Seminar Series For Small Business Owners Announced
Hosted by MetroPlus Health Plan, Asian American For Equality, and Flushing Chinese-American Business
May 02, 2017
MetroPlusHealth Health Plan announced today a series of seminars for small business owners it will host as part of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, in May. Co-hosting these seminars will be U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng, New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Assemblyman Ron Kim, and New York City Councilman Peter Koo, as well as Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) and the Flushing Chinese-American Business Association (FCBA).
MetroPlusHealth will offer low-cost plans to small business owners, while AAFE will recommend short- and intermediate-term loans to small business owners. This special event will be held at the FCBA office in Flushing every Thursday afternoon in May from 2 pm to 5 pm. (May 4, 11, 18, and 25).
“MetroPlusHealth offers four small business health plans through the NY State of Health, the State’s health plan marketplace,” said Seth Diamond, chief operating officer of MetroPlusHealth Health Plan. “These plans are available to businesses with 100 or fewer employees. Some businesses with 25 or fewer employees may qualify for a federal tax credit of as much as 50% of employer’s contribution. We are pleased to work with AAFE and FCBA to provide these low-cost plans to Asian business owners and their employees.”
2- Small Business
With representatives fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Fujianese, MetroPlusHealth recently opened a new site at Skyview Mall in Flushing, Queens. The health plan is also preparing to open a new office in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn on May 18, further enhancing the plan’s commitment to bring affordable health care to the Asian community where they live and work.
Christopher Kui, the executive director of AAFE, said, “Renaissance Economic Development Corporation is certified as a community development financial institution through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions. A Small Business Administration-approved Micro-lender, Renaissance is pleased to work with MetroPlusHealth to help business owners during Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.”
Peter Tu of FCBA stated, “As Asian Americans, especially as small business owners, we know everything must comply with the requirements of laws and regulations. We are excited and grateful that institutions are willing to come out to help reduce the burden for us, and we cherish this opportunity to help educate our small business owners.”
Maggie Wong, marketing director of Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, said, “The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center is a nonprofit and federally qualified health center, established in 1971. We ensure that all members of our community—regardless of ability to pay—are provided with quality, comprehensive, and culturally effective primary health care. As a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home, we partner with members to create a health plan that meets their own unique health and social needs.”
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) said, “I commend MetroPlusHealth for launching its ‘Let’s Help Business Owners’ initiative during Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. I am pleased to be an honorary co-host for these events, and I thank the Flushing Chinese Business Association for helping to spread the word.”
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky remarked, “Navigating the health care system can be difficult for small business owners who cannot pay the high costs, but want to provide their employees with quality health insurance. The difficulty intensifies for immigrant business owners who may need additional and culturally sensitive support. That is why I am proud to work with MetroPlusHealth alongside my colleagues at the city, state, and federal levels in promoting their Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month special initiative to help Asian business owners.”
3- Small Business
New York City Councilman Peter Koo said, “Small businesses create jobs, bring money back to our community, and strengthen the economy. In Flushing, nearly 90% of the businesses in the district have fewer than 10 employees, and most of them are ethnic restaurants, retail stores, and professional offices. Their success is
essential to the prosperity of our entire community. I would like to thank MetroPlusHealth, AAFE, and FCBA for organizing this event to uplift and support the small business owners of our community.”
The small business owners initiative will be held in the office of FCBA, 4048 Main Street, Room 302, Flushing, NY, on May 4, 11, 18, and 25, from 2 to 5 pm.