Advanced filters

Search Results

You searched for:  -

There are 93 results  for your search.  View and Refine Your Search Terms

  • Sewing circle: How Women of the Global South helps refugees stitch together new lives in Brazil

    June 19, 2020 |

    Pioneers Post |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro

    Refugee women arriving in Brazil have been able to achieve financial independence through the work of an organization called Women of the Global South, an organization that provides women with the tools and skills to sell textiles. In addition to providing entrepreneurial skills, it also helps refugee women with transportation, classes, sewing machines and even provides cash for emergencies and help getting in touch with family members they have been separated from.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • How Germany Saved Its Workforce From Unemployment While Spending Less Per Person Than the U.S.

    June 03, 2020 |

    ProPublica |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Germany

    Germany's creative workshare approach to stemming unemployment has prevented mass layoffs, unlike rising numbers in the United States. The German government provides payroll subsidies which allow an employer to keep on its staff by cutting back hours for everyone. Unemployment funds that would usually go to those who are laid off are instead directed to employers' payrolls, preventing the inconvenience and uncertainty of layoffs and allowing workers to seamlessly return to work full time when the health crisis is under control.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Is Germany Doing Enough to Ensure Small Businesses survive the Coronavirus crisis?

    June 02, 2020 |

    The Local |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Germany

    The German government has spent billions to keep small businesses and freelancers afloat during the pandemic. Entrepreneurs who qualified were sent funds, often within 2 business days, specifically for business-operating costs such as commercial rent. Some businesses are hoping for more support in the form of rent freezes depending on how long the lockdown continues while others lost out on funding by waiting too long. The program ran out of money but the government has announced additional aid packages.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • 'Stopgap' or life saver?: Italy's scheme to help the self-employed survive the coronavirus crisis

    May 30, 2020 |

    The Local |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Italy

    The Italian government's attempt to assuage the financial fallout of the pandemic on small businesses, freelance workers, and the self-employed did not achieve the desired results despite the enormous size of the aid package: 25 billion euros. Delays, technical glitches, and language barriers for international workers have plagued the application process from the day it was launched and over half a million applications have yet to be processed. Italians also criticized the 600-euro amount which is the average rent in the country, often higher in some areas. The government has announced additional aid.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Coronavirus crisis in France: The battle to save the livelihoods of the self-employed

    May 22, 2020 |

    The Local |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: France

    The French government has spent billions to keep small businesses afloat during the coronavirus lockdown in hopes that the stopgap funding will ensure a quick economic recovery once the health crisis abates. The funding has been on a national and regional level, with extra funding for those who have been rejected for bank loans and are suffering the most. Small businesses are also exempt from rent, gas, or electricity payments until the country reopens. The distribution of funding has come with its challenges as some business fall through the bureaucratic cracks.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • How Louisiana cities are using the CARES Act to save small businesses, keep people in homes

    May 19, 2020 |

    The Current (Louisiana) |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Louisiana

    The Cares Act is a federal program providing $46.6 million dollars of emergency aid which cities in Louisiana are spending on a combination of a mortgage and rent relief or on the needs of small businesses. For most cities throughout the state, the first priority is keeping residents in their homes as the stay on evictions approaches, at which point landlords will expect rent as well as backpay. Louisiana faces the triple threat of a pandemic, the economic fallout from it, and a series of tornados. Keeping people in their homes has been the foremost priority to stop the spread of the virus.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Banking on community, local lenders secure PPP loans for businesses

    April 29, 2020 |

    Buffalo Bulletin |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Johnson County, Wyoming

    Community banks in Wyoming were able to better serve local businesses in securing federal funds from the Paycheck Protection Program. The smaller banks were able to quickly pivot their staffing and operations need to process the overwhelming number of applicants, resulting in an approval rate of 100 percent in some counties. Personal connections in the smaller communities also led banks to work overtime and do everything in their power to help local businesses, in contrast to big banks which appeared to prioritize clients with higher net worth, according to reports.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Bodegas and Corner Stores Are Part of Crisis Response — They're Also Uniquely Vulnerable

    March 19, 2020 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York, New York

    Amidst the COVID-19 crisis, bodegas offer local supplies in many food deserts across the country. While the bodegas struggle to find funding and stay in business for their neighborhoods, they also fight their way into policy discussions and micro-loan programs to stay afloat for low-income neighbors needing healthy food options.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • This Bank Hired a Community Organizer and Here's What Happened Next

    January 28, 2020 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

    Reducing inequality in the financial sector requires creating connections to underserved communities of color. In Boston, Berkshire Bank has begun an initiative to reach those who are “underbanked.” The bank’s new Reevex Labs facilities use coworking and event spaces to facilitate connections between communities and financial institutions. At Reevex locations, community members can connect to organizations like The Runway Project, which facilitates low-interest loans to entrepreneurs of color.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Honeycomb Credit expands to Philly to help small business owners get crowdsourced loans

    January 14, 2020 |

    The Philadelphia Citizen |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Founded in Pittsburgh, Honeycomb Credit expands to Philadelphia as a way to offer small businesses help with microfinance challenges. The company hosts a platform that allows businesses to create fundraising profiles; community members can watch a video about the business and decide to invest and receive monthly payouts from their contribution.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

Solutions In Focus

Discover curated content about themes that matter to you, exclusively from the Solutions Story Tracker. Explore collections, resources and more.


Go to All Solutions in Focus