CEE Hires Tracye Whitfield as Executive Director

Western Mass Advocate goes State-wide

The Coalition for an Equitable Economy (CEE) is excited to announce the hiring of Tracye Whitfield as their new Executive Director. In this new role, Tracye will lead the Coalition’s efforts to ensure equitable access to capital and resources for BIPOC small business owners across Massachusetts. Tracye will continue the Coalition’s efforts in coordinating access to programs across the small business ecosystem and advocating for equitable investments and policies that support the growth and sustainability of these businesses. "I am thrilled to be joining CEE at this important moment in the coalition’s history," said Whitfield. "There is a lot of energy and momentum around efforts to create a more equitable economy, and I look forward to working with CEE members and partners to make real progress on this critical issue." Prior to joining CEE, Whitfield was appointed as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer by Mayor Reichelt for West Springfield. Her work in this role included promoting a diverse environment free from discrimination among employees as well as residents of their town - with an emphasis on racial equity when recruiting new people or hiring existing ones!

"There is a lot of energy and momentum around efforts to create a more equitable economy, and I look forward to working with CEE members and partners to make real progress on this critical issue."

In her 25-year career, Tracye has served as a finance analyst for the City of Springfield and data analyst at Springfield Technical Community College. She also worked in various positions including one with MassMutual Financial Group and youth advocacy at Martin Luther King Family Services. Ms. Whitfield served as the Director of Business Development for Training and Workforce Options (TWO), a collaboration between STCC and HCC where she assisted employers in developing customized trainings to strengthen their workforces. Furthermore, she's the owner of T&J Tax and Credit Savers, focusing on individual and small business tax preparation, credit repair, and assisting clients on their journey to home ownership.

In 2018, Tracye became an elected official in her community as a Springfield City Councilor at Large. She is now the first African American woman vice president of this position. She is extremely passionate about community involvement and engagement, public safety, workforce development and most importantly the wellbeing of individuals throughout all aspects of society. For the past seven years, she's served as Co-Chair of Mason Square C-3 Initiative. This position has allowed her to work closely with residents and local organizations and police officers to promote public safety while also improving the quality of life throughout the community!

In 2020, Tracye spearheaded the creation of Black Lives Matter Mural in front of Springfield City Hall. Ms. Whitfield says, “the mural is symbolic of the fight for racial justice, and it stands up to the powers that be that deny black people their humanity”. In 2021, as City Councilor at Large Tracye co-sponsored the ordinance that mandates Juneteenth be honored as a paid time off holiday in the City of Springfield. The ordinance went into effect in June of 2021. She also founded the Gun Violence Elimination Alliance (G.V.E.A.) that aims to eradicate gun violence in the City of Springfield and Western Mass communities.

Tracye earned her BA with a concentration in Finance (Magna Cum Laude), as well as MS in Accounting and Taxation from American International College. Last but not least, Tracye is driven by her passion to be the best example for her family where she is mother of her two adult children and proudly wearing her best title of Grandma to Journee Peyton.

The Coalition for an Equitable Economy convenes and partners with a broad cross-sector coalition of stakeholders from across Massachusetts aligned around a shared commitment to building an equitable small business ecosystem and to the values of racial equity, collaboration, and shared leadership.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call:

CEE Executive Committee Member(s):

Boston, MA: Springfield, MA:

Foundation for Business Equity Springfield Neighborhood Housing Services

Glynn Lloyd Jeff Hamilton

Executive Director Vice President/CFO

(617) 828-4228 (413) 739-4737 Ext.106

g.lloyd@fbequity.org Jeff.HamiltonSr@springfieldnhs.org

Understanding and Applying for SBA PPP Loan Forgiveness

Understanding how to get your PPP loan fully or partially forgiven and completing the application properly can determine any repayment requirements after your deferment period

You were successful in receiving your loan from the SBA through the Paycheck Protection Program, now what? Do you know when your Covered Period ended?

Your PPP is a Loan and Forgiveness must be requested...

The Covered Period is either (1) the 24-week (168-day) period beginning on the PPP loan disbursement date, or (2) if the borrower received its PPP loan before June 5, 2020, the borrower may elect to use an eight-week (56-day) Covered Period. For example, if the borrower is using a 24-week Covered Period and received its PPP loan proceeds on Monday, April 20, the first day of the Covered Period is April 20 and the last day of the Covered Period is Sunday, October 4. In no event may the Covered Period extend beyond December 31, 2020.

Click here to request assistance and more information.

#pppforgiveness #springfieldnhs

CARES Act Mortgage Forbearance: What You Need to Know

If you are experiencing a financial hardship due to the coronavirus national emergency, or having difficulty making on time mortgage payments, forbearance may be an option for you. If you don’t have a federally or GSE-backed mortgage, you still may have relief options through your mortgage loan servicer or from your state. Find out who owns or services your mortgage.

A federal law put in place two protections for homeowners with federally or Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) backed mortgages (FHA, VA, USDA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac). Learn more about these options and if they're right for your situation.

Relief for all federally or GSE-backed mortgages

Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and guidance from federal agencies and the GSEs, there are two protections for homeowners with federally or GSE-backed (Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac) or funded mortgages:

• First, your lender or loan servicer may not foreclose on you until at least August 31, 2020. Specifically, the CARES Act and the guidance from the GSEs, the FHA, the VA, and the USDA, prohibit lenders and servicers from beginning a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure against you, or from finalizing a foreclosure judgment or sale. This protection began on March 18, 2020, and extends through at least August 31, 2020.

• Second, if you experience financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic, you have a right to request and obtain a forbearance for up to 180 days. You also have the right to request and obtain an extension for up to another 180 days (for a total of up to 360 days). You must contact your loan servicer to request this forbearance. There will be no additional fees, penalties or additional interest (beyond scheduled amounts) added to your account. You do not need to submit additional documentation to qualify other than your claim to have a pandemic-related financial hardship.

Source: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/mortgage-and-housing-assistance/mortgage-relief/