Nonprofit props up small businesses in downtown San Antonio with pop-up shops
A local nonprofit dedicated to creating a beautiful, welcoming and safe downtown San Antonio is looking to help local small businesses get their own storefronts -- free of charge -- in an effort to bring more people and more investment into the downtown area.
Grants available for San Antonio businesses impacted by COVID-19, street construction
The double whammy of the COVID-19 pandemic and street construction projects is why the City of San Antonio is offering $17 million in federal COVID relief funds to local businesses that meet certain criteria. The deadline for those that want to apply is at 5 p.m. on Monday.
San Antonio lawyer weighs in on vaccine mandate concerns
On the heels of President Joe Bidenโs announcement that all employers with over 100 employees and those who work for the federal government now must get the Covid-19 vaccine, one local lawyer is addressing some questions that have surfaced in response.
Appeals court again halts El Paso Countyโs shutdown of nonessential businesses
People wait outside an El Paso restaurant to pick up their food orders after the county judge ordered a shutdown of nonessential businesses. Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas TribuneEL PASO โ A state appeals court late Friday again halted El Paso Countyโs shutdown of nonessential businesses that was scheduled to last until Dec. 1. El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego issued the shutdown order Oct. 29 in an effort to slow the latest outbreak of COVID-19 here, where total cases since the pandemic began surpassed 70,000 Friday. โIf activities are prohibited by the Governorโs order, the County cannot allow them.โThe decision Friday comes as El Paso County recorded 1,488 new coronavirus cases. Samaniegoโs shutdown caused a rift between him and El Paso Mayor Dee Margo, who said Thursday he hasnโt been consulted about countywide restrictions for weeks.
New Bexar County Precinct 3 commissioner commits to helping small business owners once sworn in
SAN ANTONIO โ Bexar County Precinct 3 Commissioner-elect Trish DeBerry is gearing up to hit the ground running for small businesses struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic. DeBerry said she understands what itโs like being a small business owner after more than 20 years running her own company. DeBerry said she would like to see what a diverse task force could do to serve small businesses in the county. โNobody understands a small business more than a small business owner,โ DeBerry said. People like successful entrepreneurs, large corporations, and small business owners, so we can have constant conversations about what are the needs.โDeBerry said once the needs are recorded, she would like to look at what resources are available.
Downtown San Antonio businesses prepare for potential civil unrest after election
Downtown San Antonio businesses prepare for potential civil unrest after electionPublished: November 3, 2020, 11:31 amThroughout downtown, businesses are boarding up their windows and doors, bracing for potential unrest starting on Election Day ahead of what many are calling the most contentious election of our lives.
San Antonio teen talks about new push to highlight minority-owned businesses
SAN ANTONIO Jayce Sibley, the San Antonio teen who wrote an op-ed about being a minority in America earlier this year, has launched a new initiative that highlights minority-owned businesses. Sibley, 16, a junior at Holmes High School, said the new initiative was a way for him to take action. Large scale corporations have a larger political voice than small minority owned businesses, our goal is to give these minority owned businesses a larger voice through helping them grow. #mbmsatx minority businesses matter (@minoritybizsatx) June 7, 2020Sibleys following may be small right now, but he said he hopes to gain traction to give minority-owned businesses a voice. You can watch his full video in the player above.
Survey: US companies cut back sharply on hiring in July
U.S. businesses sharply reduced hiring last month suggesting that the resurgent viral outbreak this summer slowed the economic recovery as many states closed parts of their economies again and consumers remained cautious about spending. U.S. firms added just 167,000 jobs in July, payroll processor ADP said Wednesday, far below June's gain of 4.3 million and May's increase of 3.3 million. July's limited hiring means the economy still has 13 million fewer jobs than it did in February, according to ADP, before the viral outbreak intensified. Hiring collapsed among companies of all sizes and in nearly all industries. A category that mostly includes restaurants, bars and hotels added just 38,000 jobs last month, after gaining more than 3 million in May and June.
This new Google tool can make it easier to search for, support Black-owned businesses
If youre looking to show your support for local Black-owned businesses, Google may be able to help. Google is launching a new tool that allows businesses to identify themselves as Black-owned through the companys Maps and Search listings and make it easier for customers to search for and support them, according to a report from The Verge. The tool is part of Googles $300 million commitment to support underrepresented entrepreneurs, according to Google officials. Google is also showing its support to these businesses by offering digital training skills programs for Black business owners through Grow With Google Digital Coaches. Pictured is the new Google tool that can help users search for local Black-owned businesses.
Q&A: The nuts and bolts of the Paycheck Protection Program
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)NEW YORK Small businesses can still get help from the governments coronavirus relief plan after Congress extended the Paycheck Protection Program until Aug. 8. The program that was set to expire Tuesday still has nearly $132 billion left after giving out more than 4.8 million loans since it began April 3. On Monday, the Small Business Administration, which oversees the program, disclosed the names of companies that received loans of more than $150,000. The program aims to motivate small businesses to retain their employees or, if they have laid them off, get them back to work. The SBA approved more than 4.8 million loans in less than three months, far more than the 58,000 it approved in 2019.
San Antonio residents ready to report businesses not complying with new face mask rule
San Antonio The City of San Antonio said over 300 calls have come in, reporting businesses that are not complying with the face mask order since it took effect on Monday. We still have communication with that business owner or the business manager, just to let them know that we had a call come in, he said. I said, Its only hard the first time you remind somebody to keep their mask on to go to the bathroom, Stokes said. I think after about 10 days, people will get used to wearing their mask very religiously. To report a violation, call the San Antonio polices non-emergency line at 210-207-SAPD.
More than 660 businesses and organizations sign โGreater. SAfer. Together.โ pledge
SAN ANTONIO โ As more Texas businesses open their doors, it remains to be seen who will walk through them. At the same time, more than 660 businesses and organizations, in industries ranging from entertainment to construction, have signed onto the โGreater. Both the city and county have been pushing the pledge as they distribute free safety supplies and personal protective equipment to businesses and nonprofits. More than 3,000 businesses and nonprofits had already registered as of Friday, Lopez said. Businesses or nonprofits with 25 or fewer employees that are interested in getting bundles may registering here or by calling 311.
These are the businesses that are/are not exempt in San Antonioโs โStay Home, Work Safeโ orders
These are the businesses that are/are not exempt in San Antonioโs โStay Home, Work Safeโ ordersPublished: March 25, 2020, 5:40 pmStay Home, Work Safeโ emergency orders issued by San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff went into effect Tuesday night, but many people are still left with questions about which businesses must close and which are exempt.