FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

DISASTER RECOVERY ASSISTANCE SEMINAR FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

BROOKLYN, NY, October 16, 2001—Small business owners in the five boroughs of New York City whose business has suffered economic or physical damage due to the World Trade Center disaster are invited to attend a Disaster Recovery Assistance Seminar for Small Businesses.  The seminar will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., on Monday, October 29, at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Business Library, 280 Cadman Plaza West at Tillary Street, in downtown Brooklyn. To RSVP for the seminar, please call 718-623-7000 and press option 4.     

“The goal of this seminar is to ensure that all businesses in New York City are aware of the disaster recovery assistance available to them, including loans, tax relief, payroll assistance, and relocation options,” said Joan Bartolomeo, President of Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), one of the seminar’s sponsors. “Some businesses, for example, may be eligible for assistance even though their offices or stores are not physically located next to ground zero, but may have been harmed because they supplied products or services to the businesses in the area.”

Representatives of organizations offering assistance to businesses will make brief presentations about their services and answer questions. They include: U.S. Small Business Administration; Internal Revenue Service; City of New York Economic Development Corporation; State of New York Empire State Development Corporation; Department of Labor; banks offering disaster recovery loans, including those participating in the Disaster Recovery Bridge Loan Program; BEDC, REDAC, and other non-bank lending institutions.  There will also be an overview of all citywide disaster relief resources.

The seminar is being sponsored by Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, Brooklyn Public Library and the Small Business Development Center at Boricua College.

The Brooklyn Business Library is located in Brooklyn Heights and is accessible by taking the 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains to Borough Hall or the J or M trains to Court Street.

Brooklyn Public Library is an independent New York City library system serving the borough of Brooklyn.  It is the fifth largest in the United States. Its Central Library, Business Library, and 58 branch libraries offer free information, programs and computer access to all ages. Reach the Library’s resources of over 50 reference databases, catalog information and news 24 hours a day at www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org 

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