Linda’s Story
Up to October 8, 2019, I was working full time at a hospital. On that day, I was officially laid off. Up to then, I had been working in my business part time while working a 9-5 full time. Since it was the second time in six years I got laid off, I decided to work in my business as my full time job.
What that meant was, I was beginning to implement a plan to meet with more people in coffee houses and sandwich shops to help them to create their business plans and implement their business dreams. Pre-CoVid, I was meeting an average 3-4 people a week. And, I had also applied for 3 grants that would help me to open a business center that provided in-person and online business training to underserved residents, women and/or formerly incarcerated individuals. I have health reasons that require me to limit my exposure to others because I am at risk and I'm 60 years old.
My business suffered a financial loss in 2019 (that I hoped would rebound in 2020), and my severance package paid me through the end of the year so those two things would automatically make me unable to qualify for the PPP. I was not being paid a salary in my business because my job covered my expenses and allowed me to reinvest in my business. I've worked for someone from the age of 14, (back then we put our ages up so we could get jobs). With everyone so fearful of CoVid, people cancelled meetings and were afraid to spend money to risk starting businesses. There's been months when I had no income, but unemployment. And, when I did get a client, I had to keep reapplying for unemployment because making over $275 disqualified me for unemployment. I have had to pull from my savings steadily to keep me and my business going because I truly believe I can help people start businesses. I also know others are beginning to get laid off like I was and they will need secondary income streams, but I cannot afford to teach them for free. Had I received one of the grants I applied for, I could offer the evidence-based online classes discounted for those who need them.