at this link: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/lend-a-helping-hand-to-local-immigrant-and-refugee-communities-fighting-covid-192
DMA CENSUS 2020
 The Self-Response deadline has now been extended to October 31st.
Please remember to fill out your CENSUS questionnaire.
Here are the current statistic for our district and state.
KAREN/BURMESE CENSUS INFO SESSION
 DMA will be hosting a bilingual(Karen/English) informational session everyone is welcome to attend on June 5 from 10-11:30 am. During this information session, attendees will be able to learn about the history, benefits, impact, and importance of completing the CENSUS 2020 questionnaire. DMA staff are available to answer any questions related to Census 2020 questionnaire. Attendees will not only be gaining valuable knowledge, be empowered, but will also be entering a raffle for either a gift card or gift certificates to one of the local businesses. If you need more information contact Elizabeth Lopez at elizabeth@divisionmidway.org or Lwe Wah Shee at Lweshee@divisionmidway.org.
|
|
|
DMA Business Highlights
 The following businesses are open within Division Street. On behalf of Division Midway Alliance and its staff, we would like to thank them for continuing to provide services to residents during this crisis. Please support these small businesses. Here is the list of businesses that are open with details of hours of operation.
Here are highlights of two businesses in our district:
Pizza Baron
https://pizzabaronpdx.com/
2604 SE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97236
OPEN Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Teriyaki King
https://www.teriyakiking.net/
11910 SE Division Street, Portland, OR 97266
OPEN Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
|
|
|
|
RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY
|
|
Southeast Work
Southeast Works and their navigators are offering support in job employment skills for unemployed and underemployed individuals, building networks with individuals and employers, training opportunities, and accessing community resources.
You can find out more Southeast Work's website .
 
Livelihood Northwest
Small Business Reopening Guide
Livelihood Northwest in partnership with the Small Business Legal Clinic plans to address helping businesses prepare to move into phase 1 of reopening. They will help businesses understand what they can and can't control related to reopening Phase 1.
Livelihood Northwest partnered with the Small Business Legal Clinic so that an attorney can present the baseline on reopening.
If you or business owners you know are interested, please RSVP to hello@livelihoodnw.org so they can send you the Zoom link.
The first one is a good idea for every business owner that has or uses a space, the second is aimed at employers (or people looking to hire employees.)
May 22: Is that legal? A Phase 1 Reopening Guide for Small Business. 10AM - 12PM
May 29: Is that legal and is it right for my business? Reopening Considerations for Employers. 10AM - 12PM
| Business Development Workshop Series5-Week Series |
|
|
Date: June 2, 2020
Time: 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Cost: $25 client / $175 non-client (subsidies available)
Location: ZOOM virtual meeting (a link will be sent to registered participants)
Is it time to pivot your existing business strategy? Are you considering starting a new business? Join Livelihood NW's virtual class to learn how to strategize and adapt to a changing marketplace.
This series includes instruction, discussion, resource referrals and templates that will help you develop, communicate, and take action on your ideas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTHER RESOURCES AND UPDATES
|
|
1. State Provides $8.5 Million for Rent Relief in Oregon Communities
If you are lacking resources due to loss of income and are at risk of homelessness, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS)’ COVID-19 Rent Relief Program may be able to help.
OHCS has allocated $8.5 million through a needs-based formula to regional Community Action Agencies (CAAs). The formula weighed severe rent burden data, poverty data, homelessness data, and unemployment claims.
CAAs will begin taking applications in the coming days. Oregonians in need should contact their local CAA directly. Tenant income loss documentation and other materials are required to access this program. Rent payments will be made directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant.
The $8.5 million was allocated by the Oregon Legislature through the Joint Emergency Board. OHCS anticipates additional resources from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will be made available in the weeks ahead.
The funds were allocated statewide to local communities. See the Governor’s blog for the full list and contact information
Employment Department’s COVID-19 website
Multiple language-specific pages have been posted on the Employment Department’s COVID-19 website. As of 5/18, pages and resources are in Spanish, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Russian, and Romanian, with more languages and resources in progress.
Guidance to File Unemployment Insurance Claim (English, Spanish, more to come)
Please see below for specific guidance, in English and Spanish, to share to community members who need help to file initial unemployment insurance. Additional translations of this guidance are in progress and will be posted on the language-specific pages above.
English
If you need help filing an initial Unemployment Insurance claim in a language other than English, you can also call a WorkSource center to speak with an Employment Department employee. Phone numbers for all centers are available at http://www.worksourceoregon.org/Centers.html. Please let our employees know what language you need assistance in, and we will either call a free phone interpreter or connect you with a qualified bilingual employee.
In order to help you file your Unemployment Insurance claim, we will need to collect the following information during the call. Please have it ready before calling:
1. Social Security number
2. Work history for the past 18 months, including dates of employment, employers’ business names, addresses, and phone numbers
3. Salary/total income from each employer
4. Alien Registration Number (if applicable)
5. Phone numbe
|
|
|
|
|
|
