Resource Roundup: Entrepreneurs, you can meet one-on-one with a City business manager for support

This is Resource Roundup, a look at open applications for business and career-building programs, funding and other opportunities around the region. Want to share a new resource for entrepreneurs and technologists? Email us at philly@technical.ly.

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The Philadelphia Department of Commerce is calling for entrepreneurs to take advantage of its program Zoom With Us, which offers virtual sessions to help local business owners navigate the pandemic and grow their businesses.

Sessions will be available every second and fourth Monday of the month between 1 and 4 p.m., and will consist of one-on-one meetings with managers from the Office of Business Services, which is housed in the commerce department. The business managers can help with understanding current business regulations, or help entrepreneurs through the process of opening, operating and growing a business in Philadelphia.

The program was set up in response to the Office of Business Services receiving more than 10,000 calls and emails from its hotline about COVID-19 related restrictions, financial resources and other issues, Philadelphia Commerce Director Michael Rashid said in a statement. The Zoom With Us program intends to help navigate those concerns, and assistance is available in English, Spanish, French, Chinese and Arabic.

Register for the virtual one-on-ones and select a time that works for you during the 1 to 4 p.m. window.

The Department of License and Inspections will also offer virtual one-on-one business support to get help with submitting a new permit application, submitting a new rental license application and with rental license renewal. Request an appointment here.

Neighborhood Equitable Recovery Fund

The Neighborhood Equitable Recovery Fund is a recently launched partnership between the Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity and Bread & Roses Community Fund aiming to support grassroots nonprofit orgs that serve communities of color and those with low incomes, which have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grants of $15,000 will be made to 25 organizations that are selected, and community-based organizations that are experiencing financial hardship or are at risk of closing due to the pandemic are encouraged to apply. To be eligible, orgs must be located here in Philadelphia and have an annual operating expenses budget of less than $3 million, have current 501(c) status and be providing services in at least one of the following 15 ZIP codes with poverty rates greater than or equal to the city average of 25%: 19104, 19120, 19121, 19122, 19124, 19131, 19132, 19133, 19134, 19139, 19140, 19141, 19142, 19143 and 19144.

Organizations may use funds to support payroll, rent, mortgage payments, utilities or other operating expenses; and to provide and organize mutual aid projects. The full list of eligibility requirements can be found here, and orgs have until Monday, June 7 to apply.

Fashprenuers by the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator

Designer-in-residence program the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator is launching Fashprenuers, a learning platform built to connect designers with the expertise of established industry leaders. The platform offers an online learning experience around the business of fashion, with modules and video presentations that touch on topics like branding, operations, merchandising and marketing.

For $20 a month, Fashprenuers gives a member access to all of the online subject matter and an invite-only Facebook group. A user can go through the learning modules at their own speed and on their own time, and one of the program’s goals is to bring the programing beyond the Philadelphia community.

“For the past ten years, the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator’s main priority has been connecting our designers to education and resources on the business of fashion,” Executive Director Elissa Bloom said in a statement. “We are excited to now be able to share our incredible lineup of top industry leaders to all designers and support them on their entrepreneurial journey [through] our educational series on Fashpreneurs.”

The program launches Thursday, May 13.

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And check out these programs from last week’s Resource Roundup that are still open:

• Data Mentorship Program
• Emergency Broadband Benefit 
• OnE Philadelphia Tech and Innovation Rotational Internship