NEW YORK—On Wednesday, May 27, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will host a virtual forum on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on small businesses and how community stakeholders and capital providers can support these firms.
The event, titled “Too Important To Fail: Minority-Owned Businesses Navigating COVID-19 and Beyond,” is the second installment of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Fed and Main Street series, which convenes business, community development, nonprofit, and policy leaders to discuss the effects of the COVID-19 crisis and efforts to support the recovery. The latest event will examine the challenges facing small businesses, including hurdles in accessing relief and assistance programs. The conversation will also spotlight the disparate impact of these challenges on entrepreneurs and communities of color, as well as the role that non-traditional lenders and policymakers can play in broadening access to capital.
The event will feature a panel discussion moderated by Claire Kramer Mills, Assistant Vice President and Director of Community Development Analysis at the New York Fed.
Panelists include:
- Richelieu Dennis, Founder and Chair, Essence Ventures
- Monika Mantilla, CEO and President, Altura Capital
- Luz Urrutia, CEO, Opportunity Fund
The event is open to the public and the press, though space is limited. Members of the press who wish to attend should contact Desmond Lee at desmond.lee@ny.frb.org to RSVP. Members of the public can register here.
For more information on the forum, including an agenda and list of speakers, see here.
