Recognition for Support During Pandemic
On Thursday evening, a prominent Apple business owner was honored for his efforts in aiding and stabilizing over 35,000 Asian American-owned businesses during the Covid-19 crisis.
St. Hang, the CEO of Universal Processing, along with his team, received recognition from about 200 government officials and community leaders. They provided essential protective equipment, financial advice, digital tools, and multilingual resources for small businesses struggling during a challenging time.
“The assistance was invaluable,” shared Katrina Liu, a 35-year-old restaurant owner, noting that Hang’s guidance enabled her to expand by opening a third and fourth restaurant despite the pandemic.
“He organized numerous Zoom meetings, helped with loan applications, offered grants, and taught me how to market effectively during the pandemic,” she added.
Michael Min, who owns Souths Clouds Rice Rise Restaurant in West Village, stated that the resources provided by Hung were “immensely beneficial.” He emphasized how crucial it was to navigate the complexities of applications, saying, “What you say or don’t say makes a significant difference. We needed a specialized company to help interact with the government effectively.”
Asian-owned businesses nationwide faced sales declines of up to 60% during the initial lockdowns in 2020. Many entrepreneurs found it difficult to access government aid, such as pay protection programs.
Hung expressed his appreciation for the “Social Safety Net,” highlighting that it not only aided financial technology businesses like his own in supporting local enterprises but also led to the opening of a new office in Manhattan, where celebratory events took place.
“Had we not managed to navigate the early months of Covid, many of us wouldn’t have been able to thrive, grow, or provide over 35,000 services in the future. We’re fortunate to be in a position to offer support today,” he remarked.
“I believe small business owners must confront numerous uncertainties, and even our role was somewhat unclear just a few years ago. We truly provided a lifeline for many businesses.”
